INA KAPLAN CLAIMED her fifth PREDATOR Women’s Euro Tour title as she defeated home hope Ana Gradisnik 6-4 to win the Women’s Podčetrtek Open today. Kaplan, who had a relatively quiet European Championships, saved her best for the Euro Tour as she went undefeated through the field for victory. In addition to the title, Kaplan also qualifies for the World Games which takes place in Chengdu, China next year.
Having won the lag, Kaplan got things underway but with no shot on the 1 ball she played a tidy safety. Both players had repeated visits before it was Gradisnik who seized the initiative with a lovely bank on the 5 ball to set up a run out for the early lead.
The German though completed a nice run out following a scratch from Gradisnik to level the match in the next and they both had opportunities to win the third rack. It was Gradisnik who prevailed to restore her lead at 2-1.
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A messy table after the break gave no clear chances and both players tried to create something. However, it was Gradisnik who fouled attempting a table length bank and with ball-in-hand, Kaplan levelled it up.
In the next, Gradisnik missed a one-rail kick on the 1 ball to present ball-in-hand to Kaplan who composed herself to clear for a 3-2 lead. A tight snooker from Kaplan forced Gradisnik into leaving the 4 ball over the centre pocket and from there, Kaplan increased her lead to 4-2. It was soon 4-3 as Gradisnik clawed her way back into it.
Kaplan had a great chance in the next but caught the 2 ball on the centre pocket knuckle while attempting to pocket it down the rail. Gradisnik though, couldn’t get her momentum going as she retreated to a more conservative game. A scratch from the Slovenian gave the table to her opponent and Kaplan cleared to reach the hill at 5-3.
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Gradisnik took the next and the next rack was understandably tense, but the Slovenian fired in a superb jump shot but failed to take advantage on the 2 ball which she missed. Kaplan played an easy safety forcing Gradisnik to go rail first but in the end, it was a poor shot from the German that left the 4 ball out in the open. The Slovenian looked all set but left herself a tester on the 10 ball which rattled the jaws and stayed out, leaving Kaplan a table-length cut which she executed for the win.
Commented Kaplan, “It was a rough route. Pia Filler was the one I had to beat and also Ana played really well and I was really lucky that she missed that last 10 ball which was crucial for me and I was shaking so much!
“I had a good break today but no shots afterwards so I always had to play safe and her also. We both played good but she started not to cue well on those last three balls, which was good for me but she’s a fighter. It was important to qualify for the World Games here which was the main goal here.”
For viewers at home, Tables 1 & 2 will be streamed throughout on YouTube. Table 1 will be on the Kozoom channel, while Table 2 will be available throughout on the EPBF platform. All other tables can be viewed on the Kozoom.com website, where there are a variety of subscription options.
Table 1 link = https://www.youtube.com/@KozoomTV/streams
Table 2 link = https://www.youtube.com/@theepbf/streams
Tables 1-20 = https://home.kozoom.com/en/all-cue-sports
As well as the prize money, there are Tour ranking points on offer. This week’s Euro Tour tournaments are 10-ball and players compete in a double-elimination format, playing down to the last 32 competitors for the men and last 16 for the women. From there it is single elimination until the finish. The men’s matches are races-to-8 racks with alternate break, while the women play a race-to-6.
Results, live scoring, and draw are available at www.epbf.com