THE PENULTIMATE DAY of the 2026 PREDATOR European Seniors Pool Championships played out today and the scene is set for a bonanza of medals as the three 9-ball tournaments as well as the two Teams competitions conclude tomorrow. The 9-ball is at the quarter-final stage and goes off at 9.00, with the tournament’s completion expected around 14.30, whilst the Teams are at the semi-final stage and start at 15.00 with the championship matches at 17.30.
Carrying home hopes in the 46-plus 9-ball is Diego Pedro Simon, the last man standing for Spain. He defeated straight pool champion Fabio Petroni 8-4 in a high-quality performance that sets him up for a clash with Norway’s Raymond Hauge.
Commented Simon, “I try to do my best and I’ll try my best on the next one to take a medal. I’m enjoying it here but I’m tired as there are a lot of matches and my back hurts, it’s tough. It’s different playing in this one as I live 30 kilometres from here and I go to sleep at home so it’s really different for me. I’ve travelled to Finland, Turkey, Slovenia for the European Championships so it’s very different. People come and watch me play here so I appreciate that.”
Also going well in the 46-plus division is Norway’s Roger Lysholm who is hoping to add to the bronze medal he won earlier in the 14.1 tournament. Lysholm defeated Spain’s Francisco Rafael Barcelo 8-4 to advance and now faces Meric Reshat (Germany) tomorrow. The Norwegian was a 9-ball bronze medallist last year and will be hoping to improve on that.
He said, “It’s beginning to loosen up a bit and the tables are getting a bit tighter as well so I feel it’s going in the right direction. It would be really nice to have something, a gold would actually be great that’s what I’m looking for – but not only me, I guess. I’ll take a medal but it’s a gold I want. It’s a great team we have. We have a good time both on and off the table and it’s fun to have so many players here with us.”
Christine Steinlage is on track for another Seniors medal as she defeated countrywoman Veronika Kordian. Steinlage has won gold, silver, and bronze at previous championships and is thrilled to be in with a shout on Tuesday, where she faces Ulrika Andersson
She said, “I’m very happy because in the 10-ball and 8-ball I got out very early so I’m happy to be in the tournament and I feel much better. I think it would be a dream to be here and go home with a gold medal. I’m very proud and happy to win something at the German Championships, European Championships so I would be very, very happy so I’ll cross my fingers.
Steinlage is married to fellow team member Martin, himself a Seniors gold medallist, and it is something that she feels is a boon to her pool; “Martin understands if I feel good, sad or bad so it’s another life to have a partner who understands everything in my head and in my heart so I’m happy that he shares my hobby and my passion and we have fun at the table.”
Tuesday is the final day of the 2026 Predator European Seniors Pool Championships. The day starts at 9.00 with the 9-ball quarter-finals, the semis and then the final matches at 12.30. Monday sees the resumption of the 9-ball competitions, which conclude on Tuesday morning. There are more Teams matches as those two tournaments head towards the Tuesday afternoon finals.
Played over nine days, the Championships conclude on Tuesday 27th with the finals of the three 9-ball tournaments and the two team competitions. Following on from that is the final Predator Euro Tour event of the year – the Revora Spanish Open which starts on Thursday 29th and concludes on Sunday 1st November.
Streaming of Tables 1, 2 and 3 for the duration of the Predator European Seniors Championships can be found on YouTube, via the Pro Billiard TV channel - https://www.youtube.com/@ProBilliardTV
For all results, live scoring and draw, visit www.epbf.com/tournaments/european-championships/
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