Darren Appleton
In his first appearance on European soil, Darren Appleton (GBR) lost his first match to Ralf Souquet (GER) with 7:9.
It was not necessarily a lucky draw for Appleton. After having achieved so many titles abroad since he moved to the US in 2011, Appleton came back to Europe to compete in the 9-ball division of the Dynamic Billard European Championships and in the Euro-Tour which follows right after the EC. He drew Ralf Souquet in his first round match. The match was a highlight for all fans and spectators. However, Souquet controlled most of the match and was leading big time. He even went on the hill, being 8:3 up on Appleton in a race to nine. That looked like a clear victory for the German. But Appleton is known to never give up. He pulled back several racks from Souquet until the score was only 8:7 for Souquet. In the 16th rack, Souquet played a push-out which Appleton rejected and gave it back. Souquet pocketed a very difficult 1-ball but did not get position to pocket the 2-ball. He attempted a safety shot but finished up with a bad shot. Appleton had a clear shot on the 2-ball and the rack was open. To the dismay of all viewers, Appleton missed the 2-ball by a mile and also scratched with the cue ball. That brought Souquet back to the table with ball in hand and an open rack. No problem for the BCA Hall of Famer. He cleared the table and won the rack and the match with 9:7. Appleton had his chances and will get more of them on the loser’s side while Souquet continued on the winner’s side with a straight 9:4 victory over Joao Grilo (POR) which put him in the single elimination round of the last 64 players. Among others, Souquet is joined there by defending Champion Niels Feijen (NED) who had a walk-over in his first round and the smashed Nicolas Ottermann (GER) 9:1. Nick Van Den Berg (NED) who took the title in 8-ball last night, had a good start with a 9:2 victory over Yevgen Zlotnytskyi (UKR). But then he fell to Mariusz Skoneczny (POL) with 5:9. Van den Berg needs to take the detour over the left side of the draw now.
In the women’s division, defending Champion Jasmin Ouschan (AUT) is right on track. She defeated Alice Marcotte (FRA) with 7:2 and will now play young Marharyta Fefilava (BLR) in the winner’s qualification round. Katarzyna Wesolowska (POL) who won the women’s 10-ball crown earlier last week, lost her opening match to Anna Mazhirina (RUS) with 5:7. Line Kjoersvik (NOR), last year’s runner-up and bronze medallist from the 8-ball competition yesterday, took her opponent Zrinka Antonijevic (CRO) out with 7:2 and will now face 8-ball European Champion Darya Sirotina (RUS) in the next round.
In the wheelchair division, defending Champion Fred Dinsmore (IRL) is on his way, winning clearly over Leszek Blumczynski (POL) with 7:1. In the winner’s qualification round, Dinsmore will play Daniel Luton (GBR) who defeated Tankred Volkmer (GER) 7:4 earlier today. Last year’s runner-up Tony Southern (GBR) won his match with his teammate Matt Duffy (GBR) 7:4 and now meets Henrik Larsson (SWE) in the next round tomorrow afternoon at 14:00 local time.
Play will commence tomorrow morning 10:00am local time with the 9-ball competition. All results and more info can be found on www.epconline.eu. LIVEStream can be viewed at www.kozoom.com.
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.epconline.eu or contact our press office press@epbf.com.
