Carom
VIENNA – Andreas Kronlachner has taken his third Austrian title in three cushion. He won the final match against Georg Schmied 3-0 after he had beaten Franz Stenzel in the semifinals. Andreas Horvath was defeated by Schmied in the semis. The 69th Austrian championship was played in the Billardsportclub Augarten near the river Danube.
Kronlachner against Schmied was a final which wasn't expect even by the top experts. Kronlachner, however, could be seen as favourite after his strong performances against Kostistansky and Stenzel. Schmied showed his class in close and tactical matches.
The match saw a long first set with awkward positions for both players. Nobody could build up a long run, finally Kronlachner scored the set point in the 21th inning.
Schmied seemed to be tired after his long five setter against Horvath. Kronlachner after the first set found back his form, which he showed against Stenzel and Kostistansky. The second and third set together lasted also 21 innings and brought Kronlachner his third national three cuhsion title after 2005 and 2008.
The way to the final brought Franz Stenzel, who had outplayed Andreas Efler, in the arena against Andreas Kronlachner, who flattened his way to the semis with a wonderful performance in the quarters against Gerhard Kostistansky.
Kronlachner had the better start as Stenzel at the beginning needed some time to adapt his game to the long running table. After losing the first set, Stenzel showed a beautiful run of nine in the second to level the score.
The third set was very close: both players showed their class but at the end Kronlachner had the better finish.
The forth was more tactically, with difficult positions for both players. Again Kronlachner reached the finish line before Stenzel and picked up a ticket for the finals. Kronlachner was averaging 1.514, Stenzel, 1.088
The other semifinal brought together former world class billard atristic player Andreas Horvath and Georg Schmied, who for the first time reached the last four in an Austrian three cushion chamiponship by a victory against co-favourite Herbert Szivacz.
After winning the first set in seven innings, Schmied had to bow in set two and three, as Horvath was improving his level significantly. The fourth set again turned the wheel to the side of Schmied. He finished in eight to force a decider. Horvath tried to come back in the fifth, but Schmied was too strong. He ended set five in the 11th inning to grab the second final ticket. Schmied 1.250, Horvath 1.106
The tournamnet average amounted to 0.936, the best general average was played by Andreas Efler with 1.296. He also scored the highest run with eleven and finished a set in three innings. The best game performance was played by Andreas Kronlachner with 1.956.