Reigning champions of the TAMANNEFTEGAS European Champions League Women TTC Berlin eastside secured their place in the ultimate stage of the competition after second win against French TT Metz tonight. By same margin 3:1 Berlin recorded victory in the second leg of the semifinal. Similarly as in the previous match it was Nina MITTELHAM who won both her encounters against Adina DIACONU and Mariia TAILAKOVA. This time SHAN prevailed against Russia’s player. On position no. three in Metz WU Jiaduo remained unbeaten. Last time it was Britt EERLAND but tonight it was Sabina SURJAN who suffered by her hands. WU created the chance for TAILAKOVA to play fourth match against MITTELHAM and she fought hard to seize that opportunity. She had advantage 1:0 then 2:1 but Nina pushed to the decider and won 6:2 in last game to seal the match. “It was our goal to reach the final and by doing so with two wins it is a great feeling. We had safe advantage after away win in Metz ” said Nina. “Today I started against Adina and I felt great; I had control throughout the whole match. Also SHAN played very good. Sabina had problem with the style of WU but in the closing stages she started to play better. For me it was difficult to play second match we were already in the final in our minds.” Germany’s club will meet the winner of the duel between KTS Enea Siarkopol Tarnobrzeg and Linz AG Froschberg scheduled for Sunday in Poland and Wednesday in Linz. “I do not care who is coming to play against us. Our goal is always to win ” stated MITTELHAM. Second leg of the TAMANNEFTEGAS European Champions Legue Women TTC Berlin eastside – TT Metz 3:1 Nina MITTELHAM – Adina DIACONU 3:0 (11:3 15:13 11:5) SHAN Xiaona – Mariia TAILAKOVA 3:1 (11:9 11:7 9:11 11:6) Sabina SURJAN – WU Jiaduo 1:3 (10:12 7:11 11:7 13:15) Nina MITTELHAM – Mariia TAILAKOVA 3:2 (6:11 11:9 11:6 11:13 6:2) Opening leg Metz TT – TTC Berlin eastside 1:3 Adina DIACONU – SHAN Xiaona 0:3 (8:11 3:11 6:11) Mariia TAILAKOVA – Nina MITTELHAM 2:3 (11:6 9:11 11:8 6:11 3:6) WU Jiaduo – Britt EERLAND 3:0 (11:6 12:10 11:9) Adina DIACONU – Nina MITTELHAM 0:3 (6:11 7:11 11:13)
Hana MATELOVA: Playing in the semis last year gave me power
The 2022 CCB Europe Top 16 Cup on 26th and 27th February will once again produce excitement when the top stars of our sport gather in Montreux Switzerland. A total of 100.000 Euros in prize money will be distributed among the players just as it was last year in Thessaloniki. No. 8 seed Hana MATELOVA will play for a fourth time at the event after she reached the third position last year in Greece. So far this season she has been active in the TAMANNEFTEGAS Champions League playing in the quarterfinal in Etival Clairefontaine ASRTT “I think I played pretty well but still there is a lot of space to improve my game. I work on it but still there is a lot of time to prepare I am looking forward start of the Europe Top 16 Cup ” MATELOVA said. “Many of us had really good results in last period so let’s see in what shape we will arrive to the Top 16 ” she added not wanting to give any hints about possible favorites. After ending twice on the position between 13th and 16th last year’s medal rostrum was a great boost for her self-confidence. “It was a nice moment last year in Greece when I reached the semifinal. That gave me mental power for my next matches. This year my goal is very simple. I will give my best and I have to see how far I will get ” added MATELOVA. She will be competing in Switzerland alongside: Sofia POLCANOVA (Austria) HAN Ying (Germany Bernadette SZOCS (Romania) Britt EERLAND (Netherlands) Margaryta PESOTSKA (Ukraine) Elizabeta SAMARA (Romania) NI Xia Lian (Luxembourg) Hana MATELOVA (Czech Republic) YU Fu (Portugal) Polina MIKHAILOVA (Russia) Barbora BALAZOVA (Slovakia) Georgina POTA (Hungary) Rachel MORET (Switzerland) Nina MITTELHAM (Germany) Yana NOSKOVA (Russia) SHAO Jieni (Portugal).
TTC Berlin eastside won semi-final opening leg in Metz
French Metz TT failed to take advantage of home soil against the reigning champions in the opening leg of the TAMANNEFTEGAS European Champions League Women. TTC Berlin eastside justified their rankings and won in four matches. Last year in the semifinal when those two clubs also clashed Adina DIACONU was the only player to score for the French side but this season SHAN Xiaona proved too strong for Romanian player. SHAN gave Berlin dream start with straight games victory. Mariia TAILAKOVA was on the way to level the matches but despite 1:0 and 2:1 lead it was Nina MITTELHAM who won the golden point in the fifth game. In the third match between WU Jiaduo and Britt EERLAND the tables finally turned for Metz. In straight games but in very close two last games WU made first point for the hosts. On her second exit to the table Adina DIACONU could not stay at the same path. Again Nina MITTELHAM won her match. Metz TT – TTC Berlin eastside 1:3 Adina DIACONU – SHAN Xiaona 0:3 (8:11 3:11 6:11) Mariia TAILAKOVA – Nina MITTELHAM 2:3 (11:6 9:11 11:8 6:11 3:6) WU Jiaduo – Britt EERLAND 3:0 (11:6 12:10 11:9) Adina DIACONU – Nina MITTELHAM (6:11 7:11 11:13)
Clash between Metz and TTC Berlin eastside opens the semifinal stage
The Champions league semi final kick of is on Tuesday when Metz TT hosts reigning champions TTC Berlin eastside. Last year two clubs also clashed in the semis and then Germany’s club prevailed in four matches. The only player to score on French side was Adina DIACONU. The tournament was played in bubble in Linz and it was only one match. This time clubs will have to go throughout two legs in order to move to the final. “Berlin is a very strong team with the top player. They won the title last year so for sure they proved their worth. We lost very tough match last year and I am happy that I managed to win one point against SHAN Xiaona ” said DIACONU. For Metz beside Adina are also listed Dina MESHREF WU Jiaduo and Mariia TAILAKOVA. Whilst Berlin counts on SHAN Britt EERLAND Nina MITTELHAM LIN Ye and Sabina SURJAN. “Beside SHAN I never had played against the others but I am sure it will be a great fight. I feel good and ready and my team are ready for the fight. We have nothing to lose we are young and we have only to learn. Of course I believe in our chances we showed a very good level in first stage of Champions League and also in French League ” said DIACONU. Metz is in the semi final of the Pro A as well.
TTC Berlin eastside want to stay on winning path
The reigning champions of the TAMANNEFTEGAS European Champions League Women TTC Berlin eastside will travel to France for the opening leg of the semifinal against Metz TT. The match is scheduled for Tuesday 8th February whilst the return leg will be played on Friday later this week. Berlin has the title to defend and coach Irina PALINA is fully focused on matches to come. Last year’s semifinal clash with the same adversary is already archived. “At the moment everything is changing so fast that I don’t think it’s necessary to think about the last year. The Metz team is young and ambitious but I think we are still the favorites in this match. And the most important thing for us is to keep this leadership ” explained coach PALINA. The club is in their usual winning mode. “The girls are now in good physical and moral shape. In Bundesliga matches they show a good game. Last week we won against Kolbermoor we are in position one now in National League and preparing for the decisive matches in the Champions League and the German Championship.” On other semifinal KTS Enea Siarkopol Tarnobrzeg will meet Linz AG Froschberg.
Barbora BALAZOVA: Title and virus key moments in January
Slovakia’s Barbora BALAZOVA is coming to Montreux on 26-27 February for the 2022 CCB Europe Top 16 Cup and she is full of confidence after winning the title at the WTT Feeder Düsseldorf I. In Switzerland she is arriving as the 11 seed. On her way to the highest step on the medal rostrum in Germany BALAZOVA beat SHAN Xiaona and Chantal MANTZ of Germany Natalia BAYOR of Poland and Vera VOLKOVA of Belarus. “This win convinces me that I am in good shape. Unfortunately I could not participate at the second one as I tested positive for COVID. Luckily I was without symptoms but i found it a bit hard to start practicing again as I still feel a bit tired ” explained BALAZOVA who shared the same fate as GARDOS who got sick after winning the title in Dusseldorf. “I think there are many good players as every year and many that played very good recently so i think anyone can win actually. My goal is to enjoy the competition as it is very nice tournament to play try my best and see what happens.’ The athletes to compete in the Women’s Event in Montreux are: Sofia POLCANOVA (Austria) HAN Ying (Germany Bernadette SZOCS (Romania) Britt EERLAND (Netherlands) Margaryta PESOTSKA (Ukraine) Elizabeta SAMARA (Romania) NI Xia Lian (Luxembourg) Hana MATELOVA (Czech Republic) YU Fu (Portugal) Polina MIKHAILOVA (Russia) Barbora BALAZOVA (Slovakia) Georgina POTA (Hungary) Rachel MORET (Switzerland) Nina MITTELHAM (Germany) Yana NOSKOVA (Russia) SHAO Jieni (Portugal).
Turbulent start of the season for Robert GARDOS
Robert GARDOS will return to action at the 2022 CCB Europe Top 16 Cup for a tenth time in his career on 26-27 February and it will happen in Montreux – the city of his biggest success at the event. In 2020 the Austrian finished third. Last year in Thessaloniki he was nineth and his first appearance was in 2009 in Dusseldorf. Robert commenced the year in big style with a win at the WTT Feeder Düsseldorf I. On his way to the title he beat Brian AFANADOR of Puerto Rico Samuel WALKER of England Antoine HACHARD and Vincent PICARD of France Maksim GREBNEV of Russia. “I played very good in Dusseldorf. I lost maybe two or three games all together throughout the tournament. I started very good in perfect shape but then I got Corona. I had a high fever for a week and I stayed in bed. Then I needed extra week to recover because I felt exhausted and I still have a cough. I could not return in full power ” explained GARDOS. The good news is GARDOS’s recovery is going in the right direction. “Each day I feel better and better. I can practice almost 100 percent now.” Alongside GARDOS who is no. 8 seed the players competing at the Top 16 Cup are: Dimitrij OVTCHAROV (Germany) Timo BOLL (Germany) Mattias FALCK (Sweden) Liam PITCHFORD (England) Simon GAUZY (France) Darko JORGIC (Slovenia) Marcos FREITAS (Portugal) Kristian KARLSSON (Sweden) Jonathan GROTH (Denmark) Yang WANG (Slovakia) Tomislav PUCAR (Croatia) Emmanuel LEBESSON (France) Daniel HABESOHN (Austria) Barish MOULLET (Switzerland) Andrej GACINA (Croatia). “It is very difficult to know what I can expect there since there were so few tournaments recently. You cannot judge others player’s shape now. Maybe only Bundesliga is playing but I was sick and I did not follow it closely. I am at home with three kids there was a lot to do around ” explained GARDOS. Speaking of his best memories for sure it is the one from two years ago when GARDOS shared the medal rostrum with Timo BOLL and Darko JORGIC. “Opening round loses are always hard but in 2015 I remember I lost in the quarterfinal against Simon GAUZY after I was 3:0 up and it was 9 all….that is really bad memory.” There are no doubts about the main favorites at this edition of the event according to GARDOS. “BOLL and OVTCHAROV and of course FALCK and KARLSSON JORGIC…. the quality is high and very even. It promises big fights and good matches ” concluded GARDOS.
PESOTSKA: Champions League a warm up for CCB Europe Top 16 Cup
Two years ago Margaryta PESOTSKA reached the position of no. 4 in Montreux Switzerland and now she is back in action again at the 2022 CCB Europe Top 16 Cup as the no 5. seed. It will be third time for Ukrainian to be part of the elite tournament and each time she has played in Switzerland. In 2014 she was 8th when the Top 12 took place in Lausanne. In these Covid times it is important more than ever to keep this sport in motion. Playing in two different leagues recently has prepared Margaryta for the forthcoming challenges at the 2022 CCB Europe Top 16 Cup. “I had busy schedule at the beginning of the year. That keeps me fit regardless of the different time we are facing now. With Linz AG Froschberg I reached the semifinal of the European Champions League Women and I am also playing in the top Greek League in Olympiacos. Currently we are holding the top position at the standings in Greece. It is difficult to maintain good shape throughout a long season but I am trying my best ” said PESOTSKA. PESOTSKA has been at the top of European table tennis for years. In 2009 she won silver medal in singles at the European Championships; she repeated the success in 2018 in Alicante whilst in 2011 in Gdansk Sopot and in 2020 in Warsaw she finished third. “The list of the participants this year is impressive. All the players are very strong and the quality is very even. Everyone can beat or suffer defeat by everyone else. There will be very close matches. For me it is most important that I show a good game. It is a very difficult tournament ” said PESOTSKA. The athletes competing in the Women’s Event in Montreux are: Sofia POLCANOVA (Austria) HAN Ying (Germany Bernadette SZOCS (Romania) Britt EERLAND (Netherlands) Margaryta PESOTSKA (Ukraine) Elizabeta SAMARA (Romania) NI Xia Lian (Luxembourg) Hana MATELOV (Czech Republic) YU Fu (Portugal) Polina MIKHAILOVA (Russia) Barbora BALAZOVA (Slovakia) Georgina POTA (Hungary) Rachel MORET (Switzerland) Nina MITTELHAM (Germany) Yana NOSKOVA (Russia) SHAO Jieni (Portugal).
OVTCHAROV and POLCANOVA head the elite at the 2022 CCB Europe Top 16 Cup
After the glamorous summer edition last year in Thessaloniki the 2022 CCB Europe Top 16 Cup is coming back to beautiful Montreux in Switzerland and back to winter dates but the prize money remains the same. The 2022 CCB Europe Top 16 Cup will be played on 26th and 27th February for a mouthwatering sum of 100.000 Euros in total prize money. The winner will receive a check for €10 000 runners up will get €6 000 semifinalists will receive €4 000 quarterfinalists will receive €2 500 and those in the Round of 16 will get €2 000. Only one of last year’s winners will be on duty this time: Nina MITTELHAM of Germany is no. 14. seed whilst Patrick FRANZISKA will not be able to defend his crown. Each country is limited to two players and this year Dimitrij OVTCHAROV and Timo BOLL are back on stage. OVTCHAROV won the tournament five times last time it was in Montreux in 2019 (after titles in 2017 2016 2015 2012). One year later in February 2020 Timo BOLL celebrated a record-equaling seventh crown; he equaled the record of Sweden’s Jan-Ove WALDNER who succeeded on seven occasions between 1984 in Bratislava and 1996 in Charleroi. Topping the list in the Women’s Event is Sofia POLCANOVA of Austria. POLCANOVA was fifth in Thessaloniki and her best results came in 2020 and in 2019 when she came third. Confirmed players in the Men’s Event are: Dimitrij OVTCHAROV (Germany) Timo BOLL (Germany) Mattias FALCK (Sweden) Liam PITCHFORD (England) Simon GAUZY (France) Darko JORGIC (Slovenia) Marcos FREITAS (Portugal) Robert GARDOS (Austria) Kristian KARLSSON (Sweden) Jonathan GROTH (Denmark) Yang WANG (Slovakia) Tomislav PUCAR (Croatia) Emmanuel LEBESSON (France) Daniel HABESOHN (Austria) Barish MOULLET (Switzerland) Andrej GACINA (Croatia). In the Women’s Event the confirmed athletes are: Sofia POLCANOVA (Austria) HAN Ying (Germany Bernadette SZOCS (Romania) Britt EERLAND (Netherlands) Margaryta PESOTSKA (Ukraine) Elizabeta SAMARA (Romania) NI Xia Lian (Luxembourg) Hana MATELOV (Czech Republic) YU Fu (Portugal) Polina MIKHAILOVA (Russia) Barbora BALAZOVA (Slovakia) Georgina POTA (Hungary) Rachel MORET (Switzerland) Nina MITTELHAM (Germany) Yana NOSKOVA (Russia) SHAO Jieni (Portugal).
ITTF Approves Changes to World Rankings Regulation
The ITTF Executive Committee has voted to change the ITTF Table Tennis World Ranking making inactive players in 2021 drop and allowing players who improved in 2021 to raise and access higher tier events. The ITTF Table Tennis Ranking is the objective merit-based method used for entries and seeding at ITTF and WTT events. The ranking of a player is composed of the sum of the points of the eight non-expired results with the greatest number of points. In 2020 a transition phase was implemented to adapt the Ranking to the new WTT events structure. The “initial points” were introduced adding a fixed number of points to the best-8 results of the players. Their initial value was 80% of the players’ total points in December 2020. As of September 2021 they had been reduced to 50%. At its meeting on Saturday 29 January 2022 the Executive Committee voted to reduce the “initial points” from 50% to 20%. Reducing the “initial points” refreshes the World Rankings and allows players who performed well in 2021 to raise and access higher tier events. The 2022 ITTF Table Tennis World Ranking – Week 5 is available here. The ITTF will carefully monitor the situation and further decisions regarding the “initial points” are expected during the following months.
