NEWS - 06-13-05  IBP Austrian Open 9-Ball – Final Juva - Drago

 
The fourth stop of the Eurotour 2005 was packed crowded with 205 participants. In Patrick’s Canadian Tavern in Rankweil, Austria, owner Norbert Eder and his helping hands had made everything to offer perfect conditions. Everything was neatly organized, with a Shuttle Service and a guarded parking lot and many other smaller items which you wouldn’t spot in the first place. The area for the final was equipped with a light show to offer the players a bit of the WC feeling. The only negative point was that the cushions had not been equipped with new cloth, which lead to a difference between the new cloth on the table and the older cloth on the cushions.

After a walk-through, I played my first match against Angelo Millauro from Italy, and after playing very well, I won 9-2. The next match against Paul Williams from England was very balanced until 4-4, but then I could book a clear win 9-4. The next match was already the qualifier for the final round against Eric Marendaz from Switzerland. I played well again, put the Swiss player under pressure und made use of my opponent’s mistakes to finally win 9-1.

In the final round of the last 32 players, the draw made me play against Michal Gavenciak from the Czech Republic. I was trailing 0-2 before I came back into the match. I benefited from several mistakes by my opponent and won 9-3. In the next round, it happened as so often these last months on the Eurotour. I didn’t find my pace and had bad positions after the break and then, I got a terrible headache. Since my opponent Daryl Peach from England made a few mistakes, the match was very balanced until 5-5. I then took the lead and after Peach missed an 8 ball, I had the chance to take a two rack lead. But I missed the easy 9 ball, because my head was bumping and I shot too fast. At 6-6, I ran out an impossible table to take the lead at 7-6. At 7-7, I shot a black break and the British player took his first lead at 8-7. In rack 16, no balls were potted upon the break, but I was snookered. I played a Push-out and offered Peach a jump shot which he took. He missed the shot, but I was snookered again. I played a nice rail shot over two rails, but the one ball missed the pocket by 2 cm. Now, the table was open and Peach ran it out to win 9-7 and I was eliminated for the third consecutive time in the round of the last 16 players.

Peach the defeated the last German player in the field Thorsten Hohmann 9-6. In the semi-finals, Daryl Peach played Markus Juva (FIN) and Niels Feijen (NED) had to face Tony Drago (MLT). The first match was not too interesting to watchj, since both players were over-nervous and both players missed some 15 shots each. Finally, Juva had the better nerves and with his 9-6 success, he entered the final of a Eurotour event for the first time. The second semi-final was much better. Even if one or another ball were missed, too, the Snooker player from Malta finally won 9-5 against the Dutch No. 2 of the Eurotour ranking. The final was very balanced and finally, Markus Juva from Finland was a lucky winner, but he also deserved this title. The result of 9-7 reflects well the match.

In the overall ranking, Sandor Tot from Hungary is still leading in front of Dutchman Niels Feijen. The European Double Champion Alex Lely (NED) improved his ranking and is now third and Marcus Chamat from Sweden, who became for the first time father of a son on June 12, 2005, is now forth. I had to swap positions with Roman Hybler from the Czech Republic who lives in Munich – Roman is now fifth and I am on the sixth rank.
 

Patricks

Ralf-Beate