AFTER 11 DAYS of the best in pool, the final four final champions were crowned as the 9-ball division played out at the PREDATOR European Pool Championships in Tallinn. Casper Matikainen (FIN), Pia Filler (GER), Jouni Tahti (FIN) and Yuma Dorner (GER) were all crowned Predator European 9-ball champions in an exciting final evening of action.
In the men’s division it was Finland’s Casper Matikainen who outlasted Daniel Maciol (POL) by 9-6 to lift the trophy. It was a match that the Finn started strongly and was never behind. Maciol stayed in it at 6-6 but Matikainen pulled away for a tremendous win.
Commented Casper, “I can’t believe it! It’s a dream come true so lets just put it like that. I played pretty good today and I got more lucky, and that’s just what you need. Just trust yourself. European 9-Ball Champion is probably the biggest achievement of my career and it feels really good. It’s always hard to play two weeks of pool with all these champions and you learn a lot. Especially after winning the final event, it feels so good.”
Men’s Medals
Gold – Casper Matikainen (FIN)
Silver – Daniel Maciol (POL)
Bronze – Roman Hybler (CZE)
Tobias Bongers (GER)
Pia Filler came to Tallinn as defending champion in three of the disciplines and it’s a testament to her determination that she will be leaving with two golds, two silvers and a bronze. She defeated compatriot Ina Kaplan to retain her 9-ball crown in a match that she ended up dominating.
Pia said, “I came in being the three-time defending champion and I defended two – straight pool and 9-ball and 9-ball I won for the third year in a row now. And I also won silver in teams and 8-ball so I’m happy. I wasn’t playing my best European Championship; I was struggling at times but it’s about winning ugly. I was fighting through every match because I wanted it so bad and I’m happy I’ve got the job done.”
Women’s medals
Gold – Pia Filler (GER)
Silver – Ina Kaplan (GER)
Bronze – Tina Vogelmann (GER)
Nina Torvund (NOR)
Finnish wheelchair legend Jouni Tahti claimed yet another European Championship gold as he defeated old adversary Henrik Larsson (Sweden) by 6-4. It looked one-way traffic as the Finn opened up a 5-0 lead to reach the hill and leave his opponent reeling. However, Larsson wasn’t done and he battled back reeling off the racks to get to 5-4 and leave the destination of the gold medal in some doubt. Tahti, however, shut out any possible nerves to close out the victory.
Wheelchair medals
Gold – Jouni Tahti (FIN)
Silver – Henrik Larsson (SWE)
Bronze – Matej Brajkovic (SLO)
David Slacek (SLO)
Yuma Dorner (Germany) took the Under 23s gold as he defeated countryman Dennis Laszkowski by 9-7 in an exciting match-up. Laszkowski was the man to beat following his gold-winning performance in the 8-ball division but Dorner rose to the occasion magnificently in what was a very tough match. Trailing 5-3 at the mid-point, Dorner had it all to do but he reeled off three racks to take the lead at 6-5. With the momentum in his favour, he held on the take the title.
Yuma said, “I feel very happy about this. It was an exciting final, I guess. I was 5-3 down but then I played quite well and capitalised on some small mistakes that he made and I was happy to get over the line and hold the trophy.
“It’s a lot more difficult to play a friend, especially in a match like that. Dennis played a very good tournament; he won the 8-ball and the 9-ball final was close so hats off to him. It’s always exciting and always nerve-wracking in a final!”
Under 23 medals
Gold – Yuma Dorner (GER)
Silver – Dennis Laszkowski (GER)
Bronze – Silvan Starkermann (SUI)
Kristian Mrva (SVK)
That concludes the 2025 Predator European Pool Championships presented by the City of Tallinn
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/