15th June 2025
PIA FILLER DEFEATED countrywoman Ina Kaplan by the narrowest of margins to take down the PREDATOR Women’s Austrian Open in dramatic fashion at the Hotel Alpina high in the Alpine town of St Johann im Pongau. It all came down to the final 9-ball as both players had a chance to end it. First Filler, leaving herself a long, angled attempt, missed and then Kaplan tried a table length bank that was off target. Filler then gathered herself to cut it into the centre pocket for the title.
It was her third Euro Tour victory following wins in Slovenia in 2022 and Estonia last year. And she couldn’t have done it in a harder way in a match that Kaplan seemed poised to win. She started the stronger, claiming an early 3-0 lead but Filler pegged her back as she won the next three to draw level.
Kaplan restored a two-rack lead but again Filler drew level, this this time at 5-5. Kaplan then led 7-5 and then put herself on the hill at 8-6 but Filler wasn’t done. She drew level and then claimed the win in a thrilling nerve-jangler of a final rack.
A delighted Filler said, “I don’t have words for it! It’s so undeserving, missing the last 9-ball for the win but luckily, I missed it on the pro side and she didn’t really have much opportunity there and I got lucky.
“Overall, I think it’s been a good final from both of us. She was up at the beginning of the match and I fought back so I’m just happy I got the win; that’s all that matters now. There was a lot of tension. At the European Championships I was in five finals and I only won two and I just came back from America where I lost a final too and it really meant something to finally get a win.
“I never give up and I’m very happy to win my third Euro Tour title, especially when I’ve already lost two finals previously in St Johann so it means a lot to me,” she concluded.
For Kaplan, it was a bitter disappointment but one she knew was part and parcel of the game, “I will dream of some of those balls especially the last 9-ball but what should I say? I’m so experienced, I had many loses like that and it doesn’t really matter but of course, I wanted to win and of course it’s always hard but in a couple of days I’ll be fine again.”
The Predator Euro Tour Series returns next month as the Open and Women’s divisions contest the Kamui Slovenian Opens from 10-13 July at Terme Olimia in Podčetrtek, Slovenia. In addition, the Predator European Championships U17, U19 and Girls follow directly afterwards, running from 15-22 July.
This year sees a new streaming platform for all Euro Tour and European Championships events.
Table 1 and 2 will be streamed throughout on YouTube, via the Pro Billiard TV channel - https://www.youtube.com/@ProBilliardTV
For all results, live scoring and draw, visit https://www.epbf.com/tournaments/eurotour/information/
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