On the ultimate day of play at the CCB Europe Top 16 Cup Montreux 2023 Darko JORGIC of Slovenia and HAN Yang of Germany defended their titles. In the ultimate stage JORGIC beat QIU Dang of Germany. Bronze medalists are Liam PITCHFORD of England and Dimitrij OVTCHAROV of Germany. In the Women’s final HAN overcame Sofia POLCANOVA of Austria whilst SHAO Jieni of Portugal and Nina MITTELHAM of Germany clinched bronze medals. Darko became the 13th player and the 5th man to retain the title. HAN Ying wins two titles in a row and she was the 12th player and the 8th woman to retain the title. They join Jan Ove WALDNER Vladimir SAMSONOV Dmitrij OVTCHAROV Timo BOLL Jill HAMMERSLEY NI Xialian Beatrix KISHAZI LI Jiao LIU Jia Qianghong GÖTCH and Ann Christin HELLMAN. OVTCHAROV (2015-2017) NI (1996-1998) and KISHAZI (1971-1973) won 3 in a row. HAN Ying is now the oldest winner ever with 39 years and 10 months breaking the record Timo BOLL set in 2020 when he won his 7th title at 38 years and 11 months. Liam PITCHFORD is the first English player on the podium since Desmond DOUGLAS won the Top 12 in 1987 and the 3rd ever from England joining Douglas and triple winner Jill HAMMERSLEY.   Nina MITTELHAM (Germany) – Sofia POLCANOVA (Austria) 3:4 (7:11 12:10 11:8 7:11 8:11 11:9 9:11) The day commenced with the thrilling seven games match. In the first semifinal 2021 champion Nina MITTELHAM stretched no. two seed Sofia POLCANOVA to full seven games but in the big turn over in the last game Austrian prevailed. POLCANOVA dominated in the opening moments of the match. “I won the opening game and had 5:0 in second when my tendency to make experiments when I am leading came to picture. I become too passive and just waited for Nina to make mistake but she had other ideas. In general in this match was nothing about tactics but it was all about mental strength. We know each other so well we know how the other player will play next ball there is no mystery there ” said POLCANOVA. In the seventh game MITTELHAM had 7:4 but then she become too passive and POLCANOVA recovered to win the match. “I entered the arena this morning thinking how I am in the semifinal and that I already accomplished a big success. Then I remembered I was there three times before and I was always so angry on myself by not going further…At this level it is so difficult your mind is under pressure your body reacted on that. At some points my hand was not listening to me. It is difficult to explain just you know what to do but the body and the hand does not listen.” HAN Ying (Germany) – SHAO Jieni (Portugal) 4:0 (11:5 12:10 11:4 11:5) Top seeded HAN Ying had superb start of her match against SHAO Jieni but in the second game Portugal’s player managed to put HAN on pressure. “I played very well but in the second game I lost my focus and allowed SHAO to take control. She is very good in blocking and I wanted to finish the game fast. That is why I stopped playing my game and started to be more aggressive. I attacked her which worked in her favor this time. As soon as I went back to my usual style I was in control again ” said HAN. SEMIFINALS Darko JORGIC (Slovenia) – Dimitrij OVTCHAROV (Germany) 4:2 (8:11 12:10 12:10 7:11 11:4 12:10) Five times winner of the Top 16 event Dimitrij OVTCHAROV had a better start in the semifinal but reigning champion Darko JORGIC was in no mood to relinquish the reigns. OVTCHAROV took an early control of the match but from second game JORGIC responded and started to play more egressive. “He was in charge at the start of the game thanks to his backhand service bombs. I did not feel well and I needed some time to find the answer to his services. He was very aggressive but then I managed to find a way to attack; my service game improved and I played with much more variations on my backhand and forehand. As the match progressed the rallies become longer and longer. I adapted better to his game ” said JORGIC. QIU Dang (Germany) – Liam PITCHFORD (England) 4:3 (6:11 11:4 11:5 5:11 11:5 10:12 11:8) QIU Dang secured his first ever final in rather strange match against Liam PITCHFORD. Five games went from one side to another with the players wining their games in safe way. Only in two last game we saw close fight. “I needed some time to adjust but nevertheless it is very difficult to play against PITCHFORD. He is here in fine shape and he proved that he did not beat Truls MOREGARDH “by accident”. He is very dangerous and I gave my best to stop him control the game – with more or less success ” said QIU.   HAN Ying – Sofia POLCANOVA 4:1 (11:5 10:12 11:3 11:9 11:5)The final of the women’s event brought clash between no. one and no. two as the seedings predicted. The winner justified her status. HAN dominated the match.“It was not easy. POLCANOVA knows to block well so i had to be patient and to wait for her mistakes. She adjusted to my style and the rallies had gone longer and longer as the match progressed ” said HAN. Final Darko JORGIC – QIU Dang 4:2 (11:8 11:9 13:11 7:11 5:11 11:7) In powerful out-of-World and aggressive exchange of strokes Darko JORGIC overcame QIU Dang. “From the very first point I felt the game the table the ball. QIU started aggressively but I responded well. I stretched the back muscle at 7:5 but with some medical help I managed to play. I was focused and I kept the control over the match ” said Darko.

You can follow the semi final and the final of the CCB Europe Top 16 Cup Montreux 2023 today on TV. Switzerland: RTS/SRG Switzerland on www.rts.ch/sport Swiss Sport TV https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://swiss-sport.tv/2023/02/25/tischtennis-ccb-europe-top-16-cup-montreux/__;!!Ji65QoKJ03PKJY7K!BX-3LFLqKbjImyFk4_CJ5TJGu3Ox8dcS-04VfY1TILE0KgtEYGAr4fLUCFHzlNUUIgmU7Po0KXBhWOLm$ Blue: Shows all matches of Sunday in March and June Germany: Deutschland TV Shows all matches on https://sportdeutschland.tv/ccb-europe-cup Slovakia: Arena TV France: Sportall France shows all matches on https://bit.ly/MontreuxTop16 Czech: CESKA TELEVIZE on www.ctsport.cz or sport.ceskatelevize.cz Romania: Sport Extra TV Portugal: Sport TV Portugal UK/Ireland: Shows all matches on TTE.TV China: Migu all matches on Saturday and Sunday are on Migu China – CCB Europe Top 16 Cup Montreux : https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://s.miguvideo.com/ZfaIRbq__;!!Ji65QoKJ03PKJY7K!AoJlyoPAbKp1FTiAzlH8dSUcHvNy85j_x49I3DvojCh2ItUaSAtAZXcjrnLcOwCS_jUXK_VZrtlwYaJvkAoH$ Sweden: SVT Sport

The favorites were tested as the second part of the opening day at the China Construction Bank Europe Top 16 Cup progressed but the greatest upset came with the last match of the quarterfinal. After seven games Liam PITCHFORD booked his place in the penultimate stage by beating top seed Truls MOREGARDH (8:11 11:4 3:11 3:11 11:7 11:4 11:9) . ‘When you play against Truls you never know what you are going to get. He have no rhythm sometimes he is early on the ball and then you have no chance. And that is what happened to me in the third and fourth game. I got no chance. I told myself to stay to stick in and to spin on the ball. I know that he does not like my spins and I spun heavy. I turned the match around and so he got little be nervous. At the end I was brave on the last flick ” said PITCHFORD. Sofia POLCANOVA (Austria) – YU Fu (Portugal) 4:3 (11:8 7:11 15:13 13:15 11:8 9:11 11;8) After thrilling seven games no. two seed Sofia POLCANOVA justified her status in the duel against no. 5 seed FU Yu. “Somehow I always ends up in some kind of drama ” said POLCANOVA laughing and releived after the victory.”SO far I had very negative record in the matches against FU but most of them we played in Champions League. This is maybe second time that we met each other in such event. It is always hard. She has very strong service and powerful first stroke that allows her to control the match. She forces adversaries to be in passive role just to keep their ball on the table. So many times she just made me angry but in this match I did not let my temper mess with my play. I got angry on myself maybe on two or three balls but in the rest of the match I was seeking for my chance.” Dimitrij OVTCHAROV (Germany) – Andrej GACINA (Croatia) 4:1 (11:6 12:10 8:11 12:10 11:6) Despite what the results predicts Dimitrij OVTCHAROV faced severe pressure in the duel against Andrej GACINA. “I think that he has played one of the best matches against me so far.Andrej improved his game and he forced me to play really good table tennis. I won two very close games and that was the key of the match. I am happy with the outcome but more than that I am happy with my game right now ” said OVTCHAROV. NI Xia Lian (Luxembourg) – SHAO Jieni (Portugal) (7:11 13:11 7:11 7:11 11:6 4:11) After SHAO Jieni created a big upset by beating no. four seed YUAN Jia Nan in the Round of 16 Portugal’s player continued with good games. Next in line was NI Xia Lian. “I knew it would be hard to play against YUAN but I was very calm. That helped me to build my game and to control the match ” said SHAO.”I played so many matches against NI and by now I manage to read her game well. I know how to deal with the players who use rubbers.” Simon GAUZY (France) – Darko JORGIC (Slovenia) 2:4 (11:5 4:11 9:11 11:8 6:11 8:11) Reigning champion Darko JORGIC faced very strong challenge from Simon GAUZY. He needed to work very hard to put the match under control. “We played so many matches against each other in Bundesliga. In previous three occasions I beat him much easily but here Simon is playing on higher level. He put a lot of variations into his service game and he denied all my efforts to attack him with the strong balls. I was forced to change my service and eventually I prevailed. I am happy we did not get to the seventh game ” said JORGIC. Nina MITTELHAM (Germany) – Hana MATELOVA (Czechia) (10:12 11:9 7:11 11:3 11:5 11:9) Hana MATELOVA had a better start but Nina MITTELHAM found the way to prevent any upset and to book the place in the penultimate stage. “At the begining I was not in the match at all. My focus was everywhere else but not at the table. Slowly I started to play better; i started to feel the game and to move better. In the third game I made few mistakes but I was already on the good track. At the end I played very well. Eventually I am very happy with my shape and how I play now ” said Nina. HAN Ying (Germany) – Bernadette SZOCS (Romania) 4:0 (11:8 11:9 11:9 11:6) After powerful performance against Bernadette SZOCS reigning champion HAN Ying secured her place in the semifinal. “I have very good record against SZOCS but it creates some pressure too. Everyone expects I will win again. In addition Bernadette played very clever today and she made a game little bit difficult ” said HAN.   QIU Dang (Germany) – Kristian KARLSSON (Sweden) (11:6 11:13 11:9 11:9 10:12 11:5) The duel between the fifth and third seed went in favor of higher ranked player. In the first quarterfinal today QIU Dang won the opening game easily but from the second game Kristian forced him to dig deep. “It was real rollercoaster. After the opening game we went back and forward; he put me under tremendous pressure. Nothing came for certain he overcame few match balls…The most important thing for me was to stay calm and not to lose my focus ” said QIU.

Mouth-watering confrontations abundant; that is the scenario for the The China Construction Bank Europe Top 16 Cup commenced this morning in Montreux. For a fifth time top Continental players returned to the beautiful city on the Lake to fight for prestigious title and their share in 100.000 Euros in prize money. Today the morning sessions brings Round of 16 matches whilst in the afternoon we are going to see quarterfinalists in action. Kristian KARLSSON (Sweden) – Emmanuel LEBESSON (France) 4:2 (11:6 8:11 12:14 11:5 12:10 11:4) Kristian KARLSSON just freshly recovered from the respiratory infection showed brave face and high quality of the game to overcame Emmanuel LEBESSON in the opening match of the Men’s Singles Round 16. “Mani and I always play extra close duels and this was not exception the only difference was that I did not scream and jump around of joy when we finished. I had to preserve my strength ” said KARLSSON. “At the end I am very happy with my overall performance in last three games.” YU Fu (Portugal) – Christina KALLBERG (Sweden) 4:3 (11:8 11:6 9:11 11:8 5:11 8:11 11:6) It took full seven games before YU Fu managed to secure her quarterfinal place. On her premiere at the Top 16 Christina KALLBERG put Portugal’s star on severe test. “Her game is at the high quality but I am also responsible for a drama that happened at the end. After 3:1 I was too relaxed and KALLBERG seized her opportunity to recover ” said YU. QIU Dang (Germany) – Marcos FREITAS (Portugal) 4:0 (12:10 11:6 11:6 11:6) In the furious style QIU Dang moved to the quarters after straight matches win over Marcos FREITAS. “It was far from easy as the result predicts. Marcos is very long in the top of the Europe and he won the title here so I was aware of the danger. Still I was down in the opening game 2:7 but I managed to recover. That boosted my confidence ” explained QIU. Sofia POLCANOVA (Austria) – Elizabeta SAMARA (Romania) 4:0 (11:4 14:12 11:3 11:6) No. two seed Sofia POLCANOVA justified her status this morning and secured her place in the quarters after straight games win over Elizabeta SAMARA. “I think that Elizabeta was struggling to find the solution for the pace I made but nevertheless it was very close at the begining. In the second game I was 7:2 up but then she got close. After I managed to win that game I got a lot self-confidence but still I was very cautious after 3:0. It proved by time in the past that I have tendency to create 3:3 from 3:0 very often so I was on alert ” said POLCANOVA.   Andrej GACINA (Croatia) – Elias HARDMEIER (Switzerland) 4:1 (11:3 5:11 11:3 11:6 11:4) Andrej GACINA inflicted the pain in the harts of the home crowd by overcoming Elias HARDMEIER. “It is not easy to have such adversary at the begining of the event. I had never play against him and neither have chance to see him play before. I studied his game by looking the video but it is not the same. I only knew one thing for sure if he is 100 percent into the game he could be very dangerous and he proved that right in the second game. Elias played very aggressively and won that part of the match. After I just regain my focus and started to play more of my game ” said GACINA. NI Xia Lian (Luxembourg) – Barbora BALAZOVA (Slovakia) 4:2 (11:6 11:4 6:11 5:11 11:5 11:9) NI Xia Lian’s smile radiate after the victory over barbora BALAZOVA whilst she admitted that Slovakia’s player put her under severe pressure. “I did not have any doubt about the quality of any player here but I was little bit surprised with the game that Barbora showed against me. She was really good and I struggled to adapt to her style. My advantage is very strong mentality so I was seeking for a way out. I stayed true to my character and did not give up. It keeps your heart at the right place at the end but it also creates the solutions. Eventually I grabbed all the chances that came my way ” said NI.   Dimitrij OVTCHAROV (Germany) – Robert GARDOS (Austria) 4:1 (8:11 11:9 11:8 11:3 11:5) Robert GARDOS had a better start but from the second game Dimitrij OVTCHAROV put the match under his control to move to the quarterfinal. “In the opening game GARDOS attacked me and I was not fully into game to respond to it. Then I made few easy mistakes and brought myself into 9:9 situation in the second game. However when I managed to recover from it I was finally in the control of the match. From the third game i felt I am in event in the match ” said OVTCHAROV. SHAO Jieni (Portugal) – YUAN Jia Nan (France) 4:2 (11:4 11:4 11:8 6:11 9:11 11:7) SHAO Jieni accounted for YUAN Jia Nan. French player failed to find the rhythm in the opening games but from the third game she managed to put some pressure on SHAO. Simon GAUZY (France) – Joao GERALDO (Portugal) 4:2 (11:8 10:12 11:8 8:11 16:14 11:9) In thrilling six games clash that kept the spectators at the edge of their seats Simon GAUZY prevailed against Joao GERALDO. “Joao justified his status as very dangerous player when it comes to the close matches. All the games very close but the key momen Nina MITTELHAM (Germany) – Georgina POTA (Hungary) 4:0 (11:9 11:9 17:15 11:3) the winner of the event in 2021 Nina MITTELHAM closed her opening duel today in victorious way. Georgina POTA lost three very close games before Nina took control over the match in the fourth. “So far this year I am still seeking for my top shape. It was difficult for me to play against POTA today. However for a first time this season

The draw for the China Construction Bank Europe Top 16 Cup was held tonight at the Fairmont Le Montreux Palace. In the Round of 16 at the begining of the event top seeds Truls MOREGARD of Sweden and HAN Ying of Germany will play against two players with the defensive style of play. Truls MOREGARD will play against WANG Yang of Slovakia. “It is a pleasure to be here and I think it will be great fun to play against YAN tomorrow. With a list of players like the one in Montreux there is no such thing as easy draw but I am looking forward my matches in next two days ” said Truls.”I have been here only once last year and it was really great.” HAN Ying will play against Linda BERGSTROM of Sweden in the opening round. “I had a feeling it will be player with the defensive style and it happened. It is going to be very challenging. I think chances are 50-50. For me it is always very hard to get through opening rounds. I I do not want to think much in advance. I will just go one step in time ” said HAN. The competition starts tomorrow at 9.30.

Top seeded player and one of the youngest finalists ever Truls MOREGARD of Sweden will play in Montreux at the China Construction Bank Europe Top 16 Cup on Saturday 25th and Sunday 26th February. Last year he came to Switzerland as a substitute on his premiere at the event but this year he is one of the favorites. “It was fantastic experience for me last year when I played in Monterux. It is beautiful place; there is fantastic atmosphere in the venue great settings. I am looking forward coming back ” said MOREGARD. Therefore Truls hopes he can move the bar even higher this year. “I was not well prepared for the tournament last year but it all went very well at the end. I have played fantastic table tennis. That is why I hope if I can come even more prepared this year I would improve my result. I am much better player than I was in February last year and I hope for the best in 2023.” Speaking of the best memories from last year’s edition Truls pointed at his match against BOLL in the semifinal. “I played fantastic match against Timo. It was really something to play in front of enthusiastic crowd at the place where he was their real hero. He has won there so many times and spectators created unbelievable atmosphere. They simply loved him and it was so fun to play because spectators were so involved and we both played great.”Truls MOREGARD was not active at the WTT tournament since the beginning of 2023. “I tried to play at few but nowadays is very tough to get a chance to play some of these tournaments. I am very focused on the practice now and I had important matches in Champions League. However I am in good shape and I will try to be in the best one in Monterux.” MOREGARD expressed positive view on the period in between two Top 16 Cups. “The year 2022 started little bit shaky and I was worry because of the defeat in the final of Top 16 and not happy with the result at Singapore Smash and Qatar but after that I started to play really good again and had som e good moments at WTT. I kept my level and my rankings. Some people thought that I do not deserve such high rankings but I proved them wrong and justified my status.”Last year’s final was breathtaking clash with fantastic twist. Darko JORGIC managed to recover from 1:3 in reverse to beat Truls. Since they are seeded at the position one and two this year they are most likely players to meet at the ultimate stage again. “I hope to play against Darko in the final again. It will be big fun. We will prove we are at the top in Europe in stable way. However I choose not to think a lot about last year’s match. I played really good he played fantastic as well but I do not want to look back. It will happens again I look forward that duel” The list of challengers for the title does not end with JORGIC. It is as impressive as always for the Top 16. At the China Construction Bank Europe Top 16 Cup will also play Dang QIU and Dimitrij OVTCHAROV of Germany Kristian KARLSSON of Sweden Liam PITCHFORD of England Andrej GACINA and Tomislav PUCAR of Croatia Simon GAUZY of France Marcos FREITAS of Portugal WANG Yang of Slovakia Robert GARDOS of Austria Jonathan GROTH of Denmark Joao GERALDO of Portugal Elias HARDMEIER of Switzerland and Emmanuel LEBESSON of France. “Every match is really tough at this tournament. I have to be prepared from the beginning and to be ready to play against any style of play. There is not only Darko or me there are so many players capable to play in the final and win the title. Dimitrij OVTCHAROV is in the top shape and he proved it by reaching the final in Amman last week. Kristian KARLSSON is also in good run GACINA won Qatar…Everyone could win this tournament.” What would be your top goal for this year? “Absolute main goal is to win the gold medal at the European Teams championships in Malmo this autumn. It will be fantastic to do it at the home soil and I know that everyone in the team feels that way. This is the ultimate goal for this year and I am looking forward to this tournament ” stated Truls MOREGARD.

Reigning champion and the first Slovenian to win China Construction Bank Europe Top 16 Cup Darko JORGIC will be on duty this year in Montreux as well (on Saturday 25th and Sunday 26th February 2023). For no. 2 seed it will be fourth appearance at the most exclusive Europe tournament. Beside the title he won in 2022 JORGIC played in the final in 2020 too. Slovenia’s player was on duty this week at WTT tournament in Amman where he reached the Round of 16; previously he was runner up in singles and doubles at the 2022 Contender Slovenia. “I feel really great. Since the beginning of the year I am raising the level of my shape little by little. Therefore I hope it will be on the right level in Switzerland. My goals are high. For sure I want to defend my title but on the other side I am aware how challenging it is going to be. I cannot take anything lightly with such impressive list of adversaries with same aim like mine ” said JORGIC. Looking back the 2022 Darko is satisfied. “I think 2022 was a very good year for me. The most important achievements are definitely 1st place at Europe Top 16 Cup 16 and 2nd place in the European Championship. I also played well in WTT tournaments but this is definitely something special that I would single out. I think I have improved my game very much. Somehow I became a stable player on both sides. I also improved my mental stability during a game a lot; you could saw that last year in the final against Truls. I was 1:3 down and in the end I recovered to win the match 4:3. This year it is definitely important that I keep calm and play my best table tennis. It will certainly be more difficult to defend the title than it was to win it but I think if I am ready in my head and if I mange to be in the same shape as last year I could go far.” The list of players is impressive as always: top seed is Truls MOREGARD of Sweden followed by Darko and Dang QIU and Dimitrij OVTCHAROV of Germany Kristian KARLSSON of Sweden Liam PITCHFORD of England Andrej GACINA of Croatia Simon GAUZY of France Marcos FREITAS of Portugal WANG Yang of Slovakia Robert GARDOS of Austria Tomislav PUCAR of Croatia Jonathan GROTH of Denmark Joao GERALDO of Portugal Elias HARDMEIER of Switzerland and Emmanuel LEBESSON of France. “Truls is the first seed I am second but that certainly does not mean anything. I think that it will be a difficult road to the final for both of us. In addition I think that we have the quality to make another spectacle and a good match like last year. Certainly if it comes to that duel I think it will be a good match and a great fight for both me and him. All players in the top 16 deserved to be there. I do not think I have a favorite who I would like to play the first round with. Somehow any player who comes will be prepared the same and the pressure will be the same for all. I certainly think that the big favorites are still the Germans. They can be very dangerous for all the players and for me as well.” CCB Europe Top 16 Cup has its special atmosphere. “In my opinion it is the best tournament that exist. I feel very good there and it shows with my results in Montreux. The atmosphere is really phenomenal and the fans also contribute a lot for creating a very good environment for all the players. I think we all play much better than usual is it really something special to play in front of a full venue.” Season is very young. What are the goals for 2023 beside good result at the forthcoming CCB Europe Top 16 Cup? “The focus this year is on the World Championship and the European Games. Those are the two most important tournaments for me. I will give a lot of effort to try to make a big result there. Certainly the focus is still on the top 16 it is my goal and great desire to defend the title from last year ” stated Darko JORGIC. The competition is played on a knockout basis. All matches will be played best of 7 games.