David Alcaide (ESP) - Photo: EPBF/AMM
Van den Berg loses tough encounter
Saturday, 21 April 2012: In the first semi-final, David Alcaide (ESP) wrestled Nick van den Berg (NED) down with 8:7.
The match got in line with what could be watched throughout the whole day. Two really strong contestants competed against each other with a winner by a small margin only. They started taking points in turn until the score was 3:3. So far, some safety shots were exchanged but every player won his break game. Then, from 3:3 to 6:6, both players ran out their racks without even letting the opponent to the table. In the 13th rack, van den Berg made no ball on the break. Alcaide could not run the rack and left a safety shot for van den Berg. The Dutchman answered that by playing a great resafe. Alcaide tried to hit the ball but he scratched with the cue ball. Van den Berg used that first "mistake" from Alcaide and ran the rack, leading 7:6. Then Alcaide broke the balls with a super break shot and cleared the table in a very short time. He showed strong self-confidence. The match was tied at 7:7 when van den Berg approached it for his final break shot. Again, no ball went in. The layout of the balls was far from easy but the 1-ball was makeable. Alcaide got t the table and cleared it with some super shots, winning the match with 8:7. Van den Berg can hold his head up high since his performance was also top class. "It was a great match", stated Alcaide afterwards, "Nick and I played very good and ran many racks". "In the end, I was very lucky", admitted Alcaide, "I had a good break to tie the match while Nick also broke well in his final rack with no ball going in a pocket. That gave me the chance to win the match and I simply took it".
The second semi-final will be played between Dominic Jentsch (GER) and Phil Burford (GBR).
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.