Report – Florian Nüßle wins Grand Prix in Vienna and remains unbeaten since 2019

The second Grand Prix round of the Austrian Snooker League 2025 took place at the Austrian Snokker and Billiards Academy in Vienna, hosted by the local club HSEBC.

Sixteen players competed, with two knockout rounds on Saturday determining the four semifinalists. After a predictable round of 16, eventual tournament winner Florian Nüßle (Snookerbulls Salzburg) secured a clear 4-0 victory over Jérôme Liedtke (SNOCK Wieselburg) to advance to the semifinals. National Championship runner-up and current U21 Austrian Champion Lukas Stötzer from PSSC Wels followed with a 4-1 win against Emanuel Stegmeier (ABC), though the young Upper Austrian had to work harder than the scoreline suggests.

Lukas Stötzer; ©ÖBU/andreaskronlachner

The remaining spots for the final day were claimed by local favourite Oskar Charlesworth (HSEBC), who won 4-2 against clubmate and training partner Emil Becker, the bronze medalist of the last National Championship, and Mario Bodlos from Top Snooker Graz, who edged out Thomas Janzso (HSEBC) 4-3 in a decider in the tightest quarterfinal match.

Mario Bodlos, referee Christian Fock; ©ÖBU/andreaskronlachner

Sunday’s final day saw both a dominant and a closely contested semifinal. Nüßle delivered a commanding 4-0 victory over Bodlos, allowing his opponent only 28 points in the fourth frame after compiling three impressive clearances of 134 (the tournament’s highest break), 122 and 84.

Florian Nüßle; ©ÖBU/andreaskronlachner

In contrast, the second semifinal between Stötzer and Charlesworth was a tight battle. Despite three half-centuries in total, neither player could establish a decisive lead before the deciding frame. HSEBC’s Charlesworth eventually claimed the deciding frame, sending the 14-year-old Stötzer into the third-place playoff against Bodlos.

Lukas Stötzer; ©nadinezineldin

In the match for the third place, officiated by Christian Fock (Vienna), Stötzer quickly shook off his semifinal disappointment and cruised to a 4-0 victory over Bodlos to secure a podium finish.

Oskar Charlesworth, referee Franz Meszaros; ©ÖBU/andreaskronlachner

The final, refereed by Franz Meszaros (Vienna), was a rematch of the 2022 National Championship final. Nüßle started strong with two half-centuries to take a 2-0 lead. Charlesworth responded with a break of 64 to reduce the deficit to 1-2, but Nüßle edged the tightly contested fourth frame just before the mid-session interval. He then sealed the title immediately after the restart with the match’s highest break (67), clinching a 4-1 victory.

Another home-soil triumph for the internationally successful Florian Nüßle, who remains unbeaten in Austrian ranking events since 2019. Runner-up Oskar Charlesworth, following his season-opening Grand Prix victory in Krems-Mautern, secured another final appearance and solidified his second-place ranking behind Nüßle in the Austrian Snooker League 2025 standings.

Special thanks go to tournament director Thomas Bernt from HSEBC and Andreas Kronlachner, who organized and managed the live streaming for the ÖBU Media Office on the final day. Appreciation also to former Austrian Champion and top player Garry Balter, who provided co-commentary for the final, as well as referees Christian Fock and Franz “Ferenc” Meszaros, whose efforts ensured optimal playing conditions for the athletes.

The third Grand Prix round is set to take place on April 5-6 in Wels (final day) and Salzburg, hosted by PSSC and the Snookerbulls.

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