THE DYNAMIC BILLARD Euro Tour reconvenes this weekend in Podčetrtek, Slovenia for the Terme Olimia Open. It is the fourth event from six on the 2023 Euro Tour roster and approximately 150 players will be in attendance to try their luck. It’s a new venue for the Tour, having been down the road in Lasko in previous years. Play gets underway this Saturday 29th and concludes on Monday 31st July.
One player making a welcome return to the Euro Tour is Poland’s Wiktor Zielinski, who made his breakthrough with back-to-back victories in the last event of 2021 in Treviso, Italy and then the first event of the following year in Lasko. Since then, Zielinski has established himself at the top level and will be looking to continue that form in Podčetrtek.
The 22 year-old from Poznan has missed a couple of events this year due to the increasingly busy schedule in pool but is looking forward to the challenge this week.
“I started practicing last Friday after being in Turkey for holidays. I had a 2.5 week break from pool after the World Cup. That was much needed break for me after so many tournaments in past the two to three months, but I’m feeling fresh and hungry for titles, that’s for sure,” he said.
During Zielinski’s absence, three of his countrymen have made a move and currently fill three of the top five spots. Miesko Fortunski moved to No.1 following his victory last time out in Tampere, while Daniel Maciol moved to No.4 following a runner-up finish in addition to two 5th places. Rounding out the top five is Wojciech Szewczyk who, amazingly is still looking for his first Euro Tour win.
Zielinski continued, “I hope it will be great week for me. There are so many great Poles and with two missed Euro Tours it’s not going to be easy to surpass them as I am sure they will do good this week
I know I am capable of doing some big things but I am trying not think about this. There so many really awesome players on tour this year so it’s not easy to win but I hope that from time to time I will be the lucky one to lift an important trophy.”
©EPBF
Away from the table Zielinski is still working hard to gain his university degree, which he is somehow able to co-manage alongside his busy pool career.
“I’m slowly getting to the finish line and have almost finished my sixth of seven terms. So I’ve got one term left and need to write my diploma work to graduate. I should graduate in February but maybe I will need more time to make sure my diploma work will be really good. There will be not much time in second half of the year for me as I’ve got tournaments, tournaments and tournaments.
“There are so many of them and I’ll probably be away from home for more than two months – September, October and beginning of November. As ever, I will do my best to be 100% prepared and hopefully win some of them!”
Final: Zielinski and Filler｜©EPBF
As well as the prize money, there are Tour ranking points on offer, so there is everything to play for. All Euro Tour tournaments are 9-ball and players compete in a double-elimination format, playing down to the last 32 competitors, and then single elimination until the finish. All matches are races to 9 racks with alternate break.
The Women’s Euro Tour Terme Olimia Open also takes place this week as the top female players on the continent gather for battle. The event commences on Saturday 29th July and concludes on Monday 31st. Eyllul Kibaroglu will be defending her No.1 position but the 2 and 3 ranked players, Veronika Ivanovskaia and Pia Filler, will have plenty to say about that.
All the matches can be viewed live by visiting www.epbf.com/tournaments/eurotour/ and clicking on the ‘LIVE’ button. This will take you through to viewing options. In addition, selected matches will be streamed on Facebook Live on the EPBF page.
Results, live scoring, and draw are available at www.epbf.coma