Sunday, March 27, 2011: The first two titles of the 2011 Dynamic European Championships have been awarded. Jasmin Ouschan (AUT) and Tomasz Kaplan (POL) are 2011 EPBF European Straight Pool Champions.
The match between Kaplan and Fabio Petroni started not good for the young Polish player. He opened the match with a safety shot that was not too good. Petroni made 13 balls but he failed to get position on the last two balls. He missed a shot and brought Kaplan back to the table. Kaplan also missed and Petroni played 2 more balls. “I was very nervous”, the Italian player admitted after the final, “I was very focussed but my nervousness forced errors on me. My opponent was in dead stroke and I had no chance in this match”, said Petroni. Then Kaplan got back to the table and ran 56 and 66 balls. Leading 122:18, he was almost sure to win the match. Petroni got another chance to play a combination shot after Kaplan has played a safety. But Petroni missed and left the balls open for Kaplan to become the first Polish player ever to win a title in the Men's or Women's division. “I am so happy, I cannot even find the right words to say”, said an emotional Kaplan after the finals. “This victory means a lot for me and my country.”
In the women's division, Jasmin Ouschan defended her title as European straight pool Champion. She defeated Norway's Line Kjoersvik with 75:31. Mission accomplished for Jasmin. “I am always happy when I win a title. It is much harder to defend a title than to win it once and then let go”, stated Ouschan after the match. Kjoersvik said: “Of course, I do not like to lose. But Jasmin has played so strong that I think in the end the better player won. I will now focus on the other disciplines” the ambitious player from Scandinavia says.
Play will continue with 8-ball matches on Sunday morning 09:00 local time.
Top 8 players Men's division:
1. Tomasz Kaplan (POL)
2. Fabio Petroni (ITA)
3. Petri Makkonen (FIN)
Roman Pruchay (RUS)
5. Manuel Ederer (GER)
Andreas Gerwen (SWE)
Oliver Ortmann (GER)
Sascha Tege (GER)
Top 8 player's Women's division:
1. Jasmin Ouschan (AUT)
2. Line Kjoersvik (NOR)
3. Anna Majirina (RUS)
Silvia Lopez (SPA)
5. Gerda Hofstaetter (AUT)
Simone Kuenzl (GER)
Tamara Rademakers (NED)
Kim Witzel (GER)
The event will be 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 event website www.epconline.eu or contact our press office.
