Asia-Europe All Stars Challenge 2016

My Hills International Trade Center Asia-Europe All Stars Challenge 2016

Asia won the My Hills International Trade Center Asia-Europe All Stars Challenge 2016. The team composed of China’s FAN Zhendong Taipei’s CHUANG Chih-Yuan Hong Kong’s WONG Chun Ting (HKG) Singapore’s GAO Ning and Korea’s JOO Saehyuk won 6:4 (4:1 and 2:3) on aggregate in the Chinese city of Dongguan. Today they lost the second leg against Vladimir SAMSONOV of Belarus Tiago APOLONIA of Portugal Andrej GACINA of Croatia Alexander SHIBAEV of Russia and CHEN Weixing of Austria.

The only player who suffered defeat in Asia’s team yesterday was WONG Chun Ting. He lost his encounter against Russia’s Alexander SHIBAEV at the opening and he was once again first on the line of duty this morning. On the opposite side was CHEN Weixing of Austria who went full distance against GAO Ning day earlier before he lost.

WONG was the first to made advantage at 5:3 but CHEN recovered to take the lead- 7:5. WONG leveled and until the end of the game both players failed to make a wider gap. WONG won by narrow margin 12:10. In the second game WONG was always one step behind – 6:5 9:6. At 9:8 CHEN called for time out. On his return to the table it was 10:8 and after net ball he closed the game at 11:8. In the same pace Austria’s player continued in the third game. He played point by point before he made a break at 5:4 and won the set at 11:5. In the fourth game for a first time after previous two games WONG made a lead at 6:5 and he pushed it into the decider in the great style. In fifth with the 6:6 at the score board once again both players were looking for the chance to make a break. CHEN came to the finish line first by narrow margin 11:9.

Singapore’s GAO Ning beat CHEN yesterday whilst Croatia’s Andrej GACINA suffered by the hands of Korea’s JOO Saehyuk. Today it seemed the tables will turn from the beginning. GACINA was in the control from the very beginning of the match. He won the opening game by 11:6 and continued to go in winning pace in the next one. After 4:0 in third game GAO recovered and leveled at 6:6 to won that game at 11:9. Another match was pushed into the decider and GACINA had the better start of it. He had advantage at 4:1 7:5 but after 7:7 GAO took the lead. At 9:8 for GAO two net balls launched the audience from their seats and GACINA nullified the result. The pressure hit the roof as GAO reached the first match ball and converted into the victory.

Portugal’s Tiago APOLONIA needed one game to settle into the rhythm against Taipei’s CHUANG Chih-Yuan. He lost opening game 8:11 but after that he started to dominate – 11:8 and 11:6. In the fourth game with 4:0 and soon 8:1 he was in the driving seat. The great gap gave him space for some risky show points and he certainly enjoyed the game as well as the fully packed audience in the hall. APOLONIA left only three points to his adversary in the closing game.

The long awaited duel between two no. one players from both teams China’s FAN Zhendong and Belarus Vladimir SAMSONOV did not brought great suspense at the beginning. The two opening games concluded in favor of better ranked player in express way. The real game started in third part. From 2:2 to 5:5 no one could made a break but then FAN took off once again to seal the match in the great style.

Asia was on winning track. Even the victory in the ultimate match could not change anything. Korea’s JOO Saehyuk lost against Russia’s Alexander SHIBAEV is straight games but Asia won overall.

Day one

Asia – Europe 4:1

WONG Chun Ting (HKG) – Alexander SHIBAEV (RUS) 1:3 (9:11 11:8 12:14 19:21)

JOO Saehyuk (KOR) – Andrej GACINA (CRO) 3:0 (11:4 11:9 11:4)

FAN Zhendong (CHN) – Tiago APOLONIA (POR) 3:0 (11:7 11:4 11:6)

CHUANG Chih-Yuan – (TPE) – Vladimir SAMSONOV (BLR) 3:2 (7:11 11:5 7:11 11:7 11:5)

GAO Ning (SIN) – CHEN Weixing (AUT) 3:2 (9:11 8:11 11:9 12:10 11:7)

Day two

Asia – Europe 2:3

WONG Chun Ting (HKG) – CHEN Weixing (AUT) 2:3 (12:10 8:11 5:11 11:6 9:11)

GAO Ning (SIN) – Andrej GACINA (CRO) 3:2 (6:11 8:11 11:9 11:9 11:9)

CHUANG Chih-Yuan – (TPE) – Tiago APOLONIA (POR) 1:3 (11:8 8:11 6:11 3:11)

FAN Zhendong (CHN) – Vladimir SAMSONOV (BLR) 3:0 (11:5 11:4 11:8)

JOO Saehyuk (KOR) – Alexander SHIBAEV (RUS) 0:3 (4:11 7:11 5:11)