There was never before such a big tournament in the Balkan region as the Serbian Open 2009, one of the Dynamic Billard Best of the East series. 147 players from 9 countries enrolled. Moreover, it was the biggest number in the 11-year’s history of the Best of the East. The winner was 19-years old Mariusz Skoneczny  (Duet Lipinski dachy Tomaszow Maz) who, in the final, defeated 37-years old Mariusz Roter  (Mario Club Mikolow), 9:4. Third places went to Ivica Putnik from Zagreb  and Ioan Ladanyi from Cluj Napoca .

      For many years Serbia did not host any major international pool billiard tournament. However, players from the Serbian Billiard Federation took part in many events and high level of their game was seen many times. After long discussions between the Serbian Federation and Mak Marketing, the organiser of the Dynamic Best of the East, it was decided that the sporting season 2009 will commence in Belgrade, Serbia. In the preliminary plans it was that, only one club, the „Cue Ball” will host the matches, shortly afterwards it was clear that, with so many participants, additional venue is needed and so, the club „Manilla” became the co-host. It gave us 18 tables to play on.

      First stages were the Round-Robin matches in 32 groups. No major surprises there were. Although many matches were quite „dramatic” and went right „up to the hill”, most favourites advanced to the best 64, single knock-out stages. Only then the fun really started!!!

      Experienced Milos Verkić  lost 6-7 to Slobodan Banjanac  – and he was out, nr1 of the polish overall ranking Mateusz Sniegocki lost 5-7 to Martin Martinović  – and was out, the man who put up the idea of organising the Dynamic Best of the East tournament in Serbia, Andreja Klasović  lost 6-7 to Miroslav Stoianovic  – also he was out. In the next round (last 32): Christea Ovidiu  sent away Bronze EC medallist, Matijaz Erculij , 7-6; Bozo Primić saw out the winner of the last year’s Best of the East overall ranking, Karol Skowerski , 7-4; Goran Mladenović  scared away former EC Runner-up, 10 times Polish Champion – Tomasz Kaplan, with an astonishing score of 7-1.

      Then, in the next round, there was the „many times before” rivalry between former EC Champion, Sandor Tot  and former EC Runner-up, Radoslaw Babica . Few mistakes of the latter and Tot clearly and quickly takes the victory with 7-0 whilst, on the other table G. Mladenovic was probably still trying to digest Kaplan’s flesh as he lost in his next match to Zoran Svilar , 0-7.

      In the quarterfinals there was a „big one” for the large number of local spectators – the match between S. Tot  and I. Putnik . Mach taller Putnik could reach the score of nine much easier and so, with 6-9, it was Tot, „the last Serb”, to pack his bags this time. Other matches were: Mariusz Skoneczny  vs. C. Ovidiu , 9:1; I. Ladanyi  vs. Michal Czarnecki  9:2 and Mariusz Roter  vs. Z. Svilar , 9:6.

      However, it must have been quite tiring job for Putnik as later, in the semi-final, he quickly lost to M. Skoneczny, 3-9. Other semi-final match was so dramatic that watchers just „loved it”. Finally M. Roter saw out I. Ladanyi, 9-8.

      In the final match spectators saw just one „player of importance” – M. Skoneczny. He played consecutive frames so well, so brave and so fast, they just could not stop to cheer. Although his opponent tried his best, Skoneczny finished his match with Roter 9-4 and got a standing ovation from the crowd. For such a young player it was such a great success. But truly, for M. Roter, second place was clearly worth an overall victory. Many have predicted the end of his significance in pool-billiard long time ago, but he proved again, he still can be a „predator”.

      The prizes in the total amount of 7,750 € and trophies were presented by: the Director of the Dynamic Best of the East, Marcin Krzeminski  and the President of the Serbian Billiard Federation Aleksandar Marković.

      The tournament was excellently directed by the EPBF Head Referee Waldemar Debski, who was assisted by the Polish Referee Krzysztof Mysior.

      In the Serbian Open 2009 players from the following countries competed: Poland, Slovenia, Serbia, Armenia, Bosnia, Macedonia, Romania, Bulgaria and Great Britain. Unfortunately, because of the problems with the visa players from Ukraine and Russia were not able to come.

      Many thanks to organisers and sponsors: the „Cue Ball” Club , Dynamic Billard , IBP , Ivan Simonis and Aramith .

      And, at the end, we would like to give particular greetings to the fantastic audience of the Serbian Open 2009. It was them, who created an unforgivable, sporting yet warm atmosphere that made this tournament „the Best”.

	1/4 final				1/2 final				Final
	Ivica Putnik 9 Sandor Tot 6
					Ivica Putnik 3 Mariusz Skoneczny 9
	Mariusz Skoneczny 9 Cristea Ovidiu 1
									Mariusz Skoneczny 9 Mariusz Roter 4
	Ioan Ladanyi 9 Michał Czarnecki 2
					Ioan Ladanyi 8 Mariusz Roter 9
	Zoran Svilar 6 Mariusz Roter 7