Bolfelli and Wirsbitzki claimed the titles in 10-ball
Sarajevo, Bosnia & Hercegovina: The finals of the 10-ball individuals have been played. In the seniors division, Reiner Wirsbitzki (GER) took the Gold Medal. The title in the ladies division was snatched by Barbara Bolfelli (ITA).
The senior's final was tight and went along back and forth. Wirsbitzki's opponent Vegar Kristiansen (NOR) was a tough opposition. The German got momentum first and gat a small two rack advantage over Kristiansen taking a 3:1 lead. Then it was Kristiansen who fired back and capitalized from Wirsbitzki's mistakes. But Kristiansen had two big problems in the final: He could not get a position on the 1-ball after his break shot and he could not get the pace of the table. Very often, Kristiansen played the cue ball at the wrong speed. However, He managed to get on top of Wirsbitzki with 5:3. In the 9th rack, he could have made it to the hill when Wirsbitzki missed a make-able 5-ball but he scratched when he got to the table. Wirsbitzki grew strong when he saw that Kristiansen could not finish the match. Now he went along and pocketed balls, winning rack after rack. In the end, Wirsbitzki won the match deservedly with 7:5 and claimed the first Gold Medal for Germany in this tournament.
The ladies final was not so tight. Bolfelli dealt with Ann-Sofie Löfgren from Sweden. After four racks Bolfelli was leading 3:1. Then, Löfgren got the chance to get a rack back from Bolfelli but she pocketed the 10-ball and scratched. That brought Bolfelli to a comfortable 4:1 lead. The 6th rack brought the decision.
Löfgren didn't come up with any more resistance and finally had to give in to stronger Bolfelli.
| Rank | Nation | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Germany | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 |
| 2 | Italy | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Portugal | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |
| 4 | Sweden | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| 5 | Netherlands | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Norway | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
| 7 | Bosnia & Hercegovina | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Czech Republic | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
The event will continue tomorrow with team and 8-ball competition.
The tournament will be streamed LIVE at all days on up to 20 tables at www.kozoom.com/en/pool-billiard/
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.
