One of the most tragic stories of the event was the exit of young Wiktor Zielinski from Poland. The 15-year-old boy from Poznan met Nick van den Berg (NED) in the winner’s qualification round. Van den Berg who belongs to Europe’s elite for many years now, had a really hard time with Zielinski. The match went all the way to 8:8. Zielinski had the valuable break in rack 17. He made two balls off the break shot and had an easy shot at the 3-ball with no problems left on the table. But he created a problem for himself, pocketing the 3-ball and hiding the cue ball for the 4-ball. He played a bad safety shot and van den Berg took the rack and won the match with the closest of all results, 9:8.
Wiktor Zielinski
Being sent to the loser’s side, Zielinski encountered no other player but current World 9-ball Champion Albin Ouschan (AUT). What an unlucky draw for Zielinski. As the match unfolded it also turned out to become a hill-hill thriller. Again, Zielinski had the break shot in rack 17. He broke and this time three balls went down. He could see the 2-ball but not play it in any pocket. However, the 9-ball way lined up for a possible but very risky combination shot. Zielinski knew he had to either make the 9-ball on that shot or he would probably lose the match since his opponent was Ouschan who is known to make use of any chance he gets. Zielinski could also have played a safety shot but he went for the risk. He missed the 9-ball and Ouschan ran the rack. Zielinski’s elimination in the Dynamic Billard Treviso Open was as close and as tough as it could get. The kid needs a bit of luck in the coming tournaments.
An early exit today was handed to „The Tornado“ Tony Drago from Malta. The Snooker legend lost yesterday evening by a hair’s breadth with 8:9 to Imran Majid (GBR). Today, Roman Hybler, the „Czech Attack“ made short work with him, taking Drago down 9:5. Drago will be joined on his way home by Daryl Peach (GBR). The former World 9-ball Champion got ousted by Wojciech Szewczyk (POL) 7:9.
Last 16 lineup
Mark Gray (GBR) v Marco Deutscher (NED)
Francisco Sanchez-Ruiz (ESP) v Mieszko Fortunski (POL)
Marek Kudlik (POL) v Konrad Juszczyszyn (POL)
Nick van den Berg (NED) v David Alcaide (ESP)
Albin Ouschan (AUT) v Wojciech Sroczynski (POL)
Joshua Filler (GER) v Maksim Dudanets (RUS)
Sebastian Ludwig (GER) v Mario He (AUT)
Alexander Kazakis (GRE) v Niels Feijen (NED)
Tomorrow, the Dynamic Billard Treviso Open will continue with the round of the final 16 players at 10:00 local time. At 09:00, the Treviso Women Open with a field of 47 players will commence.
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