Jesse Thehu (NED)
The Dynamic Billard European Championships for Seniors and Ladies at the Golden Tulip Jagershorst Hotel in Leende, The Netherlands, have produced the first title holder. Jesse Thehu (NED) won the Gold Medal after an exciting final match with 100:84 over Dirk Stenten (GER).
The final match featured two players which were not necessarily expected in there before the event. Dirk Stenten has two silver medals on European level: 9-ball pupils in 1986 and 8-ball seniors in 2015. Jesse Thehu has won a gold medal in seniors 8-ball in 2012 and 5 other medals, all in the seniors division. However, the „usual suspects“ such as Reiner Wirsbitzki (GER), Henrique Correia (POR) and defending Champion Vegar Kristiansen (NOR) have all been exited from the event earlier so it came to the showdown between these two underdogs. In the actual match, Thehu had the better start. He got away with the first 20 points but then he missed and allowed Stenten back into the table. The German levelled the match but when he executed the breakable shot at 20:21, Stenten made the ball but scratched so Thehu got back to the table with ball in hand and an open layout. With that gift, Thehu ran another rack and took a 15 point lead at 36:21 when he ran out of position and an exchange of safety shots evolved. Here, Stenten was able to force Thehu to leave him a shot and he used his chance, levelling the match again at 33:36 in favour of Thehu. Suddenly, an interesting scenario happened. Stenten missed a break shot and opened up the whole rack for Thehu. But the Dutch could not benefit from it this time since he miscued. That brought Stenten in the lead. He found his motor and scored 24 consecutive points before he let Thehu back to the table. And he did so in missing an easy shot to the corner pocket. Thehu was given second life by Stenten here at 57:36. And Thehu really made something out of that mistake from Stenten. He got in the zone and remained cool, making point after point. At 92:57 for Thehu, he missed an easy shot on the 9-ball in the side pocket and the story of the match was twisted again. Stenten, who looked like he was already finished, got another chance and got back to an open table this time. Thehu gave back the gift he received a few racks ago. But Stenten ran out of position when the scoreboard displayed 71:92 and left the table to Thehu again. Thehu made another 5 balls but then got no shot after the break. He attempted a safety but left a long and risky shot for Stenten who made that shot and turned the score to 84:97 before he himself missed another break shot. Again, a safety shot exchange took place between the two contestants. Stenten again went for a risky shot which was given to him by Thehu. this time, the German missed it. Thehu ran the remaining three balls and won the match and the title with 100:84 after an exciting final match.
Top Eight finishers Seniors Straight Pool
1. Jesse Thehu (NED)
2. Dirk Stenten (GER)
3. Reiner Wirsbitzki (GER)
Danilo Cipriani (ITA)
5. Kent Karlsson (SWE)
Markus Weichart (AUT)
Sascha Manojlovic (SUI)
Alex Habo (HUN)
Earlier today, the first rounds of the 10-ball individuals have been played. One high class match took place between Jim Telfer (NED) and Henrique Correia (POR). The Portuguese managed to get through by a margin with 7:6 and proceeded to the next winner’s round where he will play Thehu. Reiner Wirsbitzki (GER) came up with an impressive whitewash of 7:0 over Vladimir Kolesnikov (RUS). In the ladies division, Nathalie Rohmer (FRA) defeated defending Champion Susanne Wessel (GER) 5:4 in the first winner’s round. In the all Scandinavian clash, Ann-Sofie Lofgren (SWE) remained the upper hand with 5:2 over Ine Helvik (NOR).
Tomorrow, the Dynamic Billard European Championships for Seniors and Ladies at the Golden Tulip Jagershorst Hotel in Leende, The Netherlands will continue at 09:00 CET with the 10-ball individuals.
Every day, one match from the events will be shown LIVE on the Facebook page of the EPBF. All Facebook users may check out the high standard of quality which is provided for all the events and see what the Kozoom members receive all the time. You can see all the matches live via www.kozoom.com who stream the whole event on 23 tables on the internet LIVE. The FB live matches are announced on the EPBF Facebook page around noon every day. Results and schedules can be found at www.europeanpoolchampionships.eu so why not come and check out all the LIVE action of the Dynamic Billard European Championships for Youth.
The event is hosted by the European Governing Body for Pool, the European Pocket Billiard Federation (EPBF) and organised by International Billiard Promotion (IBP). For further information and reference please go to the federation website www.europeanpoolchampionships.eu, visit us on Facebook or check out our youtube channel for regular news clips or contact our press office press@epbf.com.
