WEDEL – The second Predator Grand Prix for ladies will be played this weekend in the German city of Wedel, not far from Hamburg. That is also the last GP of this season. After that, the rankings will be determined and the two best players receive a ticket to the European Men’s Championship in Turkey. The matches on Friday, August 29, Saturday, August 30, and Sunday, August 31, will be broadcast live on Kozoom. The previous winner, in Gandia, Spain, was Therese Klompenhouwer, the recent World Games winner.
In previous years, the ticket to the Men's European Championship did not lead to participation by the top women in the rankings. Therese Klompenhouwer and Charlotte Sörensen declined. The main reason was that they had to pay for their own participation and also that there was a European Championship for women.
Participation is now more attractive because all European championships are played in Antalya from March 7 to 15 next year. That is the formula that has been used for years in Brandenburg, with three-cushion individual and national team competitions as well as the classic game types, 5-pins and artistic billiards.
The women's ranking is currently led by Therese Klompenhouwer ahead of Charlotte Sörensen, Karina Jetten, and Guzin Mujde Karakasli. The Grand Prix in Wedel still counts towards the final ranking. The German billiards federation is the organizer, and Stefano Malacrita is the delegate on behalf of the CEB.
The group matches start on Friday morning at 9.30 in six groups of four players. Six group winners and two best runners-up advance to the best 8 for the quarterfinals. In the qualifiers, the games are played to 25 points, in the knockout rounds to 30.
The top 8 players in the European ranking are automatically qualified: Therese Klompenhouwer, Charlotte Sörensen, Karina Jetten, Guzin Mujde Karakasli, Gülsen Degener, Steffi Tram, Jaimie Buelens and Monique van Exter. In addition, each country was allowed to register two players. Due to a lack of interest from other countries, nine players have registered for the Netherlands.
The winner will receive €1,500, the runner-up €750, third and fourth place €500, and fifth to eighth place €250.
The participants in the group stage:
Group A:
Therese Klompenhouwer (Netherlands), Ana Juarez (Spain), Katja Titze (Germany), Sandra Sterk (Netherlands)
Group B:
Charlotte Sörensen (Denmark), Magali Declunder (France), Nanna Pedersen (Denmark), Natasja Damen (Netherlands)
Group C:
Karina Jetten (Netherlands), Irena Michalkova (Czech Republic), Monika Steinberger (Austria), Hanny Hultermans (Netherlands)
Group D:
Guzin Mujde Karakasli (Turkey), Estela Cardoso (Spain), Helga Mitterböck (Austria), Jetty Beersma (Netherlands)
Group E:
Gülsen Degener (Turkey), Monique van Exter (Netherlands), Marie-Rose Rouffa (Belgium), Pauline Beersma-Gerritsen (Netherlands)
Group F:
Steffi Träm (Germany), Jaimie Buelens (Belgium), Sylvia Eckel (Netherlands), Christine Schuh (Germany).