Vassalos-Chamat-Feijen-Peach
At
the third event of the Diamond 9 Series in Rankweil / AUT, the promoter
could welcome a full field of 109 competitors in Patricks Canadian Tavern.
Once again, all European top players were there to collect ranking points.
After
a walk-through, my first opponent was E. Vettas (GRE). The man from Greece
who plays next season for Dachau in the First German Division, took a 2-0
lead. But then he missed a few opportunities and finally had to give in
6-9. My next opponent was C. Johannessen from Norway and I controlled the
match 9-4. Before the tournament, I had practiced with my next opponent,
M. Felder from Austria. But as opposed to the practice session, he did not
shoot 5 aces and loosing 5-9, he had to go to the losers bracket. I was
qualified for the final KO round of the last 32 players on the final day.
Here,
the draw made me play great T. Drago, the World Pool Masters Champion
2003. The man from Malta who is known for his fast play lost his rhythm
due to my good safety game and finally lost 5-9. In the round of the last
16 players, I was opposed to H. Stolka from Germany. After a rapid 6-0
lead, I committed a few mistakes and the match became tight again. But
finally I won 9-6 and entered the quarter-finals. My opponent was the
current 14.1 European Champion N. Feijen (NED). In the first rack, I lost
the cue ball in the middle pocket when playing a draw ball on the 6 ball
and so missed the opportunity to take the lead. I never came back into the
match and committed three more mistakes, so that the Dutchman could take a
5-2 lead. He then shoot 4 aces and won. My fifth rank is sure better than
my last results in the Diamond 9 Eurotour, but I could not win any ranks
in the overall ranking. I am still on rank 4, behind Ortmann, Feijen and Engert.
The semi-finals:
Peach (GBR)
- Feijen (NED)
8-9
Vassalos
(GRE) - Chamat (SWE) 5-9
(5-0)
The final was very single-sided, after both players had committed a few mistakes. The man from Sweden found his composure and won 9-2 – the title at the Stromaufwärts Austria Open.
