Poland’s Mieszko Fortunski added another jewel to his Euro Tour legacy, securing the 2025 Predator Austrian Open title after an 11–7 victory over fellow countryman Wojciech Szewczyk. The win, achieved in the scenic alpine town of St. Johann im Pongau, marks Fortunski’s third Euro Tour success following previous wins in the 2016 Italian Open and the 2023 Tampere Open.

The final was closely contested early on, but Fortunski managed to carve out a significant lead at 8–4, just three racks away from victory. Szewczyk, however, was not ready to surrender and mounted a brief rally to narrow the gap to 7–9, putting pressure on his compatriot. Still, Fortunski held firm and closed out the match in style.

Fortunski’s path to the final was dominant, dispatching rising Turkish player Ugur Turku and top-ranked Stefan Kasper in the quarter-finals and semi-finals, respectively. After lifting the trophy, he reflected on the moment:

“I feel amazing. The crowd made it a great atmosphere and I was more confident at the table than in the semi-finals. It’s never easy facing a national teammate, but full respect to Wojciech. Now I have an eight-hour drive home—but at least I’ve got the trophy with me!”

Szewczyk’s run to the final was no less impressive. He battled through intense matches, including a comeback win over Oliver Szolnoki (11–10) and a strong showing against Mario He (11–8) in the semis. Despite falling short in the final, he remained gracious:

“Of course I wanted to win, but I’m proud of my effort. I started the event feeling off but gradually found rhythm. Mieszko was better today, and I respect that. Losses are part of the sport.”