ATHENE - The 'saviour of Greek billiards', who had presented himself last year as main sponsor and tournament organizer, has today announced he'll end his involvement immediately. 55-year old Thanos Athanasiou, shipowner and CEO of IBT Hellas, is disappointed and outraged because the two Greek top players (Filippos Kasidokostas and Nikos Polychronopoulos) refused to play the World Championship for National Teams in Viersen.
Thanos Athanasiou wrote a letter and announced his decision: ,,I promise to you, that I will give more explination in a few days, all about Greek billiards, about the UMB. And believe me, the documents are strong, about people who 'love' billiards and have big pockets. At the moment, I am very disappointed and very sad about the situation.''
Greek players, other parties involved and billiard fans have mixed responses. In the fourteen months that they were key players in the billiard sport in Greece, Thanos Athanasiou and his daughter Elen have contributed significantly, both financially and as organizers.
The World Cup in Pelopenessos and the WC for juniors in the range-like decor were prime examples of that. Nevertheless, there are also contradicting opinions. The main sponsor, some say, wanted to be in charge of the federation.
The general consensus was, that all the focus was on the top players, and the interests of the common players had to take second stage. Moreover, some said, Athanasiou and his IBT Hellas did not want to act as a federation but as a club, with Filippos Kasidkostas as intended general manager.
As fate would have it, exactly the top players Fillipos Kasidokostas and Nikos Polychronopoulos were instrumental in the breakup between the federation and the sponsor.
Thanos Athanasiou blames the two players for their negative attitude in the matter of the participation in Viersen. The two leading men in Greek billiards had their private war of words on Facebook, in the days before the WC for teams. They blame each other that Greece had to withdraw. The final decision to NOT go, according to the CEO of IBT, was made in Thanos' offices.
,,One (Kasidokostas) claimed business agreements'', said Thanos. ,,The other (Polychronopoulos) refused to make the trip because - as the new Messi of billiards - he did not want to pay his own expenses.'' ,,I was amazed to learn that the two players were unwilling to defend the colors of their nation.''
Athanasiou considered this an insult to IBT Hellas: ,,Two players who think they can take the image of Greece into their own hands.'' ,,I made a mistake, I should have threatened with a veto'', he admits. ,,I have given these players too much leeway, in my efforts to advance billiards in Greece with a major push.'' But there must be boundaries, he insists.
,,If the two big guns now feel it is their prerogative to walk all over everybody else, then I have to reconsider my involvement. I have been flexible, I have been tolerant, but no respect was shown for all that we have accomplished in the past fourteen months. They are unwilling to acknowledge that Greek billiards has never seen better days then in the period we were main sponsor and organizer.''
It still remains to be seen what the withdrawal of the sponsor means for the international calendar. The World championship for ladies is scheduled for 2 - 5 October this year, and nobody knows if it will actually be held.
The World Cup in Athens had already been cancelled, according to the organizers because the World Cup in Luxor, Egypt had been added at the last moment, and it would jeopardize the participation numbers for Athens.
The billiards world concludes now: was it the truth or just an excuse to cancell the event?