BORGEN - Michael Nilsson, 51 years of age, captured his fifth Swedish three cushion title in a tournament in which Torbjörn Blomdahl was the runner-up. The Swedish championship was played at Biljardklubben Borgen with 12 players, all of whom met in a Round robin format. Michael Nilsson achieved the maximum score against his first 10 opponents. He already secured the championship before his match against Blomdahl, which he lost 40-16 in 17 innings. The reigning champion (Blomdahl) lost match points against Alf Karlsson (40-40) and David Pennör (40-32) before facing the unbeaten Nilsson. ''It was a special feeling,'' Nilsson said later, ''becoming champion without beating Torbjörn.''
The champion finished with 10 wins and 1.600 on average with a best run of 10, Blomdahl with nine wins, 1.808 and a run of 19, third was David Pennör with nine wins, 1.262 and run 7. Blomdahl dropped three places in the world rankings (from 6 to 9) due to his missed title, Nilsson climbed five places, from 26 to 21, just above Coklu and Gonzalez. ''That rise is very important for me, because I am going to play all the World Cups this year and want to have a shot at the top 14, however difficult that may be with the current level of the world's top players.''
Michael Nilsson started the Swedish championship with victories over Karlsson (40-21), Kalita (40-26), Allevski (40-15), Gustafsson (40-18), Pennör (40-19) and Enerdal (40-29), before beating successively Kall (40-12), Orellana (40-11 in 17, his best game), Trpevski (40-13) and Olsson (40-26) in the second part. With the 10 wins, the title was in and he could start the match against Blomdahl relaxed. Nilsson won his Swedish titles in 2006, 2008, 2010, 2013, 2020 and 2020, Torbjörn Blomdahl was the multiple winner with 31 titles. ''My feeling tells me that I did not play 100 per cent in all games. I was lucky that my opponents played badly against me,'' Nilsson was modest.
The Swedish champion felt very comfortable with his new cue, which he has only been playing with for a month and a half: a Molinari Kuro Cmi2 with Lancia shaft. His ambitions now focus on the next World Cup in Las Vegas. ''I finally managed to inspire a friend of mine as a sponsor, so I can play anywhere. Before that, I was too frustrated because I couldn't go anywhere due to work and money. And together with my fiancé, I made the decision now that I will play internationally and no matches in Sweden anymore, except the championship. Apart from billiards, I also work a little in a warehouse and am a billiard fitter.'' To the World Cups, Nilsson usually travels alone. ''But this year David Pennör is also going to play more World Cups.''
The final ranking at the Swedish championship (wins, average, high run):
1 Michael Nilsson 10-1.600-10
2 Torbjörn Blomdahl 9-1.808-19
3 David Pennör 9-1.262-7
4 Nalle Olsson 8-1.062-11
5 Mattias Enerdal 5-0.901-8
6 Henryk Kalita 5-0.862-7
7 Alf Karlsson Alvberger 4-0.839-7
8 Ratcha Allevski 4-0.794-7
9 Bosse Gustafsson 3-0.841-10
10 Anders Kall 3-0.675-7
11 Lenard Trpevski 2-0.803-6
12 Manuel Orellana 2-0.710-6.