The EC Youth finished yesterday, after 8 days with pupils, juniors and girls playing 8-ball, 9-ball, straight pool and teams.
I was there as teamleader for Norway. Unfortunately we didn't make it to the top, but it was sure interesting to watch some of the new superstars. All players had to choose 2 diciplines to participate in, and each country can only compete with one team each. One team consist of 3 players, and a teammatch consists of one 9-ball match, one 8-ball match and one straightpoolmatch.
These are the names to look for in the future:
Thomas Lüttich, 18 years from Germay. Reigning 9-ball Champion, and one of the favourites in what was his last youth championship. Got "only" bronzemedal in straightpool and 9-ball, and silver for teams after losing for Sweden
Mikael Mutto, 17 years from Sweden. Plays fantastic 9-ball. Was a little unlucky and lost in the quarterfinals in both 8-ball and 9-ball, both at hill-hill. However he god a gold medal for teams, after winning his hill-hill match agaist Lüttich in the teamsfinal playing 9-ball.
Chistanov Ruslan, 14 years from Russia. 3 GOLD MEDALS in the pupils division. Unbeaten in 9-ball and Straightpool, and captain on Russia who won against Germany in the teams for pupils.
Nico Wehner, 15 years from Germany. Almost already a perfect player. Reigning champion in both 8-ball and straightpool, but managed to only win the 8-ball this year.
Artem Koshovyy, 16 years from Ukraina. Plays bothhanded, and has made a 70 break with his left hand, and 169 twice with his right hand in straight pool. However, he did choose to play 8-ball and 9-ball this year, but did only get one bronzemedal... Artem is my favourite to succeed in the future. Fantastic way of playing, and really smart player. Lovely to watch him run-out a rack in 8-ball with 3 left hand shot and 4 right hand shot. He plays most of the time with his righthand, but last time I saw him he was in his "lefthand-week". One week a month he only plays with his left hand, even on tournaments. (Not big tournaments as the EC though) When I saw him play back then I thought he was a lefthanded player, since he breaked and jumped with his left hand too, but he told me that he was right handed originally but his coach made him practice with both hand...
Don't forget Albin Ouschan Jr. (Jasmins brother), who didn't compete this year. 16 years old from Austria, but having a 6 months break due to a penalty from the EPBF and WPA. Probably the most talented poolplayer from Europe ever...
It was a great championship, with a lot of good pool. During the next years Poland, Finland, Russia and Ukraina will produce some really good players. Petri Makkonen from Finland won 8-ball and got silver in the 9-ball for juniors, Ukraina had the reigning champion in the pupils 8-ball, and Poland and Russia had so many talented players with difficult names that I won't even try to write them here
Two matches from the championship will be matches to remember. Mikael Mutto played both of them.
The quarterfinal in the 8-ball division between Mikael Mutto and Artem Koshovyy was as good as any pro-match. On the score 6 - 6 (race to 7) only Artem has missed a shot! (They got some dry breaks, but no misses)
Artem finished the game with winning the last rack after some safety play.
Artem lost the nest match 7 - 5 after meeting Pontus Lagerqvist from Sweden who really did some great shot and run-outs!
The next match to remember is the last match of the tournament. The juniorteams, and the finals. Germany against Sweden. (Germany has won most medals in the EC history for men, womens and youth, with Sweden as nr 2)
Thomas Lüttich and Mikael Mutto in 9-ball. Only a few misses from both players, and a lot of great pool! Thomas plays with a smooth, fast style, and is always playing perfect position. Mikael Mutto is playing by heart, and makes the most incredible balls, from any position and with any speed and side-spin. You just need to see the guy play, and you will be impressed... At 7-6 to Thomas he miscues and the cueballs jumps over the ball, on the last 9!!!!! Mikael Mutto breaks and run the last rack, and there are some really impressive shots and the 150 spectators are applauding and screaming for many of his shot! That last rack should be on tape...
Are there any championships like this in America, with teams and all the diciplines?
I was there as teamleader for Norway. Unfortunately we didn't make it to the top, but it was sure interesting to watch some of the new superstars. All players had to choose 2 diciplines to participate in, and each country can only compete with one team each. One team consist of 3 players, and a teammatch consists of one 9-ball match, one 8-ball match and one straightpoolmatch.
These are the names to look for in the future:
Thomas Lüttich, 18 years from Germay. Reigning 9-ball Champion, and one of the favourites in what was his last youth championship. Got "only" bronzemedal in straightpool and 9-ball, and silver for teams after losing for Sweden
Mikael Mutto, 17 years from Sweden. Plays fantastic 9-ball. Was a little unlucky and lost in the quarterfinals in both 8-ball and 9-ball, both at hill-hill. However he god a gold medal for teams, after winning his hill-hill match agaist Lüttich in the teamsfinal playing 9-ball.
Chistanov Ruslan, 14 years from Russia. 3 GOLD MEDALS in the pupils division. Unbeaten in 9-ball and Straightpool, and captain on Russia who won against Germany in the teams for pupils.
Nico Wehner, 15 years from Germany. Almost already a perfect player. Reigning champion in both 8-ball and straightpool, but managed to only win the 8-ball this year.
Artem Koshovyy, 16 years from Ukraina. Plays bothhanded, and has made a 70 break with his left hand, and 169 twice with his right hand in straight pool. However, he did choose to play 8-ball and 9-ball this year, but did only get one bronzemedal... Artem is my favourite to succeed in the future. Fantastic way of playing, and really smart player. Lovely to watch him run-out a rack in 8-ball with 3 left hand shot and 4 right hand shot. He plays most of the time with his righthand, but last time I saw him he was in his "lefthand-week". One week a month he only plays with his left hand, even on tournaments. (Not big tournaments as the EC though) When I saw him play back then I thought he was a lefthanded player, since he breaked and jumped with his left hand too, but he told me that he was right handed originally but his coach made him practice with both hand...
Don't forget Albin Ouschan Jr. (Jasmins brother), who didn't compete this year. 16 years old from Austria, but having a 6 months break due to a penalty from the EPBF and WPA. Probably the most talented poolplayer from Europe ever...
It was a great championship, with a lot of good pool. During the next years Poland, Finland, Russia and Ukraina will produce some really good players. Petri Makkonen from Finland won 8-ball and got silver in the 9-ball for juniors, Ukraina had the reigning champion in the pupils 8-ball, and Poland and Russia had so many talented players with difficult names that I won't even try to write them here
Two matches from the championship will be matches to remember. Mikael Mutto played both of them.
The quarterfinal in the 8-ball division between Mikael Mutto and Artem Koshovyy was as good as any pro-match. On the score 6 - 6 (race to 7) only Artem has missed a shot! (They got some dry breaks, but no misses)
Artem finished the game with winning the last rack after some safety play.
Artem lost the nest match 7 - 5 after meeting Pontus Lagerqvist from Sweden who really did some great shot and run-outs!
The next match to remember is the last match of the tournament. The juniorteams, and the finals. Germany against Sweden. (Germany has won most medals in the EC history for men, womens and youth, with Sweden as nr 2)
Thomas Lüttich and Mikael Mutto in 9-ball. Only a few misses from both players, and a lot of great pool! Thomas plays with a smooth, fast style, and is always playing perfect position. Mikael Mutto is playing by heart, and makes the most incredible balls, from any position and with any speed and side-spin. You just need to see the guy play, and you will be impressed... At 7-6 to Thomas he miscues and the cueballs jumps over the ball, on the last 9!!!!! Mikael Mutto breaks and run the last rack, and there are some really impressive shots and the 150 spectators are applauding and screaming for many of his shot! That last rack should be on tape...
Are there any championships like this in America, with teams and all the diciplines?
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