BRANDENBURG - He is the "golden boy" of his generation in billiards, a born winner among the young talents in three cushion. Maxime Panaia (18, from Colmar in France) won his fifth European title in Brandenburg today, his first in his first junior year. The final against 17-year-young Austrian Nikolaus Kogelbauer turned into a Hitchcock finish. The two finalists in three-cushion under 21 played a draw (30-30) in 23 innings, Panaia triumphed in the second shoot-out 3-1.
The young Frenchman, who stopped his studies as a pastry chef one year ago for a career in billiards, is one of the huge talents in the world. The fifth European title, four times individual, one per team, marks his high class and mental strength. Panaia, coached all the way by Louis Edelin, also won six French titles since he followed the footsteps of his father Antoine when he was 11 years old. ''My father plays billiards for 45 years now and one time I went with him to his billiard club. I owe a lot to my parents", Maxime assured after the final. "They take care that I can play anywhere." This year, Panaia also will start in the World Cups in Blankenberge and Porto to gain more international experience.
In the final phase, today, the Frenchman first defeated Turk Batuhan Uludag in the quarters (30-14 in 24) and the Italian Alessio D'Agata in the semi-finals (30-25 in 28). The final against Kogelbauer went to a fantastic finish. The Austrian increased the tension in the last innings by a run of eight (25-21), Panaia answered with a run of four to balance the match again. And when the Frenchman finished on 30, Kogelbauer tied the score with two. In the first shoot-out, Panaia scored once, Kogelbauer just missed his second and champion point. In the second extension, Panaia grabbed the title 3-1.
The Austrian played a strong tournament with victories over Marcel Back (30-27 in 29) and Emanuele Criscino, 30-23 in 30. The Italians shone with two players on the podium, D'Agata and Criscino.
The Dutch/Belgian combination of 'De Goeie Queue' won the tournament for club teams on small table. Frédéric Caudron and Jerry Hermans were slightly better in a fascinating battle with the Turks Omer Karakurt and Serdar Bas in the final part of the match for gold. The expected victories of Caudron and Karakurt did not decide over the win, but the caroms of the two opponents. Jerry Hermans lost to Karakurt 40-29 in 14, Bas to Caudron 40-22 in 9.
The winners showed up with a team of four players and went into the knock-outs with a tactical plan: Frédéric Caudron and Jean Paul de Bruijn strengthened the team and took the overall victory. The podium was completed by two Czech teams.
Maxime Panaia during the final match with Nikolaus Kogelbauer
Austrian Nikolaus Kogelbauer, the silver winner, during the final match
The podium three cushion for club teams at small table