THE 2026 KAMUI European Youth Pool Championships concluded this evening at the Terme Olimia Resort, in Podčetrtek, Slovenia as the three 9-ball tournaments played out in the afternoon and the two team events in the evening. Individual golds went to Gabriel Aspholm of Sweden, Slovakia’s Mark Szabo and Iris Eijmberts of the Netherlands. The Team golds went to Germany in the Under 19s and Slovenia in Under17s.
Mark Szabo’s 7-5 win over countryman Timothei Furko ensured that Slovakia topped the medal table with three golds, two silvers and a bronze. Aspholm added a gold to the silver he won in 8-ball as he defeated Martin Roser (GER) 8-4. In the girl’s Eijmberts won a final rack decider over Julia Cabala after the Polish girl heart-breakingly time-fouled with two balls left on the table.
For Gabriel Aspholm, his gold medal was a vindication of his resolve and mental strength as he bounced back from a hard defeat in the final of the 8-ball to claim gold as he got the better of Martin Roser in the final. Part of a small Swedish team of himself, Walter Laikre and team-leader Tom Eksell, the Swedes creditably amassed two golds, a silver and a bronze between them.
Commented Aspholm, “It’s like a dream come true. This was one of the biggest goals I had and finally I managed to pull it off. I was trying to put the 8-ball behind me and give everything I had in 9-ball and I did and I’m proud of myself. The other guys meant everything; all the time-outs, all the talks we had together, it means everything.”
For the Slovakian squad, the sky was the limit this week in Slovenia and it was Mark Szabo who bagged his second gold medal to add to an earlier silver and lift his team into wonderland. Furko had lead the race-to-seven match 4-1 before Szabo got to work to cap a magnificent week. Furko himself finished up with a gold and a silver.
Commented Szabo, “I’m really surprised but really happy and satisfied with the result and all over with the county’s results. I had a good feeling that this would be a good European Championships for us but not this good. I could never have imagined that it would have been this good. I feel really proud of that and we’re both really happy to have written ourselves into the history of Slovakian pool. I can’t wait to see my family and show them this trophy!”
Finally in the Girl’s decider it was Iris Eijmberts who took the final gold as she squeaked past Julia Cabala, the tournament’s surprise package. Iris was highly fancied pre-tournament but faltered in the earlier events. However, she saved her best till last to prevail. Her father, her training partner, was with Iris every step of the way and she acknowledged his support.
“He’s very helpful, we always train together and he knows me really well and he helped me a lot this week and I’m very happy that I managed to win my first European title. I didn’t expect it after being out of the other tournaments early, so I’m very happy. I didn’t expect to get another chance in the final as she had a really good chance and made a mistake and I managed to clear the rack. It was unbelievable, it felt unreal!”
As usual, the two Team events were full of drama as teams of three play in 8, 9 and 10-ball matches and it was Germany and Slovenia who got it over the line. The German team of Martin Roser, Valentin Schmitz and Fabrizio Ingrasci held their nerve to hold out against a strong Austrian squad to claim gold.
Roser, who had battled through to the earlier 9-ball final, was thrilled to end his championships with a triumph; “It was really good after five really exhausting match and it was great to have such good team mates who could get the win for me. It’s really good to end with a gold.”
Ingrasci was in a strong position but as his opponent, Seymen Atila, came back, he looked like he would wilt but he managed to hold him off as he potted the winning 9-ball, “I feel incredible. I was a bit under pressure but in the end, I was able to win it.”
Finally, it was Schmitz who got his team’s first point on the board, as he defeated Markus Schleindler. “The win was incredible. He came back to 4-5 and I’m pretty proud of my performance and my team mates who played really good.”
Cheered on by a partisan crowd, it was Slovenia who took the Under 17 gold as they defeated Norway 2-0. Maks Benko and Svit Pavlinjek got the wins while Maj Badovinac’s match failed to conclude.
The Slovenian boys were naturally delighted with the victory, “It feels incredible! We were practicing a lot and it was a big reward for that,” commented Badovinac. Pavlinjek added, “I was happy that I was able to play with two of my friends who were very good at pool!”
Finally, Benko said, “Of course, it’s easier mentally with a crowd but you still need to win and pot the balls. It’s tough but with the audience it’s easier. It’s better than winning a normal solo title because you’re playing for the team.”
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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