Professional with the balls

Successful title defense for Mario He

Mario He (center) won the final against Max Lechner (left), Albin Ouschan (right) made it to the round of 16.(Bild: Erwin Dionisio)

In a red-white-red final, Ländle pro Mario He prevailed against Tyrolean Maximilian Lechner at the Straight Pool Championship in Florida, USA, and was able to enjoy a 10,000 US dollar prize.

Ländle pro Mario He successfully defended his previous year's title at the American 14.1 Straight Pool Championship held as part of the International Open in St. Augustine in the US state of Florida. The Rankweiler won the event, which was renamed "The International Straight Pool Open" with prize money of 46,700 US dollars, in an exciting, all-Austrian final with 150:131 against Maximilian Lechner from Tyrol and secured the prize money of 10,000 US dollars. Lechner received 7,000 US dollars as a "runner-up".

(Bild: Erwin Dionisio)

"The final wasn't so good for Max and me. We were both rather unsure at the start," said He about the final against his colleague, "there were a few mistakes at the end and I had the luckier end on my side."

Tough road to the final
The 31-year-old had advanced to the final knockout phase of the last 16 with a preliminary round record of three wins and two defeats, where he first beat Dutchman Niels Feijen 150:69. In the quarter-finals, the Vorarlberg native successfully took revenge for his 4:150 defeat against the Finn in the preliminary round with a 150:105 victory over Mika Immonen. He reached the final with a 150:46 semi-final win against former 14.1 world champion Thorsten Hohmann from Germany.