NEWS January 29, 2006  IBP Czech Open – Van den Berg wins

The kick-off event for this years Euro Tour 2006 saw a new record-high number of participants. 256 players came to the Czech capital Prague and many more had entered their names on the waiting list.

My first-round opponent was Andrea Di Bari from Italy. Playing only on an average level, I still managed to win 9-4. My second opponent came also from Italy and playing better, I won 9-3 against Stefano Fiumi. In round 3, I played without committing any mistakes and the local star Lukas Krenek (CZE) did not stand a chance when losing 3-9. After another good performance against the Norwegian player Roger Lysholm, whom I defeated 9-2, I was qualified for the final stage of 32 players in a single KO bracket.
Here, I draw Ivica Putnik from Croatia and after another good performance, I won 9-2. In the round of the last 16 players, destiny hit as so often on Euro Tour events. I had an unlucky break and my opponent played well, in this case Nick van den Berg (NED), who on top of this, was also lucky. Even if I did not miss a single open ball, while my opponent missed three, I lost 4-9 and finished for the fifth consecutive time on rank 9 of a Euro Tour event.
Van den Berg continued on the winning streak and after winning against Christian Reimering (GER) 9-5, Stephane Cohen (FRA) 9-4 and Darren Appleton (GBR) 9-1, he could enter his name again in the winners lists of the Euro Tour. The fourth semi-finalist was Fabio Petroni from Italy.