LEUVEN - The 15-year old prodigy Maxime Panaia from France has won the European U-17 championship 3-cushion in Leuven (Belgium). The reigning French junior champion beat German Simon Blondeel in the final, 25-19 in 20 innings (1.250/0.950).
Maxime Panaia of the Colmar Billard Club is one of his country's greatest talents. Jérémy Bury and Louis Edelin coach the young team, with Enzo Riquart also in the selection. Both Frenchmen met in this European tournament, in the semi. Panaia showed his resilience by fighting back when he was trailing, and he decided the match in his favor when he made two runs late in the match to win 25-22 in 27.
Simon Blondeel played the other semi against Czech Milan Ettel and ran away with a ten, but saw his opponent equalize with a run of five. Blondeel started the shootout with a single point, but his opponent then missed the break. In the final, Panaia took the lead in the 9th inning when he ran five (13-8) and extended his lead with a seven in the 17th inning (24-17). It turned out to be decisive, and win him the gold medal.
Maxime Panaia, who had beaten Rémi Chenay (25-7 in 13) in the French championship, was the best player from the qualification rounds on. He was undefeated in his flight, having played a best match of 20 in 13 (1.538). Belgian Dylan Parent did even better, he made 20 in 9 (2.222), but was eliminated in the quarters by Blondeel: 25-22 in 32. Milan Ettel beat Nikolaus Kogelbauer from Austria in another quarterfinal: 25-17 in 18 beurten. Enzo Riquart got past Italian Alessio D'Agata (25-20 in 22) and Maxima Panaia beat his countryman Rémi Chenay 25-12 in 16.
The tournament was played in Sportcentrum De Vaart in Leuven (Wilsele).
The podium with Simon Blondeel, Maxime Panaia, Milan Ettel and Enzo Riquart
The two players for the final: Simon Blondeel and Maxime Panaia
Simon Blondeel took the second place
The French players in the tournament: Enzo Riquart, Maxime Panaia and Rémi Chenay
A young lady fan in the billiard arena among the players