Thomas Janzso (HSEBC) won the third Grand Prix of the 2024 season with a 4-3 victory over his clubmate Philipp Koch, marking his first-ever win in a top-tier national ranking tournament.
After falling behind 0-2 in the final, the Viennese player managed to turn the match around, taking a 3-2 lead. Koch forced a deciding frame, which he ultimately lost to Janzso, securing the second-place trophy.
Janzso, along with his doubles partner Jérôme Liedtke (Snock), who finished fourth in the tournament, is the current Austrian doubles champion. Janzso’s relief was evident after enduring two full-distance matches on the final day. He also recorded the tournament’s highest break with a series of 70 points in the third frame of the final.
Oskar Charlesworth secured third place, making the podium an exclusive affair for HSEBC players from Vienna. With a convincing 4-0 win over Liedtke in the match for third place, the reigning Viennese Snooker Regional Champion alleviated some frustration from his narrow 3-4 semifinal loss to Koch.
National champion Florian Nüßle (Bulls Salzburg) remains at the top of the rankings. This weekend, he, along with Paul Schopf, the winner of this season’s first Grand Prix, was competing at the WPBSA Q School in Leicester, England, for a spot on the Main Tour, hence missing the Grand Prix.
The third Grand Prix of the season, held at HSV’s home venue in Krems-Mautern, featured 16 players. Tournament director was Günter Kaschmitter (SCAH), with Alois Schreibeis and Leopoldine Berndl from the host club providing athlete refreshments.
Christian Fock, who officiated the final, and Patrick Stegmeier from Vienna served as referees.
The next Grand Prix will take place in the fourth round of the season on June 22 and 23 at SCAH in Heidenreichstein.