Poland’s Konrad Juszczyszyn landed his maiden Predator Pro Billiard Series accolade at the Puerto Rico Open in San Juan, while Kelly Fisher sealed a super sixth title in the women’s tournament.
Juszczyszyn, who has won both European Championship and Euro Tour titles in the nineball discipline, snapped off the biggest 10-ball title of his career following a straight sets victory over Roland Garcia in the final.
Following Carlo Biado’s success over Poland’s Daniel Maciol twelve months ago, it was the polar opposite this time around as Wroclaw’s Juszczyszyn defeated Filipino Garcia 4-2, 4-1 to pocket the $37,500 top prize.
Beforehand, Juszczyszyn was relatively dominant throughout the single elimination phase, beating the in-form Aloysius Yapp 4-3, 4-1 in the semi-finals, having already brushed aside Kwon Ho-Jun, Hayato Hijikata and Sullivan Clark.
The Pole was defeated in a dramatic shootout at the hands of Alex Pagulayan in the winners’ qualification round, although he pulled off a resounding 4-1, 4-0 win over Moritz Neuhausen to ensure progression into the final 32.
Garcia defeated Wisconsin Open champion Joshua Filler 4-2, 4-1 at the penultimate hurdle to reach his second Pro Billiard Series final, having already beat Mario He, Mikael Ogaard and Dimitris Loukatos in straight sets.
Fedor Gorst was beaten 1-4, 4-1, 4-1 in the quarter-finals by Filler in a fascinating contest, having dethroned defending champion Biado in straight sets in the preceding round.
Fisher, meanwhile, overcame defending champion Wei Tzu-Chien 4-0, 4-1 in straight sets in the women’s final to complete a double hat-trick of Pro Billiard Series successes, trousering the $22,500 top prize in the process.
The Brit came through three thrilling shootouts against former women’s world 10-ball champion Chou Chieh-Yu, Poland’s Oliwia Zalewska and Bulgaria’s Kristina Zlateva during a strenuous route to the final.
Taiwanese star Wei mounted a valiant defence of her title, similarly battling her way through a shootout in the semi-finals against the resilient n Jasmin Ouschan, having beaten Rubilen Amit in the quarter-finals.
Austria’s Ouschan had defeated Chezka Centeno in the quarter-finals in the Filipina’s first tournament since becoming women’s world 10-ball champion, while Seo Seoa and Kristina Tkach both departed in the last 16 at the hands of Centeno and Chou.
