THE OPENING DAY of the Predator Luxembourg Open on the Euro Tour played out today at the GridX, south-west of the capital city. GridX, which bills itself as Europe’s first multi-experience destination, is something new and different as a Predator Euro Tour venue. A huge establishment, which opened last year, it offers dining, retail, art, events as well as an eye-popping collection of classic cars.
With a very strong field this week, among the early winners on the opening day was Johua Filler (Germany), who somehow managed to squeak past Poland’s unheralded Adam Stankiewicz 7-6. The Pole looked set for a huge upset with just four balls left but nerves got the better of him and a jump shot to stay on track failed to pocket, leaving Filler with three balls for the win.
By his own admission, it wasn’t vintage Filler; “I was lucky enough that he made in crucial moments some mistakes because on my side it was a really poor standard. I missed all the middle/tough shots – not even close – so I kind of didn’t have a feel of where to aim. I haven’t played since a year on the Euro Tour and that was one of the worst performances from my side. I have to improve now because I know I’m going to play Daniel Maciol tomorrow so I just have to play much, much better now.
“Every opportunity I had, I just tried to go for it but it just didn’t help me, because I kept missing the balls. I know I’m capable of making all those balls but today was the day when I didn’t but this is pool; sometimes so you have a bad day and I had it today but still won, and I can only improve now.
“Of course, I always try to be positive even though maybe it didn’t look like it because I was also kind of overwhelmed with how I played but I just have to forget this match. He played good in the beginning but also fell. He was quite nervous too but still made a couple of great shots to be fair and I’m just glad that I won and can continue in a different way hopefully,” he concluded.
Another German player over the first-round hurdle is Tobias Bongers as he looks to claim his maiden Predator Euro Tour title after coming so close in the Netherlands last year. Coming in off the back of a solid showing at the European Championships in Turkey in March when he claimed a pair of bronze medals, Bongers coasted past compatriot Michael Rohrig by 7-0.
He said, “I played really well – I only missed one ball and I think I played a perfect set so a really good start to this Euro Tour for me. I think my game is really good this year, I practiced a lot and I’m here to win the title. I’m hoping my first Euro Tour win will come very shortly. I didn’t like 10-ball because my break wasn’t so good; I like to play straight pool and 9-ball but it’s now 10-ball time and maybe it’s my tournament,” he added.
Max Lechner defeated Oliver Szolnoki in an exciting match that might have made a final. It went all the way and the likeable Austrian was pleased to have emerged victorious.
He said, “I mean Oliver is a great player, he won the World Games recently but for sure he’s not the opponent you want to meet in Winners Round One match but what else can I do but try my hardest and play my best. I was up 5-1 and had a pretty good start and then I missed a stupid shot – I tried to cheat the pocket a little too much, it was an open table to go up 6-1, and then he started to play really, really well and my break didn’t work and his break started to work.
“That’s how it got to 6-6 but in the end, I got luckier than he got and I kept my nerves and ran out in the end. I’ve never played really bad when I’ve lost in the Euro Tour at last 32 or last 16 rounds and my game is pretty good right now and I’m looking forward to the next rounds and to go all the way finally,” he added.
Finally, another tough early rounds match saw Wiktor Zielinski defeat Emil-Andre Gangflot by 7-4. The exiled Pole hasn’t been seen much on the Euro Tour of late but his three championship victories in 2017, 2021 and ’22 are testimony to his pedigree and he has enjoyed a recent run of good form in the USA.
Commented Zielinski, “It was a tough one. It wasn’t pretty from both of us. We couldn’t find our game and we both lost the cueball a few times especially when we used the short rail as it was quite bouncy but in the end, I’m happy that I got the win.
“The USA was quite successful for me and I hope I can keep it up but I have to beat a lot of champions as well so it’s not going to be easy. You never know and I will do my best. Whenever I go to any tournament I always feel I’ve got a chance to win it but as I said, it’s not going to be easy.”
Play resumes tomorrow at 10.00 in the men’s event, the same time as the Predator Luxembourg Women’s Open gets underway.
Tables 1 and 2 at the Predator Luxembourg Opens will be streamed throughout on YouTube, via the Pro Billiard TV channel - https://www.youtube.com/@ProBilliardTV
For all results, live scoring and draw, visit www.epbf.com
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