More Mullner magic

Winning both the final Grand Prix of the 2005/06 season in April and the Österreichische Meisterschaft in May, the summer pause didn't seem to come at the right moment for Bernhard Müllner. The Viennese player of 15 Reds was on top of his form as the season ended. But no worries - Bernie started the new season in the same great style by winning the ISC National Open 2006. Even though he had to play on with a borrowed cue after the ferrule of his own cue had got damaged.

For the first time, the ISC National Open was scheduled as a pre-season tournament to celebrate the rebirth of the ISC snooker club in Stadlau, Vienna. Some might argue whether a holiday season like mid-August is the best time to stage a snooker event, but most of the top players were able to take part.

No real upset results were recorded in the four round robin groups nor in the 1/8 finals. In the quarters, Chau Zi Kim came close to eliminating Hans Nirnberger, who won back-to-back frames to recover just in time from 1-2 down.

In the semis, the surprising Graeme Fish from ISC Club took a 2-0 lead against Garry Balter. The first-ranked Balter then stepped up a gear and played some marvellous snooker to clinch four frames in a row.

The other semi was a rerun of last season's national championship final: Müllner vs. Nirnberger. Jack started well to go 2-0 up, but Bernie then took three in a row. Nirnberger won the sixth frame on the black to take the match into a decider. After Müllner had failed to get out of a snooker, Nirnberger missed a straight forward blue to the middle, which would have won him the match. Müllner then cleared the table to set up a clash with Balter.

The final turned out to be a quit one-sided match, as Balter wasn't able to reach his semi-final level of play again. So, Müllner never looked like losing the tactical battle and he recorded a well-deserved 4-1 victory. Which won him not only a trophy, but a winner's cheque of EUR 450 as well. His second place earned Balter EUR 250.

There was a highest break price of EUR 200 at stake as well, but it would only be rewarded for a best break over 70. Guess what? Balter as well as Nirnberger both hit a 69...
[Stadlau, 18/08 - 20/08]

ISC NATIONAL OPEN 2006

Results:

quarter-finals:
Garry Balter - Dieter Simoncsics 3-1
Graeme Fish - Clausdieter Franschitz 3-2
Bernhard Müllner - Paul Schopf 3-1
Hans Nirnberger - Chau Zi Kim 3-2

semi-finals:
Balter - Fish 4-2
Müllner - Nirnberger 4-3

final:
Müllner - Balter 4-1

Break list:

- 69 Garry Balter, Hans Nirnberger
- 66 Balter, Nirnberger
- 62 Nirnberger
- 61 Chau Zi Kim

©  text: Eric Willemsen [Vienna]  /  picture: 15 Reds Köö Wien Snooker Club