BORGEN – Young Danish billiards player Björn Mikkel Jensen (25) is a new star in the Danish three-cushion billiards scene. The relatively unknown player unexpectedly won the Nordic championship title this Sunday. The championship, featuring well-known players such as Torbjörn Blomdahl, David Pennör, Thomas Andersen, and Nalle Olsson, was played in the Danish city of Borgen. Björn Mikkel Jensen won the semifinal by shootout against Torbjörn Blomdahl and the final also by shootout against David Pennör. For Björn Mikkel Jensen, an unknown player in three-cushion billiards, it was his first time competing in the Nordic Championship after having won the Danish junior championship numerous times in other disciplines, such as 5-pin billiards, Danish 9 pins, and biathlon. Björn Mikkel Jensen, from the town of Naestved, married to Jeannette Mortensen and a young father of two children (Josefine, 18 months old, Mateo, 2 months old), has a twin brother who also plays billiards but who has given up three-cushion billiards.
Just how unknown Björn Mikkel Jensen is with three-cushion billiards is evident from what he says. "I beat a Dutchman in the Danish competition this year." His name, Jean Paul de Bruijn. "I had forgotten his name."
How is it possible that the Danish newcomer could beat Torbjörn Blomdahl and David Pennör in the finals of the Nordic Championship? He finished second in his preliminary group behind Stefan Hilvin, defeated Claus Petersen 40-11 in the round of 16, defeated Mark Högdahl 40-37 in the quarterfinals, and then faced Torbjörn Blomdahl in the semifinals. That would normally have been the end of his adventure.
However, Björn Mikkel Jensen remained evenly matched with the multi-champion and world-class player, playing 40-40 in 36 innings. Torbjörn missed the start of the shootout series, and Jensen responded with a one-goal score to win 41-40. That put him in the final against David Pennör, a player who had lost three Nordic Championship finals. The final ended 40-40 after Jensen had equalized with a one-goal score. Pennör started the shootout with a 1-score, and Jensen responded with a 2-score to become the champion!
The new Danish star said afterward: "I'm very happy with this championship and my victories against Torbjörn Blomdahl and David Pennör. I don't know how that happened. It was very exciting with the shootouts, and the tables got shorter, which is probably why Blomdahl missed the break shot. I have a lot of experience playing finals, having been champion 11 times in other disciplines, especially during my junior years. I've been playing three-cushion billiards for 8, 9 years now, but I have my own cleaning service company, JN Rengöring, so I can't train very much. But winning this title is fantastic."
The final standings of the Nordic Championship:
- Björn Mikkel Jensen, 1.101 average, (Denmark)
- David Pennör (Sweden), 1.228, Sweden
- Torbjörn Blomdahl, 1.682, Sweden
- Thomas Andersen, 0.913, Denmark
- Nalle Olsson, 1.118, Sweden
- Mark Högdahl, 0.938, Denmark
- Tommy Magnussen, 0.777, Denmark
- Stefan Hilvin, 0.660, Sweden
