20th July 2025
THERE WERE 8-BALL golds for Sweden, Germany and France as the PREDATOR EUROPEAN Youth Pool Championships completed its sixth day at the Terme Olimia resort in Slovenia. Walter Laikre (SWE) finally got his hands on a trophy defeating Robin Hauge Pettersen (Norway) 7-3, while Germany’s Valentin Schmitz landed gold in Under 17s, as he beat Emir Pandzic of Bosnia Herzegovina 6-2. Finally in the Girl’s division, France’s Rachelle Enfroy won 5-2 over Sweden’s Linnea Hjalmarstrom.
For Laikre, it was vindication at last, following a string of near misses in his lengthy European Championship career. Having fallen at the final hurdle in the 10-ball earlier, he showed great resolve, looking composed as he led from the start to defeat Hauge Pettersen.
Commented Laikre, “It means a lot. I’ve been playing for many years and this is my fifth Youth European Championships. I’ve never come home with a gold, only three silver medals so I’m so happy to get the gold medal here. The 10-ball was heart-breaking as you have to come such a long road to come to the final and then to just struggle is not fun.
“I’ve never been so hungry for a title before so I just went all in to get the gold and I finally did it. I tried to play calmly but I was definitely not calm, I can tell you that! I really hope that this is the starting point of my international career because this is my first big title,” he concluded.
Bronze medals went to Jokubas Silentjevas (LIT) and Akseli Hannukkala (FIN).
In the Girl’s title match Rachelle Enfroy overcame Linnea Hjalmarstrom to deny the Swede her second gold medal of the Championships. Enfroy took the match 5-2, playing just about as well as she could. Supported by her family in the stands, she never looked flustered as she controlled the match. It was also the first-ever gold medal for a French girl at the European Youth Championships.
Rachelle said, “I’d say that match was not the best I’ve ever played but one of the best. It’s just incredible! I’m so proud and happy as this is my first EC, just very proud. My family told me to breathe to relax during the match but despite the emotion, I did it.”
The two bronze medals were won by Iris Eijmberts (NED) and Shirin Volery (SUI).
Finally, in the Boy’s Under 17’s, it was Valentin Schmitz of Germany who claimed his second medal of the Championships, having already won a bronze in the 10-ball. Having opened up a 4-0 lead in the race-to-six match, he fended off a mini-revival from Emir Pandzic to see out the match.
He said, “It feels incredible, I can’t believe it, just amazing! I played really well in the match; I made just two mistakes so I’m really happy with my performance and the gold medal of course. After the bronze I wanted gold or silver and I got the gold.”
Filling out the medal positions with bronzes were Krisztián-Antónió Farkas (HUN) and Mark Szabo (SVK).
With two days remaining of this year’s Predator European Youth Pool Championships, play continues tomorrow with the final two medal chances, 9-ball and Teams.
The Predator European Youth Pool Championships is in its 44th year and is presented by the European Pocket Billiard Federation.
Streaming of Tables 1 and 2 for the duration of the Predator European Youth Championships can be found on YouTube, via the Pro Billiard TV channel - https://www.youtube.com/@ProBilliardTV
For all results, live scoring and draw, visit www.epbf.com/tournaments/european-championships/
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From official press release.