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Dynamic Spanish Open 2010
EPBF Euro Tour
Villaitana Wellness, Golf & Business Resort
Avd. Alcalde Eduardo Zaplana, 7
Benidorm (Alicante)
Spain
www.bwin.com
www.epbf.com
www.eurotour.nu
www.villaitana.com

Thurs/Fri/Sat 2-3-4 December 2010

Villaitana Wellness, Golf & Business Resort - venue for the Spanish Euro Tour
Photographs � EPBF / Bethan Louise Sage - & used by Pro9 with express permission.
Appleton ends the Euro Tour season with another victory for the UK!

Darren Appleton has won the final Euro Tour event of 2010 with an 8-6 victory in the final over home favourite Francisco Diaz Pizarro at the prestigious Villaitana Wellness, Golf & Business Resort in Benidorm - we managed to snatch a few words with Darren after the tournament, and asked him some of the questions on everyone's minds...

Pro9: Congratulations Darren, what a great way to end your year on the Euro Tour, I hear you were in two minds about attending, why was that?

"Dynamite" Darren Appleton: Thanks Dave... Yes, two minds because it was my last euro tour and I've got so much to do before I go to the States, and then the weather came... Actually, Scott Higgins decided the night before to come to my house - if he hadn't, I would definitely have stayed at home, especially when I saw the weather on Wednesday morning, so I suppose I've got him to thank. We missed our original flight because he turned up late because of the bad road conditions.. But obviously now I'm glad I went!

Pro9: Was this a tough event, or do you prefer the ten ball events?

"Dynamite" Darren Appleton: Yes of course it's tough at any time but even more so when the pockets are so big and so many good players. I prefer 4 and half inch pockets, these play like well over 5 inch so it makes a big difference and because of the tapped tables it makes the break easier but at the end of the day, you need some rolls and you've got to pot the pressure balls which I did very well - played great all the way, just one match where I didn't play great against Mark Gray. I would have been sick to lose that as I was always in control but thankfully I took a good break and run at 7-7 after putting myself under so much pressure.

Besides that I was never trouble in the event, except the final was a great match and Diaz played great against me. He's always dangerous because he is so talented and attacks everything, but for the last 6 weeks I have been in great form and full of confidence, so I was pleased how I responded from 5-4 down as he was flying. I'm very happy and it's a great way to sign off the Euro Tour after a miserable season on it without playing too bad but go back to what I say - the tables are a great leveler and some players haven't given me chances because of the way the ball rolls. This game's crazy sometimes but since I changed a few things with my action I feel I am better than ever, and I feel there is still more to come from me so I'm excited for 2011.

"Read More..." for the details.

Pro9: Will this victory affect you, going into the Mosconi? How do you think you will handle the noise and atmosphere from the Mosconi crowds?

"Dynamite" Darren Appleton: Well I play better the more pressure there is, I believe I am a better player than a floor player, let's say I am a player that's needs to be nervous and focused and it gets me in that zone and the higher the stakes I seem to be able to perform. I suppose it's a gift I was born with, so yeah, I've no doubt I'll handle the Mosconi Cup and the atmosphere etc... I am just really excited and winning Spain will give me even more confidence - it's been a great 6 weeks, US Open Champion, 3rd at the Steve Mizerak where I was really unlucky to lose but it was still a great event, 3rd at the Sarajevo Open , 2nd on GB 9 Ball Tour, and now another win here. So it's ended up being a great year but after losing the Mosconi last year I am hungry to win the Mosconi Cup just as much as my team mates will be, and the whole of Europe. It's going to be amazing and I feel it's going to be the best Mosconi Cup of all time - York Hall - Bethnal Green - both great teams, hard to pick a winner, so it's game on!!!

Pro9: I hear you're moving to the States next year, why is that, and will you ever be back?

"Dynamite" Darren Appleton: Yes, I'm moving to States for a number of reasons really. I feel the equipment is so much better, Diamond and Brunswick tables everywhere, most of the events are 10 ball, no tapped tables, more tournaments, more action, and obviously winning the US Open decided it for me as there's a great chance for sponsors and exhibitions and the perks - you've gotta strike while the iron is hot! So it'll be a great adventure and I know it's something I want to do and I thought about it for a few years and I know if didn't try I would regret it for the rest of my career, as I think it will make me a better player. Another plus is there's action in the States, which I love. Nobody in the UK will play me sadly... But yes, I will play the odd event in Europe and the UK still, especially when I go home to my family, plus traveling to other events worldwide... So not much difference really as I am not in the UK much anyway. This just means if I don't play Euro Tours and GB9 I will have less traveling and I don't want to be traveling on 60-70 planes every year which I have done for the past few years - it's just not for me, I want a more stable life and I think that will help me prepare for the biggest events which I like to target anyway, so I will put more energy into them let's say. Which I do anyway but next year I want to give the big 10-15 events a year 100% and not worry about Euro Tour etc... In between which adds so many more flights per year... I prefer to prepare at home for regional events in the States then go to the big events fully focused and fresh and ready. I will see it how it goes for a year and then assess the situation. I would just like to thank my sponsors Predator for their support, and Qsportsmanagement.com for everything they are doing for me and to everyone for all the kind messages. Let's just hope we finish the year in style next week

:-)

Dynamite

Villaitana Wellness, Golf & Business Resort - venue for the Spanish Euro Tour
Photographs � EPBF / Bethan Louise Sage - & used by Pro9 with express permission.
10 Ball in Paradise? Yes, it's the Spanish Euro Tour!

A quick visit to the host venue's website warms the cockles of your heart, as many places in Europe experience the big freeze, the luxurious Villaitana hotel in Benidorm, with it's swimming pools and sea views seems a million miles away.

Yes, it's a hard life being a professional pool player - but someone's got to do it, so let's hear a big cheer for those brave souls who have dragged themselves away from the snowy wastelands of home and are facing up to the challenge of sun, sea, and the best organised pool tour in the world - well done chaps, and good luck in sunny Spain!

On a more serious note, the bad icy conditions DID delay some players at airports in the UK, but the field is, for the most part, complete - apart from Ralf Souquet who was feeling a little under the weather and has decided to rest up at home so that he is 100% fit for the Mosconi Cup next week.

Rank	Points	Prize-money (Euros)
1	550	5,000.00
2	480	3,300.00
3-4	420	2,000.00
5-8	370	1,480.00
9-16	330	1,000.00
17-32	300	764.00
33-48	275	100.00
49-64	230	Total Prize Fund 40,000 Euros
65-96	200
97-128	180
129-192	160
193-223	140

THE EURO TOUR SPANISH OPEN 2010
THE LAST 32
Sascha Tege	8 : 5	Florian Hammer
Petri Makkonen	8 : 6	Mario He
Raj Hundal	8 : 3	Gorge Llanos
Dimitri Jungo	8 : 5	Diego Simon Parra
Mark Gray	8 : 3	Dominic Jentsch
Darren Appleton	8 : 0	Jyri Haltu
Marcus Chamat	8 : 2	Shane Appleton
Daryl Peach	8 : 4	Roman Hybler
Nick van den Berg	8 : 4	Tony Drago
Karol Skowerski	8 : 7	Oliver Ortmann
Radoslaw Babica	8 : 5	Nicolas Ottermann
Christian Reimering	8 : 7	Jukka Tarvainen
Vegar Kristianssen	8 : 5	Azizullah Hamrah
Francisco Diaz Pizarro	8 : 1	Huidji See
Konstantin Stepanov	8 : 6	Richard Jones
Artem Koshovyi	8 : 5	Chris Melling

THE EURO TOUR SPANISH OPEN 2010
THE LAST 16
Sascha Tege	8 : 6	Petri Makkonen
Dimitri Jungo	8 : 6	Raj Hundal
Darren Appleton	8 : 7	Mark Gray
Daryl Peach	8 : 7	Marcus Chamat
Nick van den Berg	8 : 6	Karol Skowerski
Christian Reimering	8 : 7	Radoslaw Babica
Francisco Diaz Pizarro	8 : 5	Vegar Kristianssen
Konstantin Stepanov	8 : 7	Artem Koshovyi

THE EURO TOUR SPANISH OPEN 2010
THE QUARTER-FINALS
Sascha Tege	8 : 3	Dimitri Jungo
Darren Appleton	8 : 4	Daryl Peach
Christian Reimering	8 : 5	Nick van den Berg
Francisco Diaz Pizarro	8 : 5	Konstantin Stepanov

THE EURO TOUR SPANISH OPEN 2010
THE SEMI-FINALS
Darren Appleton	8 : 3	Sascha Tege
Francisco Diaz Pizarro	8 : 6	Christian Reimering

THE EURO TOUR SPANISH OPEN 2010
THE FINAL
Darren Appleton	8 : 6	Francisco Diaz Pizarro

Good luck to all the players making the trip to Spain, from everyone at Pro9!!!

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