An emotional weekend in Oradea is behind us, officially launching the Dynamic Billard Best of the East 2026 season. The inaugural stop on Romanian soil delivered everything fans love about billiards: an international field, fierce duels, and an exhilarating final won by Jeremi Nowak representing Strefa Diamond Gdańsk.
A Record Turnout and Sporting Marathon
The tournament gathered 107 players from 7 countries (Romania, Poland, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Moldova, Hungary, and France). The competition at the Black&White and Shot Arcade clubs began with an intense group stage. A total of 168 matches were played across 23 groups of four and 3 groups of five, resulting in over 1,250 racks played in a "Race to 5" format.
While the hosts made up the largest group (nearly 43% of the field), it was the Polish squad of 27 players that ultimately dominated the medal zone.
Path to the Title: Only the Best of the Best
The quarter-finals featured high-voltage Poland-Romania clashes that electrified both the local crowd and viewers on TVsports.pl. Jeremi Nowak and Sambor Stachowiak confidently defeated local favorites Alexandru Pitea and Gabor Olah. Meanwhile, in the "intra-national" duels, Cristian Surdea bested Ciprian Gandac, and Mariusz Skoneczny won against Tomasz Bąk. These results formed an elite final four, securing three podium spots for Poland.
In the semi-finals, Surdea defeated Skoneczny 7:3, while Nowak beat Stachowiak 7:5. The final saw the top representatives of the tournament's two largest nations face off: Romania’s Cristian Surdea and Poland’s Jeremi Nowak. The championship match was so closely contested it required a decider, with Nowak ultimately winning 7:6.
Along with the trophy, Nowak claimed the €1,300 top prize and a professional Cuetec cue. This marks the first such major success in Jeremi’s career.
"I took this competition very seriously. Although I’m in a bit of a shock right now, I know I worked hard for this result. It’s the result of training and my collaboration with a sports psychologist," the champion emphasized.
Final Standings:
1. Jeremi Nowak (Poland)
2. Cristian Surdea (Romania)
3. Sambor Stachowiak (Poland)
3. Mariusz Skoneczny (Poland)
Notably, Mariusz Skoneczny (the 2025 series runner-up) confirmed his high form by returning to the podium. The silver medalist, Surdea, received a professional Cuetec cue case alongside his prize money.
High Stakes and Jackpot Magic
The intensity in Romania affected even the most seasoned players. In the euphoria of his win, Jeremi Nowak actually forgot to collect his prize money! He was only reminded by the Series Director after he had already left the club. The champion admitted with a smile that the emotions simply took over.
Slovakia's Köles Balazs also had reason to celebrate, breaking a two-year "Jackpot curse." He became the first player in two seasons to execute a perfect break-and-run on the 9-ball rack, winning a professional Cuetec case—a feat that eluded all twelve players drawn throughout the previous year.
Tradition Meets Modernity
Since 1998, the Best of the East series—organized by the East European Billiard Council and Mak Marketing—has promoted pool at an international level. The Oradea tournament proved that interest in the sport is growing, with free live streaming and professional production attracting a massive audience. This is just the beginning of the 2026 race; following the success in Romania, the tour will soon visit Slovakia, Poland, and Georgia. Replays from the Dynamic Billard Best of the East series are available to watch anytime on the TVsports.pl YouTube channel.
General Sponsor: Dynamic – Billard Company Sponsors: Iwan Simonis, Kamui, Aramith, Cuetec.