Among 70 competitors from 9 countries, who took part in Dynamic Billard Best of the East - Romanian Open 9-Ball, the best one was israeli Number 1 - Zion Zvi. Nobody bets on this rather unknown player from Tel-a-Viv. The favourites were: the leader of european professional ranking - Sandor Tot from Hungary and two Poles - vice champion of Europe Tomasz Kaplan and bronze medalist of European Championship - Radosław Babica. Also the best Slovak - Jaroslav Polach and top Romanians - Antoanell Judet and Melkonian Babken were classified as potential winners. The start of the leader of Best of The East present ranking - Karol Skowerski from Poland - was also expected with interest. However Karol played very poor and as the only one from favourites didn't promote from group round. In the cup system round first lost: Babica (4:7 with Z. Zvi) and Judet (5:7 with D. Radulovicem). Later Polach (3:7 with A. Ewald) finished his part in tournament, and Tot, who lost 2:7 with well-plaing Kaplan. This match excited special interest. Many spectators looked on Sandor like he helplessly spreads hands. Kaplan, who played almost perfectly, had also very good luck.
In the quarter-finals played:
- Zion Zvi (Israel) - Ioan Ladany (Romania) - 7:6,
- Dawid Jędrzejczak (Poland) - Wojciech Trajdos (Poland) - 7:3,
- Tomasz Kaplan (Poland) - Adam Ewald (Poland)- 7:1,
- Augustin Viziru (Romania) - Dodre Radulovic (Serbia and Montenegro) - 3:7
So to the semi-finals were promoted two Poles and billiard players from Israel and Serbia. This two matches were very obstinate and they finished with inappreciable wins. The most important thing in Zvi rising was the fault of Jędrzejczak, also Kaplan was "made happy" by a big error of Radulovic during strike of very easy ball number "9". Here are results of semi-finals:
- Zion Zvi - Dawid Jędrzejczak - 9:7,
- Tomasz Kaplan - Dodre Radulovic - 9:7.
Players errors probably appeared by the fact, that there was not air-conditioning in the club in Pitesti and the temperature exceeded 34°C. In this heat conditions Zvi played more efficiently. In the final match Kaplan lost his energy. He often missed the pockets and stiked the white ball without sense. Zvi played very well and scored high result.
Final: Zion Zvi - Tomasz Kaplan - 9:2.
The first european billiard tournament in Romania should be recognized as very successful. Romanian Billiard Federation placed much work to organization of this tournament. At the end of this show, Marcin Krzemiński - the Tournament manager and the Board member of European Pocket Billiard Federation - gave many thank to the organizators. Traditionally the tournament was ably leaded up by Grzegorz Kędzierski. To the positives should be placed the debut in tournament of players from Moldova and Israel. Good play level showed Bulgarians and Slovaks, and also big group of billiard players from Romania.
Next tournament will be played at 17-18 September in Komarno (Slovakia).
Sponsors: Dynamic Billard - Germany, Iwan Simonis - Belgium, Aramith - Belgium.
Informations: www.makmarketing.pl
Tournament manager: Marcin Krzeminski, Mobil : + 48 602 196-206