THERE WAS GERMAN joy at the EPBF PREDATOR European Pool Championships today as they claimed gold medals in the opening straight pool discipline. Firstly, Pia Filler retained the title she won last year, getting the better of compatriot Ina Kaplan by 75-39. Then Tobias Bongers took his first ever European Championship medal as he defeated Mateusz Sniegocki 125-101 in tense final that could have gone either way.
Taking place in the new state-of-the-art event arena at the Kalevi Hall in Tallinn, the men’s final was an extended race-to-125, moving up from 100, the distance in earlier rounds. In the championship match, Mateusz Sniegocki took the early initiative, moving his score to 25 but Bongers got to the table and went on a point-scoring spree, racking up 61 points to take his tally to 63.
Sniegocki though, was equal to it as he ran 42 to edge into the lead. They both had smaller points scoring visits and they were locked tight at 98-94 to the Pole. A safety break from Sniegocki left a ball on for Bongers and he took it and then worked on the pack as he moved into the lead. It was to be his winning visit as he took full control to reach the magic 125.
Commented a delighted Bongers, ‘This feels amazing! In the youth division I never got this title and now my first men’s European Championship and I’m a champion. In the loser qualification, I went 100-95 I think – I was one step out of the tournament – and after that I felt free. I made a 100 out in the next match and I played really good.
The final was nip and tuck throughout and a real test of nerves for both players, “I was really nervous. I was behind, then I was leading and then I overcut one shot and he put some real pressure on me, but I got it done. It’s giving me really big confidence for the rest of the championship,” he added.
Gold – Tobias Bongers (GER)
Silver – Mateusz Sniegocki (POL)
Bronze – Dennis Grabe (EST)
Mario He (AUT)
In the ladies’ final, it was once again Pia Filler who carried on where she left off last year, with a strong, gold medal-winning performance. Filler also won the 9-ball and 10-ball divisions in 2024 and will be dreaming of a clean sweep this time.
In the final itself, Filler put together a superb run of 42 to open her account and pile some pressure on Kaplan, who replied with a run of 14 but couldn’t maintain her visit. They both took turns trying to assert themselves but it was Filler though, who put another 23 points on her tally to take her to within seven points of victory. She faltered to let Kaplan back in and Ina moved her score to 39, but fighting position, missed critical pot. That was all Filler needed as she cleared up to take the straight pool gold medal.
She said, “It feels amazing, really. I’m really happy. I think straight pool, especially in the women’s division, it’s a tough game. With most of the men, you’re used to seeing them running hundreds all the time. But with the women, that’s not always the case. I know Ina plays it a lot at home and I try to practice it at home too. Throughout the tournament, I was always making small, between 30 and 40 runs, which almost puts you halfway there. It’s not my best game but I’m really happy I pulled it off.
“I really love to play the European Championships – it’s almost two weeks of non-stop pool and I really like it and coming here as three-time defending champion, I want more but I’m always hungry for more. I’m definitely focused, having fun and I’m really enjoying myself right now.”
Gold – Pia Filler (GER)
Silver – Ina Kaplan (GER)
Bronze – Oliwia Zalewska (POL)
Ana Gradisnik (SLO)
With 14.1 play complete, focus now centres on 10-ball which commences on Monday morning at 9.00. The 10-ball sees wheelchair users enter the fray for the first time, as well as men’s and women’s events.
This year sees a new streaming platform for the Predator European Championship events. Tables 1 and 2 will be streamed throughout on YouTube, via the Pro Billiard TV channel – https://www.youtube.com/@ProBilliardTV
In addition, competing players are permitted to stream their own matches on outside tables to their public social media accounts.
For all results, live scoring and draw, visit www.epbf.com/tournaments/european-championships/