THE PREDATOR EUROPEAN Youth Pool Championships are up-and-running as the Under 19s and 17s straight pool events got underway in Terme Olimia in eastern Slovenia. The first day of action completed and resumes on Wednesday morning at the quarter-final stage. It was a long day’s play, starting at 9 with the last match concluding just after 23.00 but the players all showed battling qualities to take them one match away from a podium finish.
Following on from his heroics at the Kamui Slovenian Open last week, where he made his first-ever Predator Euro Tour semi-final, local star Maks Benko put in a good shift as he made his way through to the quarter-finals of the Under 17 straight pool competition with a 75-48 win over Germany’s Linus Leitmann.
He said, “I’m tired because it was a long day so I’ll go to bed. When I’m home I’m working out which really helps with a long tournament like this. Last week’s Euro Tour gave me a little confidence but it’s a new tournament and a new start but I’m always ready,”
Another star name still on track for glory is Germany’s Felix Vogel who defeated Seyman Atila (Austria) after a hard-fought back-and-forth match. He can now look forward to Italy’s Alessio Bonansinga in the last eight.
He said, “I think you can see it on my face that it was a very hard match and a tough fight. I led 60-10 in the beginning and then he came back, played amazing and took the lead at 75-70 but then I got my chance and knew I had to take it and I took it, so I’m glad.
“I think I played Bonansinga two years before or last year. He’s a good player, I know, and he’s dangerous so I will try my best there. I don’t know if a medal is good enough so I’ll try to win but I’m looking at it step-by-step, game-by-game, ball-by-ball and I hope I can win the straight pool event,” he added.
With the girl’s competition commencing on Wednesday, Linnea Hjalmarstrom, who is competing in her fifth Predator European Youth Championships, is brimming with confidence ahead of the opening 10-ball tournament tomorrow.
With a career medal haul of three golds, one silver and two bronze, the Swede feels that medals and trophies are within her grasp this week. Hjalmarstrom has been gaining experience on the Euro Tour this year, where her efforts have seen her rise to #7 in the ranking.
Commented Linnea, “I believe I will win a medal and I believe I will win titles also. 10-ball is my favourite game so that one I’m looking forward to the most and I have great hopes. The competition is tougher on the Euro Tour and to come here it’s a bit easier but it’s different obstacles you face. There, it’s tougher opponents and here it’s more pressure and expectations. So, it’s a good preparation but both are completely different tournaments for me.
“At the ECs, you get more table time and I do like tournaments longer. With my fellow competitors, we’ve known each other for five years and we’re quite close friends I would say, so it’s always a great time. With four divisions, including the teams, I’m hoping for four medals and as many titles as I can hold in my hands!”
The 14.1 division concludes tomorrow (Wednesday) with the two finals set for 13.00. 10-ball in all three categories will get underway tomorrow with varying start times.
Streaming of Tables 1 and 2 for the duration of the Predator European Youth Championships can be found on YouTube, via the Pro Billiard TV channel – https://www.youtube.com/@ProBilliardTV
For all results, live scoring and draw, visit www.epbf.com/tournaments/european-championships/
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