Defending Champion Krause Fights Through Opening Day of 2025 European Open Pool Championship
Mickey Krause battled through a challenging opening day at the 2025 European Open Pool Championship, grinding out back-to-back victories to secure his spot in Winners’ Qualification as he continues his bid to defend his European crown. For the first time, the prestigious championship is being hosted at Hills Hotel in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, in […]
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Mickey Krause
Mickey Krause battled through a challenging opening day at the 2025 European Open Pool Championship, grinding out back-to-back victories to secure his spot in Winners’ Qualification as he continues his bid to defend his European crown.
For the first time, the prestigious championship is being hosted at Hills Hotel in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, in partnership with the Ministry of Culture and Sports of Sarajevo Canton. The tournament runs from March 11-16, bringing world-class nine-ball action to the heart of the Balkans, on Sky Sports to the UK & Ireland, and WNT TV to the USA, Vietnam, and other international regions.
LIVE SCORES/BRACKETS
CATCH THE FIRST FOUR DAYS OF ACTION EXCLUSIVELY ON WNT TV
The defending champion endured a tough start in his opening match, narrowly edging out Bulgaria’s Mario Valchev 9-7. However, Krause found his rhythm in his second match, taking full control against another Bulgarian, Kalin Varbanov, to seal a commanding 9-3 win and keep his title defence on course.
Reflecting on his performance, Krause admitted: “The first match was rough—I came close to missing 10 balls. Tomorrow, my focus is on practising as much as possible ahead of my next match on Thursday.”
Former world champion Francisco Sanchez Ruiz also booked his place in Winners’ Qualification, reminding fans of his dominance with a commanding 9-1 win over Gabriel Vasilache before overcoming Mohammad Ali Berjaoui 9-5. The Spaniard now heads into the third day, continuing his pursuit to not only for his first European Open title but also to reclaim the world No. 1 ranking.
Following Ruiz’s lead, fellow former world champions Carlo Biado, Ralf Souquet, and Niels Feijen also secured back-to-back wins, ensuring their place in the next stage of the competition.
Last year’s Mosconi Cup MVP and Team Europe captain, Jayson Shaw, delivered a flawless start, storming past Bogdan Sacal 9-1 before whitewashing Quinten Pongers 9-0 in a clinical display. However, it was a different story for Mosconi Cup Team USA star Tyler Styer. Despite a solid first-round victory, the American fell short in his second match against Abdullah Alenzi after a brutal hook forced him into a costly scratch and enter the Losers’ bracket.
Hometown favourite Sanjin Pehlivanovic began his campaign for his first Matchroom Major in emphatic fashion, dismantling Ziga Kovac and Adam Stankiewicz with 9-1 victories. The world championship runner-up, Eklent Kaçi, also cruised into Winners’ Qualification with two strong wins to join his fellow Balkan star.
Vietnamese sensation Duong Quoc Hoang made his mark on day one, showcasing his elite shot-making to secure a comfortable 9-3 victory in his opener. Though he faced more resistance in his second match, he battled through to a 9-6 win and a place in Winners’ Qualification.
Elsewhere, Bui Truong An delivered an eye-catching European Open debut, sinking a stunning triple-bank 9-ball en route to a commanding 9-3 victory in his opening match. He followed it up with a composed 9-5 win over Italy’s Carlo Blasi to cap off a stellar first day.
The European Open action continues tomorrow, with the second day of round one matches to commence.
Session Times
The European Open Championship will take place from March 11-16
All times are local (CEST)
11-14 March – from 10 am daily
15 March – 12 pm – 4:30 pm / 6:30 pm – 10:30 pm
16 March – 12 pm – 4:30 pm / 6:30 pm – 9:30 pm
Don’t miss the chance to catch the action as the 2025 European Open Pool Championship unfolds in Sarajevo – Spectator tickets available here!
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