Luca Brecel (15) wins 2010 European Snooker Championship

Luca Brecel and Wendy Jans (both from Belgium) won gold medals in the 2010 European Snooker Championships.

15-year-old Brecel defeated Dutchman Roy Stolk 7-4 in the final of the men's event while home favourite Jans defeated Diana Stateczny (Germany) 5-3.

In the men's semis Brecel beat Iceland's Kristján Helgason 6-3 while Stolk defeated Roy Fernandez (Israel) 6-4.

In the ladies' semis Jans overcame Anna Mazhirina (Russia) 4-2. Stateczny whitewashed Germany's Natascha Niermann 4-0.

Brecel is the youngest ever winner of the European Championship. It was his third title in a short span. He also won the 2009 European U-19 Championship and recently added the Belgian Championship.

It was Jans' fifth European title. She also won in 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2009. In addition she captured the 2006 IBSF World Amateur Championship.

The winner of the men's title is usually awarded a place on the Main Tour but beacause there is a 16 year age requirement EBSA are consulting with World Snooker before making the formal nomination

Defending champion David Hogan (Ireland) lost 4-2 to Roy Fernandez in the last 32.

Former top pro Darren Morgan (Wales) won the Masters division. In the final he beat 2000 winner Joe Delaney (Ireland) 6-0. Morgan also won in 2007 and 2009. He opted for the Men's event in 2008, where he made it to the semifinals.

Hogan and Kuldesh Johal (England) had the highest breaks of the tournament with 141s.

The event was held 27 May - 5 June, 2010 at the Rin Grand Hotel, Bucharest, Romania.

The European Main Tour play-offs (International Open) was played just before the tournament. Kurt Maflin (Norway) won the event to reclaim a place on next season's Main Tour.

See also:

• European Snooker Championships (esnooker.pl)
• 2009 European Snooker Championships (Global Snooker)
• EBSA
• Star in the Making (World Snooker)
  
• Brilliant Brecel (Snooker Scene blog)
• Brecel takes European Championship (Pro Snooker Blog)
• European Snooker Championships (Veikko Hannulan Snookerblog - Finnish)
• Luca Brecel (Official website - Dutch)
• Wendy Jans (Official page)
• Luca Brecel (Wikipedia)
• Wendy Jans (Wikipedia)
• Darren Morgan (Wikipedia)

Related posts:

• Borg and Jans defend Euro snooker titles (2006 European Championships)
• Van Hove and Evans win European Snooker Championship golds (2007 European Championships)
• Van Hove and Evans win European Snooker Championship golds (2008 European Championships)
• Hogan and Jans win European Snooker Championships (2009 European Championships)

Borg and Jans defend Euro snooker titles

Alex Borg from Malta and Wendy Jans from Belgium came out on top in the European Snooker Championships. The event was held 5-15 June in Constanta, Romania.

Borg beat Jeff Cundy (England) 7-5 in the final while Jans whitewashed Isabelle Jonckheere (Netherlands) 5-0.

The Maltese star probably had his toughest battle in the semis against Norway's Kurt Maflin. That match was decided on the final colors in the deciding frame.

A Main Tour spot was on offer to the winner of the men's event. Cundy had already secured this prize before a ball was potted in the final as Borg was not eligible, having played on the Tour this season.

This was Borg's fourth final. Prior to last year's win he was runner-up in 2004 and 1998.

Jamie Jones (Wales) had the highest break of the tournament with a 132.

It was an all-Finnish affair in the Seniors final. Jyri Virtanen defeated Kimmo Lång 6-4.

The Romanian Open was played just before the tournament. Netherland's Roy Stolk won the event and a place on next season's Main Tour.

See also:

• 2006 European Championships (Global Snooker Centre)
• EBSA Championships (ibsf.org)
  
• Borg is Euro Star Again (World Snooker)
• Borg retains title after beating Cundy 7-5 in final (The Times of Malta)
• European snooker championships (wendy-jans.com)
• European Championships (Snooker Talk)
  
• Alex Borg from Malta wins the 2006 European Championships (European billiards)
• Wendy Jans European Champion ladies (European billiards)
  
• Dutchman wins Romania Open (The Times of Malta)
• Borg gets WSA wild card for Main Tour entry (The Times of Malta)