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German Open 2006
Rike: Hi dears :) Last weekend this year's German Open took place in Fürth. It was a fantastic tournament with Michael Holt as the winner beaten Barry Hawkins in a fantastic final. The atmosphere was incredible with standing ovations at the end. I would like to know what did you hear about GO and what's your attitude about this tournament. If you had the chance to come to Germany and take part at this event, would you? *grin* I'm still euphoric, am I not ;-) Regards from Germany, Rike (couldn't use any smilies, 'cos my browser didn't want me to do *mumble* )
Îòâåòîâ - 20
Shecat: Hi, Rike! Sorry, my english is very bad. We have article about GO http://prosnooker.fastbb.ru/?1-3-0-00000094-000-440-0 you can't use smilies, it's forum troubles.
Rike: wow, great :) thank you very much :) nice pictures! (but I cannot speak or read russian ;-) )
Riba: Rike!! hi dear!!!!! It is great to see you here again! We were reading smth about tournament.. But.. I hope you will tell us more about it btq.. Did you see our JaneDoe there?
Rike: Hi dears :) Well, I’ve tried to send you a message yesterday but my internet didn’t want me to do so... Okay, I hope it is interesting for you when I write a summary of my experiences of the weekend ;-) So be expectant ;-) We arrived at Thursday afternoon. After checking in our hotel (which was unfortunately not the player’s hotel I’d booked first… -.- but a hotel only 10 minutes from the location of the matches away) we went to the rooms of the located snooker club SSC Fürth to see some group matches and meet some friends. There I met first also JaneDoe and Fecla White :) On Friday we went to the “Stadthalle” (the location) at 9 a.m. around midday there were the first matches of professionals. I don’t know if you know who has been expected to come, so this is the list of professionals (and players you may know ;-) ): Mark King, Michael Holt, Matthew Stevens, Jimmy White (who unfortunately had problems with his back and so couldn’t come), Matthew Couch, Ian McCulloch, Matt Selt, Stuart Bingham, Barry Hawkins, Neil Robertson, Joe Perry, Barry Pinches, Lee Richardson, Patrick Einsle (our German professional *grin*), Gerard Greene (these are players who had played at GO also last year in the order of their places ;-) ) and the “new” ones: Ken Doherty, John Higgins, Stephen Lee, Ryan Day, Nigel Bond, Ding Junhui (who could unfortunately also not come to the event because he missed his interview for visa due to his victory at the NIT), Mark Selby, Joe Swail, Dave Harold, Ricky Walden, Fergal O’Brian, David Roe, Mark Allen, Jimmy Michie, Alfie Burden (he cancelled his appearance too, I don’t know what was the reason) and last but not least Mark Joyce. It’s great, isn’t it? :) Well, there have been playing some players already their group matches on Friday e.g. Mark King, Matthew Stevens… The hall was divided into two areas: the one with the main tables on which the semi-finals and final would have been taken place and the second one with further four tables. So you had a lot to do with checking out the best seats ;-) Friday night the player’s party took place :) with free food, free drinks and almost every player around ;-) and exhibitions with Mark King, Barry Hawkins, Ian McCulloch and Michael Holt. The audience could buy lottery tickets for that so that a lottery winner played double matches with one professional at his side. Ian’s partner was a little 5 year old boy who could just look over the table – very very cute :) they made a really funny show and the little boy was obviously very happy :) After the exhibitions Lee Richardson made a trickshot show. At least he made a few trickshots but the main part of his show have been jokes *grin* I find it was a great performance – really funny *laughing* also as Stephen Lee and Jimmy Michie have been so drunken that they easily have been involved into the show *lol* About 10 p.m. John Higgins and Ken Doherty arrived. It was funny: I’d been briefly to the lady’s room and when I went back downstairs I noticed a big crowd and lots of flashlights and in the middle I saw John and Ken *grin* I was running to my friends to get them there to order autographs and photos ;-) It was a nice party :) Well, the next day (Saturday) the first matches started at 10 a.m. About 12 a.m. we took the underground to go to the club because it was said that Michael Holt would play there (indeed he said it himself ). To watch a professional playing in the club is very special because you’re sitting directly next to the table – it’s a very familiar atmosphere there. Unfortunately it seemed that someone did switch the matches and he was not there, but we’ve seen Itaro Santos (maybe you have heard of him :) ), Lee Richardson, Patrick Einsle and Mark Joyce playing there. To the afternoon matches we have been back to the main location to see e.g. John Higgins (there have been so many great matches that it is hard to assign them to a day *grin*). Because matches were still in the late evening (about 10 p.m.) we had a lot to do ;-) This evening (at least I believe it was Saturday ;-) ) there was one big surprise that everyone shocked: John Higgins had to play against Kurt Maflin (a Norway player who nobody knew until this match…) in the round of the last 32 lost this match whitewashed! He had no chance: Kurt Maflin made an 84, a 118 and a few breaks in the third frame. It was incredible, nobody could believe that! Actually some of my friends and I have been watching Lee Richardson vs Dave Harold after that match Michael Hold vs Hans Blankeart as I looked up which are the other matches and saw John Higgins. Then I looked at the score board and he was 2:0 behind and Kurt Maflin at the table! I immediately sent for my friends to get a last look at John Higgins playing… Nobody did expect that… Anyway Kurt Maflin was a well-deserved winner. After this shock we had a few drinks and went to bed about 2 a.m. as the next day would start at 10 a.m. ;-) We have been punctually there on Sunday and I wanted to watch my fav Mark King playing which we did :) Unfortunately he lost his match against Mark Davies although he did play well. The crowed went crazy when our German Patrick Einsle beat Stephen Lee 3:1 in the round of the last 16. His quarter-final match against Barry Hawkins was a real thriller and Patrick just lost 3:2 with Barry having a fluke at the decisive ball. The crowed acclaimed him with standing ovations :) Because some matches of the round of the last 16 and quarter-finals have been really thrilling and just end with the deciding frame semi-finals and so the final were postponed to later time as expected ;-) So the final match started at 9.30 p.m. but I was still awake *grin* it was such a fantastic match between Michael Holt and Barry Hawkins with Michael as the winner :) This year the winner got even a trophy (last year it was more symbolic) and the audience said good bye to the players with standing ovations again. Looking back I can just say that this is such a wonderful event because you are so close to the players and there is a great atmosphere. I think there is rarely an event where professionals just walk around the “ordinary” people or just sit down within the audience to watch a match. They are all so nice and friendly to their friends (e.g. Matthew Stevens had a match which took about 30 minutes and then he gave autographs and posed for photos for almost an hour ;-) ). Well, I hope you’ve got a little idea of my experiences ;-) Regards, Rike
Shecat: Hi, Rike! Rike write: It’s great, this is wonderful Yes, it's true! Thanks for the interesting message!
a madness: Hi Rike, thank you for your wonderful and extensive report about GO Looks like the tournament was really great and lots of fun there
cue-ball: Rike Hi! Thanks a lot for interesting topic about GO! About Kurt Muflin. Lot of players know him. For example Lasse Munstermann and Patric Einsle played in Konstanca this year where was European Championship. Muflin was favorit, but he lost in semifinal. Kurt Muflin lived in UK. Few years ago he with girlfriend Anita Rizutti moves to Norwey. Also he is very good in pool. (Sorry about my English).
respotted black: Morning ! Unfortunately I could not be in Fuerth this year because of my internship in Sankt petersburg..But I am glad to hear that this wonderfull tournament becoming better and better every year ! I hope someday there will be an main tour event in Germany !
Rike: cue-ball oh yeah think so but the audience was very surprised and everyone was still wondering "who is that guy?" Kurt's performance in the following match against Joe Swail was also unbelieveble; he was 2:0 down and Joe was lucky to win that match 3:2 respotted black ïèøåò: main tour event in Germany well, I hope that GO will remain as a pro/am tournament... a main tour event would be fantastic here in Germany, but I think you will never have that familiar atmosphere at a main tour event like it was the last two years at GO where professionals just walk around and say hello to you (although the audience was very very large ) I would have liked to give you some photos, but I didn't make some myself this year...
a madness: Rike, did Swail play better than in Belfast? He was struggling to find any kind of form against Greene. So I think it is great for him if he improved and won against such a good player in form as Muflin
Rike: a madness I didn't watch Joe's NIT-match... *rolleyes* But I think his game is very good, at least he was only beaten in his semi-final by the later champion
Seule: Rike, thank you for your wonderful report! *thinking what to ask* Is Patrick Einsle still playing like Stephen Hendry?
Rike: Don't wanna compare Patrick with any player But if he continues playing like last weekend I think he will stay as professional
Seule: Rike ïèøåò: But if he continues playing like last weekend I think he will stay as professional it would be really great!
Rike: we keep our fingers crossed for him
Seule: Rike,
Rike: I have a nice picture of the winner and his mascot for you (one of my friends gave it to him on friday as a present and Michael brought it to every match ) [img]http://us.a2.yahoofs.com/users/4422f04dzd31caa5/e25bre2/__sr_/5cd9re2.jpg?phoLd9EBFVfQ7bg0[/img] [img]http://us.a2.yahoofs.com/users/4422f04dzd31caa5/e25bre2/__sr_/d11ere2.jpg?phoLd9EBu8DBZsc4[/img]
Rike: Seule ,
Riba: Rike, thanks a lot! It`s really great report! I love it! And photos are very nice too
respotted black: I am very glad for Patrick that he finaly did it ! It will be very hard for him to stay in the circuit but I am very optimistic that our young German has enough potential for being profesional snooker player !
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