Joy for Jensson in Iceland

Thorri Jensson defeated Jóhannes B Jóhannesson 9-7 in the final at the Billiard Bar in capital city Reykjavík to win the 2023 Icelandic Snooker Championship. 

It is Jensson’s third victory in the event within the past four years (2020, 2022, 2023) and he joins a band of players to have successfully defended the national title.

The Hafnarfjörður cueist defeated Bernhard Bernhardsson 5-3, Asgeir Jon Gudbjartsson 5-1 and then Bryngmar Valdimarsson 7-4 in the last four to reach the final for the fifth time in his career. Prior to his maiden triumph in 2020, Jensson was the runner-up in both 2012 and 2016. 

Coming through the other side of the draw was six-time winner Jóhannesson; the former professional denied Sigurður Kristjánsson 7-5 in the other semi-final tie.

The final was a rematch of the 2016 title decider that Jóhannesson won 9-3. Jóhannesson made the better start to this year’s showpiece by claiming the opening two frames, but 35-year-old Jensson recovered and at the end of the first session the players were locked at 4-4. 

During the second session Jensson took the lead for the first time at 6-5, and later moved one away from glory at 8-6 up. Jóhannesson stayed alive and reduced his arrears to one, but Jensson finished in style by making a break of 98 as he secured a trio of Icelandic titles.