8-Ball, 9-Ball, 10-Ball and 14.1 for Men, Women and Wheelchair
Alvisse Parc Hotel
Route d’Echternach
L-1453
Luxembourg
www.parc-hotel.lu
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21-31 March 2012
Champions Line Kjoersvik and Nick van den Berg. Foto: EPBF/DK
Kjoersvik and van den Berg take the crowns
Friday, 23 March 2012: Line Kjoersvik from Norway and Nick van den Berg from the Netherlands are the newly crowned European Champions 2012 in straight pool.
In an all Dutch clash, Nick van den Berg managed to roll over Niels Feijen with 125:18. Van den Berg was better in all aspects. “It was a long day. I pocketed 750 plus today plus the ones that I’ve missed, so probably around 800 balls”, said van den Berg, “I feel like I have a heavy jetlag”. That came right after the final from the new straight pool champion.
The match was unexpectedly one-sided. Nick ran away with 72:11 and even 100:11 and Niels never seemed to get his game in gear. “I think he struggled a bit with the conditions”, said van den Berg when asked about his opponent’s performance.
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In fact, Feijen played his worst match of the day. In all earlier matches, he seemed to perform like a train running down a track – focussed, strong and self-secure. In the final, that was all gone. “To be honest, I think that Niels has played a better tournament than I have”, admitted van den Berg, “but in the final match, he simply couldn’t get going which I used for my benefit. If you give me the chances as he did, you can’t win”. “For ten years I used to have problems playing Niels. I choked every time”, said van den Berg, “but since two or three years I’m feeling more confident against him. We’re both World class pool players, and today was my day”!
In the women’s division, Line Kjoersvik from Norway defeated Anna Majirina from Russia with 75:42. Majirina had just defeated Jasmin Ouschan in the semi-finals and the match was open from the start. Kjoersvik got momentum first and achieved a 40:8 lead over the Russian. She never let that advantage out of her hands anymore. Whatever Majirina tried, Kjoersvik had the answer for. In the end, Kjoersvik turned out to be a deserved winner with a proud Majirina receiving the silver medal.
Tomorrow, the Dynamic European Championships continue with the 10-ball competition for men, women and wheelchair players. Matches will start at 09:00 CET.
Nick van den Berg (NED). Foto: EPBF/DK
Van den Berg is in the finals
Thursday, 22 March 2012: In an intense battle, Nick van den Berg (NED) literally destroyed his opponent, Mario He (AUT) with 125:51.
It was the re-match from last year’s European Championship 9-ball final. Would He be able to take revenge for his loss? Van den Berg took a quick lead in the match due to He’s rather risky way of approaching the table. He took a comfortable 59:0 lead over He but then missed a shot.
He, who has kept himself in the zone with his eyes closed while his opponent made the balls, made 39 balls before he allowed van den Berg back to the table. However, He played a safety attempt after van den Berg committed a foul and left a shot for van den Berg. That was not necessary and way too risky, again. Van den Berg got momentum and ran out the match, making all remaining balls in one inning, winning the match with 125:51.
In the other men’s semi-final, favoured Niels Feijen (NED) remained the upper hand over Denis Grabe (EST) with 125:16. Just like van den Berg, Feijen has shown a solid and high class performance throughout the tournament. That continued in the match against Grabe. Feijen allowed Grabe to the table twice only and that was obviously not enough for the Estonian to become a danger to Feijen in any way, shape or form.
In the women’s division, the major upset of the day took place. Anna Majirina (RUS) ousted defending Champion Jasmin Ouschan (AUT) with a clear 75:29 victory. Majirina has shown a solid performance while Ouschan was struggling, having no luck on her side.
The fourth semi-final was won by favoured Line Kjoersvik (NOR) who defeated Christine Wiechert (GER) with 75:45.
The finals between Niels Feijen v Nick van den Berg and Anna Majirina v Line Kjoersvik will start at 20:30 CET.
Niels Feijen (NED). Foto: EPBF/DK
Feijen destroys Ouschan
Thursday, 22 March 2012: With a very good performance, Niels Feijen (NED) ousts Albin Ouschan (AUT) from the straight pool event with 125:1.
The setup itself was really interesting. On two of the three tables in the final arena we had favourite players playing against “underdogs” that are known to be strong and dangerous. But in all three cases, the favoured player won. Probably the best performance was offered by “The Terminator” Niels Feijen. He made exactly one mistake in the whole match.
That was when he was leading 85:0 over Ouschan, he missed a shot. Ouschan came to an open table but missed his second ball already, only to et Feijen run another 40 balls and take the match. Feijen, a 4-times European straight pool champion and one-time World Champion in that discipline, made the game look easy since he played it so solid and strong.
He was like a “train on a track”, rolling along without giving anyone the chance to stop him. Ouschan, who just recently won the Dynamic Euro-Tour in Sarajevo, Bosnia & Herzegovina, could only sit in his chair and watch Feijen tear his medal dreams apart.
Next to that table, David Alcaide (ESP) won against Aki Heiskanen (FIN) with 125:105. The match was much closer but not of the same quality as the match next to them. Both players missed quite some shots and Heiskanen was leading 80:39 before Alcaide received the wake-up call. Then, the Spaniard who became European straight pool champion in 2010 in Zagreb, Croatia, played more to his ability and finally was able to turn the tide in the match, winning with a comfortable lead in the end.
Other notable results include Marco Teutscher (NED) beating Manuel Ederer (GER) with 125:47. “Napoleon” Marcus Chamat (SWE) was still waving the Swedish flag in the men’s straight pool division. He won with 125:68 over Dmitry Chuprov (BLR) and continued his quest for glory in the next round when he had to face Artem Koshovyi (UKR). The Ukrainian ended Chamat’s hopes with a clear 125:85 victory.
In the women’s division, Line Kjoersvik (NOR) defeated Sara Roche (POR) with 75:28.
Ruslan Chinakhov (RUS). Foto: EPBF/DK
Chinakhov creams Jentsch
At the Dynamic European Championships 2012 in the straight pool division, Ruslan Chinakhov (RUS) creamed Dominic Jentsch (GER) with 125:4 in just 4 innings.
The German player never had a chance in the single-sided match. Chinakhov opened the match and played a good safety shot. Then Jentsch played a safety shot himself, leaving a tough long shot at the 4-ball for Chinakhov. The Russian made it and played 92 (!) balls in a row, putting a lot of pressure on Jentsch. When Jentsch came to the table, he found a tough situation for him. He pocketed two balls but scratched with the cue ball. That gave Chinakhov the chance to take a 121:4 lead over Jentsch. The German then tried a bank shot but missed it. Chinakhov ran the remaining balls and deservedly won the match.
Other notable results include Niels Feijen (NED) ousting Murat Ayas (SUI) with 125:-1.
In the women’s division, defending Champion Jasmin Ouschan (AUT) erased Silvia Gaudino (ITA) 75:1. Belgium’s hopes of a medal were terminated when Kamila Khodjaeva got beat 69:75 by Katarzyna Wesolowska (POL).
Georgiev Lyudmil (BUL). Foto: EPBF/DK
Lyudmil through to last 64 single elimination
In a tight match, Georgiev Lyudmil (BUL) beat Ozgur Akkurt (TUR) by 100:68.
Both players seemed to struggle their way into the match. None of the two had a great advantage over the opponent and it was Lyudmil to get momentum first. He managed to gain a 51:35 advantage over Akkurt. The Turkish player obviously could not find a proper answer for that. He came a bit closer but Lyudmil was able to keep the distance to Akkurt and crossed the winning line, taking the match 100:68. Lyudmil will now play in the single elimination field of the last 64 players while Akkurt needs to get another win in the loser’s bracket.
Other notable results include Vincent Facquet (nothing) winning 100:86 over Milos Verkic (SRB). Good news for France: His teammate Eric Chen (nothing) also took his match against favoured Ruslan Chinakhov and just won with 100:90. Reigning 9-ball European Champion Nick van den berg (NED) lost 4:100 against a strong playing Zoran Svilar (SRB). Evgen Novosad (UKR) stole the match from his opponent Petri Makkonen (FIN) with 100:96.
In the women’s division, Tamara Rademakers (NED) beat Line Kjoersvik (NOR) with 75:49. Simone Kuenzel (GER) won her match over Natalya Seroshtan (RUS) with 75:52.
Konrad Piekarski at the table. Foto: EPBF/DK
Tornado Loses To Strong Piekarski
In a furious match, Konrad Piekarski (POL) defeated “The Tornado” Tony Drago with 100:85 in 49 minutes!
The writing was on the wall that the match would not be a slow one. Drago is known to be one of the fastest players in pool-billiards, if not the fastest. His opponent, 18-year old Piekarski, has just come out of the juniors division which is also known to play quick. But this match was on fire!
Piekarski started with a 27:1 lead over Drago. Then Drago answered and shot 60 balls in 15 minutes! Piekarski tried to catch up but was only able to get to 40 balls before Drago returned to the table, playing another 12 balls into his account. Then Piekarski turned the tide in the match and managed to overtake Drago, taking an 83 to 72 lead in the match. When Drago returned to the table at that score, he found an open table for him. He pocketed all balls and got a bit too straight on his next break ball, leading now 85:83. Instead of playing safety, Drago chose to try and fire the break ball in but he missed it by quite a bit. All balls were open now for Piekarski and Drago had to go sit in his chair while his young Polish opponent pocketed ball after ball. Though he did not play ideally, he still managed to pocket ball after ball and came up with a reasonable break ball in the end. He fired that one in and ended up winning the match with 100:85. Drago will go to the loser’s side of the draw now. He still has one chance to stay in the straight pool competition.
Other notable results include Stephan Cohen (nothing) winning 100:72 over Klaus Zobrekis (GER). Zoran Svilar (SRB) executed Mario He (AUT) in one inning, winning 100:0. He’s fellow countryman Albin Ouschan (AUT) ended Manuel Gama’s (POR) winner’s round experience with the same result, also in one inning. In the women’s division, Katarzyna Wesolowska (POL) defeated Yulia Yevseyenko (UKR) with 75:4.
Players and referee standing in the main arena during the opening ceremony.
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Opening ceremony just finished in Luxembourg
“I herewith declare the 2012 European Championships for Men, Women and Wheelchair athletes for opened”. These were the final words during the opening ceremony with which the President of the EPBF, Gre Leenders, opened the event.
The ceremony started with an impressive walk-in of all participating nations. Athletes from 34 European countries carried their respective flag into the arena, accompanied by rock music and flashing lights while the audience showed their appreciation to each and every nation.
The speeches of the guests of honour, A. Graeten and P. Dinis, representing the Luxembourg Billiard Federation and Gre Leenders, President of the EPBF, were alternated with songs by local singer Patricia Venancio.
After Mr. Leenders has openend the upcoming championships, the national anthem of Luxembourg was sung. Then all players and coaches were invited to an opening drink into the disco of the Alvisse Parc Hotel.
Everything is now set up for 10 days of high class pool billiards.
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 , follow us on twitter @EPBF_News or contact our press office.
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