...was new, but also the format.
2 Players formed a team and each team had to bear a handicap according their official German ranking. This helped to overcome the predominance of the teams comprised by Top players.
As it could be seen during the tournament, the format worked well and the feedback was overwhelming. We saw thrilling matches, surprises as well as favorites winning. A good sign for a well balanced format.
16 Teams were drawn into four groups of four to determine the top twp teams of each group in a Round Robin play. The final rounds then determined who finishes from Place 1 to 8.

The final match of the tournament started thrilling and balanced, as both teams were equal by handicap. In the course of the match Hussmann/Schloegl overcame Runge/Runge more and more and took the glory in the end.
One reason might have been the better conditions for practice in Langenselbold due to the National Shuffleboard Centre.
Torben Hussmann had one more reason to be pleased, as he took over #1 in the actual German Ranking. 

Results in detail:

1. Torben Hussmann/Philipp Schloegl
2. Sebastian Runge/Marius Runge
3. Peter Huelbuesch/Tobias Huelbuesch
4. Herbert Beinlich/Wilfried Fischer
5. Dorothee Loist, Ulla Voltin
6. Dieter Hoffmanns/Irene Hoffmanns
7. Adrian Gepel, Marcel Hinkel
8. Dieter Wuellner/José da Silva Pires