TURKEY TOOK TWO of the three available 9-ball gold medals, with the other claimed by Serbia as THE PREDATOR EUROPEAN SENIORS CHAMPIONSHIPS concluded its final singles competitions of the 2025 edition. Ferdi Ozdemir, Sinem Kokten and Miroslav Kremenovic remained the last players standing in 9-ball as they all enjoyed the best possible finale to the Championships.
In the 45-plus group, Ozdemir won his second gold of the week as he defeated Switzerland’s Sascha Specchia by 8-5, while Kokten also added to her gold tally, beating Ulrike Andersson (SWE) 6-1. In the 55-plus category, Serbia’s Kremenovic held it together to put paid to Geir-Honken Holmqvist’s hopes by 8-6.
Taking place at the De Bonte Weever Hotel in Assen, the Predator European Seniors Championship features 159 players from 24 countries contesting four disciplines of pocket billiards across three categories – men, 45-plus and 55-plus and 45-plus ladies.
Kremenovic had narrowly missed out on the medals in the previous three disciplines, reaching the quarter finals in all of them, but an 8-6 win against Tomasz Malinowski in the last eight and semi-final success over Reiner Wirsbitzki (GER) by the same score, set him up for the title match.
It was a tremendous effort by Kremenovic in the final as he trailed 3-0 and the 6-3 to the plucky Norwegian but he found something from somewhere to reel off five consecutive racks to claim the European title.
He said, “I’m very happy - I had three fifth places and a gold. A beautiful finish for me. I felt pressure but that’s OK, that’s the game. My phone is full (with messages) and I am going to be celebrating tonight!”
Completing the podium were bronze medallists Manuel Pereira (POR) and Reiner Wirsbitzki (GER).
In the 45-plus final, Turkey’s Ferdi Ozdemir claimed his second gold following previous 10-ball success. An early exit in the intervening 8-ball tournament allowed him the space to focus on 9-ball, and he once again delivered the goods. Specchia matched him as they were tied up at 5-5 with the game anyone’s, but the Istanbul-based Ozdemir pulled away at the end for the glory.
He said, “Last week I slept as a one-time European Champion and this time I’ll sleep as a two-time champion. It’s something I’ve proved to myself and the second trophy is the best and a bonus. I’d like to thank all the supporters in my country. I know they were all watching and texting.
“I’d like to give the trophy to my wife who came from Turkey to visit and to support me and my battery was almost out but when she arrived in the arena I felt additional extra power. And this is a proud moment for our country. The problem is how we’re going to get four big trophies home!” he added.
Bronze medals went to Dominik Zajac of Poland and Norway’s Roger Lysholm.
In the ladies’ final. It was more Turkish delight as Sinem Kokten once again delivered a superb performance to race to the finish line as she defeated Sweden’s Ulrike Andersson. That added to her 10-ball gold earlier in the week, as she successfully defended the title she won on home soil last year.
She said, “It was wonderful, like a dream – perfect. The first is the best but two-times for me this year is amazing. I believed in myself and I did it and I’m proud of myself.”
Riikka Vayrynen (Finland) and Caroline Van Steenbergen (NED) took home the bronze medals.
Streaming of Tables 1 and 2 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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