The weekend of November 29th and 30th found us in Berlin, competing in one the most exciting European Grand Prix. The weekend belonged to one player, the Austrian veteran Gunther Bamberzky, who won the individual as well as the veteran event, before winning the team event with Wiener Neustadt along with fellow Austrians Chris Blϋmel, Thomas Karnthaler and Manfred Pawlica. Bamberzky’s achievement may very well be an unprecedented one, but, for Chris Blϋmel this was a success he has had to wait for a very long time. He had previously lost seven finals before this win, as he told us whilst buying everyone still in the hall a round of beers in celebration!
In the open event, held on the Satuday, Dimitris Kourambas faired the best of the Greek players. Though undefeated, he finished second in his qualifying group behind Dutch player Marco de Bruin. Dimitris drew twice, against Alexander Haas and Anders Buhl Hansen, and did superbly to beat Marco de Bruin. In the barrage he was unlucky to go out on shots to Norwegian Lars Tore Myge. Adrian Ritoridis of English club TSPA White Star also went out in the barrage round, losing 0-1 to Robert Thoen after a very close game. Kwstas Stamokwstas, Dimitris Patrinos and Spyros Patrinos all fell at the first hurdle, after a difficult draw.
In Sunday’s team event, ITEC Olympia came bottom of their group, drawing against TSPA White Star and losing their games against Wiener Neustadt and Sparta Spreeathen.
Results notwithstanding, the weekend was an excellent opportunity for socialising and some sight-seeing. On Friday the boys from ITEC Olympia and TSPA White Star toured Berlin, visiting the Reichstag, Check Point Charlie and a beautifully decorated Potsdamer Platz with a German Christmas market and some fantastic ice cream! We rounded the evening off by going to a Bundesliga game along with German, Austrian, Danish, Norwegian and English players. In an exciting and very physical game, Hertha Berlin beat FC Cöln 2-1 thanks to a header by Pavelic in the 85th minute. From what we saw, Olympiakos can be sure of a victory over Hertha in the UEFA Cup!
"Dirty Food" at PotsDamer Platz
