Reiner Wirsbitzki from Germany is the new European Champion in straight pool seniors division. He defeated Henrique Correia (POR) with 100: 50 in the final match.
The final match was a one man show by Wirsbitzki. He had the better start and ran away with over 50 points after the first five innings. He never left a shot for Correia and took a comfortable 53:1 lead over the Portuguese. That gap proved to be too big for Correia to close. Correia was also not very lucky. When he tried to launch a comeback on Wirsbitzki, the cue ball scratched in the side pocket. Altogether, the clear victory for Wirsbitzki is very much deserved and displays his solid performance throughout the whole competition. The German took his third Gold Medal in the seniors after winning the 8-ball competition 2011 in Luxembourg and the 10-ball last year in Sarajevo. „This title was hard work for me“, stated Wirsbitzki after the final match, „I am tired and exhausted but also very happy“. „The title in straight pool means a lot to me. I have been a favorite quite some time but I never won it. Today, I knew it was going to be my final“. Tied for third were Rene Peeters (NED) and Kent Karlsson (SWE).
Earlier today, the day started with the 10-ball competition. 79 players in the seniors and 15 ladies started the matchday. Just like in straight pool, the defending Champion lost his first match quite unexpectedly. Reiner Wirsbitzki (GER) received a 6:7 defeat from Rene Peeters (NED). He had to go to the loser’s side where he qualified for the single elimination round of the final 64 players. There, he will play Csaba Nagy (HUN) who defeated Arto Taavila (FIN) 7:5 and Tom Eksell (SWE) 7:1. Last year’s runner-up Vegar Kristiansen (NOR) was a bit more consistent. He won his first match 7:1 teammate Tom Bjerke (NOR) and has now gotten Mika Maatta (FIN) in the next match. One big name in European senior pool, Henrique Correia (POR) lost completely unexpected 3:7 to Jorgen Nilsen (NOR). He then whitewashed Tomaz Benedicic (SLO) 7:0 to also enter the final elimination stage where he will have to deal with Magnus Vesterlund (SWE). Surprise player Rado Doroslovac (SLO) won 7:4 over Marco Devruscian (ITA) before he had to give in with 6:7 to Frank Willner (GER). He was lucky and received a walk-over on the loser’s side. He was drawn against Espen Saltnes (NOR) in the next round. The single elimination of the final 64 players will be played tomorrow at 09:00 and 10:45 CET.
In the ladies division, defending Champion Barbara Bolfelli (ITA) had a walk-over in the first round. She then made short work of Anja Hehre (GER) and taught her a lesson 5:1. Bolfelli will meet Susanne Wessel (GER) in the winner’s qualification round. Wessel comes with two impressive victories under her belt, 5:1 over Ilona Zalmanova (CZE) and 5:0 over Patrizia Ignesti (ITA). The other match in the winner’s qualification round will be played between Karin Michl (GER) and Cristina Moscetti (ITA). On the loser’s side, among others Ann-Sofie Löfgren (SWE), Nathalie Rohmer (FRA) and Monika Oeschger (SUI) struggle to stay in the competition.
The Dynamic Billard European Championships 2014 for Seniors and Ladies will continuetomorrow morning at 09:00 CET with matches of the 10-ball individuals.
All matches can be viewed LIVE at www.kozoom.com. 22 tables in HiRes quality are providing you with all the action of the event. You do not miss out one single match! Join today!
More information about participants, schedules, achievements, rankings, etc can be found on the event website www.epconline.eu.
The event is hosted by the European Pocket Billiard Federation EPBF and organized by International Billiard Promotion Foundation IBPF.
