Let's Get the Boys (and Girls) on the Baize!
Russia's answer to Rob Walker, Vladimir Sinicin, acted as Master of Ceremonies at the Opening Ceremony of the 2009 European Team Championships in St. Petersburg.
Russian Eurosport commentator Vladimir Sinicin co-ordinated the Opening Ceremony of the 2009 European Team Championships, in St. Petersburg. The ceremony was attended by dignatories from the historic city of St. Petersburg, as well as senior representatives from the Russian Federation of Billiard Sports, the EBSA and of course the hundreds of players and guests from around Europe.
There were brief speeches, translated simultaneously in English and Russia from the officials and a complimentary buffet. All the players and officials received a bag of gifts from the Russian hosts, and after the formalities it was time to greet old friends and meet new friends, before the players got down to the serious business of the matches.
It was the Welsh Masters Team, the defending champions, who made an immediate impact on Day One. Barely had the triangles been removed before Darren Morgan and Philip Williams both posted centuries. They ran out easy 8-0 winners over Romania.
The World Ladies champion Reanne Evans wasn't far behind them. She rattled in an impressive 93, before missing a blue, and followed that up with 53 as she, and her team mate, Maria Catalano, cruised to an 8-0 victory over Russia's ladies.
Finland ladies and a second Russian ladies team took slightly longer over their match. Their 4-4 draw took around 6 hours to complete!
Ireland's men's team were impressive as they set out to defend the title they won last year. Pitched against Malta's number two team, they ran out 13-5 winners. Martin McCrudden notched breaks of 78 and 54, and his team mate Brendan O'Donoghue made 67 and 65. In response Malta's Clayton Castaldie stroked in 71 and Duncan Pisani contributed 52.
The Welsh men, boasting former professional Lee Walker, who is making his international debut for Wales, were pushed hard by France before winning 12-6. Elfed Evans, for Wales, and Yannick Poulain for France both made a 73 break.
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