Wheelchair player Deklerck in the single elimination stage of seniors 8-ball individuals
Sarajevo, Bosnia & Hercegovina: In an exciting encounter, Kent Karlsson (SWE) defeated Michael Stark (AUT) 7:5.
Kent Karlsson has collected eight European Championship medals already; including the Gold Medal in Straight pool in 2002. His expectations were definitely high when he came to Sarajevo - but he could not yet live up to them. This year's Dynamic Billard European Championships for seniors and ladies here in Radon Plaza Hotel, Sarajevo, Bosnia & Hercegovina, have not made it to his record book yet. In 8-ball, he lost his first round match by a hair's breadth with 6:7 to Paulo Costa (POR). Still having one foot in the door, he crept through the loser's side, meeting Austria's Michael Stark in the 2nd loser's round. Stark has already hit the headlines here when he ousted #1 seeded player Gijs Van Helmond (NED) from the straight pool chart. Karlsson was warned that this match would not be a walk in the park for him. However, it started off as one. After one hour, six racks of 8-ball were played and the scoreboard showed a clear lead of 5:1 for Karlsson. But Stark was far from giving in. He got back in the match and struck back. After eleven racks, the score was only 6:5 for Karlsson and he could feel his opponent's hot breath up his neck. Stark was only behind one more rack and suddenly the pressure was on Karlsson. What used to be smooth sailing became hard work. Karlsson used all of his experience and focus and wrestled Stark down in the 12th rack, winning the match with 7:5. Karlsson will now have to deal with Angelo Salzano (ITA) while Stark has to settle for 49th rank in the 8-ball senior's individual.
Other notable results from the 8-ball rounds include wheelchair player Kurt Deklerck (BEL) booking his spot in the single elimination round of the final 32 players with a 7:6 victory over Alex Habo (HUN). Roger Lysholm (NOR) smashed David Plattner (SUI) 7:4 while Tom Storm (SWE) needed 13 racks to win 7:6 against Giorgio Margola (ITA). Lysholm and Storm will join Deklerck in the single elimination stage while Plattner and Margola need another victory on the loser's side to join them.
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.
