Report – Florian Nüßle secures third victory of the season at split Grand Prix in Wels & Salzburg

Florian Nüßle (Snooker Bulls Salzburg) claimed his third victory of the 2024 Austrian Snooker League season, adding to his wins in rounds two and four by taking the fifth Grand Prix title. The seven-time national champion did not participate in rounds one and three due to international commitments.

Due to severe weather conditions affecting much of Austria over the weekend, a participant from Vienna had to withdraw on Saturday, resulting in the reduction of the two planned Round of 16 matches at the PSSC in Wels to just one.

Nüßle started the tournament highly motivated and in form, opening with a Century Break (100), the only one of the event. He decisively defeated Dominik Scharf 4-0, abruptly ending the day for his opponent from 1. LSV Linz, who was unable to play a ranking match due to the withdrawal and had to return home early.

Jérôme Liedtke from Wieselburg’s SNOCK faced a similar fate, with his tournament ending prematurely after advancing to the quarterfinals without playing a match and suffering a quick 0-4 loss to the reigning national champion.

Venue of Snooker Bulls Salzburg; © Snooker Bulls Salzburg

All remaining matches from the first day were held in Salzburg at the Snooker Bulls venue, where six favorites won their Round of 16 matches. This trend continued into the quarterfinals with victories from Thomas Janzso (HSEBC Vienna) over Lukas Stötzer (PSSC Wels) and Mario Bodlos (TSG Graz) over Patrick Stift (HSEBC Vienna). Only the match between the second- and third-ranked players, Oskar Charlesworth (HSEBC Vienna) and Paul Schopf (PSSC Wels), promised to be close, which it proved to be. Schopf, who had already won the season-opening Grand Prix in Salzburg, secured a spot in the semifinals with a narrow 4-3 victory. The semifinals were held on Sunday in Wels.

Venue of PSSC Wels; © PSSC Wels/Paul Schopf

In the first semifinal, officiated by Louisa Wörthmüller (PSSC Wels), there was a rematch of the most recent national championship final. As in January in Vienna, Thomas Janzso of Vienna got off to a better start, winning the first frame. However, this time Florian Nüßle quickly equalized and took the lead with an 89-point break in the third frame. Janzso fought back to level the score before the mid-session interval, but after the break, Nüßle immediately went up 3-2 and sealed his place in the final with a decisive 75-point break and a sixth-frame win.

In the final, Nüßle faced Mario Bodlos, who had made his first Grand Prix final of the season after winning a 4-2 semifinal against local favorite Paul Schopf, in a match officiated by Günter Steidl (PSSC Wels). The match featured close frames and only one break around the 50-points mark.

The 2021 U21 Amateur World Champion dominated the final, winning four frames with a 76-point break to secure his third Grand Prix victory of the season. Mario Bodlos finished as runner-up, while Paul Schopf took third place after a 4-0 win over Thomas Janzso in the third-place playoff.

The tournament director in Salzburg was Snooker Bulls sports director Manuel Pomwenger, while Arthur Wittig took charge of the rounds played in Wels for his home club. Along with referees Louisa Wörthmüller, who also officiated the final, and Günter Steidl, the officials ensured a smooth and pleasant tournament. The 2024 Austrian Snooker League Grand Prix series continues on October 12 and 13 at TSG in Graz.

Results:
Grand Prix 5 | September 14/15, 2024, Wels & Salzburg