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Hans “Jack” Nirnberger wins Austrian Masters title for the second time.

Garry Balter, Hans Nirnberger, Christian Hochmayer;

The 2024 Austrian Snooker Masters champion hails from Lower Austria: Hans “Jack” Nirnberger (SCAH, Lower Austria), who repeated his 2021 title win and secured his eleventh Austrian national title overall.

After one withdrawal, 15 athletes competed in the newly renovated Snooker and Billiards Academy in Vienna on Saturday, January 11, to kick off the 2024 National Championship season. Defending champion Garry Balter (15 Reds, Vienna) was seeded first and made his intentions clear with a commanding 3-0 opening victory over Bernhard Ullmann (HSEBC, Vienna). The multiple Austrian Champion in both the Open and Masters categories continued his dominant form with clear wins against Clausdieter Franschitz (SCAH) to reach the semifinals and his clubmate Bernhard Wallner, whom he relegated to the bronze medal match.

Garry Balter, referee Günther Eckhart; 

Hans Nirnberger started equally strong, eliminating Helmut Chlada (HSEBC) to set up a quarterfinal clash with Alexander Trinkl (15 Reds), the reigning Viennese Masters Champion and 2017 Austrian Champion. Trinkl reached the quarterfinals with a 3-1 win over Christian Kasparek (HSEBC). After splitting the first two frames, Nirnberger emerged victorious with a 3-1 scoreline to face Christian Hochmayer (FBC, Vienna) on the final day. Hochmayer, the top-ranked Masters player of the 2024 season and three-time Masters champion, pushed Nirnberger to a deciding frame in a closely fought match. Ultimately, Nirnberger clinched victory, earning his place in the final.

Hochmayer then faced Bernhard Wallner in the bronze medal match, where every shot seemed pivotal. In the end, the FBC athlete secured third place and a spot on the podium.

Christian Hochmayer; 

The final, officiated by Eva Poskočilová from Prague, was a thrilling spectacle. Defending champion Balter took an early 2-0 lead, appearing poised to retain the coveted trophy. However, Nirnberger, initially struggling with his attacking game, turned the match around in spectacular fashion, winning the next four frames and claiming the Austrian Masters title.

The tournament’s highest break, a 55-point run, was achieved by Bernhard Wallner during his 3-2 quarterfinal victory over Carl Walter Steiner (HSEBC, Vienna), a small consolation for the fourth-place finisher.

Bernhard Wallner; 

Referees included Eva Poskočilová, Gábor Bátori (Budapest), Franz Meszaros (Vienna), Günther Eckhart (Upper Austria), Wolfgang Pecka (Vienna), and tournament director and ÖSBV Sports Director Patrick Stegmeier (Vienna).

The new Masters season begins on February 1-2 at KSC in Gerasdorf near Vienna. In addition to the six regular ranking rounds, the newly introduced Masters Austrian Championship Qualifier event in November will allow 32 athletes to compete, doubling the previous limit of 16. The qualifier will determine four finalists who will join the Austrian Championship Finals in January 2026, competing for medals alongside all other Austrian National Championship divisions.

Details will be available in the upcoming Championship Conditions and the 2025 tournament calendar. Additionally, ÖSBV will host a public Q&A session on January 30 at 6:30 PM via ZOOM for athletes, officials, and anyone with questions about ÖSBV operations. The meeting link will be accessible in the tournament calendar.

Results Austrian Masters Championship | Season 2024

ÖSBV wishes all Austrian Masters athletes a successful 2025 season!

All pictures: © ÖSBV/pstegmeier

AUSTRIAN UNDER 21 CHAMPIONSHIPS

Lukas Stötzer claims his fifth Austrian U21 Championship title.

As in the previous four Austrian U21 Championships, the dominant young talent of the Austrian Snooker League, 14-year-old Lukas Stötzer from PSSC in Wels, proved unstoppable once again.

The Austrian U21 Championship was held for the first time alongside the final day of the Austrian Masters Championship at the Snooker and Billiards Academy in Vienna. This facility recently underwent a comprehensive renovation in preparation for the late-2024 Q Tour event, earning widespread praise. The event was a thrilling experience for many young players, who had the unique opportunity to compete for medals alongside legends of the Austrian Billiards and Snooker Association (ÖSBV), some of whom were themselves youth athletes during the association’s early days.

A total of six players from three provinces participated. Unfortunately, Milan Dobrosavljevic (15 Reds, Vienna) and David Alexander Richtsfeld (PSSC, Upper Austria) were eliminated in the group stage. Milan, however, triumphed in the placement match, securing fifth place in his debut championship.

Referee Eva Poskočilová, Milan Dobrosavljevic

David Alexander Richtsfeld

In the semifinals, group winners Timo Gampersberger and Nikolaus Haslmayr (both TSG, Styria) faced defending champion Lukas Stötzer and Julian Dopetsberger (PSSC), the top-ranked U21 player of the 2024 season. Both matches resulted in expected victories: Stötzer defeated Gampersberger, and Haslmayr overcame Dopetsberger, both with 2-0 scores.

Julian Dopetsberger

ÖSBV Sports Director Patrick Stegmeier, Nikolaus Haslmayr

In the final, Stötzer once again showcased why he is the leading player in Austrian youth Snooker. After Haslmayr quickly leveled the score following an early deficit, Stötzer responded with two consecutive frame wins, securing the best-of-five final and his fifth U21 and seventh overall career title.

Austrian Champion Lukas Stötzer

Bronze went to Timo Gampersberger from Graz, who beat Julian Dopetsberger 2-0 in the third-place playoff.

Timo Gampersberger

Referees included Gábor Bátori from Budapest, who officiated the final, Eva Poskočilová from Prague, and Austrian officials Günther Eckhart, Wolfgang Pecka as well as Tournament Director and ÖSBV Sports Director Patrick Stegmeier.

The 2025 U21 season begins on February 16 with the first of four regional ranking rounds. Additionally, the new season will feature two Austrian Championship U21 Qualifier events, held at the Snooker and Billiards Academy in Vienna, providing all ranked U21 players with an opportunity to earn points and secure a spot in the 2026 Austrian Championship.

Detailed information can be found in the upcoming Tournament Conditions and the 2025 tournament calendar. The ÖSBV will also host an online Q&A session via ZOOM on January 30 at 6:30 PM, open to athletes, officials and anyone with questions about the ÖSBV competitive system. The meeting link will be available in the ÖSBV tournament calendar.

The ÖSBV wishes all young Austrian players a fantastic and successful 2025 season!

Title photograph: Nikolaus Haslmayr, Lukas Stötzer, Timo Gampersberger;
all photographs: © ÖSBV/pstegmeier