Romanian Open: Smith Claims Second Title Of Season

England’s Ben Smith notched up his second victory of the season, as he claimed the Romanian Open crown at the VIVO Cluj-Napoca on Sunday.

The Englishman had taken his first title of the campaign last month at the Swiss Open in Uster, and he came into this week’s Challenger 5 level competition as the top seed.

He started his campaign with a dominant performance in the opening round, allowing home hope Cristian Balogh to score just ten points as he secured a straight games victory.

The Englishman then also won in straight games in both his quarter final Dan semi-final contests. Smith downed the Czech Republic’s David Zeman in the last eight, before overcoming Spaniard Nilo Vidal in a three-game win on Saturday in the semis.

The final saw Smith take on another Czechian, in Marek Panacek, the No.2 seed. The pair were level after two games, with Panacek responding after going behind. From there, though, it was Smith who took control. He won the third game 11-5, before going on to clinch victory with an 11-9 win in the fourth. 

Results: Romanian Open
Final
[1] Ben Smith (ENG) bt [2] Marek Panacek (CZE) 3-1: 11-9, 3-11, 11-5, 11-9 (47m)

Semi-Finals
[1] Ben Smith (ENG) bt [8] Nilo Vidal (ESP) 3-0: 11-8, 11-9, 11-7 (25m)
[2] Marek Panacek (CZE) bt Alasdair Prott (SCO) 3-2: 11-3, 7-11, 11-7, 9-11, 11-8 (50m)

Quarter Finals
[1] Ben Smith (ENG) bt [7] David Zeman (CZE) 3-0: 11-7, 12-10, 11-7 (34m)
[8] Nilo Vidal (ESP) bt [3] Elliott Morris Devred (WAL) 3-1: 11-6, 8-11, 11-4, 11-4 (40m)
Alasdair Prott (SCO) bt [5] Marc Lopez (ESP) 3-0: 11-8, 11-1, 11-1 (22m)
[2] Marek Panacek (CZE) bt [6] Ondrej Vorlícek (CZE) 3-1: 11-7, 7-11, 11-4, 11-7 (38m)

First Round
[1] Ben Smith (ENG) bt Cristian Balogh (ROM) 3-0: 11-2, 11-4, 11-4 (21m)
[7] David Zeman (CZE) bt Filip Jarota (POL) 3-2: 13-11, 6-11, 11-7, 12-14, 11-8 (65m)
[8] Nilo Vidal (ESP) bt Lukas Windischberger (AUT) 3-0: 11-7, 13-11, 11-6 (28m)
[3] Elliott Morris Devred (WAL) bt Manu Paquemar (FRA) 3-1: 7-11, 14-12, 11-2, 11-6 (55m)
Alasdair Prott (SCO) bt [4] Sean Conroy (IRL) 3-0: 11-6, 11-9, 11-7 (32m)
[5] Marc Lopez (ESP) bt Bogdan Vasile (ROM) 3-0: 11-7, 11-2, 11-5 (27m)
[6] Ondrej Vorlicek (CZE) bt Joel Arscott (NZL) 3-1: 17-15, 9-11, 11-6, 11-7 (57m)
[2] Marek Panacek (CZE) bt Maceo Levy (FRA) 3-0: 11-5, 11-5, 11-7 (30m)