‘Maximum Man’ Mark Joyce Wins, Mark King Runner-Up

The winner of the 9th Vienna Snooker Open is Mark Joyce. On Sunday evening, May 12, the current number 54 of the world beat the two-time VSO champion Mark King (no. 28) in a tight final in Köö 7 with the narrowest of victories 5:4. Joyce was already 2:0, 3:2 and 4:3 up, but it was only in the decider that he could turn the match in his favour. In this last frame he already trailed 0-47, but then scored the decisive break of 83 points. Apart from the winner’s prize of 2,500 euros Joyce also secured himself a 500 euros bonus for the highest break of the tournament, his maximum from Saturday.

In the semi-final Joyce, who except for his maximum break played eight other century breaks, won a clear 4:0 victory over Craig Steadman, while King, after trailing 0:2 to Robert Milkins, managed to win 4:2. Last year’s winner Michael Georgiou was eliminated 3:0 by the later VSO champion in the quarter-final in a rather one-sided match.

The results of the VSO 2019 you can find here: https://online.austriansnooker.at/turnier/1329.

The 15 Reds congratulate sincerely and want to express thanks to all sponsors and helping hands as well as Köö 7 and its team!

Mark Joyce With A Maximum Break And All Austrians Out On Day 3

The second year in a row the Vienna Snooker Open is pleased with a 147 break. When in 2018 it was Tom Ford who played the perfect break with 147 points, on Saturday it was Mark Joyce who demonstrated this feat of skill. In his Last 16 match against fellow countryman Lee “The Shirt” Richardson, which he won 3:0 and which was officiated by Austrian referee Manfred Göllner, he played breaks of 75, 119 and 147 points respectively.

On Sunday in the quarter-finals Joyce will play title holder Michael Georgiou. Double champion Mark King will meet VSO debutant Sam Baird, Ford will play 2013 finalist Craig Steadman, and Robert Milkins will compete with Alexander Ursenbacher for a place in the semis.

Thus in the quarter-finals there are no more Austrian players represented: with Florian Nüßle and Sebastian Hainzl two Austrians reached the Last 16, but there they were defeated clearly 0:3 by Alexander Ursenbacher and Mark King respectively.

Group Stage Finished On Day 2

Friday, May 10, the group stage of the Vienna Snooker Open 2019 in Köö 7 has been completed. Thus the pro-am tournament organized by the 15 Reds Snooker Club is ready for the knock-outs.

With Florian Nüßle a second Austrian Player managed to qualify directly as a group winner into the Last 32, after Sebastian Hainzl did the same on Day 1. Andreas Ploner missed the top spot in his group narrowly and has to play the intermediate round on Saturday. But with a marvellous 131 clearance Andreas put himself on top of the high breaks list at least for now.

As expected all professional players have qualified directly into the Last 32. For a short while Garry Balter could hope for a sensation when he forced two-time VSO champion Mark King into a decider, which he lost clearly. Saturday at 10 a.m. starts the intermediate round to qualify into the Last 32 and from there into the Last 16.

The results oft he VSO 2019 you can find here: https://online.austriansnooker.at/turnier/1329

No Surprises But High Breaks On Day 1

The VIENNA SNOOKER OPEN 2019 are running at full blast! Thursday, May 9, our annual pro-am tournament was kicked off again. Half the matches of the 16 groups have finished already – there haven’t been big surprises, but a lot of century breaks! Eight times the magic 100-points mark has been crossed already, Mark Joyce (ENG) alone made four. But the highest break until know holds Alexander Ursenbacher (SUI) with a 129.

The professional players, amongst them also Tom Ford (ENG) and last year’s runner-up Ross Muir (SCO), didn’t miss out on anything on the first day and reached the Last 32. That didn’t apply to ex pro Matthew Couch (ENG), who lost 0:2 to Slovak youngster Martin Oriňák and thus has to play in the intermediate round. As winner of Group O Austrian Sebastian Hainzl qualified directly into the Last 32.

You can find the results here: https://online.austriansnooker.at/turnier/1329

80 players will compete for a total prize money of 10,000 euros!
We are looking forward to welcome you again at the Vienna Snooker Open 2019, either as visitor, as sponsor or as participant!
The tournament takes place in Köö 7, Kirchengasse 41 (near the crossing with Burggasse), in the 7^th District.

This was the Vienna Snooker Open 2018

At the beginning there was a respotted black – at the end there were some interviews.

In between an absorbing match, that showed Snooker at its best. Ross Muir from Scotland and Michael Georgiou playing for Cyprus gave their best. Twists and steals produced a winner, who played with great ambition and fairness and left for Ross only the runner-up spot. It’s a pity that there can’t be two winners. Finally Michael scored higher and thus is the winner of the 2018 edition of the Vienna Snooker Open! 2,500 euros is the prize money for him, 1,700 euros for Ross.