THURSDAY SAW THE opening day’s play complete at the Dynamic Billard Lasko Open as 118 players set out on the quest for the fifth Euro Tour championship of the year. Taking place in the central Slovenian spa town, there were a total of three rounds today – two on the winners’ side and one on the losers’ side of the bracket.
Of the big guns in attendance, Euro Tour No.1 Mieszko Fortunski took a bye in the first round and then defeated dangerous German junior Felix Vogel 9-3. He now faces Ramazan Akdag (Turkey) tomorrow for a place in the last 32.
Joshua Filler, looking for his sixth Euro Tour title and fourth in four starts, got off to a winning start, defeating Bartosz Rozwadoski (Poland) by 9-3 and will face the useful Bosnian Ajdin Piknjac for a spot in the last 32.
Filler’s wife, Pia, along with three other female players – Nina Torvund, Lena Primus and Yvonne Ullman-Hybler – has taken advantage of the scheduling to enter both men’s and women’s Euro Tour event’s this week. Pia enjoyed one win and one loss and will fight on tomorrow.
Karl Gnadeberg, the 17-year-old World and European Junior 9 Ball Champion, enjoyed two wins from two starts todayand can look forward to a winners’ qualification match against 2023 Dynamic Billard Estonian Open Champion Mohammad Soufi tomorrow.
Karl had been part of the Estonian pair, alongside Revo Maimre, who suffered a 7-6 defeat in their Longoni 9-Ball League semi-final on Wednesday evening.
Commented Gnadeberg, “The Longoni match was instead of my practice session so that was how I got used to the tables. Also, at hill-hill of course I got some nerves and getting used to the nerves from the yesterday's match helped me also today.
“I feel like almost every part of my game was above average, maybe onwards I’ll take some extra time for every shot and things could go well this week. I feel like my game is close to winning the tournament but not there yet. At least that's how it was today, but I know I'm capable of playing excellent and if I play that way then I have a good shot to get further than the semi-finals,” he added.
Another decorated junior in action this week is the Netherlands’ Yannick Pongers. The 18-year-old from Veldhoven had picked up three gold medals as well as two silvers in European Youth Championships over the last two years and he got his Lasko campaign underway with two solid wins, as well as being part of the two-man Dutch team that defeated Estonia in the Longoni 9-Ball League the night before.
Commented Pongers, “I feel confident around the table. I’ve been practicing a lot on Dynamic tables so I know what I’m dealing with. Last night was a good practice for the Euro Tour as well. I got quite comfortable quickly. In the Netherlands there are only men’s tournaments so it feels more normal than playing against the youth.”
Pongers can look forward to a winners’ qualification match-up against highly-rated Hungarian Oliver Szolnoki.
“I’ve played against Szolnoki before in a previous Euro Tour. I won it so I feel positive about the coming match.”
For Poland’s Wojciech Szewczyk, his pedigree has never been in dispute. A former WPA World 10-Ball Champion as well as reigning European 9-Ball king, Szewczyk is in the running for his first-ever Euro Tour title. A win today saw him into the winner’s qualification round tomorrow where he will play young Dutchman Jan Rempe.
“I started my campaign with a 9-4 win. However, it was a tight match until 5-4 and then I managed to run away quickly and close it nicely. It seemed like I needed some time to find my game. Even though I made some mistakes I am thinking positively about my next matches.
“A little bit of rest should make me more prepared. There was a lot of traveling lately so I wasn't surprised that playing did not come with ease. Regarding winning the whole thing... I wonder what would it feel like winning a tournament after around like 60 tries? Very curious to find out, I'll give it my best shot!” said Szewczyk.
As well as the prize money, there are Tour ranking points on offer, so there is everything to play for. All Euro Tour tournaments are 9-ball and players compete in a double-elimination format, playing down to the last 32 competitors, and then single elimination until the finish. All matches are races to 9 racks with alternate break.
The Women’s Euro Tour Lasko Open runs on a different schedule to the men’s event this week as it breaks off on Saturday 14th and concludes with the final on the 15th.
All the matches can be viewed live by visiting www.epbf.com/tournaments/eurotour/ and clicking on the ‘LIVE’ button. This will take you through to viewing options. In addition, selected matches will be streamed on Facebook Live on the EPBF page.
Results, live scoring, and draw are available at www.epbf.com