Lee Stephens Crowned 2026 EPBF European Heyball Champion After Incredible Comeback
Pinnacle Sport is delighted to congratulate our affiliated player, Lee Stephens, on being crowned the 2026 EPBF European Heyball Champion following a sensational victory in Kielce, Poland.
Stephens produced one of the most memorable performances of the championship, defeating home favourite Radosław Babica 6-5 in a dramatic final at the Grand Hotel Kielce. Played in front of a packed crowd, the championship match had everything, with momentum swinging throughout before an extraordinary finish saw the British star lift the European title.
The final looked to be slipping away from Stephens early on as Babica raced into a commanding 5-1 lead. With his opponent in complete control, Stephens called a timeout in an attempt to reset his focus. The decision proved to be the turning point of the match.
Returning to the table with renewed confidence, Stephens produced a series of outstanding break-and-clearances to win four consecutive racks and level the match at 5-5. With the match running against the clock, both players knew the next rack would decide who would become European Champion.
Babica came agonisingly close to claiming the title, but after narrowly missing the decisive 8-ball, Stephens was handed one final opportunity. With little more than 40 seconds remaining and immense pressure on every shot, he calmly cleared his remaining balls to complete one of the greatest comebacks in recent European Heyball history and secure a remarkable 6-5 victory.
Speaking after his triumph, Stephens reflected on what the title means to him:
“It was an incredible final. I didn’t really feel the pressure at the end because there was no time to think about it. I remember having around 22 seconds left with four balls still on the table. Luckily, I had good position on each of them. I just aimed and shot.
This title means everything to me. A year ago, I decided to step away from snooker, which I had played all my life for 30 years, and put everything into heyball. This trophy is proof of all the hard work I’ve put in and shows that I’m heading in the right direction.”
Lee’s victory is a testament to his determination, resilience and commitment to his new discipline. Since making the bold decision to focus entirely on Heyball, he has continued to develop into one of Europe’s leading players, and this European Championship title marks the biggest achievement of his career to date.
Everyone at Pinnacle Sport is incredibly proud to support Lee and would like to congratulate him on this outstanding success. We look forward to following the next chapter of his Heyball journey and wish him continued success on the international stage.
Congratulations once again, Lee Stephens – 2026 EPBF European Heyball Champion.
