25 Mar 2010 at 21:46 | Published by: Hans | Views: 9953 | News search

Filiph Svensson playing the WC in Odense  (Photo by Hans Bergström 2009)

Interview with Filiph Svensson (FS), Sweden and Skoghalls BGK

This interview was done the 20th of March 2010. Interviewer is Hans Bergström (HB).

HB: First of all congratulations to a great season of 2009 which lead to the vote for “Junior Boy player of the Year” on Minigolfnews. You won the public vote and were a close runner up in the expert vote. Did you expect to win this vote?

FS: Thank you very much! To be honest I haven’t thought about being nominated and didn’t know this was going on. But now that I am aware of it it’s really fun to be rewarded.

HB: You had a fantastic year 2009 with many medals in national and International Championships. Can you update our reader of all your 2009 medals?

FS: It all started at the Nordic Championship in Finland where I played really well on Eternit and took gold in the junior’s class both individually and in the Team.

After that it continued at the Swedish Championships in Kungälv where I also managed to win the juniors class.

Then off to Germany and the Juniors European Championship where I played well and brought home two silver medals (Team and Indivdual).

During the stay in Waldshut I got the information that I was called in to go also top Odense (instead of Pierre Zetterlund) and as you know it was a quite good journey. I ended my medal collection in 2009 with gold in the Team and silver individually.

The World Championships in Denmark is as I see it the best ever performance I have made in the Swedish national Teams. I am very proud and happy that I could take the silver medal there.

So all in all 7 medals in major Championships in 2009 (4 gold’s and 3 silvers) in 7 attempts. Quite OK :)

HB: Which of all medals won 2009 do you value the most?

FS: As I said earlier it’s the individual silver medal from Odense I value most.

HB: Can you share with us what was the best moment for you during 2009?

FS: The best moment was when I played against Paolo Porta in the WC semi-finals in Odense. Paolo is almost an idol for me and to play against him in the semifinals and also win was a really intense feeling.

HB: Did you also have any disappointing moments in 2009?

FS: It was a bit sad that the Waldshut finals were aborted due to rain. Also the fact that I didn’t manage to win in Odense was a little disappointing, since I was really close with a sudden death against Jonas. But neither of this is no big disappointments for me looking back, so basically there was no really hard moments for me in 2009.

HB: You seem to somewhat a specialist in KO-tournaments. If I understand it correctly you have 1 Bronze and 3 Silvers in 4 attempts in International Championships. That is the best track record of any player in KO-mode. Why do you think this suite you so well?

FS: I am a very aggressive player and the KO-modus suits me well. What I like most is that since you can actually miss a lane and get a high score without losing too much. This makes it actually easier to motivate to “go for it” even more than normally on every lane.

I would also like to add that I was very close to loose in the first rounds also so it is not only about skills :)

HB: You are still missing a gold medal in International Championships though. When will that come?

FS: It’s really hard to say. If it was up to me I of course would like it to happen last year, because it felt really like my year. But of course I cannot answer this but hopefully I don’t have to wait too long. I am not in any hurry though.

HB: So how do you feel about the upcoming season? Will you continue playing as much as 2009 and what are your goals for the season?

FS: I am currently doing my military services which takes very much time so I guess it will not be as much minigolf as last year. Hopefully I will play the Team Series in Elitserien and maybe if I play well enough the Predazzo Championships.

HB: Do you aim in taking a place for the Predazzo Championships in the Swedish Team?

FS: Of course this is one of my goals of the season but you never know what will happen.

HB: You are currently doing your Military Services in Sweden. Will this have a negative effect on your Minigolf Career?

FS: I will not be able to train and play as much as last year that’s for sure but I don’t think it will affect my play that much. When I play I will still do my 100 % best and it is always really fun to play so I doubt it will have that big impact for me.

HB: What is your favorite surface?

FS: It used to be quite clearly felt but I enjoy ethernit more and more. Beton is also really fun but I guess felt is still my favourite.

HB: If you could recruit any player to your club Skoghall (not a Swede), who would you pick?

FS: This is a really difficult question but I think my answer is Allan Schwab of Denmark. He is a really funny guy!

HB: What do you think about the upcoming Swedish Elitserie season? Who are the favorites?

FS: I think it will once again be Uppsala who wins if they play their normal game and if all the best are playing. But Jönköping will also be really dangerous for the title. But of course my wishes is a victory for Skoghall :)

HB: What happens next for you in Minigolf?

FS: I am not really sure, but I guess the first round in Elitserien is not that far away.

HB: Again a big congratulation to the title “Junior Boy player of the Year” and good luck in the future.

FS: Thanks very much again. I hope I will not let anyone down this season either.

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