Szolnoki Survives as Spanish Open Starts at Full Speed
Two overnight travellers stayed unbeaten in Gandia, but Szolnoki needed a deciding-rack reprieve to keep his title defense on the winners’ side.
Oliver Szolnoki opened his Revora Spanish Open title defense with two wins in Gandia, while Konrad Juszczyszyn also survived a punishing turnaround from the Qatar World Cup 10-Ball.
The first day belonged to players who arrived with little time to recover. Some had crossed from Doha almost directly to the venue, yet the long journey did not stop them from taking control of the winners' side.
For Szolnoki, the route was more dramatic than comfortable. He beat Pascal Enfroy 9-5 before escaping Maks Benko 9-8 after the Slovenian missed with the table open late in the deciding rack.
How did Szolnoki escape on opening day?
Benko had the clearest chance to close their second-round match. His late error reopened the table, and Szolnoki accepted the reprieve to complete a two-win Thursday.
That finish carried extra meaning. Szolnoki won the Euro Tour event at the same Gandia venue 11 months ago, shortly after partnering Zhang Muyan to the mixed doubles title. Familiar tables have been kind to him.
His travel schedule has not. The Hungarian said he had been away from home since July 24, with stops in the United States, China, Vietnam, Bali, the Philippines and Qatar before reaching Spain.
The recent results have not matched his strongest months of the season, but Thursday offered a useful reset. Szolnoki did not play his cleanest pool against Benko. He still found the last ball that mattered.
Which players handled the Qatar turnaround best?
Konrad Juszczyszyn reached the venue after an overnight flight from Qatar and had no spare day to recover. He responded by beating Matous Vlk 9-3, then edged Tobias Bongers 9-8.
The second victory gave the Pole exactly what he wanted: a place on the winners' side and a chance to sleep before Friday's schedule.
Juszczyszyn's performance was a sharp test of tournament endurance. The table conditions, discipline and venue all changed within hours, but his decision-making held together through a deciding rack.
Two other Qatar semifinalists, Wojciech Szewczyk and Daniel Maciol, were scheduled to begin their Gandia campaigns on Friday. Their late entry adds another layer to the final Euro Tour stop of the year, especially with Szewczyk leading the men's ranking.
Who else made a fast start in Gandia?
Spain's David Alcaide supplied the most emphatic result of the opening sessions. He shut out David Prieto 9-0, then beat Dominik Regieli 9-4 to remain on the winners' side.
Francisco Sanchez Ruiz also moved forward with a 9-4 victory over Maj Badovinac. Those results gave the home crowd two established contenders to follow as the draw moved toward qualification for the last 32.
| Player | Opening-day results | Position after Thursday |
|---|---|---|
| Oliver Szolnoki | Beat Pascal Enfroy 9-5; beat Maks Benko 9-8 | Winners' side |
| Konrad Juszczyszyn | Beat Matous Vlk 9-3; beat Tobias Bongers 9-8 | Winners' side |
| David Alcaide | Beat David Prieto 9-0; beat Dominik Regieli 9-4 | Winners' side |
| Francisco Sanchez Ruiz | Beat Maj Badovinac 9-4 | Winners' side |
| Yannick Pongers | Beat Amoyo Denver 9-2; lost to Radoslaw Babica 4-9 | One-loss side |
Why is Pongers already playing without a safety net?
Yannick Pongers began with a 9-2 win over Austria's Amoyo Denver, but Radoslaw Babica stopped him 9-4 in the next round. That defeat pushed the former world junior champion onto the one-loss side.
Pongers then beat Marcin Kwiecien to stay in the tournament. His route is now longer, and every remaining match before the last 32 is an elimination match.
That pressure suits the broader story of his season. Pongers has spent much of the year traveling and competing, trying to turn strong stretches into the deep run that confirms his place among the established professionals.
What changes when the women's event begins?
Friday brings both sides of the men's bracket back to the tables and adds the Revora Women's Spanish Open. The women's field contains 52 players from 16 countries, with the opening session scheduled for 10:45 a.m. local time in Gandia.
The men continue in race-to-nine double elimination until 32 players remain. From there, the event changes to single elimination and races to 11. The shorter early phase leaves little room for a slow recovery after travel or a loose opening set.
Tables 1, 2 and 3 are scheduled for coverage on Pro Billiard TV. The official EPBF tournament page carries the draw, order of play and live scoring as the fields narrow toward Sunday's finals.
What were Oliver Szolnoki's first two results in Gandia?
He beat Pascal Enfroy 9-5 and Maks Benko 9-8 to remain unbeaten on the winners' side.
How did Konrad Juszczyszyn perform after arriving from Qatar?
Juszczyszyn beat Matous Vlk 9-3 and Tobias Bongers 9-8 despite traveling overnight from Qatar to Spain.
When does the women's Spanish Open start?
The women's competition begins Friday, October 30, with the first matches scheduled for 10:45 a.m. local time in Gandia.
Where can fans follow the tournament?
Pro Billiard TV is scheduled to stream tables 1, 2 and 3, while EPBF provides the official draw, order of play and live scores.
