In a tough match, Richard Jones (GBR) exited last tour's winner Nick Malai (ALB) from the Dynamic Billiards European Open 2012.
Both players ran out their first racks and left a first impression on one another. Whatever they tried, none of the two contestants managed to get ahead more than two racks from the opponent. They both knew that one of them had to fall after this round since they got beaten by Maxim Dudanets (RUS) in the earlier matches of that group. Jones lost 7:9 to the Russian youngster while Malai even received a doughnut, losing 0:9 to Dudanets. So it was clear that Dudanets would lead the group and make it to the next stage. Whoever wins this match stays alive in the tournament while the loser will have to fall. Whether it was that knowledge or not can only be guessed, but both players started to commit mistakes and had some unforced errors. To the likings of the audience, the tension in the match grew and it all led to a hill-hill situation at 8:8 with Jones to break. The Brit kept his nerves together and performed a good and solid break shot which left him a nice layout on the table. He ran all balls and defeated Malai by a whisker with 9:8.
Due to the group system that is different to the usual Euro-Tour system, each tournament day comes up with a different stage. Today, the group stage will be played. A total of 32 groups with three players each will play round robin. The top two players from each group advance to tomorrow's double elimination. By the end of tomorrow, 16 players will be left. These final 16 players will play single elimination on Saturday to find out who will wear the crown of the Dynamic Billiards European Open 2012.
Other notable results include Thomas Engert (GER) defeating fellow countryman Klaus Zobrekis with 9:6. Together with Helmut Heck, the group consisted of three German players. Each of them won one match and lost one. Due to the worst secondary quota, Engert is the one who is eliminated from the event while the other two proceed to the double elimination stage.
The event will be hosted by the European Governing Body for Pool, the European Pocket Billiard Federation (EPBF) and organized by International Billiard Promotion (IBP). For further information and reference please go to the federation website www.europeanopenonline.eu , follow us on twitter @EPBF_News or contact our press office.