Champions League Men | 29 May 2016

FLORE delivers epic victory to Pontoise in the TTCLM final

AS Pontoise Cergy beat Eslovs Al Bordtennis 3:1 (10:5) in the returning final leg and won its second title thanks to better set ratio. Young Frenchman took two points, beating XU Hui in decisive clash

 

Dream came true for the 21-year-old Frenchman Tristan FLORE who had a main role in the 2015/16 TTCLM final returning leg, as AS Pontoise Cergy beat at home soil Eslovs Al Bordtennis 3:1 (10:5). Just one set decided the new TTCLM champion, counting first match in which Swedish club won 3:1 (9:5). In total, 4:4, 15:14. After the final, ETTU President Ronald KRAMER handed over the trophy to the coach of the winning team, Christian ADAM.

 

All witnesses of tonight’s clash in Pontoise hall will not forget it for sure. Coach Christian ADAM chose a risky tactics, but it opened the way to the title. It could say: everything will work properly in case that Tristan FLORE is capable to manage such big pressure.

 

Two youngest players met in the opening game, as FLORE defeated Mattias OVERSJO in straight games. Usually both have 3rd position in the line-up, but this time they started thrilling showdown.

 

When Marcos FREITAS beat XU Hui after four games, Pontoise was one step to its second TTCLM title (first one in 2014). Chinese had a huge chance to level the score and maybe prevent French club to repeat best success in its history, but he missed three consecutive set balls in the second set, as well as chance to lead 2:0 against Portuguese. Almost same thing repeated in the fourth set, when host player saved three set balls.

 

In the moment when Pontoise had 2:0 in its favor, it looked like Kristian KARLSSON has a nice chance to conclude the final against his compatriot Robert SVENSSON. But, SVENSSON showed one of his best games in the last couple of seasons to reduce the lead of Pontoise to 2:1. KARLSSON reached opening set, but guest responded by three in a row (crucial moment in the fourth set, from 7:7 to 10:7).

 

Fourth match has promised a lot to Eslovs, bearing in mind that well experienced XU Hui, the player with the best individual score before the second final game (he had 17-4), was the favorite against Tristan FLORE. But, the 2011 European Junior Championships gold medalist played his best table tennis so far, ending the final by five points in a row (6:7, 11:7) in the fourth set.

 

FLORE also secured the victory against defending champion Orenburg, in the semi-final, beating Alexey SMIRNOV in five games of the third match. He finished the 2015/16 TTCLM with six wins and just one defeat, from XU in the opening encounter of the first final leg. For sure, this season will be always something special in his carreer.

 

The 2015/16 TTCLM final, 2nd leg

 

AS Pontoise Cergy - Eslovs Al Bordtennis 3:1 (10:5)

 

Tristan FLORE – Mattias OVERSJO 3:0 (11:8, 11:9, 11:7)

Marcos FREITAS – XU Hui 3:1 (6:11, 13:11, 11:8, 15:13)

Kristian KARLSSON – Robert SVENSSON 1:3 (11:4, 5:11, 7:11, 9:11)

Tristan FLORE – XU Hui 3:1 (11:6, 13:11, 6:11, 11:7)

 

The 2015/16 TTCLM final, 1st leg

 

Eslovs Al Bordtennis – AS Pontoise Cergy 3:1 (9:5)

 

XU Hui – Tristan FLORE 3:1 (11:7, 11:5, 5:11, 11:4)

Robert SVENSSON – Marcos FREITAS 0:3 (9:11, 11:13, 11:13)

Mattias OVERSJO – WANG Jian Jun 3:1 (11:4, 11:6, 9:11, 11:9)

XU Hui – Marcos FREITAS 3:0 (11:7, 11:9, 11:7)