Patryk Statkiewicz has won the Dynamic Billard Best of the East – Ajara Cup 2026. In the tournament held in Batumi, the Polish player defeated home representative Nodar Bakradze 7:6 in the final. The closing stages of the event were exceptionally close, with both semifinals also ending 7:6.
On September 19–20, Batumi hosted the third tournament of this year’s Dynamic Billard Best of the East series. Players from Georgia, Poland, Azerbaijan, the Czech Republic and Turkey took part in the competition. Due to the large number of participants, matches on the opening day were played simultaneously at two venues – Piramide Billiard Club and Oponent Club.
Great emotions in the decisive matches.
Following Saturday’s group stage, the knockout phase began on Sunday. As the tournament progressed, the stakes increased and so did the atmosphere around the tables.
The final matches were played in a particularly lively environment created by Georgian supporters together with the Polish guests. The crowd reacted enthusiastically to the action, with the semifinal involving the home representative producing especially strong emotions.
Nodar Bakradze defeated Jeremi Nowak 7:6, securing Georgia a place in the final. The second semifinal was equally close and was also decided in the final rack, with Patryk Statkiewicz beating Mariusz Skoneczny 7:6.
The final once again required all thirteen racks. Statkiewicz and Bakradze reached 6:6, leaving the title to be decided in the final rack. In the end, Patryk Statkiewicz won 7:6 and lifted the Ajara Cup trophy.
Final standings
- Patryk Statkiewicz – Strefa Diamond Gdańsk
2. Nodar Bakradze – Tbilisi
3. Jeremi Nowak – Strefa Diamond Gdańsk
3. Mariusz Skoneczny – Fortis Bilard Kielce
“For most of the day I couldn’t quite find my best form and I felt a little heavy at the table. Before the final, however, I told myself that I simply wanted to enjoy playing billiards, and that worked. Especially because the atmosphere was fantastic,” said Patryk Statkiewicz, winner of the third Dynamic Billard Best of the East event of the 2026 season.
For the Polish player, victory in Batumi is also an important step ahead of his next tournaments.
“My main goal is to qualify for the Polish Championships, so the tournament in Kielce during the Polish Open will be very important for me. I will do my best to achieve the strongest possible result there,” added the Batumi champion.
Georgian billiards continues to make progress
The tournament was another important event for Georgia’s developing billiards community. Temur Kakhidze, head of the Ajara Billiard Federation, believes the effects of cooperation with the East European Billiard Council are becoming increasingly visible.
“We have now completed three events co-organized with the East European Billiard Council, and I am proud that we continue to make progress with every tournament. The results of this year’s event are the best proof of that. Georgian players made up half of the play-off field, and our representative reached the final, losing only in the deciding rack. This is a major success for us.I would like to thank all the players for taking part, and above all EEBC President Marcin Krzemiński for his trust, support and cooperation in organizing the tournament in Batumi. We want to keep developing, and we promise that we will do even better at the next edition,” said Temur Kakhidze.
Two days of international competition.
The Dynamic Billard Best of the East Ajara Cup was played in 9-ball. On the first day, the players competed in the group stage, with the best advancing to Sunday’s play-offs. The groups were played across two clubs, allowing a large number of matches to be completed efficiently.
Sunday was devoted entirely to the knockout phase, culminating in the evening final.
The winner received €1,300, a trophy, a medal and a Cuetec cue. Prize money was also awarded to players finishing in the other top positions.
The action from Batumi was available via a live broadcast on TVSports.pl, while results, groups, brackets and live scoring were published at www.ebc-billiard.com.
Next stop – Kielce
The tournament in Georgia was the third of four Dynamic Billard Best of the East events in 2026. Earlier in the season, players competed in Oradea, Romania, and Bratislava, Slovakia.
The season will conclude in Kielce, Poland, where the Dynamic Billard Best of the East – Polish 9-Ball will take place on October 10–11. For many players, it will be the final opportunity to improve their position in the overall ranking of this year’s series.
Dynamic Billard Best of the East Ajara Cup 2026 organizers: Mak Marketing, East European Billiard Council, Ajara Billiard Federation and Georgian National Billiard Federation.
MAIN SPONSOR: Dynamic Billard
Sponsors: Iwan Simonis, Aramith, Kamui, Cuetec.
