THERE WAS MORE action today at the 2026 KAMUI European Youth Pool Championships in 9-ball, Teams and 8-ball where the quarter-finalists have been determined in the Girl’s and Under 19s while the Under 17s resume at the last 16 stage tomorrow. All three events conclude on Sunday evening with the championship deciders at 19.30.
Through to the Under 19s last eight is Serbia’s Luka Bugarski who came out best in a hard-hitting scrap with Valentin Schmitz (GER), one of the top players here. Bugarski, who has a clutch of bronze medals stretching back to 2021, has a chance to go better tomorrow in what is his last European Youth Pool Championships.
He said, “I’m feeling really happy because it was such a tough match. I started really good; I was 6-2 up and played pretty good. In the first eight racks he made one or two mistakes and I took it and from 6-2 he came back to 6-5 and that last rack was so tough but I managed to win.
“It would feel really good finishing in first place and be the best memory as this is my last year so we will see. To be on the podium is the best moment in the European Championships. We have six youths from Serbia this year and each year it’s more and more, more tournaments, more kids.
“My best memory is that first medal and the first quarter-final that I won - it was maybe the best thing that happened to me but we’ll see tomorrow!”
A player with plenty of experience is Norway’s Robin Hauge Pettersen, who has another crack at the medals on Sunday, courtesy of a comfortable 7-0 win over Renzo Sierra (Spain). Petersen brings some EC form to this year’s events, having won a silver (8-ball) and a bronze in 9-ball last year.
Commented Robin, “I’m feeling very confident and my goal here is European Champion. Last year I got three medals and I’ve got very confident that I’m going to achieve bigger things.”
Hauge Pettersen will face Hungary’s Adam Gyaraki who put paid to the hopes of the Netherland’s Rayen Gtari with a 7-4 scoreline. Hungary have never featured that strongly at the Youth ECs but Gyaraki has his chance to make a mark on Sunday.
He said, “Yes, this is very big for me and it’s an amazing feeling to be playing in the quarter-final. I’ve been getting lot of experience on the Euro Tour and I can handle pressure a lot better. I think I will sleep a lot tonight and just enjoy the game and see what happens.”
With big gun Walter Laikre already eliminated, it was down to Gabriel Aspholm to fly the Swedish flag and he did it justice with a hill-hill win against Iceland’s Hlynur Stefansson. That sets up a last eight clash against Austria’s Seymen Atila for a spot on the podium.
Commented Gabriel, “I was pretty nervous. I was up like 6-2 then I scratched on the break twice and he took his chances against me and then he managed to come back to hill-hill. Then he missed the 8-ball so I regrouped myself, took my chance and managed to win that one. Tonight it’s eat well, sleep well, maybe go to the gym but I’m feeling really well.”
Tomorrow, the 8-ball quarter-finals go off at 13.00, followed by the semi-finals at 16.30 and the title deciders at 19.30. 9-ball also continues tomorrow, playing to a conclusion on Tuesday afternoon.
Tables 1, 2 and 3 at the Kamui European Youth Pool Championships are 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/tournaments/european-championships/
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