THE PREDATOR EURO TOUR makes its third start of the year as the Predator Austrian Open in both men’s and women’s events, gets underway on Thursday morning. 9-ball is the game this week and both tournaments are packed with talent from across the continent. There are a whopping 199 runners in the men’s event and 52 players contest the women’s. The men play race-to-9 double elimination down to the last 32, when the matches move to races-to-11 while the women play race-to-7 until the last 16 when the race moves to 9.
Crowned Billard Beckmann Men’s Open champion here on Tuesday night, Germany’s Felix Vogel is still revelling in his first major international win, beating Wu Kun Lin of Chinese Taipei in the title decider. It was a career-best performance from the prodigious 18-year-old but he knows he’ll have to reset in his quest for consecutive titles.
He said, “It feels like a dream! I worked really hard for this title and I’ve enjoyed it with the best people here. We spent a nice time eating, just enjoying the time and some fun and games.
“My game feels good but I have to stay hungry for the next title, for the Euro Tour, that’s why I don’t want to celebrate too much and just focus on the next one and keep the practice going. Really, I feel amazing. My game is working; my basics are good and mentally I think I’m at my best now. I don’t prefer any game; I just play whatever the tournament is. I just want to play!”
Vogel will have his work cut out with all top 25 players on the Predator Euro Tour rankings present this week. Although sitting outside the 25, Joshua Filler represents the biggest threat this week given his dominating record in Euro Tour events, having won seven of his last 10 starts on Europe’s premier pool circuit.
Arguably favourite in the Predator Austrian Women’s Open is home nation hero, Jasmin Ouschan. She was a narrow loser on Tuesday night at the Predator Pro Billiard Series, defeated 3-4, 3-4 by South Korea’s Seo Seoa. It was an impressive run to the final and with another title on the line, Ouschan is all set to give it her best shot.
She said, “I think the older I get, the quicker I get over defeats like yesterday. I won the last PBS event in St Louis so coming here I thought, take it easy and see what happens and I finished second again, so I can’t really complain. I know what I did wrong and I know what I’m going to do better next time so that’s my focus. When I’m looking at the past couple of months and how I played and what I’ve been working on, I’m totally satisfied. Tomorrow is match-time again and as usual I want to win so I’m going to give it my all and let’s see how much energy I have left.
“Of course, it would be great to win in your home country and of course last night I thought the same and how picture perfect would that be to win a PBS title in Austria, but then again, that puts a lot of pressure on you. In the past this would have thrown me off much more than now but with all the experience now, I’m much more settled and calm and I won’t let that get to me too much. I’d rather take it as good energy and support for me and use that for somethi3ng positive than to put extra pressure on me,” she added.
Three players representing Chinese Taipei, here to compete in the Predator Pro Billiard Series, have stayed on to compete on the Euro Tour. Chen Chia Hua, Chiang Shui Ching, and Hong Xin Yu all reached the last 16 stage in the Carrinho Women’s Open and will bring a welcome Asian dimension to the Predator Austrian Open.
Play gets underway at 9.00 on Thursday in the men’s event and at 12.00 in the women’s. Play continues through Friday and Saturday with the two championship matches scheduled for 17.00 on Sunday at 20.00. As of 2026, WPA World Ranking points are now available on both men’s and women’s Predator Euro Tours.
Tables 1, 2 and 3 at the Predator Austrian Opens will be streamed throughout on YouTube, via the Pro Billiard TV channel - https://www.youtube.com/@ProBilliardTV
For all results, live scoring and draw, visit www.epbf.com
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