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Euro Tour Men / Dynamic Billard Tallinn Open
Presented by the City of Tallinn
Kalev Sports Hall
12 Juhkentali Street
Tallinn
10132
Estonia
www.epbf.com/tournaments/eurotour - facebook - live stream
www.tallinn.ee/en/services/kalev-sports-hall

Thursday 15 - Saturday 17 February 2024

Daniel Maciol wins in Tallinn.
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Dynamic Billard Tallinn Open - It’s Maciol over Vogel in Tallinn

Reporter: Luke Riches on behalf of the EPBF
Photography: ©EPBF

DANIEL MACIOL IS the 2024 DYNAMIC BILLARD Tallinn Open champion as he edged out 16-year-old Felix Vogel by 9-7 in an exciting finale to a terrific season-opener on the Euro Tour. Germany’s Vogel became the youngest-ever finalist in the long and storied history of the Tour, managing to break Wiktor Zielinski’s record which had stood since December 2017.

Vogel had led most of the way at the Kalevi Sports Hall in Tallinn but faltered down the home stretch as the 23-year-old Pole came on strong for his maiden Dynamic Billard Euro Tour title. Vogel, from Marburg Germany, who is just 16 years and a couple of months old, was playing in his sixth Euro Tour event and can take great pride in his performances this week.

But the day belonged to Daniel Maciol, who also moved from #3 to #1 on the ranking; “I’m over the moon to be honest! I remember when I was 15 years of age and I played in my first Euro Tour at the time and my goal was to get to the last 32 round. So, after eight years, I finally reached a final and won it. I’m really, really happy about this.”

Maciol made two balls off the opening break to get the match underway. A miss on the 2-ball though got the young German to the table but he too faltered and the rack went to the Pole. However, nicely in stroke from his semi-final match finishing minutes before, Vogel got his first point on the board to level the match. 1-1

A scratch from Maciol gave his opponent ball-in-hand and Vogel looked completely confident as he ran out to take the lead. That became 3-1 after Vogel got the better of a safety battle as Maciol had a bash at the 5-ball but left it in the open. A push-out in the next from Maciol ended up working against him and Vogel negotiated a tricky table to sit pretty at 4-1.

An illegal break from Vogel, despite two balls going down, gave Maciol a good opportunity to eat into the deficit. He lost shape though and needed to play a safety on the 5-ball. Vogel nearly fluked the 9 in, kicking out of the safety but a table-length bank effectively secured the rack for Maciol.

That soon turned to 4-3 after a tidy runout from Maciol but a successful break from Vogel gave him an opportunity to restore a two-rack lead and he executed it well. Stroking the cueball around like a seasoned pro, Vogel looked set to take the next rack but he lost some position going from the 8 to the 9-ball and his tight cut was underpowered and left the 9-ball hanging for Maciol.

Vogel though, kept the pressure up as he won the next game for a 6-4 lead. In the 11th game, Maciol had the first good look at the table after a kicked safety from Vogel left the 1-ball on and he duly ran out to very much stay in the match at 6-5. A dry break from Vogel was a gift for his opponent at a critical point in the match and Maciol, full of composure, cleared up to level the scores.

With two balls off the break, Maciol went all-in on a combo on the 2-ball and successfully set himself up for a runout as he took the lead for the first time since the opening rack as the score moved to 7-6 in his favour.

They went back and forth with safeties in the next before a huge fluke from Maciol saw the 2-ball drop into the centre pocket and the rangy Pole was on his way as he reached the hill first at 8-6. A dry break in the next from Maciol got Vogel jumping out of his chair. Vogel played safe on the 3-ball and with so much at stake, both players became a little cagey as the safeties went back and forth. Seizing the moment, Vogel speared home a long 3-ball to set up a rack-winning opportunity and take the match to 8-7.

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An illegal break from Vogel was the last thing he needed but a missed bank on the 1-ball from Maciol returned the table to the German who played a containing safety. Both players were feeling the pressure as they swapped safeties on the blue 2. A great snooker from Maciol saw Vogel fail to connect with the 2-ball with his kick shot and with ball-in-hand, it was the chance the Pole was dreaming of. He left himself a real pressure shot on the 6-ball with just two left on the table but he made it and left himself a very makeable 9 -ball which he deposited for a marvellous win.

Maciol said, “Also, I’ve never been first in the rankings so it’s something additional for me so I’m thrilled. I was struggling with the break the whole match and Felix just played awesome. He made a couple of great shots and he’s just 16 years of age and it’s hard to not think about that.

“But I was trying to stay focused and wait for my chances and I played a couple of good racks in a row at the end and the last rack was very emotional for me. I missed position on that 6-ball and had a difficult shot which I made and then made the 9 so there were a lot of emotions,” he added.

Daniel Maciol and Felix Vogel.
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For Vogel, despite the obvious disappointment, it was a stunning achievement: ”I was really comfortable with my performances this week but it’s back to the practice table and try and improve on the small things. In this tournament, I think I found my confidence. After the first few matches, which were close, I was very confident and knew I could win against all of these guys but I need to improve but I’m really glad with my performances and hope I can continue.”

This week’s semi-finalists were Spain’s Jose Alberto Delgado and Radoslaw Babica (Poland) who has now finished 3rd, 2nd and 3rd in his last three Euro Tour starts.

The pool continues tomorrow with the Predator Women’s Tallinn Open. The event is down to the final 32 and play gets underway at 9.00. The semi-finals are at 14.00 and 15.30 followed by the final at 17.00. For viewers at home, Tables 1 & 2 will be streamed throughout on YouTube. Table 1 will be on the Kozoom channel, who are back handling the production for 2024. Table 2 will be available throughout on the EPBF platform.

All other tables can be viewed on the Kozoom.com website, where there are a variety of subscription options.

LINKS

Table 1 link = https://www.youtube.com/@KozoomTV/streams
Table 2 link = https://www.youtube.com/@theepbf/streams
Tables 1-20 = https://home.kozoom.com/en/all-cue-sports

As well as the prize money, there are Tour ranking points on offer, so there is everything to play for. The Predator Women’s Tallinn Open is 9-ball and players compete in a double-elimination format, playing down to the last 32. All matches are races to 7 racks with alternate break.

Results, live scoring, and draw are available at www.epbf.com

Daniel Maciol with Tallinn Open Trophy
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DAY TWO

Final 16 Assembled in Tallinn

Reporter: Luke Riches on behalf of the EPBF
Photography: ©EPBF

FULL DAY of action in Estonia saw the 2024 DYNAMIC BILLARD Tallinn Open reduce down to the final 16 players at the Kalevi Sports Hall. Mark Magi is the last Estonian player left in the event from a starting line of 23 and he coasted into the last 16 with an impressive 36-minute 9-1 thumping of defending champion Mohammad Soufi of Syria.

Magi is an infrequent visitor to the Euro Tour these days and was coming to the event on a wing and a prayer but he has compiled a string of impressive wins including the scalps of Joao Grilo and compatriot Dennis Grabe.

Commented Magi, “I played my best game tonight. I made some good breaks and my game went very well and I took my chances and did what I had to do. I don’t think it’s pressure being an Estonian player here – it’s helping me more. Against Dennis I played really well. I was down 7-3 and after that I came back 8-5, 8-8 and then 9-8 so I had a very good match.

“I told my friends before the game tonight that it would go quick and I’d play my game and see what happens and it went really well. I haven’t practised much and I thought I’d just come to play and see what happens and now I’m in the last 16,” he added.

Magi can look forward to a last 16 match-up against Daniel Maciol (Poland), another young player looking to open his Euro Tour account.

Niels Feijen is still on track for Euro Tour title No.12 as he handily defeated Wojciech Szewczyk 9-4 to advance. The other Dutchman in the last 32 draw was WPA World Junior Champion Yannick Pongers and he defeated young Pole Dominik Jastrzab to progress. Yannick will be looking to go one better than his brother Quinten, who made the semi-finals in Lasko last year.

Another veteran looking for his maiden Euro Tour victory is Poland’s evergreen Radoslaw Babica. The hardy Pole was a runner-up last time out in Treviso in November and is well in the mix here in Tallinn as he bumped off countryman Michal Olech 9-1 to reach the final day of competition.

Babica said, “Actually I’m happy to be in the last 16; maybe my game is not so special but it’s very effective. I’ve lost just seven racks in four matches so far. In Lasko I lost to Joshua (Filler) in the semis, in Treviso I lost to Joshua in the finals and now he’s absent! But there’s a long way to go yet. There were no targets coming here; just to play my game and focus and that was my goal.”

Francisco Diaz-Pizarro, who is regularly seen racking up the medals at the European Seniors championship, is enjoying a renaissance on the Euro Tour as he defeated local hope Mikhel Rehepapp to advance. The wily Spaniard was a semi-finalist in Tampere last year and should not be discounted as he faces Sebastian Batkowski in the round of 16.

On Saturday morning the final day’s play gets underway at 10.00 with the last 16. The semi-finals are at 14.00 and 15.30 followed by the title match at 17.00. For viewers at home, Tables 1 & 2 will be streamed throughout on YouTube. Table 1 will be on the Kozoom channel, who are back handling the production for 2024. Table 2 will be available throughout on the EPBF platform.

All other tables can be viewed on the Kozoom.com website, where there are a variety of subscription options.

LINKS

Table 1 link = https://www.youtube.com/@KozoomTV/streams
Table 2 link = https://www.youtube.com/@theepbf/streams
Tables 1-20 = https://home.kozoom.com/en/all-cue-sports

In addition, the Predator Women’s Tallinn Open gets underway at 9.00 on Saturday 17th February and concludes with the final at 17.00 on the Sunday.

As well as the prize money, there are Tour ranking points on offer, so there is everything to play for. The Dynamic Billards Tallinn Open is 9-ball and players compete in a double-elimination format, playing down to the single elimination final stages until the finish. All matches are races to 9 racks with alternate break.

Results, live scoring, and draw are available at www.epbf.com

DAY ONE

Day One Completes in Estonia

Reporter: Luke Riches on behalf of the EPBF
Photography: ©EPBF

THE 2024 DYNAMIC Billard Euro Tour got underway at the Kalevi Sports Hall as 161 players gathered to contest the Tallinn Open. There were three full rounds of play as well a number of matches in the Winners’ Round 2 as play completed around 10.40 in the evening.

One of the big guns in the field is 47-year-old Dutchman Niels Feijen, who enjoyed three wins to advance to the Winners’ Qualification bracket. Despite claiming his first podium finish at the Euro Tour back in the last century – a runner’s up spot in Tampere, Finland in 1999 – Feijen is still a player to be reckoned with.

‘The Terminator’ last won on tour in St Johann in the summer of 2022 when he defeated Francisco Sanchez Ruiz for the title.

Said Feijen of the current state of his game, “Practice is steady and I need some more competition to get back in stroke as there’s absolutely nobody in Denmark at the moment. Mickey Krause, my regular practice partner, is on the road nonstop so I’m missing a little bit of sparring, so it takes me a little bit longer in competition to find a good gear and to get in the competitive groove.

“I was breaking really good the first two matches and that’s a good sign. Like I said I just need a competitive groove but if I get a couple of matches under my belt, then my game is as good as ever. I’ve just got to get comfortable with playing matches, running out, battling and stuff like that. I still think I can go deep and win but one match at a time, it’s all about the process. Do the small things really well and the result will come by themselves.

“People think I practice a ton but that’s not true. When I’m at home I practice about two hours a day but I do other things away from the table which I’m very disciplined at which completes my work day and that’s like meditating two times a day for about 20 minutes. I work out pretty much five to seven days a week.

“But practicing gets harder when it’s solo. It gets more boring which I can say after about 30 years of playing. That’s what I miss sometimes, good quality, fun, heads-up sparring but that’s part of the job. It’s not always fun and you’ve got to put in the hours. Sometimes you don’t feel like it but the rewards are there in competition when you’ve put the work in.”

Whilst Feijen is chasing his 12th Euro Tour title, Wojciech Szewczyk is still looking to open his account and must surely be the best player currently competing to have not yet won on Tour. However, with two wins from two today in Tallinn, the classy Pole is still in the hunt.

He said, “I had a little time off around New Year's but it's mid-February already so I'm back in practice for several weeks. I feel like that training is starting to show in some more difficult aspects of the game like breaking, kicking and jumping. My attitude is positive but it still feels like I am observing and monitoring my game as it's the first international event of 2024 for me.

“The field here in Tallinn is strong and I don't expect easy matches at any stage of the tournament. As we have only just started my mind isn't set for the 1st place just yet. I do see the possibility of that golden scenario coming true though, that's definitely what I am trying to achieve.

“I did have some time off; it was combined with an illness on the way, so I got out of stroke for a short time. No regrets though as I cherished the family time very much. I do think it's necessary if you want to keep going long-term and I try to catch up working smart and staying disciplined,” he added.

Play restarts at 9.00 on Friday morning and continues all day where they will play down to the final 16 players. For viewers at home, Tables 1 & 2 will be streamed throughout on YouTube. Table 1 will be on the Kozoom channel, who are back handling the production for 2024. Table 2 will be available throughout on the EPBF platform.

All other tables can be viewed on the Kozoom.com website, where there are a variety of subscription options.

LINKS

Table 1 link = https://www.youtube.com/@KozoomTV/streams
Table 2 link = https://www.youtube.com/@theepbf/streams
Tables 1-20 = https://home.kozoom.com/en/all-cue-sports

In addition, the Predator Women’s Tallinn Open gets underway at 9.00 on Saturday 17th February and concludes with the final at 17.00 on the Sunday.

As well as the prize money, there are Tour ranking points on offer, so there is everything to play for. The Dynamic Billards Tallinn Open is 9-ball and players compete in a double-elimination format, playing down to the single elimination final stages until the finish. All matches are races to 9 racks with alternate break.

Results, live scoring, and draw are available at www.epbf.com

PREVIEW

Euro Tour Opens 2024 Season in Estonia

Reporter: Luke Riches on behalf of the EPBF
Photography: ©EPBF

THE 2024 EURO Tour, both Dynamic Billard Men’s and Predator Ladies, gets underway this week as the EPBF return to Tallinn, the capital city of Estonia after a successful debut last year. Getting underway on Thursday 15th, the Dynamic Billard Tallinn Open has a starting line-up of 161 players including 23 men representing the home country. That number is usurped by the Finns, though, who have a 26-strong contingent in contention.

The highest ranked player in attendance is Poland’s Daniel Maciol, who sits at No.3 in the standings. The 24-year-old from Mikolow, which sits on the outskirts of Katowice, had a good 2023 on tour, reaching the final in St Johann as well a semi-final spot later in the year in Treviso, and looks set for bigger things this year.

Commented Daniel, “I feel excited about the first Euro Tour this year. Winning the Euro Tour is one of my goals for 2024 and I believe it can happen in Tallinn. Last year was my best Euro Tour season so far. I reached the podium twice and finished high in the ranking. I think that over the years my break has improved and that has helped a lot to my better results.

With the feeling that 2024 could well be his break-out year, Maciol has a lot of big tournaments to look forward to, starting in Tallinn: “My next starts after the Euro Tour in February and March are the Alfa Las Vegas Open, the 10-ball World Championships in Las Vegas and the Polish 10-ball in Kielce for sure. We'll see how the next part of the year will look like.

“My decision to become a professional pool player was made at the end of my studies. But as a junior, I always wanted pool to be my future and I am glad that it is possible,” he concluded.

The event gets underway at 9.00 on Thursday 15th February and plays down to the final which takes place at 17.00 local time on Saturday 17th.

For viewers at home, Tables 1 & 2 will be streamed throughout on YouTube. Table 1 will be on the Kozoom channel, who are back handling the production for 2024. Table 2 will be available throughout on the EPBF platform.

All other tables can be viewed on the Kozoom.com website, where there are a variety of subscription options.

The Predator Women’s Tallinn Open starts at 9.00 on Saturday 17th February and concludes with the final at 17.00 on the Sunday and there is a very strong field in contention with 55 starters – the largest women’s field in some time.

For both events, as well as the prize money, there are Tour ranking points on offer, so there is everything to play for. The Tallinn events are 9-ball and players compete in a double-elimination format, playing down to the single elimination final stages until the finish. All matches are races to 9 racks with alternate break.

Results, live scoring, and draw are available at www.epbf.com

Table 1 link = https://www.youtube.com/@KozoomTV/streams
Table 2 link = https://www.youtube.com/@theepbf/streams
Tables 1-20 = https://home.kozoom.com/en/all-cue-sports

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