Report – Lukas Stötzer claims his fifth Austrian U21 Championship title

As in the previous four Austrian U21 Championships, the dominant young talent of the Austrian Snooker League, 14-year-old Lukas Stötzer from PSSC in Wels, proved unstoppable once again.

The Austrian U21 Championship was held for the first time alongside the final day of the Austrian Masters Championship at the Snooker and Billiards Academy in Vienna. This facility recently underwent a comprehensive renovation in preparation for the late-2024 Q Tour event, earning widespread praise. The event was a thrilling experience for many young players, who had the unique opportunity to compete for medals alongside legends of the Austrian Billiards and Snooker Association (ÖSBV), some of whom were themselves youth athletes during the association’s early days.

A total of six players from three provinces participated. Unfortunately, Milan Dobrosavljevic (15 Reds, Vienna) and David Alexander Richtsfeld (PSSC, Upper Austria) were eliminated in the group stage. Milan, however, triumphed in the placement match, securing fifth place in his debut championship.

Referee Eva Poskočilová, Milan Dobrosavljevic

David Alexander Richtsfeld

In the semifinals, group winners Timo Gampersberger and Nikolaus Haslmayr (both TSG, Styria) faced defending champion Lukas Stötzer and Julian Dopetsberger (PSSC), the top-ranked U21 player of the 2024 season. Both matches resulted in expected victories: Stötzer defeated Gampersberger, and Haslmayr overcame Dopetsberger, both with 2-0 scores.

Julian Dopetsberger

ÖSBV Sports Director Patrick Stegmeier, Nikolaus Haslmayr

In the final, Stötzer once again showcased why he is the leading player in Austrian youth Snooker. After Haslmayr quickly leveled the score following an early deficit, Stötzer responded with two consecutive frame wins, securing the best-of-five final and his fifth U21 and seventh overall career title.

Austrian Champion Lukas Stötzer

Bronze went to Timo Gampersberger from Graz, who beat Julian Dopetsberger 2-0 in the third-place playoff.

Timo Gampersberger

Referees included Gábor Bátori from Budapest, who officiated the final, Eva Poskočilová from Prague, and Austrian officials Günther Eckhart, Wolfgang Pecka as well as Tournament Director and ÖSBV Sports Director Patrick Stegmeier.

The 2025 U21 season begins on February 16 with the first of four regional ranking rounds. Additionally, the new season will feature two Austrian Championship U21 Qualifier events, held at the Snooker and Billiards Academy in Vienna, providing all ranked U21 players with an opportunity to earn points and secure a spot in the 2026 Austrian Championship.

Detailed information can be found in the upcoming Tournament Conditions and the 2025 tournament calendar. The ÖSBV will also host an online Q&A session via ZOOM on January 30 at 6:30 PM, open to athletes, officials and anyone with questions about the ÖSBV competitive system. The meeting link will be available in the ÖSBV tournament calendar.

The ÖSBV wishes all young Austrian players a fantastic and successful 2025 season!

Results Austrian U21 Championship | Season 2024