Tuesday, March 29, 2011: In the second winner's round of the European Championship 9-Ball Division, a win earns the player a spot in the single elimination stage of the best 32 players. A loss will mean that the player must win another match on the one loss side to qualify. Two of Europe's sharpest blades have been sent to the loser's qualification round completely unexpectedly.
“Terminator” Niels Feijen from the Netherlands had to play Artem Koshovyi from the Ukraine. The match started with no upsets or surprises. Both players managed to take their racks decisively. Feijen was usually one rack ahead of Koshovyi. Then Koshovyi shifted into overdrive. At the score of 4:3 in favour of Feijen, Koshovyi went ahead of the “Terminator” and was now the one who lead the match. “I think Niels did not play his best game”, a satisfied Koshovyi said after the match. “He made more mistakes than he normally does.” With that thought in mind, Koshovyi, who has never won against Feijen, got a 7:4 lead. “I played him so often but I always lost. This time I really wanted to win!”, says the young Ukrainian. But it is not for nothing that Feijen is one of Europe's best. He came back and tied the match at 7:7. “I did not want to lose again to him”, said Koshovyi, “I have lost so often 9:8 or 9:7 against him”. This time, fate was in favour of Koshovyi. He won the next two racks and went triumphantly into the round of the last 32 players. Feijen will need to win one more match in order to join Artem in that fine group.
“The Kaiser” Ralf Souquet will join Feijen on his way into the loser's bracket. Ralf lost to Onur Yildirim (TUR) 7:9.
Other notable results of today's matches include Marcus Chamat winning over Oliver Ortmann 9:4. Tomasz Kaplan (POL), newly crowned straight pool champion, was whitewashed 9:0 by David Alcaide (SPA).
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 event website www.epconline.eu or contact our press office.
