INA KAPLAN WAS once again in dominant form as she captured the Women’s PREDATOR Treviso Open, beating Katarzyna Wesolowska (Poland) by a 6-2 scoreline. Overall, it was the German lady’s sixth Euro Tour title and her second in a row, following victory in Podčetrtek last month. In fact, Kaplan had won the last women’s 10-ball event on the Euro Tour, also in Treviso in 2013. For Wesolowska, her finished represented steady progress after returning to the tour earlier this year following a seven-year absence.
After a couple of hard-fought semi-finals, Wesolowska got things up and running but her break wasn’t ideal with several balls tied up on the rails. Kaplan gained the first momentum in the early exchanges and she used it well to run out to take the opener.
A tidy break from Kaplan in the next, kept her at the table with a shot on the 1 ball. She made that and then carefully completed the run out to double her lead. A dry break from the Pole was the last thing she wanted and with the 1 ball sitting ominously, it was another good opportunity for Kaplan. She delivered another clinical runout to reach the halfway stage at 3-0.
Kaplan elected to push out after her break and she left enough of the 1 ball for Wesolowska to pocket it. They went back-and-forth on the 2 ball before Wesolowska potted it via a jump shot. Her jump on the 3 ball left it on for her opponent but a miss on the 4 ball from Kaplan saw the rack slow right down. A miscue foul from the German, using the bridge, gave Wesolowska a ball-in-hand opportunity and she cleared to get on the board.
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The fifth game started with a push out and then a ball from Kaplan going into a non-nominated pocket. That put Wesolowska at the table and she looked good for the rack until she left the 9-ball hanging in the pocket. The 10 ball blocked out the white, but Kaplan banked it in but proceeded to miss a pressure 10 ball and Wesolowska grabbed the chance to move the score to 3-2.
There was plenty of back and forth in the next as neither player could really assert themselves. A ball-in-hand for Kaplan put her in the driving seat and a neat snooker behind the 6 ball forced the miss from Wesolowska. Kaplan took advantage to clear for 4-2
There was nothing on the break for Wesolowska and the runout for Kaplan looked achievable. However, the 4 ball wasn’t in the best spot and her safety allowed her a better chance of it. She missed the cut into the centre pocket, though. It ran clear and Wesolowska couldn’t get it safe. Another miss from Kaplan, this time on the 6, gave the Pole a good look at it but she too rattled the jaws. This time Kaplan made no mistakes as she reached the hill at 5-2
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Breaking for the match, Kaplan made a ball and then pocketed the yellow 1. With a nice spread, she sensed her opportunity and ran through the table for the win.
Kaplan, who works as a university lecturer in German language didactics in Cologne, was thrilled with her second consecutive Euro Tour victory; “With winning the last Euro Tour in Slovenia, I’m really rolling! Treviso has always made me feel really comfortable and I’m always having a good showing here. It would really be a dream come true if this wins takes me to the No.1 spot in the rankings. It’s been one of my goals and that would be really great.
“Now my job is part-time at 20 hours a week, there’s more time to practice but my two children also take a lot of my time as well. I do train a kids group at pool, including my 9-year-old daughter so that is fun as well. My son is five but he’s also interested in pool!”
Kaplan will be in Antalya, Turkey in November to attempt a historic three-in-a row. Earlier, Wesolowska had defeated Jolien Schuurman in their semi-final while Kaplan edged out Ana Gradisnik.