GARLASCO - The European Billiards Federation (CEB) has invited talents up to 21 years to a three-cushion tournament in Garlasco in the Lombardy region. Seventeen players accepted the invitation, including Turkish world champion Burak Hashas (16), German brothers Ali and Amir Ibraimov, Dane Lukas Mortensen, Frenchman Nathan Duriez and Austrian Nikolaus Kogelbauer. The tournament is considered a CEB initiative to develop talents. The European ladies will also play two CEB tournaments this year. The name of the tournament is CEB-Longoni next gen Grand Prix under 21.
Burak Hashas, who played a Grand Prix in Istanbul this week where Raymond Ceulemans, among others, was invited. Burak travels to Garlasco in Lombardy today. ’’I am happy with the CEB's invitation,'' he assures. ’’Just like the event in Turkey and now with other strong juniors, I can develop myself further.'' The young Turkish promise, who celebrates his 17th birthday during the European Championships in Antalya in early April, was delighted to meet Raymond Ceulemans. ’’It was a huge honor to play in a tournament together with the all time best billiard player. I even had to hours of practice with him and I was delighted to experience that.''
The European youngsters come into action in the CEB tournament in one group of five and three groups of four players. The event, with main sponsor Longoni, is an initiative of CEB and co-organised by the Italian federation.
The length of the matches is 25 caroms in the preliminary rounds, 35 in the knockouts. Two players from each group qualify for the quarter-finals. The final is on Sunday at 2pm.
The group formats:
Group A:
Burak Hashas (Turkey), Christos Falangas (Greece), Amir Ibraimov (Germany), Paolo Turla (Italy), Joeri Wilkowski (Netherlands)
Group B:
Seymen Ozbas (Turkey), Daniel Kristiansen (Denmark), Tangui Duriez (France), Giuliano Di Gabriele (Italy)
Group C: Lukas Mortensen (Denmark), Nathan Duriez (France), Yigit Baran Kara (Turkey), Joris van 't Zelfden (Netherlands)
Group D: Nikolaus Kogelbauer (Austria), Selahattin Ozkul (Turkey), Ali Ibraimov (Germany), Luka Philipoom (Belgium).
Burak Hashas, left down, played in a Grand Prix this week with Raymond Ceulemans and Semih Sayginer
11-year young Joerie Wilkowski in a practice with the world's number one Didk Jaspers