10-Ball Glory for Zajac, Helvik and Pereira – Alison Chang

THE FINALS OF the 10-ball were played out this afternoon in Lasko and it was Dominik Zajac (Poland), Norway’s Ine Helvik and Manuel Pereira of Portugal who were victorious. This was the second discipline to conclude at the EPBF European Seniors Championships with the 8-ball, 9-ball and Teams still to play for.

The 45-plus final featured Zajac against Germany’s Merik Reshat (GER) and it was a match that the Pole controlled throughout. Reshat got the final up and running as he dropped two balls on the break. He failed to capitalise though and it was Zajac who pocketed the 10-ball to get on the first rack on the board.

A knock on the cue ball saw it sail into the top right pocket to give Reshat ball-in-hand and the German was looking good until a miss on the orange 5 saw Zajac back at the table. He plotted his way around to increase his lead.

Another scratch on the break into the same pocket, this time from Reshat, got the Pole back in. Zajac was looking very comfortable at the table but lost position moving onto the 6-ball and his safety left it on. Reshat had no difficulties clearing to get on the board at 2-1.

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Despite being a fraction out of position throughout much of the next rack, Zajac‘s composure and potting skills saw him through to a 3-1 lead. Reshat pushed out in the next and Zajac played a containing safety. Reshat fouled trying to lay a snooker as he failed to connect with the rail. Dominik looked good for the rack but scratched going from 9 to 10 and what should have been 4-1, became 3-2.

A dry break from Zajac saw Reshat try a tricky carom which failed to come off. With the 2 and 3 balls hanging, there was a lot hinging on the 1-ball and it was Zajac who potted it after a failed effort from Meric.

The Pole went on to claim the rack and restore his 2-rack lead.

Reshat really needed something off his break but a kicked cue ball into the centre pocket once again handed the table back to Zajac. He ably demonstrated his capabilities with a smart clearance to increase his lead to three at 5-2.

The eighth game was the scrappiest of the match with multiple visits from both players. In the end it was Zajac who knocked in the 10-ball to put himself on the hill at 6-2, leaving his opponent with everything to do.

2023 EC Seniors - 10-ball_Dominik Zajac wins

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A dry break from Reshat was the last thing he needed given his predicament. They swapped safeties on the 1-ball before a great jump shot from the German saw the 1-ball disappear into an uncalled pocket resulting in loss of visit. Zajac, given his position, wasn’t taking any unnecessary chances, as both players exchange safety shots. In the end, it was Zajac who got the first look at a run out but a shocking miss on the 8-ball gifted the rack to the German to pull one back at 6-3

Zajac made a ball on the next break but needed to push-out to try and maintain his grip. Reshat was dramatically hit with a time foul as he was distracted by an insect and it was all Zajac needed as he cleared the table for what was an excellent victory. It was the 45-year-old from near Katowice’s second individual medal at the EC Seniors after a bronze in the straight pool last year.

Commented Zajac, “That was the first gold in the singles although I won a team gold last year but I’m so happy, no words! Being younger in this age group does give an advantage, it is helpful but here there are many players with great experience which I don’t have so it balances out.

10-ball is my favourite but I also like 8-ball, so I’m looking forward to that.”

Medals – 45-Plus 10-Ball
Gold: Dominik Zajac (POL)
Silver: Merik Reshat (GER)
Bronze: Andrea Grosso (ITA) & Matjaz Erculj (SLO)

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Ine Helvik (Norway) claimed her third European Seniors gold to add to winning efforts at 9-ball in previous years, as she led all the way to defeat Germany’s Christine Steinlage 5-2. Helvik got herself into an early 2-0 lead and although Steinlage pulled one back, it was the closest she got as the Norwegian ran out a comfortable 5-2 winner.

She said afterwards, “The most important one is the one that I won today. She can play and I’ve played her many times and we go a bit back and forth and it’s very good to win. I’m aiming for all three (10, 8 and 9-ball). I know that’s really a high goal, but if you don’t put your goals up there, you’ll never reach them either and that’s what I’m hoping for.”

2023 EC Seniors - 10-ball_Ine Helvik wins

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Medals – Women 10-Ball
Gold: Ine Helvik (NOR)
Silver: Christine Steinlage (GER)
Bronze: Susanne Wessel (GER) & Furberg (SWE)

2023 EC Seniors - 10-ball_Manuel Pereira

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Portugal’s Manuel Pereira took the gold medal in the 55-plus division as he came from behind to defeat Austria’s Johann Schernthaner 7-4. Pereira looked in trouble in the early stages as he trailed 1-3 but he only conceded one more rack as he took hold of the match and romped to victory.

Pereira enjoyed some good fortune in his run to the gold medal, particularly in his quarter-final match against Kari Johansson, and it was the Portuguese players second medal of the Championships to add to the bronze he achieved in the 14.1 division. He can now look forward to the 8-ball and 9-ball with some confidence.

Commented Pereira, “The luck that everyone talks about took a lot of work to achieve! In the beginning of all of those final three games, I was playing very well but then I made some silly mistakes and after that I had a bit of luck but I’ll take it and the gold medal is a great achievement. 55-plus is a great new division as all those players who thought they were finished at billiards due to age have now got new motivation to keep playing. “