Kamila Khodjaeva (BEL)
Sarajevo, Bosnia & Hercegovina: With a clear 5:1 victory, reigning World 9-Ball Champion and defending European 10-ball Champion Kamila Khodjaeva (BEL) sent Marion Winkler (AUT) to the one-loss side of the 10-ball competition.
This morning, the 10-ball individuals have begun. One of the early matches was the clash between favored Khodjaeva and surprise player Winkler. The Austrian had defeated Khodjaeva's sister Diana in the first round with 5:2. So Kamila got the chance for a little "family revenge" here. And that's exactly what happened. Khodjaeva came down on Winkler like a ton of bricks, making very few mistakes and punishing each error that Winkler committed. After 25 minutes, the score was 4:0 in favor of Khodjaeva in a race to five. Winkler could not get a foot on the ground. In the 5th rack, Winkler got a chance since Khodjaeva missed the 10-ball twice and gave Winkler a point. But the match was far from being turned around. In the next rack Khodjaeva finished Winkler with 5:1. The clear victory and the result are absolutely in order. Khodjaeva was the better player today. In the next round she will face Oliwia Czuprynska (POL) who defeated Marharyta Fefilava (BLR) 5:2. Czuprynska was the 2011 World 9-Ball Champion. This will definitely be a classic clash between the two ambitious girl players. Winkler and Fefilava will get another chance on the loser's side.
Other notable results from today's 10-ball competition include defending pupil's European 10-Ball Champion Joshua Filler (GER) wasting no time with Nooa Oksala (FIN), creaming him 6:1. The local darling of the public, Sanjin Pehlivanovic (BIH) trounced Persad Kaylash (NED) with 6:4. Maksim Dudanets (RUS) handed a doughnut to Sandro Kupper (SUI), smashing him with 6:0. Almost the same result was good for the other hometown hero, Alen Muratovic (BIH). He beat Jeremy Berardi (LUX) 7:0.
10-Ball individuals will continue today until 15:00 CET. At 16:30 CET, the straight pool quarter-finals will be played. The semi-finals and finals will follow
right after.
The event is hosted by the European Governing Body for Pool, the European Pocket Billiard Federation (EPBF) and organized by International Billiard Promotion (IBP). For further information and reference please go to the federation website www.billiardapps.com or contact our press office.
