SALAMINA - The Greek island of Salamina, not so far from the coast and from the capital Athens, is the venue where the older European juniors will play for the under-25 title this weekend. Turkish player Burak Hashas is the defending champion, other contenders include Maxime Panaia, Ali Ibraimov, Alessio D'Agata, Alptekin Canozkan and, for the Greeks themselves, Dimitris Seleventas. For many of these talents, this is a final step on the way to the top of global three-cushion. Burak Hashas, the defending champion, nevertheless has just turned 18. Italian Alessio D'Agata, Frenchman Maxime Panaia and home player Dimitris Seleventas are among the older and successful juniors of this generation. Burak Hashas assures in a preview that he travelled to the Greek island in excellent form. He looks back on his current season with satisfaction: ’’This is a nice and busy season so far and I will do my best to defend my title. As my main competitors I see the Turkish players, also Alessio D'Agata, Dimitris Seleventas and Maxime Panaia.''
Dimitris Seleventas is 22, was the number 2 at the 2022 World Under 22 championship following the champion Burak Hashas, lives one hour from the island where the European Championship will be played and is this year's Greek champion and winner of the Greek Cup with averages 1,200 and 1,250. ,,The tournament is played on this beautiful island with billiard fans organizing it. I am looking forward to playing and competing with the top.''
Dimitris, who lives in the Aigaleo district of Athens, does not yet see opportunities in Greece to become a professional billiard player. ''I am at the start of my career, but I love this beautiful journey. Unfortunately, it is still impossible to turn professional in Greece because there are not enough tournaments to stay in shape and win prizes. The only examples of professional players in Greece are Nikos Polychronopoulos and Filipos Kasidokostas as long as they can earn it in Europe and Korea. I myself work in a billiards club and in other areas so I can earn some money and play a few World Cups. I am also studying finance at the University of West Attica.''
The 24-player European Championship tournament starts with preliminary rounds of eight groups with three players from which the best two move up to the next round with the best 16. Burak Hashas plays in the group with Dane Kristiansen and Greek Tsokantas. Maxime Panaia plays against Ali Ibraimov and Greek Falangas, the substitute for Dane Jensen. Dimitris Seleventas meets a strong Spaniard and a Czech, Seymen Ozbas, the other Turkish favorite, faces Simon Blondeel from Germany and Tom Slikker, the Dutch champion. Alessio D'Agata faces Joris van 't Zelfden and Milan Ettel.
The European championship will be played in the town hall of Salamina, the city which is located in Saronic Bay and has a population of some 30,000. Visitors to the island have to take a boat from Perana.
For the Netherlands, Tom Slikker, the national champion, and Joris van 't Zelfden will be in action; for Belgium, Nick Rosier and Nino Coeckelbergs play.
The winner of the European Championship earns 1700 euros, while the numbers 2 and 3 will get 800 and 500 euros.
The billiards are of the Sivissidis brand, the tournament director is Nick Tremoulis, Alex Tremoulis is his assistant. The European representative is Stefano Malacrita.
Start of the tournament Friday 26 April, 9.30 (one hour later than in Western Europe). Finals Sunday, April 28. The matches can be seen live on Kozoom.
First session:
Daniel Kristiansen-Georgios Tsokantas
Joris van 't Zelfden-Milan Ettel
Tom Slikker-Simon Blondeel
Christos Falangas-Ali Ibraimov
Greek champion Dimitris Seleventas
French famous young player Maxime Panaia
Dutch champion Tom Slikker, just arrived on the Greek island
The format of the eight pools:
Group A:
Burak Hashas (Tur)
Daniel Kristiansen (Den)
Georgios Tskantas (Gri)
Group B:
Alessio D'Agata (Ita)
Joris van 't Zelfden (Ned)
Milan Ettel (CZ)
Group C:
Seymen Ozbas (Tur)
Simon Blondeel (Ger)
Tom Slikker (Ned)
Group D:
Maxime Panaia (Fra)
Christos Falangas (Gri)
Ali Ibraimov (Ger)
Group E:
Alptekin Canozkan (Tur)
Lukas Mortensen (Den)
Stefanos Alexandropoulos (Gri)
Group F:
Dogukan Corbaci (Tur)
Marcos Morales (Spa)
Nick Rosier (Bel)
Group G:
Sergio Martinez (Spa)
Nathan Duriez (Fra)
Nino Coeckelbergs (Bel)
Group H:
Dimitris Seleventas (Gri)
Daniel Sainz-Pardo (Spa)
Matej Napravnik (Cze)