Top 16 champion from 2018 Bernadette SZOCS is coming to 2023 CCB Europe Top 16 Cup as no 6 seed. In Montreux she will play for 9th time. Last year she reached the semifinal; in 2021 in Thessaloniki Bernadette finished third and in 2019 she was runner up. There are no doubts about her current shape since SZOCS radiate with energy. “I am very good physically and mentally so I am ready for the big fight!” stated leading Romania’s player. “I practiced a lot and hard to be in the best shape for the event. I believe in myself and in my game; I am in a very good shape and I believe I can do it again!” At the list of players at the China Construction Bank Europe Top 16 Cup are also: HAN Ying of Germany Sofia POLCANOVA of Austria Nina MITTELHAM of Germany YUAN Jia Nan of France YU Fu of Portugal Hana MATELOVA of Czechia NI Xia Lian of Luxembourg Elizabeta SAMARA of Romania Barbora BALAZOVA of Slovakia Linda BERGSTROM of Sweden SHAO Jieni of Portugal Georgina POTA of Hungary Rachel MORET of Switzerland Christina KALLBERG of Sweden Natalia BAJOR of Poland. “It will not be easy but I am ready. I do not care who will be on the opposite side of the table because if you want to be a champion you need to beat everyone!” Last year SZOCS clinched gold at the European Championships in Munich in the Doubles event with Sofia POLCANOVA but as a highlight of the year she pointed at another moment. “My last year was very good! One of my dreams came true -I beat Olympic champion CHENG Meng. As I used to say everything it’s possible!” This year also started well. At the WTT Contender Amman Bernadette reached the final partnering Ovidiu IONESCU. “I am happy with my performance in Mixed doubles – it is first time we reach the final. So far the highest we went was the third position. I hope we will keep going like that and one day we will reach the top place.”
K.S. Dekorglass Dzialdowo secured final of the Europe Cup
Poland’s K.S. Dekorglass Dzialdowo beat KS Dartom Bogoria Grodzisk Mazowiecki for a second time in the semifinal and secured the final of the Europe Cup Men. At the ultimate stage they will meet French GV Hennebont TT. Today in Bogoria Jakub DYJAS opened the match with the win over Milosz REDZIMSKI (11:3 11:8 9:11 12:10). Jonathan GROTH prevailed against Marek BADOWSKI (11:4 11:6 11:5) and at the end Kaii KONISHI proved too strong for Panagiotis GIONIS (9:11 11:6 11:5 11:6). “We are little bit surprised that we won both legs in straight matches. However it is a good feeling and I hope we will manage to keep our performance at such high level in the final. Hennebont has a very strong team but we will fight hard to win the title ” said DYJAS. Final is scheduled for the period 28th March – 2nd April 2023.
Sofia POLCANOVA: It is time for silver or gold
Reigning European champion Austria’s Sofia POLCANOVA will play at the China Construction Bank Europe Top 16 Cup in Montreux for a ninth time. No. two seed reached third position last year to justify her best results in 2010 and 2019. The tournament will be played on Saturday 25th and on Sunday 26th February. “I am very glad that I will be competing in Monterux. I think I am in a normal shape and I worked to improve it in weeks before Top-16. I did not play any tournaments in 2023 I aplayed at WTT Contender Amman and it was my first tournament ” said Sofia POLCANOVA who reached the penultimate stage of Women’s Sinles Event in Jordan. Two weeks ago in Amman POLCANOVA beat MO Zhang of Canada HAN Feier of China Shao JIENI of Portugal only to be halted in the match against Mima ITO of Japan. In 2022 POLCANOVA had one of the best seasons in career but also faced great problems with injuries. “I did not play any tournament before Amman this year and last year I also skipped the events in China in October because of problems with my knee. I played manly in Champions League now and in the last match I was satisfied with my result “stated POLCANOVA. Commenting this year’s goals at the CCB Europe Top 16 Cup in Montreux POLCANOVA added: “I clinched bronze medals three times so I want one medal in another color ” said POLCANOVA laughing.” Will see how it goes I will try my best but the most important is to enjoy table tennis and my game.” Despite the defeat in the semi final Sofia POLCANOVA was not unhappy with last year’s performance. “Last year was very nice. I like it very much to play in Montreux. There is nice atmosphere and people are very welcoming. I think I was satisfied with my bronze medal as I had tough couple of years with injuries and operations but when I look back I think maybe I could perform even better. The problem was I didn‘t have enough self-confidence at that time.” In Munich at the European Championships last summer you won the title in singles in doubles with Bernadette SZOCS and bronze medal in mixed doubles with Robert GARDOS. Did it help restore your confidence? “Yes I think it is getting better. Of course I have my ups and downs but after Munich I felt also a little bit a relief. I wanted so much to be European Champion and it eased the pressure when I finally achieved it. Of course everybody wants to win probably so I am not taking it for granted I am very grateful for my results in Munich with 3 medals. Generally last year was very good for me. My last year was very good until after the European Championships then I again had problems with my knee and had to pause for almost one and a half month. Now everything is super and I am enjoying playing again. Quarterfinal in Singapore Smash; Bronze at Top-16. I was able to keep my level from January 2022 until August this was quite satisfying. I think this gave me more confidence. But now it is a new year and I have to start from the beginning.” At the list of players at China Construction Bank Europe Top 16 Cup are also: HAN Ying and Nina MITTELHAM of Germany YUAN Jia Nan of France YU Fu of Portugal Bernadette SZOCS of Romania Hana MATELOVA of Czechia NI Xia Lian of Luxembourg Elizabeta SAMARA of Romania Barbora BALAZOVA of Slovakia Linda BERGSTROM of Sweden SHAO Jieni of Portugal Georgina POTA of Hungary Rachel MORET of Switzerland Christina KALLBERG of Sweden Natalia BAJOR of Poland.
Marcos FREITAS is coming back to Montreux after a one year break
After one year break Portugal’s Marcos FREITAS will be again on duty at the China Construction Bank Europe Top 16 Cup in Montreux on Saturday 25th and Sunday 26th February 2023. The winner of the 2014 edition in Lausanne missed last year’s action but only due the health issue. Year earlier in Thessaloniki on his 8th appearance he was runner up. “I am happy to come back to play in Montreux. Unfortunately I could not play at last year’s edition because I had Covid infection. Now I am coming back with big goals as always. I had played at this event for eight times and I won it when it was played in Top 12 format; I also clinched two silver medals when the list of participants was extended to 16 players. Europe Top 16 Cup is very important tournament with historical significance. It is the tournament that I always have played well and of which I have great memories. It is always fan to play at this event ” explained FREITAS. Two weeks ago FREITAS was playing in Jordan at the WTT Contender Amman 2023 and he lost to another player from Top 16 list – Jonathan GROTH of Denmark. It was the last test for his shape before the start of the CCB Europe Top 16 Cup. “In general I am in good shape. It is true I lost in the opening round against GROTH. He played very well. It was tough and close game. At the end I made more mistakes than Dane. I am little bit frustrating that I made a mistakes in crucial moments in the final moments of the game. I have some time before Montreux for some more practice to improve my game and performance a bit ” added FREITAS. Asked about best moments at the tournament Marcos had no doubt. “I remember with great joy the season of 2014 when I had clinched the title. I beat Michael MAZE in the final. I hope I could still fight for another final and who knows maybe I could bring the Cup once again to Portugal ” stated Marcos FREITAS. Beside Marcos at the event this year will also play: Truls MOREGARD of Sweden Darko JORGIC of Slovenia Dang QIU and Dimitrij OVTCHAROV of Germany Kristian KARLSSON of Sweden Liam PITCHFORD of England Andrej GACINA of Croatia Simon GAUZY of France 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.
Andrej GACINA: Truls and Dimitrij are the favorites
At the end of the week Croatia’s Andrej GACINA will be on the duty again in Switzerland as the no. seven seed at the China Construction Bank Europe Top 16 Cup to be played in Montreux on Saturday 25th and Sunday 26th February. It will be his seventh appearance at the tournament since he played his first in 2014 in Lausanne. Two weeks ago GACINA was in Jordan where he played at the WTT Contender Amman and lost in the opening round against Portugal’s Joao GERALDO. “My shape is far from perfect right now. I had some health issues and I am little bit tired but I hope there is enough time for me to recover and to be ready for the challenge at the Europe Top 16 Cup. I really hope I will be 100 percent ready for Montreux ” said GACINA. The quarterfinalists from Amman GERALDO is at the list of the players who will play at the CCB Europe Top 16 Cup. It will be his premiere this year. “GERALDO played really well against me but as I said I was far from my best shape. There was not much of the game in that match. I played under my usual level but it does not diminish the quality of his performance. He deservedly won that match ” said GACINA. “That is how it is in sport. Sometimes it goes better sometimes not so…it is all part of life.” Beside GERALDO and GACINA at the list of Top 16 are also: Truls MOREGARD of Sweden Darko JORGIC of Slovenia Dang QIU and Dimitrij OVTCHAROV of Germany Kristian KARLSSON of Sweden Liam PITCHFORD of England Simon GAUZY of France Marcos FREITAS of Portugal WANG Yang of Slovakia Robert GARDOS of Austria Tomislav PUCAR of Croatia Jonathan GROTH of Denmark Elias HARDMEIER of Switzerland and Emmanuel LEBESSON of France. “If I have to choose the favorites I will put Truls MOREGARD and Dimitrij OVTHAROV above all others. In second line of favorites I will say Darko JORGIC and Dang QIU. “ Speaking about GACINA’S ambitious for this tournament he was very cautious. “Unfortunately I do not have very good memories of most of my appearances at Top 16. As I can recall four or five times I got injured there once I got sick…Therefore I have only desire to be able to give my best there play at my top level and finish it good health.” Speaking about this year GACINA pointed few most important competitions. “ Most important is the European Teams Championships and European Games. Alongside those two I would like to play well at Singapore Smash but most important for me is to be healthy and to be enough rested in order to give my best.”
ECL final: Borussia Düsseldorf vs. 1. FC Saarbrücken TT
At the end of the next month we will have the re-run of the 2021 Champions League Men final. In the ultimate stage of this year’s edition of most prestige club competition the title will be decided in the clash between Borussia Düsseldorf and 1. FC Saarbrücken TT. In the day packed with thrilling matches Borussia Düsseldorf overcame TTC Neu-Ulm in golden match and 1. FC Saarbrücken TT prevailed against Post SV Mühlhausen 1951 e.V – 3:1. On their way to the 11th final seven times winners Borussia Düsseldorf overcame TTC Neu-Ulm after narrow opening leg defeat 2:3. The match in sold out ARAG CenterCourt also went full distance but concluded in hosts’ favor. The fight was extended to thrilling golden match. Anton KÄLLBERG beat Dimitrij OVTCHAROV 3:2 (11:5 11:7 8:11 4:11 6:4) to give Borussia Düsseldorf dream start but he could not repeat the result in another full five games duel against Tomokazu HARIMOTO (11:4 12:10 5:11 8:11 3:6). Dang QIU was unbeatable tonight. He overcame HARIMOTO 3:2 (11:8 4:11 11:9 5:11 6:5) and he needed one game less to overcome Dimitrij OVTCHAROV in the decisive match (17:15 11:13 11:9 11:4). Truls MÖREGARDH overcame Timo BOLL 11:6 9:11 6:11 18:16 6:4). In golden match KÄLLBERG beat HARIMOTO 13:11 and QIU overcame MÖREGARDH 11:8. “I believe in this team. Last Wednesday we were very close to win it and I was confident in our chances here in ARAG CenterCourt. All the matches here were so close we were very even in all duels especially in golden match ” said QIU.” QIU pointed that the system with golden match was a new experience to him. “When KÄLLBERG beat HARIMOTO it gave me extra confidence. OVTCHAROV beat me in recent matches but even on our last clash this week I was very close. Today when I won the opening game 17:15 it boosted my confidence.” Borussia Düsseldorf coach Danny HEISTER explained what went through his mind when he saw Timo losing to Truls. “I was only looking to next ball I was not thinking what happened. Even when it was 3:2 for us my mind was set on tactics and what we had to do. Of course it was difficult Timo had 4-5 match balls but nevertheless we recovered thanks to amazing performance from each player of the team and I am really proud of them. “ TTC Neu-Ulm coach Dimitrij MAZUNOV said: “We were in very difficult situation today by losing 0:2 and Truls was 1:2 down against BOLL. However Truls recovered from so many game match balls to win it. We were in the game until the last minute with OVTCHAROV’s very close defeat against QIU. However that is the beauty of this game. The crucial moment was the decisive match when Dima had 10:8 in the opening game and 8:4 in third game. We were so close .
1.FC Saarbrücken TT beat Post SV Mühlhausen 1951 e.V.
In the semifinal of the Champions League Men 1. FC Saarbrücken TT was under great pressure to justify opening leg win against Post SV Mühlhausen 1951 e.V. with three matches out of four went full distance. Darko JORGIC overcame KIM Taehyun (8:11 11:4 5:11 11:8 6:5) and he also overcame Ovidiu IONESCU (11:7 10:12 10:12 11:8 6:1). Patrick FRANZISKA also beat IONESCU (11:13 12:10 13:11 11:5). Takuya JIN lost to Daniel HABESOHN (6:11 12:10 11:6 9:11 1:6). “It was another very difficult match for us. For the beginning it was clear the match could go either way. If I had lost the opening match that was resolved with sudden death point Franziska would be under even greater pressure against IONESCU. KIM was also at the top of his game he brought out the best in us. I believed I could beat him even in the moments when it went from e.g. 5:1 to 6:5. The good opening was the key. Patrick and Ovidiu met the expectations and they played close game as they always did. FRANZISKA maintained focus even when he was losing and thanks to that win and 2:0 we were in the final. We kept on fighting. JIN had his chances against HABESOHN but Daniel won it deservingly. At the end Ionescu and I played the match that could not make the difference for neither of us but we kept the level high.” In the final they will meet Borussia Düsseldorf. “We are constantly playing so many matches against each other. There is no secret among us. It will be difficult for both clubs. We are looking for surprises and we hope for the spectacular final. Our aim is to win first ever title in Champions League.” Patrick FRANZISKA said: “We feel very relieved It could be easily 2:0 for Post SV Mühlhausen at the beginning; we won it by narrow margin almost stole it. Now we are looking forward our match against Borussia Düsseldorf. They won last time but we hope for our first title.”
Metz TT beat Linz AG Froschberg in golden match
After they were stretched to full distance in the opening leg in France and tonight in Austria lost another five matches’ thriller Metz TT prevailed 2:1 in golden match against Linz AG Froschberg in the semifinal of the Champions League Women. They will play in their first final of the Champions Legue. In Linz Sofia POLCANOVA won each of three matches she played today. She beat Mariia TAILAKOVA 3:2 (11:7 6:11 5:11 11:4 6:3) and Adina DIACONU (11:8 1:11 11:6 17:15) in the regular part. Adina overcame Suthasini SAWETTABUT (11:7 7:11 7:11 11:8 6:1); Pauline CHASSELIN beat Margarita BALTUSHYTE 11:7 12:10 8:11). Third point for Metz came from French side in the match beetwen TAILAKOVA and SAWETTABUT (5:11 11:7 9:11 13:11 6:4). In the golden match POLCANOVA beat TAILAKOVA 11:9 DIACONU overcame SAWETTABUT 11:8 and CHASSELIN beat BALTUSHYTE 11:7. “It still hard to realize what we just did it feels unbelievable. After we made the biggest upset in this year’s Champions League against Berlin we did it again. And once again it was very strong European team . The team spirit and the power of the team made this possible. It very hard to tell anything after match like this. It will be my first final of the Champions Legue and I am so happy ” said Adina DIACONU. In other semifinal KTS Enea Siarkopol Tarnobrzeg beat UCAM Cartagena in the opening leg. The second leg is scheduled for Thursday.
SH-ITB Budaörsi Sport Club lost but reached the final
Hungarian SH-ITB Budaörsi Sport Club lost to Moravsky Krumlov the return leg of the semifinal of the Europe Cup Women in Hungary – 2:3. However runners up from 2021 SH-ITB Budaörsi Sport Club managed to progress to the final thanks to the 3:1 win in Czech Republic. Georgina POTA once again won both her matches and she was only player in Hungarian club to score. Tonight she beat Lenka HARABASZOVA (12:10 11:6 11:9) and Valeriia SHCHERBATYKH (11:7 11:5 7:11 11:7). “I am happy that I managed to win two out of two today. In the first match I did not feel the ball yet. HARABASZOVA took control many times so in the second match I stood there to play little more aggressive game. We played a very good match in front home crowd and I am proud that we managed to reach the final ” said POTA. In Czech team SHCHERBATYKH beat Helga DARI 12:10 13:11 11:8); Maria FAZEKAS lost to Ekaterina CHERNYAVSKAYA (10:12 11:7 10:12 11:8 2:6). In the decisive match DARI lost to HARABASZOVA (110:12 11:9 11:8 11:6). “Every defeat hurts but perhaps this one was easier since we reach the final. Gina PÓTA recovered to win both matches making it four out of four. She was a real leader of the team but I would like to add that everyone had their leading role in previous matches. This shows the strength of the team. Overall we will win our fifth medal on the European stage this will be our third final I think this is the success of Hungarian table tennis as well ” added SH-ITB Budaörsi SC President Gergely SOMLYO.
Five table tennis players tragically lost their lives during the devastating earthquakes
The ETTU is deeply saddened by the news that five table tennis players have been found dead under the rubble of the terrifying earthquake that rocked Türkiye just over a week ago. The news has been confirmed by the Türkiye Table Tennis Federation. ETTU offers their heartfelt condolences to the families and friends of the deceased players.
