, The Tamanneftegas Europe Cup Men’s Final successfully concluded on Saturday 15 May in Varazdin bringing the Europe Cup 2020/21 season to a close following the safe and secure staging of the Women’s Final on 9 May in Novi Sad. In the Men’s Final, France’s AS Pontoise Cergy clinched the title as they overcame Austria’s SPG Walter Wels 3:1. It is the third time the club has won the prestigious competition having previously won in 2016 and 2014. In the Women’s Final, France’s Saint-Denis Us 93 claimed their first ever title as they beat Hungary’s SH-ITB Budaörsi in a fantastic five-match thriller. The full results from Men’s competitions can be found here and Women’s here. Both the Men’s and Women’s Finals were held in a secure bubble and strict COVID-19 health protocols were upheld throughout the competitions. All players and participants were regularly tested for COVID-19 and no positive cases were recorded in either competition. Given the Men’s Final has just concluded, the ETTU will continue to monitor over the coming days in order to confirm no positive cases arose after the competition ended while participants were still in Varazdin. ETTU President Igor Levitin said: “The Europe Cup Men’s and Women’s Finals were both fantastic events and we would like to congratulate all the participating teams for putting on such an exciting show for us all to enjoy. We would also like to thank the organisers in Varazdin and Novi Sad for providing a safe and secure environment in which our athletes could compete. As we all know, we are living in very challenging times but it is important that we continue to find ways to host our events safely for the benefit of our athletes and all our fans across Europe.”

, French AS Pontoise Cergy is the winner of the Tamanneftegas Europe Cup Men’s Final in Varazdin. In the ultimate stage they overcame Austria’s SPG Walter Wels in four matches. It is the third title for the club after they recorded victories in 2016 and 2014. In the final Quentin ROBINOT had a difficult task to set the pace of the match. Against Croatia’s Frane KOJIC it was very hard to achieve that goal. In close two opening games the control went from one side of the table to another, but from the third game it was French player who held the grip tighter. The pressure hit the roof when Andreas LEVENKO met Patrick BAUM. Garmany’s player had advantage, LEVENKO levelled, then they went through the same routine again and in the decisive game BAUM had 4:1, before he lost by sudden death point 6:5. After two close games that went on Adrien MATTENET’s account, Adam SZUDI took the third by storm, and in the close fourth game he nullified the gap. That pushed the match into the fifth game once again, but this time SZUDI had 5:2 lead and MATTENET emerged victoriusly. Patrick BAUM sealed the match in the duel against KOJIC. On their way to the title French club overcame Post SV Mühlhausen 1951 E.V, Asisa Borges Vall, SK Vydrany and Top Spin Messina Fontalba. Before they stublle on the last hurdle SPG Walter Wels also beat all the adversaries Top Spin Messina Fontalba, TTC Enfireex Ostrava, Irun Leka Enea Marpex and PTE Peac Kalo-Meh. In the semi final, AS Pontoise Cergy was the first to finish the match against Post SV Mühlhausen 1951 E.V. Quentin ROBINOT set the pace of the duel with fantastic win over Daniel HABESOHN and Patrick BAUM followed his rhythm. “We did not expect that we will win. Germany’s club was the favorit. It gave us space to play without the pressure. The key to success was my quick win in straight games against HABESOHN in the opening match. It gave the tone of the match and moved the duel into our direction. Of course Patric showed outstanding performance and won two matches,” explained ROBINOT. Other semi final was straight matches affair, but all three duels in the match between SPG Walter Wels and Top Spin Messina Fontalba concluded in nail-biting fifth game. “It was the match for the heart attack. I am still trying to come down. The key was good preparation for the match: tactically and mentally. We are in Varazdin from Monday, we “scanned” every adversary, study the game and talk about every tiny detail. Unfortunately, we suffered from the unexpected defeat in Austria’s Bundesliga. We will not be able to win the title this year after the loss against Salzburg, so we put all our hopes into Europe Cup. We have to justify the trust our club has in us and we have to win here,”explained Frane KOJIC. FinalSPG Walter Wels – AS Pontoise Cergy 1:3Frane KOJIC – Quentin ROBINOT 1:3 (10:12, 12:10, 9:11, 7:11)Andreas LEVENKO – Patrick BAUM 3:2 (10:12, 11:5, 5:11, 11:9, 6:5)Adam SZUDI – Adrien MATTENET (12:14, 10:12, 11:3, 12:10, 5:6)Frane KOJIC – Patrick BAUM 0:3 (7:11, 7:11, 9:11) Semi finals Post SV Mühlhausen 1951 E.V. – AS Pontoise Cergy 1:3Daniel HABESOHN – Quentin ROBINOT 0:3 (7:11, 6:11, 9:11)Steffan MENGEL – Patric BAUM 2:3 (9:11, 7:11, 11:5, 14:12, 5:6)Ovidiu IONESCU – Adrien MATTENET 3:0 (11:7, 11:6, 11:9)Daniel HABESOHN – Patric BAUM 1:3 (11:6, 3:11, 10:12, 4:11) SPG Walter Wels – Top Spin Messina Fontalba 3:0Frane KOJIC – Andrea LANDRIEU 3:2 (14:12, 6:11, 11:5, 8:11, 6:0)Andreas LEVENKO – Joao MONTEIRO 3:2 (6:11, 6:11, 11:5, 15:13, 6:5)Adam SZUDI – Jordi PICCOLIN 3:2 (11:9, 8:11, 8:11, 11:9, 6:4)  

, Tamanneftegas Europe Cup Men’s Final in Varazdin reached the penultimate day. In two opening quarterfinals, AS Pontoise Cergy overcame Asisa Borges Vall, whilst Top Spin Messina beat Solex-Consult Wiener Neustad. Top seeds Post SV Mühlhausen 1951 E.V. beat PTE Peac Kalo-Meh 3:0 and SPG Walter Wels secured their progress after triumph over TTC Enfireex Ostrava Two times European Champions League winner and two times French Champion AS Pontoise Cergy beat Spanish Asisa Borges Vall on their way to the semi final. Quentin ROBINOT’s effective win over Marc DURAN in the opening match silenced the hopes of the Spanish team early in the duel. “We are here without out our player no. one Tristan FLORE, who is absent due the injury. Our goal was to reach the best four clubs and now we are under less pressure. When we saw the draw, “on the paper” we were favorites, but we did not want to lose our focus and perspective. There are a lot of good players here and all kind of surprises were possible. That is why we aimed for a first place in our group to make it easier for us. Also, we played maximally focused against Spanish side,” said Adrien MATTENET. Asisa Borges Vall – AS Pontoise Cergy 0:3Marc DURAN – Quentin ROBINOT 0:3 (3:11, 9:11, 8:11)Joan MASIP – Patrick BAUM 0:3 (6:11, 5:11, 8:11)Albert VILARDELL – Adrien MATTENET 0:3 (5:11, 2:11, 5:11) , Top Spin Messina overcame Solex-Consult Wiener Neustad of Austria in second quarterfinal. Solex-Consult Wiener Neustad’s Andy PEREIRA and Tomas KONECNY were both in the lead and both lost their encounters in the decisive fifth game. Joao MONTEIRO overcame PEREIRA by sudden death point, whilst Andrea LANDRIEU won 6:4 against KONECNY in decisive game. Marco RECH DALDOSSO was also stretched to full distance to conclude the thriller. “The most difficult was the opening duel between Joao MONTEIRO and Andy PEREIRA. It was the big match with a lot of pressure from both sides. Then, against KONECNY, I was two games to null down. His game is very difficult for me. I saved match point in the third game and somehow I recovered to 2:2, then he missed two services…Marco RECH had a big responsibility on his shoulders. It is never easy to play third match, but he did a great job. We are very happy for the club, because this is the first time that we are playing in the Europe Cup and it is amazing we already reached the semi final,” said Andrea LANDRIEU. Top Spin Messina – Solex-Consult Wiener Neustad 3:0Joao MONTEIRO – Andy PEREIRA 3:2 (11:8, 8:11, 7:11, 11:6, 6:5)Andrea LANDRIEU – Tomas KONECNY 3:2 (9:11, 10:12, 12:10, 11:7, 6:4)Marco RECH DALDOSSO – Felix WETZEL 3:2 (16:14, 8:11, 11:3, 6:11, 6:3) , Top seeds Post SV Mühlhausen 1951 E.V. overcame Hungarian PTE Peac Kalo-Meh in straight games but the match was far from easy for the favorites.The strangest duel was between Daniel HABESOHN and Gyarfas LEHEL DEMETER. “It was difficult match; very fast and strange duel with lot of mistakes from both sides. I had advantage 9:2 in my opening game and then I lost it. In second game I lost the rhythm but at his game ball he missed the service…all in all it was very difficult. Now we are looking forward tomorow’s duel against Cergy. Top two seeds will meet in the semis already. It is going to be tough one for sure,” said Daniel HABESOHN. Post SV Mühlhausen 1951 E.V. – PTE Peac Kalo-Meh 3:0Steffan MENGEL – Zsolt PETO 3:1 (5:11, 11:7, 11:7, 11:9)Daniel HABESOHN – Gyarfas LEHEL DEMETER 3:1 (10:12, 15:13, 12:10, 11:1)Lubomir JANCARIK – Gabor GEROLD 3:0 (11:5, 11:5, 14:12) In very tense match SPG Walter Wels overcame TTC Enfireex Ostrava. SPG Walter Wels – TTC Enfireex Ostrava 3:0Frane KOJIC – Felipe OLIVARES 3:2 (8:11, 10:12, 11:3, 11:9, 6:2)Andreas LEVENKO – Jakub KLEPRLIK 3:2 (4:11, 11:8, 14:12, 7:11, 6:2)Adam SZUDI – Petr KORBEL 3:0 (11:3, 11:8, 11:7)

, In the quarterfinal of the Tamanneftegas Europe Cup Men’s Final in Varazdin today will play Austria’s Solex-Consult Wiener Neustadt against Italy’s Top Spin Messina; TTC Enfireex Ostrava of Czech Republic vs. SPG Walter Wels of Austria; French AS Pontoise Cergy vs. Spanish Asisa Borges Vall and Germany’s Post SV Mühlhausen 1951 E.V. against Hungary’s PTE Peac Kalo-Meh. Just before the draw, the last match in the Group C was played. TE Peac Kalo-Meh and SPG Walter Wels fought for the top position in the group since Irun Leka Enea Marpex concluded the competition day earlier with two defeats. SPG Walter Wels withstood the spirited comeback of the Hungarian side. SPG Walter Wels was 2:0 up before Gabor GEROLD overcame Adam SZUDI and PETO had the lead in the decisive game against LEVENKO. Andreas proved better in close finish and led his club to victory. Frane KOJIC beat PETO in the opening match.   PTE Peac Kalo-Meh – SPG Walter Wels 1:3 Zsolt PETO – Frane KOJIC 1:3 (7:11, 8:11, 13:11, 8:11) Gyarfas DEMETER – Andreas LEVENKO 1:3 (4:11, 12:10, 9:11, 10:12) Gabor GEROLD – Adam SZUDI 3:0 (13:11, 11:7, 11:4) Zsolt PETO – Andreas LEVENKO 2:3 (6:11, 10:12, 12:10, 14:12, 4:6)  

, On the second day of play at the Tamanneftegas Europe Cup Men’s Final in Varazdin the final standings in three out of four groups are known. In Group A top two teams are Post SV Mühlhausen 1951 e.V. and Asisa Borges Vall, in Group B AS Pontoise Cergy emerged at the top followed by Top Spin Messina Fontalba; in D Solex-Consult Wiener Neustad and TTC Enfireex Ostrava are on the positions one and two. There is one match to be played tomorrow in Group C. In the morning program, with the second win in the group A, Germany’s Post SV Mühlhausen 1951 e.V. moved to the quarterfinal . They overcame Asisa Borges Vall yesterday, and Stk Libertas Marinkolor was next in line to suffer against the top favorites. “We reached our first goal and from now on it will become more difficult. We have some time to rest and to wait for knock out round adversaries,” said Daniel HABESOHN after morning victory. Group AStk Libertas Marinkolor – Post SV Mühlhausen 1951 e.V. 0:3Filip CIPIN – Daniel HABESOHN 0:3 (6:11, 7:11, 8:11)Miho SIMOVIC – Steffen MENGEL 1:3 (11:8, 6:11, 10:12, 8:11)Tomislav JAPEC – Ovidiu IONESCU 1:3 (11:8, 9:11, 7:11, 10:12) AS Pontoise Cergy overcame Top Spin Messina Fontalba on their way to the knock out stage. The duel between Andrea LANDRIEU and Quentin ROBINOT, that started as one way street, continued with the remarkable change of direction and ended with fifth game victory for LANDRIEU. Joao MONTEIRO could not follow that pace against Patric BAUM and French side leveled, but in the next match we saw another turn – over after the late start. Adrien MATTENET was two games to null in reverse, before he recovered to win over Enrico RECH DALDOSSO. The fourth match went full distance again, but LANDRIEU was not able to find the way to halt BAUM. Group BTop Spin Messina Fontalba – AS Pontoise Cergy 1:3 Andrea LANDRIEU – Quentin ROBINOT 3:2 (6:11, 8:11, 11:5, 11:7, 6:3)Joao MONTEIRO – Patric BAUM 0:3 (6:11, 16:18, 5:11)Enrico RECH DALDOSSO – Adrien MATTENET 2:3 (11:4, 11:7, 5:11, 9:11, 3:6)Andrea LANDRIEU – Patric BAUM 2:3 (12:10, 9:11, 11:7, 4:11, 2:6) , After yesterday’s defeat against PTE Peac Kalo-Meh, Leka Enea TDM failed to produce the game that will leave the club in the run for the knock out phase. In Group C, SPG Walter Wels will play against Hungarian club for the top position at the standings after their win over the Spanish side. Group CSPG Walter Wels – Leka Enea TDM 3:0Frane KOJIC – Oriol MONZO 3:0 (11:8, 11:5, 11:9)Andreas LEVENKO- Endika DIEZ 3:1 (6:11, 11:9, 11:6, 11:5)Adam SZUDI – Hodei MANCHA 3:0 (11:0, 11:9, 11:8) , In Group D Solex-Consult Wiener Neustadt secured the top position after third win in Varazdin over CSS-SZAK Odorheiu Secuiesc. Previously they overcame TTC Enfireex Ostrava and TTSC UMMC-ELEM. “We recorded three straight matches wins, but none of the came easy. Against Russia’s UMMC-ELEM I was stretched to full distance in the match against PAIKOV, from Ostrava, Peter KORBEL also put pressure on WETZEL… We were challenged and it could easily goes other way; it was much harder than the results predict,” said Andy PEREIRA. Group D Solex-Consult Wiener Neustadt – CSS-SZAK Odorheiu Secuiesc 3:0Felix WETZEL – Szilard GYORGY 3:1 (11:9, 5:11, 11:6, 11:9)Andy PEREIRA – Sebastian LOSO 3:0 (11:9, 11:4, 11:8)Tomas KONECNY – Kristian CERVIK 3:0 (11:6, 11:9, 11:7) , In direct clash for the second position in Group D TTC Enfireex Ostrava and TTSC UMMC-ELEM kept us at the edge of the seats in duel that finished with the victory of Czech team. In three matches, all three players Felipe OLIVARES, Petr KORBEL and Jakub KLEPRLIK were down in decisive game and all three times they won by sudden death point. “I am very long in the table tennis, but I never played match like this. Three times we were down 5:1, 5:3 and 5:2 and we recovered to win. It was incredible and that is the beauty of table tennis,” said KORBEL. Group DTTC Enfireex Ostrava – TTSC UMMC-ELEM 3:1Jakub KLEPRLIK – Danila TRIVAN 1:3 (13:11, 7:11, 5:11, 6:11)Felipe OLIVARES – Mikhail PAIKOV 3:2 (4:11, 11:8, 9:11, 12:10, 6:5)Petr KORBEL – Anton KOTOV 3:2 (11:7, 11:6, 5:11, 9:11, 6:5)Jakub KLEPRLIK – Mikhail PAIKOV 3:2 (11:7, 11:8, 8:11, 11:13, 6:5) For a first time Italy’s Top Spin Messina Fontalba reached the quarterfinal of the Europe Cup. “It was difficult day for us. We commenced with the defeat, but managed to finish in good style. It is very important win and good result for our club,” said Joao MONTEIRO. Group BSK Vydrany – Top Spin Messina Fontalba 0:3Samuel NOVOTA – Joao MONTEIRO 0:3 (4:11, 4:11, 10:12)Peter SEREDA – Andrea LANDRIEU 1:3 (8:11, 4:11, 11:4, 7:11)Zoltan LELKES – Jordy PICCOLIN 0:3 (9:11, 6:11, 5:11) Asisa Borges Vall equalled the result from 2016 when they reached the quarterfinal. In Varazdin they overcame STK Libertas Marinkolor in the Group Stage. “We reached our goal after two very good matches. Despite the defeat in the opening Round we showed good performance against the team from Bundesliga and we are satisfied. Now, when we passed the Group, we will play without pressure,” said Marc DURAN. Group AAsisa Borges Vall – STK Libertas Marinkolor 3:1Marc DURAN – Miho SIMOVIC 3:1 (11:4, 11:9, 9:11, 11:4)Joan MASIP – Filip CIPIN 3:0 (12:10, 11:5, 11:9)Albert VILARDELL – Tomislav JAPEC 0:3 (4:11, 8:11, 13:15)Marc DURAN – Filip CIPIN 3:1 (11:6, 10:12, 11:6, 11:1)

, The Tamanneftegas Europe Cup Men’s Final in Varazdin commenced today with the matches in the Group Stages. In Group D TTC Ostrava’s had a rough start; the match between Jakub KLEPRLIK and Sebastian LOSO went full distance. KLEPRLIK won in five games to give team from Czech Republic good start and Chile’s Felipe OLIVARES stayed at the winning path against Szilard GYORGY and Sebastian LOSO. Experienced Petr KORBEL, who has on his record the titles in European competitions with Grenzau and Borussia Dusseldorf lost to Krisztian CSERVIK in full distance match by death point. “I enjoyed playing here. My team gave me great support and I have confidence; I played without the fear. We were much stronger ‘in our heads’, said OLIVARES.”I came to Czech Republic three years ago. Although I live in Ostrava, I had played for German team. At the beginning, I only trained with TTC Enfireex Ostrava, but they accepted me as their member. As soon as they suggested me to play for Ostrava I accepted with great pleasure and I am very thankful for that.” Tomorrow, Ostrava will meet Solex-Consult Wiener Neustadt. Group D CSS-SZAK Odorheiu Secuiesc – TTC Enfireex Ostrava 2016 1:3Sebastian LOSO – Jakub KLEPRLIK 2:3 (6:11, 11:9, 1:11, 11:5, 0:6)Szilard GYORGY – Felipe OLIVARES 0:3 (2:11, 2:11, 7:11)Krisztian CSERVIK – Petr KORBEL 3:2 (11:9, 11:8, 3:11, 6:11, 6:5)Sebastian LOSO – Felipe OLIVARES 1:3 (7:11, 9:11, 1:11) Austria’s Solex-Consult Wiener Neustadt overcame Russia’s TTSC UMMC-ELEM in straight matches. “The crucial moment of the match was the opening duel between Andy PEREIRA and Mikhail PAIKOV. When we gained advantage it become easier. Felix WETZEL and I faced no big difficulties against Anton KOTOV and Danila TRIVAN,” said Tomas KONECNY. TTSC UMMC-ELEM – Solex-Consult Wiener Neustadt 0:3 Mikhail PAIKOV – Andy PEREIRA 2:3 (6:11, 7:11, 11:6, 12:10, 3:6)Danila TRIVAN – Tomas KONECNY 1:3 (11:4, 8:11, 6:11, 7:11)Anton KOTOV – Felix WETZEL 1:3 (8:11, 6:11, 12:10, 5:11) , In Group B AS Pontoise Cergy TT needed only three matches to conclude the opening duel in the Group Stage against SK Vydrany. “It is always good to start with the win, especially when we have to meet Top Spin Messina in the next round. Today, I needed some time to catch the right rhythm. The opening game against Samuel NOVOTA was very close, then I lost the next one, but after that everything was fine,” explained Quentin ROBINOT. Group B SK Vydrany – AS Pontoise Cergy TT 0:3 Samuel NOVOTA – Quentin ROBINOT 1:3 (10:12, 11:8, 5:11, 6:11)Peter SEREDA – Patrick BAUM 0:3 (9:11, 7:11, 4:11)Zoltan LELKES – Adrien MATTENET 0:3 (6:11, 6:11, 7:11) Spanish Asisa Borges Vall proved as a worthy adversary with a quality to put favorites under severe pressure. Top seeded team in Group A, Germany’s Post SV Mühlhausen 1951 e.V. Played four matches before they recorded first victory in Group A. “Marc DURAN was i great shape and his opening match victory surprised me a little. We realised how tough will it be after 0:1 in reverse, but we continued to fight. The third match between Lubomir JANCARIK and Albert VILARDELL was very important. He recovered from 1:2 in reverse to win it and that was crucial,”said MENGEL. Group A Asisa Borges Vall – Post SV Mühlhausen 1951 e.V.1:3 Marc DURAN – Ovidiu IONESCU 3:2 (11:5, 14:16, 9;11, 11:8, 6:2)Joan MASIP – Steffen MENGEL 1:3 (4:11, 5:11, 11:7, 5:11)Albert VILARDELL – Lubomir JANCARIK 2:3 (11:7, 7:11, 5:11, 12:10, 1:6)Marc DURAN – Steffen MENGEL 1:3 (9:11, 11:8, 4:11, 10:12) , , Hungarian champion, PTE Peac Kalo-Meh overcame Spanish Irun Leka Enea Marpex in straight matches. “Spanish club put their first player to play second match, so we knew it is going to be the crucial for our win. Endika DIEZ stretched Gyarfas LEHEL DEMETER to full distance, before Gyarfas won the match by sudden death point. After that win our path was cleared, but nevertheless I had to play close duel against Oriol MONZO,” explained Gabor GEROLD. Group C PTE Peac Kalo-Meh – Irun Leka Enea Marpex 3:0Szolt PETO – Daniel PALACIOS 3:0 (11:2, 11:2, 11:4)Gyarfas LEHEL DEMETER – Endika DIEZ 3:2 (11:7, 8:11, 15:13, 8:11, 6:5)Gabor GEROLD – Oriol MONZO 3:0 (11:7, 12:10, 11:8) , In the last Round of the day Group D was under spot light once again. On their second exit to the table Russia’s TTSC UMMC – Elem recorded the win against Romania’s CSS-SZAK Odorheiu Secuiesc. Danila TRIVAN needed full five games to overcame Sebastian LOSO and after that Russia’s team was in the driving seat. “This morning we played against the strongest team in our Group, Solex-Consult Wiener Neustadt, now we meet the weakest, so I guess tomorrow will be D day for us. In the match against Ostrava we will decide who will go to the quarters,” announced Mikhail PAIKOV. Group D CSS-SZAK Odorheiu Secuiesc – TTSC UMMC – Elem 0:3 Sebastian LOSO – Danila TRIVAN 2:3 (13:11, 5:11, 9:11, 11:6, 4:6)Szilard GYORGY – Mikhail PAIKOV 1:3 (11:7, 3:11, 3:11, 4;11)Krisztian CSERVIK – Anton KOTOV 1:3 (11:6, 9:11, 1:11, 6:11) The duel between Andy PEREIRA of Cuba and Felipe OLIVARES of Chile ended in favor of Solex-Consult Wiener Neustadt’s player. PEREIRA set the path of the match and in next, all-Czech duel between Tomas KONECNY and Jakub KLEPRLIK, KONECNY maintained the momentum. Peter KORBEL had a chance to prolong the match, but Felix WETZEL recovered from 0:2 in reverse to win the match. Group D TTC Enfireex Ostrava – Solex-Consult Wiener Neustadt 0:3 Felipe OLIVARES – Andy PEREIRA 1:3 (13:11, 6:11, 4:11, 12:14)Jakub KLEPRLIK – Tomas KONECNY 0:3 (9:11, 7:11, 5:11)Petr KORBEL – Felix WETZEL 2:3 (11:4, 11:4, 9:11, 7:11, 4:6)