Germany’s Marco Spitzky claimed his first Predator Euro Tour title after a dramatic 10-9 victory over Austria’s Mario He in the final of the 2025 Kamui Slovenian Open.

Spitzky, who trailed 5-9, mounted a remarkable comeback as he capitalized on a series of missed opportunities from He, turning the match around in the closing racks. The win marks Spitzky’s career breakthrough on the Euro Tour, having previously reached the semi-finals in Austria last season.

Ranked No.10 coming into the event, the 31-year-old from Hamburg balances his pool career with a job working at a kindergarten. Despite early setbacks—including a loss to Ralf Souquet that sent him to the losers’ side—he regrouped and defeated Mariusz Sniegocki in the quarterfinals and recent Austrian Open champion Mieszko Fortunski in a tight 10-9 battle to earn his spot in the final.

Spitzky handled the pressure well in the closing moments, with a key shot on the 12-ball helping him maintain momentum as he closed out the win.

Mario He, a six-time Euro Tour winner, expressed disappointment after the match, citing a lack of focus and energy during critical moments. Despite reaching the hill first, He was unable to close the match, allowing Spitzky to steal the win.

In the other semi-final, He overcame 15-year-old Slovenian player Maks Benko, whose unexpected run to the final four was among the highlights of the event. Benko’s strong showing comes just ahead of his appearance in next week’s Predator European Youth Championships.