9-ball competition down to final matches
Saturday, 06 August 2011: In an exciting semi-final match, David Maslov (RUS) crushed Mikael Oegaard (NOR) with 7:3.
In the beginning of the match, Oegaard seemed to be more focussed and took a quick 2:0 lead over Maslov. The third rack was very poorly performed by both players. It was obvious that they had to struggle to keep themselves calm since they were playing on the main table in the arena. Both of them missed shots in the 3rd rack with Maslov being lucky in the end, making the score 1:2. “Mikael should have taken a time out then and breathe some fresh air”, commented his coach from Team Norway, Jörgen Sandman. “Instead he took it much later in the match. That was too late and it did not help him anymore.” Actually, the match seemed to turn against Oegaard from that point in time on. Maslov overtook him and lead 3:2 when he missed a 9-ball, giving Oegaard the chance to tie the game at 3:3. That was the last rack that Oegaard was able to win. Maslov performed better in the end and left the table as a winner, beating Oegaard 7:3. “It was Mikael's first appearance under these conditions” Sandman said, “he still has to get used to it. He has played far below his capacities”. Maslov will now meet Joshua Filler (GER) in the final who eliminated his teammate Nino Andreuzzi with 7:0.
In the juniors division the final match will be a “clash of the titans”. Lars Kuckherm (GER), European Champion in 8-ball will take on Wojciech Szewczyk (POL) for the crown in 9-ball. This matchup is the exact copy of the final in 8-ball two days ago. Will Szewczyk get revenge from Kuckherm, or will Kuckherm snatch his second title?
In the girls division, Ana Gradisnik (SLO) is the surprise player for the final. She destroyed Nataliya Seroshtan (RUS) with 61 in the semi-final and will now face Anastasia Nechaeva (RUS) in the final of the girls division.
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