Ulrika Andersson (SWE) and Jan Keller (DEN) have taken the 9-ball titles at the Dynamic Billard European Championships for Seniors and Ladies in Tirana, Albania.
It was Jan Keller’s first appearance in any European Championship final. Before this 9-ball competition here in Tirana, Keller was a blank sheet of paper. He had not achieved any medals or taken any victories on European level. Honestly, he was not even really heard of before this week. But that will change drastically after today. His opponent in the final, Manuel Pereira (POR) has already collected 4 Gold, 1 Silver and 4 Bronze Medals at European Championships. So the roles for the final were clearly defined. Keller was the underdog an Pereira served as the favorite. But the match followed its own rules. Keller played calmly and enjoyed his performance at the table while Pereira seemed to struggle with his game.
Keller was up 3:1 and 4:2 and he seemed to be able to gain a small advantage over Pereira. But the Portuguese tried his best and stayed in the match somehow. After seven racks, Keller was still leading but only with one rack 4:3. Then he let loose. Keller performed smoothly and it looked like it was smooth sailing for the „dark horse“ from Denmark. The man who came here as a blank sheet of paper suddenly dominated one of senior pool’s powerhouses to his likings. In the end. Keller took a well deserved 8:3 victory over Pereira and collected his first medal ever on European level.
„I have prepared very well for this event“, stated Keller afterwards, „I played pool every day, watch my food and did whatever I could to get in shape for this event.“ „I was so much looking forward to the European Championships“. „9-ball is my favorite game“ answered Keller when asked about his best game, „I love the tactics involved with it.“ „I was not nervous during my matches since I really had nothing to lose“, mentioned Keller, „if I had lost today to Azar or Correia or Pereira, I would have still played my best. However, today my best was good enough for all of them“.
2016年女子及元老組歐洲錦標賽於阿爾巴尼亞落下帷幕，在最終進行的9號球爭鋒中，剛剛於8球比賽中實現金牌零突破的瑞典女將Ulrika Andersson再度挫敗德國名將Susanne Wessel奪得金牌，成為本屆賽事最佳女球員的同時幫助瑞典隊鎖定了獎牌榜榜首的位置。而元老組金牌則由丹麥的大黑馬Jan Keller獲得，這既是他本人的突破也創造了丹麥隊近三年的賽事最好成績。
元老組角逐中，此前從未殺入歐錦賽任何一項賽事決賽的“黑馬” Keller連克Azar和Correia兩大攔路虎躋身決賽，向波蘭名將Manuel Pereira發起挑戰。實際上，Keller在本周之前可以說是默默無聞之輩，而Pereira則已經在本項賽事中斬獲了4枚金牌、1枚銀牌以及4枚銅牌。
儘管名氣相去甚遠，但比賽卻並沒有照此發展下去。Keller很快便3-1領先佩雷拉。波蘭人沒有放棄，竭力追趕，七局後僅3-4落後一分。此後，Keller突然發力，強勢取得四連勝，最終以8-3的巨大優勢擊敗Pereira，強勢摘金。這枚金牌既是Keller本人的突破，也讓丹麥隊的排名升至第5位，創造了近三屆賽事的最佳排名。
“我為比賽準備得非常充分，” Keller賽後說到，“我每天都練球，做任何能夠讓我變得更有競爭力的事。我非常渴望冠軍。9球是我最喜歡的項目，我喜歡它的戰術。在比賽中我沒有焦慮因為我沒有什麽可輸的。就算今天輸給了Azar、Correia 或 Pereira，我還是會繼續努力。高興的是，我的努力得到了回報。”
Semi-final results – 四強賽果::
Manuel Pereira (POR) v Vegar Kristiansen (NOR) 8:7
Jan Keller (DEN) v Sanne Azar (SWE) 8:3
Top Eight Seniors 9-ball – 9號球 8強:
1. Jan Keller (DEN)
2. Manuel Pereira (POR)
3. Sanne Azar (SWE)
Vegar Kristiansen (NOR)
5. Tomi Ahonen (FIN)
Marinus Gennissen (NED)
Alex Habo (HUN)
Jim Telfer (NED)
Ulrika Andersson and Jan Keller
In the ladies division, Ulrika Andersson played Susanne Wessel (GER). Both have already won one title each this week. Wessel took the 10-ball while Andersson grabbed the 8-ball title. The match could somehow be seen as the decider of who was the best lady player here this week. Just like in these Championships, Wessel had the better start. She got going first and was leading 3:1 after four racks. But Andersson struck back and took the next two racks, leveling the match at 3:3. Then, Wessel went for a time-out. She needed to clear her mind and got back to the table, ready for action. But Andersson had found her rhythm and did not allow Wessel back into the match. Whereas Wessel missed balls and positions, Andersson pocketed her shots or came up with good safety play. Playing on the 7-ball in rack seven, Andersson got a bit lucky. She missed the shot but left no position for Wessel.
The German went rail first and left a tough position for Andersson. Ulrike Andersson hit the 7-ball but could not make it. Then, Wessel attempted to pocket the 7-ball but she failed. This time Andersson took her chance and cleared the rack, making the score 4:3 in her favor. In rack eight, Andersson started with a push-out. Wessel pocketed an awesome shot and got position. But unfortunately for her, she scratched on her next shot. With ball in hand, Andersson cleared the table and won the match and the title with 5:3. „After a long time of absence my Swedish teammates convinced me to come to this event because they told me it is organized so well,“ said Andersson after the match. „I had no expectations in my own match but I know I love the game and I know I can play pool, added Andersson, „so I just went here and played the best I could.“ „It was like a rollercoaster ride at times but I played good when I needed to.“ „I did not expect to become the best player in the ladies division this year when I arrived here but now I am ready for defending my titles next times“ mentioned the likable Swede.
女子組方面，決賽再度在Andersson與Wessel之間展開。在此前進行的8球決賽中，Andersson 5-3 逆轉Wessel奪得其職業生涯首金，後者則在10球角逐中斬獲了一枚金牌，本次對決將決定誰是本屆賽事最佳女球員。
與8球決賽相似，Wessel開賽後很快便取得了3-1的領先。之後，Andersson連扳兩局追平比分。此時，Wessel請求暫停，她需要清醒頭腦再回到比賽中。但是，結果證明這並沒有奏效，Andersson已經找到了比賽節奏，並且不給Wessel機會。第七局比賽中，Andersson進攻7號球失誤，幸運的是沒有留下好的機會給對手，Wessel沒有打進同樣沒有留下機會。Andersson再度強攻不中，而Wessel卻沒能抓住機會，這一次Andersson終於沒有再讓機會溜走，穩穩打進7號球後清台奪得賽點。第八局，Andersson衝球後選擇推球，Wessel上台後不幸犯規，Andersson利用手中球機會直接清台，最終便再以連扳四局的方式逆轉Wessel，斬獲金牌。這枚金牌也幫助瑞典隊在最後時刻鎖定了榜首位置。
“在長期缺席比賽後，我的隊友說服我參加了這次比賽，他們說這次比賽辦得很好，” Andersson後說，“我並沒有特殊對待自己的比賽但我知道我喜歡撞球，所以我只是來這兒盡最大努力去打球。當我來到這裡的時候，我沒有想到我能成為今年最佳女球員，不過現在我已經做好明年衛冕的準備了。”
Semi-final results – 四強賽果:
Ulrika Andersson (SWE) v Tuuliina Panula (FIN) 5:0
Susanne Wessel (GER) v Karin Michl (GER) 5:4
Top Six Ladies 9-ball – 9號球 6強::
1. Ulrika Andersson (SWE)
2. Susanne Wessel (GER)
3. Karin Michl (GER)
Tuuliina Panula (FIN)
5. Patrizia Ignesti (ITA)
Cristina Moscetti (ITA)
Final Medal table after 5 of 5 events 獎牌榜:
That concludes the coverage from the Dynamic Billard European Championships for Seniors and Ladies in Tirana, Albania.
The event was 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.epconline.eu, visit us on Facebook or check out our youtube channel for regular news clips or contact our press office [email protected].