26/02/2017
Kaplan takes title at Dynamic Billard Italian Women Open
The winner of the Dynamic Billard Italian Women Open is Ina Kaplan from Germany. She defeated Jasmin Ouschan (AUT) in an intense final match with 7:4.
The event could not have started worse for Kaplan. She met her teammate Kristina Schagan (GER) in her first match of the tournament with 1:7. What a disaster for her! She had to go straight to the loser’s side of the event. There, she suddenly found her rhythm back and rode the winning wave over Ine Helvik (NOR) 7:5, Barbara Bolfelli (ITA) 7:6 and Elise Qiu (NED) with 7:4. These victories brought her back to the single elimination round of the last 16 players. Looking at the draw, Kaplan had mountains to climb. Forst she dealt with Kateryna Polovinchul (UKR) 7:3, then she surprisingly ousted Russian top player Kristina Tkach (RUS) 7:3 and overcame her teammate Veronika Ivanovskaia (GER) 7:4 in the semifinal. In the final match she met European legend Jasmin Ouschan. Ouschan has also paid a visit to the loser’s side in this event.
After winning over Veronika Ivanovskaia in her first match 7:2, she fell to Sara Rocha (POR) 6:7 and had to go to the loser’s side. There she wasted no time with Christine Steinlage (GER) and whitewashed her 7:0. Being in the single elimination stage, Ouschan eliminated Kristina Grim (GER) 7:0, after a tough fight Vanja Franco (POR) 7:5 and Katarzyna Wesolowska (POL) in the semi-final with 7:2. The final match was all set up and the odds were all in favour of Ouschan. The Austrian had clearer results and seemed to be too much of an obstacle for Kaplan. However, things did not turn out as expected. Two things went against the expectations. Firstly, Ouschan committed several unnecessary errors in the final match which is quite unusual for the perfectionist from Klagenfurt, Austria. Secondly, Kaplan played quite strong and solid and seemed to be of a stronger will to win this final than her opponent. Both of these facts led to the result of 7:4 in favour of Kaplan who is a well-deserved winner of the Dynamic Billard Italian Women Open 2017.
Final Eight Dynamic Billard Italian Women Open
1. Ina Kaplan (GER)
2. Jasmin Ouschan (AUT)
3. Veronika Ivanovskaia (GER)
3. Katarzyna Wesolowska (POL)
5. Kristina Tkach (RUS)
5. Kristina Schagan (GER)
5. Melanie Suessenguth (GER)
5. Vania Franco (POR)
This concludes the coverage from Treviso, Italy. The next EPBF event will be the Dynamic Billard European Championships for Men, Women and Wheelchair Athletes in Albufeira, Portugal, starting on March 18th, 2017.
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