Friday, March 25, 2011: In another “clash of the generations”, again the youth overpowered the veteran. Roman Pruchay (RUS), 20 years old, defeated Ralf Souquet (GER), 42, with an unbelievable score of 125:2! The match started out with a lot of safety play. The first chance to take the initiative at a score of -2:-2 had Souquet. “I had two possible shots, but they were both tough. I decided to take my chance and went for one of them, but I missed. Pruchay then made 109 balls.” “My opponent played very well and he missed his position after 109 balls. That was unnecessary.” “I was sitting for a long time and I did not feel well when I came back to the table. So I did not get position on the break shot and came in straight on the object ball. I tried to call a ball from the whole rack but I missed. Then he ran out.” When being asked about his victory against “the legend” Ralf Souquet, Pruchay states: “I did not believe I would get a chance when I saw that I drew Ralf Souquet. He is one of the toughest opponents one could get in this game”, the Russian youngster mentions with a lot of respect for his opponent. “I will see how far I can go in this event. Now after I have beaten Souquet, everything is possible!”
Another surprise in the Men‟s division was the victory of local hero Sascha Tege (GER) over Dutch top player Nick van den Berg with 125:53. In the next round, Tege will have to face another heavyweight: van den Berg‟s teammate Niels “The Terminator” Feijen.
In the women‟s division, the final 16 players have been cut into half and 8 players are left for the quarterfinal matches. Among them is Gerda Hofstaetter. Born in Austria, she moved to the US more than 15 years ago in order to become part of the Women‟s Professional Tour WPBA. A role model for many European female players, Gerda had to play against Tamara Rademakers from The Netherlands. “I was happy when I saw the draw against Gerda though I knew it would not be easy for me. I lost my first match against Jasmin Ouschan and now I had another top player in front of me”, the likeable Dutch lady declares. “I had my chances”, she said after the match that went in favour of Hofstaetter with 75:68. Rademakers was leading in the beginning when Hofstaetter switched into full power mode. The Austrian gained a 70:56 lead, but Tamara did not give up. She fought back until she achieved a situation where both players were tied at 69:69. A safety battle followed and Tamara got the first shot. She had a combination shot in front of her. “I know it was a „do or die‟ thing for me. If I make that combo, I can run the remaining six balls and win the match”. She missed the combo and opened the way for Gerda to enter the quarterfinals, where she will meet Line Kjoersvik from Norway.
Results from the last 32 Men:
David Alcaide (SPA) v Kasper Kristoffersen (DEN) 125:77
Jo Graff (LUX) v Petri Makkonen (FIN) 114:125
Oliver Ortmann (GER) v Francisco Sanchez Ruiz (SPA) 125:39
Zoran Svilar (SRB) v Kim Laaksonen (FIN) 125:54
Onur Yildirim (TUR) v Manuel Ederer (GER) 38:125
Jim Chawki (SWE) v Valteri Virtanen (FIN) 63:125
Tomasz Kaplan (POL) v Ruslan Chinahov (RUS) 125:57
Albin Ouschan (AUT) v Huidji See (NED) 20:125
Nick van den Berg (NED) v Sascha Tege (GER) 53:125
Laszlo Agics (HUN) v Niels Feijen (NED) 100:125
Sandor Tot (SRB) v David Zalman (CZE) 125:68
Aki Heiskanen (FIN) v Fabio Petroni (ITA) 121:125
Serge Das (BEL) v Juergen Jenisy (AUT) 125:26
Roman Pruchay (RUS) v Ralf Souquet (GER) 125:2
Andreas Gerwen (SWE) v Marko Lisnic (CRO) 125:37
Tomas Larsson (SWE) v Artem Koshovyi (UKR) 48:125
Last 16 Men:
David Alcaide (SPA) v Petri Makkonen (FIN)
Oliver Ortmann (GER) v Zoran Svilar (SRB)
Manuel Ederer (GER) v Valteri Virtanen (FIN)
Tomasz Kaplan (POL) v Huidji See (NED)
Sascha Tege (GER) v Niels Feijen (NED)
Sandor Tot (SRB) v Fabio Petroni (ITA)
Serge Das (BEL) v Roman Pruchay (RUS)
Andreas Gerwen (SWE) v Artem Koshovyi (UKR)
Results from the last 16 Women:
Jasmin Ouschan (AUT) v Ina Jentschura (GER) 75:39
Melissa Rademakers (NED) v Sara Rocha (POR) 75:50
Simone Kuenzl (GER) v Eylul Kibaroglu (TUR) 75:48
Anna Majirina (RUS) v Anastya Nechaeva (RUS) 75:61
Marika Poikkijoki (FIN) v Silvia Lopez (SPA) 46:75
Caroline Roos (SWE) v Kim Witzel (GER) 63:75
Line Kjoersvik (NOR) v Nataliya Seroshtan (RUS) 75:48
Gerda Hofstaetter (AUT) v Tamara Rademakers (NED) 75:68
Quarterfinals Women:
Jasmin Ouschan (AUT) v Melissa Rademakers (NED)
Simone Kuenzl (GER) v Anna Majirina (RUS)
Silvia Lopez (SPA) v Kim Witzel (GER)
Line Kjoersvik (NOR) v Gerda Hofstaetter (AUT)
The event will be 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.
