Luca lifts European Crown
Fifteen year old Luca Brecel became the youngest ever European Champion after beating Dutchman Roy Stolk in the final in Bucharest
The precocious Belgian talent that is Luca Brecel added yet another trophy to his already full cabinet when he lifted the European Championship title at the Rin Grand Hotel in Bucharest.Brecel was the European Under 19 Champion at just fourteen and two weeks ago became the youngest Belgian Champion when he beat Main Tour Professional Bjorn Haneveer in the final.
Today he was pitted against the vastly experienced Roy Stolk from Holland. Stolk was a
previous winner of a European Play Off and had one season on the Main Pro Tour before losing his place.
Stolk opened a 3-1 lead in the final with runs of 39, 36 and 71. But after the interval the
Belgian teenager took control.
Brecel ran in a superb 120 break to close the deficit and took the next on the black with a 34 clearance to level the scores.
The Belgian added the next two frames and when he compiled 64 in tenth frame he stood just one ball from victory. But a red rattled and Stolk clawed his way back into the frame with a mixture of brilliant potting and astute safety, eventually sinking the black to stay in the match.
Brecel created a chance in the eleventh frame from which he accumulated 35 and that proved to be enough to leave Stolk with too much to do, and when another red disappeared the Dutchman stepped forward to offer his hand in congratulations.
The presentations were made by officials of the EBSA, the Romanian Federation, Romania Olympic Stars and special guest Jimmy White.
FINAL SCORES
Luca Brecel 7-4 Roy Stolk
70(30)-43, 28-86(39), 38-64(36), 18-71(71), 124(120)-1, 69(34)-68, 73(38)-33, 83-22,
64(64)-76, 62(35)-1
