WE ARE DOWN to the semi-finalists in the 10-ball division as three rounds of play completed at the PREDATOR EUROPEAN SENIORS CHAMPIONSHIPS. 12 athletes are now guaranteed a minimum of a bronze medal and will return on Saturday evening for the semi-final match-ups.
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.
In the 45-plus division, Poland’s Tomasz Bak made it through as he defeated countryman Dominik Zajac 7-5. Bak was a gold medallist here in 2023 when he triumphed in the 9-ball division and he will now face Tukey’s Ferdi Ozdemir for a spot in the final.
Despite a wealth of experience, Bak has been exploring new avenues in his quest to stay on top; “Firstly diet then work with my mental coach. I’ve just started to learn this different stuff that’s part of billiards. It’s not technique, just diet and mental stuff and it’s really helped me.
“The match was most difficult as myself and Dominik are friends. He wanted to win; I wanted to win but I know he’s happy for my win so it’s OK. Between now and the semi-finals, I’ll focus on mental stuff and I’ll talk to my coach Dominik as he’s very good with that.”
The other semi-final features Italy’s Gianluca Boni and Valtteri Virtanen of Finland.
In the 55-plus category, an all-Finnish battle was won by Juha Hyrrylainen as he opened up a 5-1 lead that proved insurmountable for Tommi Laine and he ran out a 7-3 victor.
Commented Juha, “I’m very, very happy to be in the medals. Of course, it’s difficult playing a fellow Finn because I hope my brother can win but that’s the game. It’s a big Finnish team here and it’s great support and we’re like brothers.”
The second semi-final is a clash of the 55-plus titans as multiple gold medal winners Reiner Wirsbitzki of Germany and Portugal’s Henrique Correia square up for a spot in the gold medal match.
Finally, the ladies’ 10-ball is their first event of the championships and Germany’s Yvonne Ullmann-Hybler, playing in her first European Seniors, has already grabbed a medal. She came through some very tense moments to defeat the highly experienced Ine Helvik in a deciding rack to book a last four match against Alexandra Cunha who is representing the UK.
Commented Yvonne, “It was really tricky, for me and for her. We switched and at 4-4 I had a chance with ball-in-hand and I missed this chance! So, I hoped I would get back to the table and she missed a long pot so I could run out. The European Championships are great, fantastic! The goal was to get in the semi-finals or the finals and yes, now it’s here. It’s my first EC and I love it.”
The other semi-final is between Sinem Kokten of Turkey and Germany’s Michaela Schorn.
In addition to 10-ball, the early rounds of the two team events got underway today. The men’s teams consist of players from both age categories and each match is a best of three with games in 8, 9 and 10-ball. The women’s event sees two-person teams and they contest 8-ball and 9-ball matches. In the event of a 1-1 tie, there is a 10-ball scotch doubles shoot-out to determine the winner.
With the 10-ball finale in the evening, 8-ball takes centre stage in the daytime with all three tournaments getting underway at 9.00 and completing three rounds in the 45-plus, two rounds in the 55-plus and a single round in the ladies.
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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