Apex Wisconsin Open
Kazakis Rallies To Win Apex Wisconsin Open
Story by KEITH PARADISE - CSI. Photos courtesy of MATT PORINSKI - Predator
It only made sense that Alex Kazakis’s day end in the same way that it started.
A
s he progressed through the brackets of the single-elimination phase of the Apex Wisconsin Open, the young Greek’s performance resembled that of a yo-yo. Just when it seemed he was gaining momentum or about to close out a set, a mistake would cost him. Conversely, when it seemed Kazakis’s championship hopes were starting to wane, an opponent would miss or commit a crucial tactical error.
Through it all, Kazakis was able to persevere, surviving four consecutive matches which advanced to an extra-frame shootout to win the 64-player event Saturday night at the Ho-Chunk Resort and Casino in the Wisconsin Dells. The reigning World Pool Masters champion defeated former World 9-Ball Champion Fedor Gorst, reigning World 10-Ball champion Eklent Kaci, Filipino Lee Vann Corteza and Kuwait’s Bader Alawadhi to
earn his first championship on American soil. Kazakis’s title match against the Kuwaiti upstart was a microcosm of his day – overcoming a handful of self-inflicted wounds only to rally and survive the match in the shootout. Alawadhi drew first blood in the championship match, taking advantage of a missed 9 ball by his opponent and adding a break-and-run to jump out to a quick 2-0 lead. Kazakis had a chance Alex Kazakis
30 | Billiards Buzz • March 2022
