COPENHAGEN - The Czech Ondrej Hosek is the new European champion free game for players under 21. In the final match Hosek defeated the Dutchman Sam van Etten in an exciting fight. The match ended 300-300 in one inning. Both players missed the first extension, continued with 30-30 and in the third shoot-out, Hosek made two and Van Etten missed the equalizer.
Ondrej Hosek was not on his best in the run-up, but showed his form and confidence in the knock-out stage. He defeated Frenchman Pierre Martory in the first inning 300-38. Sam van Etten made it to the final by a victory over Simon Blondeel in the semi-finals 300-2 in two innings.
Sam van Etten analyzed the final: ,,Because the break-off was very difficult, I let him (Ondrej) start. He finished in one inning, so I was under pressure, but I got the balls under control in two innings and could finish as well.''
,,Then he missed from the break off, in the first shoot out, so I could take the championship when I scored only one time, b. But I also missed, really by a whisker. Then we went for the third shoot out. He made two points, I missed unfortunately, because I didn't hit him so good.''
Therefore, the Dutchman lost his European title that he took in Brandenburg in 2015.
Sam van Etten finished with the highest average of all players: 139.69. The champion Hosek had a final average of 57.48.
The final score:
1. Ondrej Hosek (Cze) 47.38
2. Sam van Etten (NL) 139.69
3. Pierre Martory (Fr) 43.52
3. Simon Blondeel (Ger) 23.58
5. Anders Henriksen (Den) 57.85
6. Jim van der Zalm (Nl) 36.25
7. Stef van Hees (Bel) 19.92
8. Maxime Schreiner (Lux) 5.11
9. Radek Stick (Cze) 2.92