9-Ball
Niels Feijen (NED) ousted Ralf Souquet (GER) from the Dynamic Billard Italian Open 2014, handing him a clear 9:3 defeat in the round of the final 32 players. The fact that these two players met in this early stage of the event was a bit unfortunate. However, Feijen dominated the match and the balls also did not roll in Souquet's favor. In the end, Feijen deserved the victory. He will now play Karl Boyes (GBR) in the round of the final 16 players. Boyes took care of Fabio Petroni (ITA), one of the local heroes of the event.
The whole day was determined by close matches and strong comebacks. Already at 09:00 in the first round of the day, Radoslaw Babica (POL) performed a marvelous comeback. He was already trailing 2:6 to Pierfrancesco Garzia (ITA) when he managed to turn the match around and claim the victory with 9:7.
In the next round it was Henrikas Strolis (LIT) who came up as a big surprise. He was trailing 3:7 and still managed to win 9:8 over Michele Bianchini (ITA) who missed the 7-ball at 8:8.
Roman Hybler (CZE) looked like the sure winner in his match with Sanne Azar (SWE). He suddenly snookered himself with only three balls left on the table. He tried a jump shot but could not pocket the object ball. Azar accepted the gift and won 9:8.
The drama continued through the winner's qualification round. Mateusz Sniegocki (POL) and Marcus Chamat (SWE) also went hill-hill and this time Chamat committed a foul on the 2-ball when he tried a difficult safety shot. Sniegocki ran out an booked his seat among the top 32 players of the event, sending Chamat to the loser's side. There, he met Phil Burford (GBR) as a revenge match from round 1 where Chamat defeated Burford. In the loser's qualification match, Burford succeeded in taking revenge winning the match this time - 9:8 of course!
Talking about revenge matches, Marco Dorenburg (GER) made his way through the loser's side with victories over Olivier Mortier (BEL) with 9:1, Manuel Gama (POR) with 9:8 and Ivica Putnik (CRO) with 9:8. He then met Daryl Peach (GBR) in the loser's qualification round. Dorenburg lost his opening match to Peach and looked forward to his chance to get even. And he achieved the impossible! Dorenburg ousted Peach with 9:7 from the event. He was then drawn against Marc Bijsterbosch (NED) who he also defeated with 9:2. Dorenburg booked his seat in the round of the final 16 players.
Tomorrow's lineup is as follows:
Dorenburg GER v Kaplan POL
vd Berg NED v Babica POL
Feijen NED v Boyes GBR
Sniegocki POL v Stepanov RUS
Ouschan AUT v Skowerski POL
Caperna ITA v Ekonomopoulos GRE
Melling GBR v Das BEL
Gray GBR v Jones GBR
The tournament continues at 10:00 local time.