The spring season of the Austrian Billiards League (ABL) 2024 is complete, and the winners of the regions Centre, East and South have been determined. This season marks the first time the ABL has been organized into regional leagues, and the new format has been very well received across all regions.
The top-ranked player in the Central Region is Christian Pleschko (PSSC), the best player of the ABL in 2023. Pleschko secured the top spot with seven wins out of eight games, overcoming his clubmate Josef Elias Wimmer, who had won the first of their two matches. Wimmer, who won six games, came in second, followed by Patrick Russ (PSSC) with four victories, who took third place. Franz Meszaros from 1. LSV narrowly missed the podium with three match points, finishing fourth. Florian Bruckner (PSSC) completed the Central Region ranking in fifth place.
Highest Break: Patrick Russ (34)
Results of the Austrian Billiards League 2024 Central | First Half of the Season
The winner of the first half of the season in the East Region is national champion Martin Schmidt from HSEBC, who won four out of his five matches. Vice national champion Patrick Stegmeier (ABC) also secured four wins, but Schmidt took the top spot due to winning their head-to-head match and having a better point differential. Carl Walter Steiner (HSEBC) finished third with a strong finish on the second matchday. After losing his first two matches to Stephanie Doležal, who finished fifth, and Stegmeier, Steiner secured victories against Schmidt, Thomas Janzso, and Walter Kunz (both HSEBC) to earn a podium place in the spring season. Janzso, the only Austrian to reach the round of 16 at the Austrian Billiards Open in March this year, finished fourth, with Kunz in sixth place.
Highest Breaks: Martin Schmidt (92, 81)
Results of the Austrian Billiards League 2024 East | First Half of the Season
Thomas Girstmair won the South Region’s spring ranking in impressive fashion, with eight wins out of eight games. Bernd Fast took second place, somewhat surprisingly ahead of Alfred Buchacher, who completed the podium. Fast won five of his eight games, one more than Buchacher, with their head-to-head match ending in a draw. Fourth place went to Pavel Novotny with three wins, and Renato Ernstbrunner finished the first half of the season in fifth place. All participants play for the OBV in Lienz.
Highest Break: Thomas Girstmair (33)
Results of the Austrian Billiards League 2024 South | First Half of the Season
In addition to the regional rankings, an adjusted ranking that includes results from all regions is maintained. This ranking produces a national ranking, providing an authentic cross-regional comparison by assigning match victory points and regional coefficients.
After the first half of the season, Martin Schmidt (East) leads the national ranking, followed by Christian Pleschko (Central) and Patrick Stegmeier (East).
Rankings of the Austrian Billiards League 2024
The second half of the season starts with the first matchday on September 29. Registrations for the regional leagues are possible from August.