Unbelievable effort from Cohen over Feijen
Sarajevo, Bosnia & Hercegovina: After trailing 0:4, Stephane Cohen (FRA) managed to turn the tide in the match with Euro-Tour Nr. 1 ranked player, Niels Feijen (NED), and defeated him with 8:5.
The match could be used in the history books of pool-billiard. The lesson learned could be "never give up"! Cohen was playing in the first winner's round against Feijen. The Dutch has just taken the last Euro-Tour in St. Johann/Pg., Austria and is currently the Nr. 1 ranked player in Europe. That draw alone was tough for Cohen. "I did not really have the time to prepare for that tournament here", stated Cohen, "I have been on a nice vacation with my family". Maybe that was the best preparation for him. He came up with an unbelievably strong performance. But before that, it was Feijen's show at the table. "The Terminator" started out as usual - strong, focussed and tough to beat. After four racks, he was leading 4:0 and it was smooth sailing for the Dutch Champion so far. In the 5th rack Feijen suddenly missed a make-able 6-ball and opened the door for Cohen to open his account. Cohen accepted the invitation and took the rack. From then on, the match changed completely. Feijen had obviously lost his break shot. Whatever he tried, he could not pocket a ball on the break anymore. On the other hand, Cohen grew stronger and stronger. He ran two racks from a very difficult position and claimed point after point. In the end, Cohen accomplished the "mission impossible" and snatched seven racks in a row off Feijen, getting on the hill with 7:4. Feijen managed to pull one rack back from Cohen but the French gave the answer right after that, winning the match with 8:5.
"I think the match turned when he missed the 6-ball. That brought me into the match", said Cohen after his amazing victory. "I grew stronger and suddenly, also my break shot was good. I had balls down and position every time I broke". Feijen will have to analyze what happened tonight in his match. He will get another chance on the one-loss side of the tournament. Cohen proceeds to the winner's qualification round where he will meet Filip Bermanec (CRO) who surprisingly wrestled Juan Carlos Exposito (ESP) down with 8:7.
Other notable results from the second winner's round include Dominik Jentsch (GER) getting the better of Matjaz Erculj (SLO) with 8:3. Ivo Aarts, the rising star from the Netherlands, clearly defeated his teammate Marc Bijsterbosch with 8:2. World 10-Ball Champion Huidji See (NED) did his homework and crushed Babken Melkonyan (ROM) 8:4.
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 http://www.eurotouronline.eu or contact our press office.