Open cup of Russia on снукеру "White nights": the Hollywood passions in St.-Petersburg (№2 (20) from June, 09th, 2009)

Repetition of a cup-final of UEFA in respect of participation питерца and the British was quite possible: among 42 participants of competitions there was 71 summer native foggy альбиона Emmer Williams and the big group of Petersburg players. But as Emmer lives many years in Peter, the status international to tournament was to the full brought by participation of sportsmen from Belarus and Ukraine. Almost all strongest players have taken part for today in the Cup: Mazhirina Anna, Ryabinin Anton, Vill Andrey, Zhuravlyov Olga, Kokunin Cyril, Faizova the Rose more recently represented Russia on team championship of Europe to Glasgow (again Scotland!). Isaenko Serej and Vashchuk Denis from Ukraine are the best снукеристами at home, and will protect its honour on the forthcoming European championship in Poland, along with the representative of Belarus Vasilevym Sergey, the organizer and the inspirer снукера at home, arrived to St.-Petersburg «on investigation».

Preliminary games were spent in subgroups on circular system, on two best of group left further in "Olympic" system in 1/8 endings, matches in circular tournament and 1/8 passed to 2 victories, 1/4 and 1/2 of ending – to 3, and the ending was spent to 4 victories of one of participants. 6 tables for carrying out of competitions settled down in ЛДМ where all visitors lived, 2 more tables have been kindly given by club "Alibi". The new equipment in new club of censures and participants did not cause in organizers, and tables in ЛДМ left much to be desired. First, 4 tables have been located directly at a glass wall, and the daylight from street entered into an obvious discord with the basic illumination of a table. Quality of cloth left much to be desired, even attempts of organizers to iron it have not crowned success – the peal of spheres was insufficient.

The secretary of the European Association of Billiards and Snukera (EBSA) and the president of the European Judicial Association of Billiards and Snukera (EBSRA) Maxim Kassis has arrived to St.-Petersburg under the invitation of first vice-president ФБСР of V.P.Nikiforova for participation in a judicial seminar and discussion of questions of carrying out of the European championship on снукеру to Russia. At opening of tournament Maxim Kassis has noted that as the official European снукера, it is very glad to progress снукера in Russia in the last couple of years that is connected with Ryabinin Sergey Anatolevicha's appointment to a post of the director of a direction снукер Federations of billiard sports of Russia. Between EBSA and ФБС Russia were adjusted excellent, business relations, the Russian sportsmen have started to take part regularly in the European championships and the world, the first have come, and he hopes, not last successes on international scene. National competitions were included into system and have started to be spent constantly and is pleasant that various regions of Russia show the increasing interest to development снукера and the organisations of competitions of various level. There are still separate lacks at the organisation round-nirov, there are no qualitative tables, the equipment, local judges, but there is a hope and confidence that with each tournament quality of competitions will improve.

Soap operas and the Hollywood thrillers

In selection games of the big unexpectedness has not occurred, there were local defeats of favourites which have not affected definitive distribution of places in subgroups – all the strongest left in number 16 best. However pressure and «soap passions» has sufficed on a small serial: in two groups on 3 players have typed equal quantity of points, and for definition of two best it was necessary to consider additional indicators. To the big affliction of Petersburg fans, Williams who in a subgroup could inflict defeat over Anna Mazhirinoj has not got to this number уэльсец.

In a greater degree rough game spoke непривычностью conditions and quality of the equipment. Players complained that the billiard pockets directed to solar u1089 to light, it is not visible, and blows on them should be carried out at random, the length of a peal of spheres was unpredictable and on different tables different.

However all difficulties of an initial stage have been overcome, tournament has entered the second stage on which it is impossible to stumble already. 1/8 there were no unexpectedness, in 1/4 left the strongest. It reminded the Hollywood thriller – first all goes silently, easy … Pressure grows, but like anything and does not occur …, favourites easily understand with less eminent opponents: Anton Ryabinin dry wins at пермяка Vladimir Zhujkova 3:0, Vashchuk and Isaenko with the identical account 3:1 win against Vasileva and питерца Stoljarova Cyril accordingly, Mazhirina conducts 2:0 in a match with Firsovym Cyril. So, in semi-finals there will be representatives of Ukraine and Russia (Isaenko-Rjabinin), Vashchuk waits for Mazhirinu, she should win only one frame. Here that all has turned over upside down. Recently baked master of sports Firsov step by step has started to catch up with Anna, it is a little more and – 3:2 a victory питерца! On the one hand, not поджентельменски somehow: And "butterfly" did not wish to put on game, and to the lady has not conceded …, but it is sports, instead of cinema!

Semi-finals passed already in style "action": inspired with the previous success, support of fans and put on "butterfly", Firsov wins 3:1 against young Vashchuka and reaches the final that already is conclusive success for the local player. Absolutely equal struggle was in other semi-final: Ryabinin – Isaenko, the winner came to light in last spheres, good luck has turned away at the last minute from Ryabinin 2:3, and semi-finals Russia-Ukraine have repeated in the ending: Russian Firsov against Ukrainian Isaenko. The prize for the best break in 59 points, shown not in the best conditions of competitions became a relative consolation for Anton. The ending has begun how and it is necessary in cases when meet the recognised leader the obvious outsider: has passed very few time, and Sergey Isaenko ahead under frames 3:0, a break 44 in one of them, Cyril who is resting on laurels of the finalist of tournament, does not render any resistance. The pause provided by regulations after 3rd frame, all wait for rewarding, it is necessary to win only one frame …

The thriller unless so comes to an end?

1:3, 2:3, 3:3 – three frames take Firsov successively! What was it – slackness and calmness of Isaenko or concentration and resolute storm of Firsova? Likely both that and another. As a result of the beginning of last frame – and Firsov continues to play, as in previous victorious 3, almost all red spheres, are already played, Cyril is in the lead, the separation about 20 points – is a little more and fans anticipate celebrations, comparable with celebrations after "the Zenith" prize … Isaenko at a table, hammers in last red, and puts simple снукер for a dark blue, yellow sphere almost in the billiard pocket. Фирсов does not get, Isaenko does not accept a position, as after забития at it games are not present a yellow sphere: the green sphere costs onboard and the way to a billiard pocket is blocked by the brown. So repeats three times then at Firsova hand over nerves – he addresses to the judge that from the given position it does not have chances to get on a yellow sphere owing to insufficient skill … then repeats attempt, and … hammers in the yellow! Struggle proceeded, as well as it is necessary under the scenario of the Hollywood thriller, to last, black sphere. After several отыгрышей, the black sphere is rolled out on difficult, convenient enough for забития a position in an angular billiard pocket. Фирсов decides to beat on a billiard pocket, it is inexact, but black slides directly in an average billiard pocket …

Here it, a good luck grimace – the sphere has stopped directly on a billiard pocket cut! Исаенко minute two last, victorious blow … the Intrigue on it did not dare to strike itself has settled: Isaenko Sergey – the first winner of the Open Cup of Russia on снукеру "White nights"!

Vadim Krivda