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The Dynamic European Championships - Seniors and Ladies
Tirana Expo Center
Rruga Gjergj Balsha Nr. 6
1029
Tirana
Albania
www.tiranaexpocentre.com
www.epbf.com
www.epconline.eu
www.kozoom.com

Monday-Tuesday 8-16 August 2016

Vegar Kristiansen (NOR)
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Kristiansen grabs first Gold Medal in the seniors

In the final match of the straight pool competition at the Dynamic Billard European Championships for Seniors and Ladies in Tirana, Albania, Vegar Kristiansen (NOR) defeated Sandor Tot (HUN) with 100:64 and took the first Gold Medal of the event.

The contestants of the final match were practically a logical conclusion regarding the flow of the straight pool tournament. Tot as well as Kristiansen have both played rock solid and performed steadily most of the time. Though Tot lost his first match to Sanne Azar (SWE), his overall performance in straight pool was worth a Champion. So was Kristiansen�s acting. Naturally, the final was expected to be a great show.

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After a few safety shots, Tot started pocketing some balls but only came up with eight before he missed. Kristiansen got to the table and fired 21 balls in before he gave the table away to Tot. But this time, there was no shot for the Hungarian. The safety battle went again in Kristiansen�s favor. Tot tried to play a good safety but failed and Kristiansen�s march on the road to glory continued. But unlike in the matches before, both players could not get a really high series of points. They missed shots and that kept the match exciting for the audience. When Kristiansen was 44:24 in the lead, he missed a break shot to the corner pocket. That was the possibility for Tot to get back. The Hungarian took the chance and ran 42 balls to turn the scoreboard to 66:44 in his favor. The break shot that he left for himself was a bit too thin so he decided to play a safety shot. Kristiansen is also very experienced in this and the match saw a few safeties exchanged back and forth. Tot made a mistake and left a shot for Kristiansen. The Norwegian made that difficult shot and ran the match from there. He scored 57 balls in a row to win the match and the title.

Semi-final results:
Sandor Tot (HUN) v Kostas Konnaris (CYP) 100:49
Vegar Kristiansen (NOR) v Tomi Ahonen (FIN) 100:0

Kristiansen finished the match in two innings, running 85 balls in his second visit at the table.

Final Eight Straight Pool Seniors:
1.
2.
3. Kostas Konnaris (CYP)
Tomi Ahonen (FIN)
5. Jim Telfer (NED)
Sanne Azar (SWE)
Manuel Pereira (POR)
Simo Korpela (FIN)

The Dynamic Billard European Championships for Seniors and Ladies will continue tomorrow morning at 09:00 CET with team matches and then switch back to the 10-ball individuals in both, seniors and ladies division.

TUESDAY 9 AUGUST 2016 - AM REPORT

Nathalie Rohmer (top left) and other players at the table in Tirana
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10-ball competition started in Tirana

The 10-ball individuals have started at the Dynamic Billard European Championships for Seniors and Ladies in Tirana, Albania, today.

In the ladies division, the defending Champion Cristina Moscetti (ITA) had a walk-over and will play Ann-Sofie L�fgren (SWE) in the next round. L�fgren defeated Monika Oeschger (SUI) 5:2 in her first match. Also Nathalie Rohmer (nothing) won her first encounter over Tuuliina Panula (FIN). She whitewashed the Finish with 5:0. Hildegard Kasper (GER) will face Ulrika Andersson (SWE) in the winner�s qualification round tomorrow. Kasper squeaked past Anne Nieminen (FIN) 5:4 while Andersson took care of Patrizia Ingest (ITA) 5:3. The other match in that round will be played between Susanne Wessel (GER) and last year�s runner-up Karin Michl (GER).

In the seniors division, defending Champion Henrique Correia (POR) had a masterful appearance inches first match. He took down Davy Piergiovanni (ITA) 7:5 and is now already in the round of the final 32 players single elimination. Piergiovanni then met Jim Telfer (NED) on the loser�s side and got knocked out 7:1. Jimmy Worung (NED) got the better of Marco Devruscian (ITA) 7:5. Multiple European Champion Reiner Wirsbitzki (GER) who surprisingly lost last night in the single elimination round of the last 16 players straight pool to Sandor Tot (HUN) has also made his homework today and clobbered Jouni Nykanen (FIN) 7:2. Sanne Azar (SWE) event handed a doughnut to Rienus Gennissen (NED) 7:0. Sandor Tot (HUN), Vegar Kristiansen (NOR), Dino Cerimagic (BIH), just to name a few of the �hot� favorites for the title have all won their first matches and proceeded to the single elimination of the last 32 players. That round will be played tomorrow at 12:45 CET.

Today at 15:00 local time, the quarter-final matches of the straight pool discipline will be played with the semi-finals and final to follow straight after.

MONDAY 8 AUGUST 2016 - PM REPORT

Reiner Wirsbitzki
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Wirsbitzki demolished Damm in all-German affair

In the all-German clash in the straight pool division at the Dynamic Billard European Championships for Seniors and Ladies, defending Champion Reiner Wirsbitzki creamed teammate Thomas Damm 75:17 and advanced into the round of the last 16 players.

The defending Champion actually needed three innings to finish his teammate Damm not counting the safety shot exchange in the beginning of the match. While Wirsbitzki was in command of the table at all times, Damm seemed to be a bit lost and could not get going at all. Damm missed an easy 8-ball when trailing 8:13. Then Wirsbitzki got to 50:8 before he allowed Damm to get to the table again. Whether the time that Damm had to spend in his chair was too long can only be guessed here. However, when he got back trailing 8:50, he pocketed 9 balls and the missed again another easy 1-ball. That was too many missed in one match against Wirsbitzki who is a powerhouse in European senior�s straight pool. 75:17 was the final result in for of Wirsbitzki who advances to the round of the final 16 players where he will face another guy with a history in the game, Sandor Tot (HUN). Tot just eliminated Steffen Gross (GER) 75:6 in 30 minutes.

Other remarkable results include Fabio Petroni (ITA) defeating Zdenko Lisik (SVK) 75:23. Also another strong player joined the round of the last 16 players. Jimmy Worung (NED) smashed Jan Keller (DEN) 75:4. With exactly the same result, Vegar Kristiansen (NOR) ended the hopes of his teammate Tom Bjerke (NOR) in the straight pool competition.

The Dynamic Billard European Championships for Seniors and Ladies will continue tomorrow morning at 09:00 CET with matches of the 10-ball individuals in both, seniors and ladies division.

MONDAY 8 AUGUST 2016 - AM REPORT

Sandor Tot (left) and Sanne Azar
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Azar took down Tot in senior�s straight pool

Sanne Azar (SWE) took down Sandor Tot (HUN) 75:22 in the winner�s qualification round of the straight pool competition at the Dynamic Billard European Championships for seniors and ladies.

Today is day one of the Dynamic Billard European Championships for Seniors and Ladies in Tirana, Albania. Having completed four events already, this morning saw the start of the �old boys� event with the straight pool discipline. One of the favored players in Sanne Azar. He took the Gold Medal in 8-ball and the Silver Medal in 9-ball at last year�s event. His opponent in the winner�s qualification round was Sandor Tot, former European Champion. The writing was on the wall that this match could turn into a heated-up encounter between two equal performers. But Tot could not match the expectations that were laid upon him. Azar dominated the table and did not allow Tot to find his game. On top of that, when Tot got to the table he committed mistakes that were avoidable. Leading 8:-1, Tot actually had the chance to direct the match his way but he missed and easy shot in the side pocket. Azar answered that negligence in pocketing 34 balls, taking a 33:8 lead now. When Tot got back to the table, he made 9 balls and again committed an avoidable mistake. He ran out of position and had to play a combination shot to the side pocket which he missed. Again, Azar punished him for it and the score was 52:17 before Tot got back to the table. Whatever the Hungarian tried he did not seem to be focussed enough. In the end, Azar rightfully took the match 75:22 and proceeded to the single elimination stage of the last 32 players while Tot needs to seek his fortune making it through the loser�s side of the draw.

Other remarkable results from today include defending Champion Reiner Wirsbitzki (GER) winning his first two matches 75:65 over Henri Kaksonen (FIN) and 75:4 over Tom Bjerke (NOR). At his first appearance it the senior�s, Italy�s Fabio Petroni won 75:46 over Martin Schwab (GER) and 75:30 over Dino Cerimagic (BIH). Vegas Kristiansen (NOR) also played solid and made his way to the single elimination stage with two straight victories on the winner�s side. He swept Glenn Andersson (SWE) 75:18 and then Gianluca Boni (ITA) 75:2. For that match, Kristiansen needed two innings only. The other remaining favorite is probably Henrique Coreia (POR). He was sent to the loser�s side by strong Dutch contestant Jimmy Worung with 75:49.

The Championships are played on 24 tables which are all streamed LIVE throughout the whole event. In order to be able to follow all the action LIVE, premium membership can be purchased at www.kozoom.com. Once a premium membership is held, all events for the respective period of time can be viewed LIVE. Additionally, a huge video gallery is contained in the website.

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.epconline.eu, visit us on Facebook or check out our youtube channel for regular news clips or contact our press office press@epbf.com.

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