Exciting thriller between Belgium and Sweden

Aug 11, 2012

Final day of EC starts with team competition
Saturday, 11 August 2012: What a thriller at the Dynamic Billiards European Championships for seniors and ladies. Team Belgium wrestled team Sweden down with a 2:1 victory. The final day started with a lot of excitement. Belgium and Sweden met in the winner’s qualification round in order to see who makes the way straight through to the semi-final. The script for the match could not have been more exciting. Jan Lundell took the first point for Sweden quite easily when he defeated Pascal Budo with 7:3 in 10-ball. Steve Lambrechts had not many more problems in his 9-ball match with Mikael Andersson.
Team Belgium over Team Sweden
The Belgian won clearly with 9:5. At that time, Johny Vanrijkel and Peter Eriksson were neck to neck in their 8-ball match. They both knew that their 8-ball would decide the team match. Eriksson had the advantage over Vanrijkel that he went on the hill first. Leading 6:5, he looked like the sure winner with only two balls and the 8-ball on the table. But amazingly, he missed and easy shot and even scratched with the cue ball. Was that his nerves playing a trick on him? Vanrijkel came in and ended the rack, tying the match at 6:6. In the 13th rack, Eriksson again went ahead and played well. But he fell out of position for his final remaining coloured ball and snookered himself. He was forced to play a jump-shot. Unfortunately for him, he committed a foul during the attempt. Vanrijkel kept his nerves together and ran the table, pocketing the winning 8-ball for a 7:6 victory over Eriksson.
In the other winner’s bracket match, team Portugal defeated Team Germany 2:1. In the loser’s qualification round, Germany will now have to deal with Switzerland whereas Sweden takes on Team Finland.
The event is hosted by the European Governing Body for Pool, the European Pocket Billiard Federation (EPBF) and organized by International Billiard Promotion (IBP). For further information and reference please go to the federation website www.epconline.eu , follow us on twitter @EPBF_News or contact our press office.