NEWS - 10-23/25-04 Moscow Challenge & Russian Open – double success

Kostya and Ralf

At the first edition of the Moscow Challenge in one of the most famous boxing and sports arenas in Moscow, I was invited for a 9-Ball showdown with K. Stepanov (RUS) in a race to 35 racks. Four TV stations were on the spot to record the event, which will be broadcast in early November during two week-ends. The Russian federation and the owner of the Club Imperia in Moscow, Lev Yaroslavtsev, had organized this match which attracted some 200 spectators.

In the first racks until a score of 2-3, both players were testing the conditions and the equipment. Then I won six racks in a row to lead 8-3. Until 12-6, the next racks were split between the two of us. Then I had a run of five racks to lead 17-6 and it seemed as if the resistance of the young Russian player was broken. He lost the cue ball a few times and allowed me to increase my lead. A few run of three and two racks and I was leading 28-11. Then I shot another six racks series and was leading 34-11. Then I lost the cue ball upon the break and Stepanov won three racks to trail 14-34. But in the next rack, I could win the first Moscow Challenge after some 5 hours play with a final score of 35-14.

Award Ceremony

10-25-04 Russian Open 9-Ball – Once more Stepanov against Souquet

Just one day after the Challenge, the Russian Open were played in the Club Imperia in Moscow. In the qualifying round, the format was round robin in groups of 5 or 6 players in races to 7 with changing break. I managed to win all of my group matches as follows:
Souquet – Nikitin              7-5
Souquet – Neudachin       7-0
Souquet – Beznosyuk       7-2
Souquet – Budyuxin         7-0
Souquet – Tishenko         7-1
The same day, the first KO round in a race to 9 with winner break were played. I could win against the Russian junior player R. Thinahov 9-3 and entered the quarter-finals.
The next day, I won again 9-3 against V. Merkulov from Moscow and entered the semi-finals against M. Kiladze (RUS). After a good start and a rapid lead, I adapted to the level of my opponent and made a few mistakes. After 7-2 and a missed 3 ball, my opponent came back to 7-5. But a black break of the player from Moscow brought me back to the table and I made use of this opportunity and won 9-5.
In the final, I played again K. Stepanov. The 150 supporters were excited and cheered „Kostya“ as much as they could. Revenge was the word after his 14-35 defeat in the Moscow Challenge.
I won the break and could play a 2-9 combination after the break. Then I shot two aces and the score was 3-0. The player from Russia won a rack to score the 1-3, but then I took a solid 7-1 lead. I lost the rack to lead 8-1 and Kostya won two racks to trail 3-7. But then I won the next two racks and won the Russian Open with a 9-3 success.

Roter Platz - Moscow

Olga - Ralf -Kristina - Masha