The 8-ball competition at the 2014 Dynamic Billard European Championships has found its Champions. Kristina Tkach (RUS), Daniel Maciol (POL) and Raphael Wahl (GER) wear the crown of 8-ball in the respective disciplines.
In the girls division, Kristina Tkach was a bit the underdog in the final with Kamila Khodjaeva (BEL). The Belgian was leading 3:1 and 4:3 in a race to 5. She had already taken the 10-ball title and she bristled with confidence. But Tkach never gave up and pulled back rack after rack from Khodhaeva. The match went hill-hill and Tkach managed to win the final rack and the title. This is her first European Championship title after three Bronze Medals.
In the Under 17’s division, Daniel Maciol had already won the straight pool title earlier this week. He met his teammate Michal Muklewicz in the final match. This match also went hill-hill since both contestants played on an even level. It was a bit of luck that Maciol took the final rack and the title in 8-ball. In the Under 17’s, Poland won three out of four medals.
Raphael Wahl dealt with Pijus Labutis (LIT) in the final of the Under 19’s. The match went back and forth. Wahl took a 2:1 lead. Then Labutis went ahead 4:2. Wahl tied the match at 4:4 when Labutis went ahead again with 5:4. Then Wahl shifted into overdrive and took the next three consecutive racks to win the match with 7:5.
The medal table displays Germany still in the lead with 3 Gold and 1 Bronze Medals. Poland is second with 2 Gold, 1 Silver and 2 Bronze Medals. Third place is Russia with 2 Gold and 3 Bronze Medals.
Earlier today, the 9-ball individuals were started in all three divisions. In the girls division, Kristina Tkach (RUS) is the only medallist left over from last year. She won the Bronze Medal in Sarajevo in 2013. All other medal winners left the girls division for age reasons. So Tkach can be considered as the favorite in the girls. She had to prove that straight away in her first match when she had to play Ana Gradisnik (SLO). The Slovenian is regarded as one of the strongest players in the field herself. She is regularly playing on the women’s Euro-Tour and has already earned some merits in the women’s division as well. However, Gradisnik just could not find a way past Tkach who rode flawlessly and came into the next winner’s round with 6:3 while Gradisnik was sent to the loser’s side. In the next round, Tkach will face Marion Winkler (AUT) in the next round. Nataliya Seroshtan (RUS) and Kamila and Diana Khodjaeva (both BEL) are other names who need to be considered for the final stage of the 9-ball competition. Seroshtan will play Kamila Khodjaeva in the winner’s qualification round while Diana Khodjaeva will have to deal with Silje Munk from Denmark. Nathalie Seichter (NED) will battle it out with Dina Fatihova (RUS) in the winner’s qualification round.
In the Under 19’s, Joshua Filler (GER) is again regarded as one of the favorites. He defeated Casper Matikainen (FIN) 8:2 and Oliver Szolnoki (HUN) 8:2 so far and is awaiting more prey in the single elimination stage. Fabio Rizzi (FRA) had an exciting day today. First he defeated Florian Zuewert (GER) 8:7 and then he fell to the sharp blade of Tim de Ruyter (NED) with the same result. He will play Matikainen tomorrow for a spot among the top 32 players in 9-ball. Andreas Madsen (DEN) had a walk-over in the first round. Then he met Daniel Tangudd (SWE) in the first winner’s round and won 8:6 over the Swede. This also puts him in the single elimination stage of the event.
In the division of the Under 17’s, defending Champion Jan van Lierop (NED) had a bad start. He was seeded #1 and lost his opening match to Michael Schneider (SUI) with 3:7. That was very unexpected and gave Schneider wind beneath his wings. One of the bigger surprises of this EC, Eklent Kaci (ALB) won his first two matches over Andre Krohn (GER) 7:4 and Adrijan Todic (SUI) with 7:1. Kaci will have to deal with Daniel Resch (AUT) in the winner’s qualification round. Daniel Maciol (POL) and Cyriel Ledoux (NED) are also players in the Under 17’s division who must be watched closely.
The Dynamic Billard European Youth Championships 2014 will continue tomorrow morning at 09:00 CET with matches of the 9-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.
