Liebherr European Championships   In the morning session at he third day of the play at the LEBHERR European Championships in Nantes England upset the rankings and overcame Belarus to reach the quarterfinal of the Men’s Team’s Event. In Women’s Teams Event Netherlands overcame Czech Republic 3-1 and Hungary beat Belarus 3-0.   Liam PITCHFORD was not in the line up for the match against Luxembourg but today he was at the top of the game on his both exits to the table. He gave good start to England with the victory over Pavel PLATONOV but most importantly he beat Vladimir SAMSONOV to launch England in quarterfinal (10-12 11-9 12-10 11-8). He repeated the success from the last year’s when he overcame SAMSONOV at the World Championships in Halmstad.   “It is always nice to beat the legend. It was really difficult. All the games were very close. I did not let him control the game. I was very fast in rallies attacked ” said PITCHFORD. “We were very well prepared. The third match of Samuel WALKER was very important. He had to win that one. Coming to the table at 2-1 for me was obviously much better position then it was for SAMOSNOV.”   Previously Vladi overcame Paul DRINKHALL.     Slovenia justified their rankings but not without drama. Darko JORGIC was the instrumental to team’s success against Croatia with two wins over Andrej GACINA and Tomislav PUCAR. He needed full five games to overcame GACINA by same margin Bojan TOKIC beat PUCAR. Deni KOZUL was also stretched to full five games against Frane KOJIC but he prevailed to give Croatia only point.   “It is so difficult to play when you know each other very well. We were very afraid of PUCAR and it proved right. Tactics against him worked. Now we have to face Germany like last time but little bit earlier then previously now in already in quarters. We will fight hard for sure ” said JORGIC.       Hungary showed solid performance which launched them in the Round of 8. In both matches against Belgium and Belarus they recorded straight matches victories. Today against Belarus Georgina POTA beat Katsiaryna BARAVOK in superb style Dora MADARASZ lost only one game to Daria TRIGOLOS whilst Szandra PERGHEL was the only to face real pressure against Nadezhda BOGDANOVA. She succeeded in full five games.   “I did not start well. It took me time to adjust my game ” explained PERGEL. “At the beginning I wasn’t focused. I didn’t give 100% but after the first two games I started to focus more on the game of my opponent. I started to feel better became more confident and knew how to react. Generally I am really happy with the performance of the team. I hope that we can continue like this in the following games.”   POTA was satisfied with the overall performance of the team:” We came here in good shape. This is big Championships and top teams are here but according to rankings we had to win both matches. The real test is in front of us we will face Austria or Ukraine and that is much bigger challenge.”       Netherlands also recorded two wins on their way to the quarterfinal. In both encounters against Serbia and Czech Republic they succeeded in four matches. Against Czech Republic LI Jie overcame Dana CECHOVA and Hana MATELOVA Britt EERLAND also overcame MATELOVA Kim VERMAAS lost to Karin ADAMKOVA.   “Yesterday it was a bit harder because it is always like this in the opening games; you are always nervous in your first match. Today we were more calm and more confident. And we are already played in the hall. So of course it was a hard match but we played a bit better than yesterday. It was very important to keep calming my nerves. I was focusing to keep attacking because when she’s under pressure MATELOVA wants to defense more. We keep fighting ; it doesn’t matter if we lose as long as we keep fighting ” said EERLAND.    

LIEBHERR European Championships   European Champions from Luxembourg started the competition in the fast lane. Eliza SAMARA and Bernadette SZOCS overcame Ema LOBOSOVA and Eva JURKOVA whilst Daniela DODEAN MONTEIRO received walk over. Slovakia’s team was reduced at half; Nikoleta PUCHOVANOVA and Barbora BALAZOVA could not play because they felt sick.   “Nevertheless both Bernie and I were focused. We can not miss any opportunity at such event. Everyone is after us. Tomorrow will face hard challenge against Spain. I hope it will be like three years ago when we beat them at the World Championships in Malaysia ” said Elizabeta SAMARA.         Germany faced Slovenia and secured safe victory. SHAN Xiaona overcame Ana TOFANT Nina MITTELHAM beat Katarina STRAZAR and WAN Yuan overcame Lea PAULIN.   “I never played against any of this players even in Singles. SOLJA has some experience with them but it was three years ago so it was little bit hard to   tactics. However we were focused on our game and that was enough. Tomorrow against Italy we can expect different style of play but it is good that we felt the venue and now when the first match is behind us it is much easier ” said MITTELHAM.       Austria showed very good performance against Ukraine. Stefan FEGERL Daniel HABESOHN and Robert GARDOS overcame Yevhen PRYSHCHEPA Yaroslav ZHMUDENKO and Viktor YEFIMOV.   “In closing stages we were better. We did not play under pressure and for sure we did a less mistakes ” said HABESOHN. “Against Denmark it will be more difficult. Our overall record shows that we are favorites but last time when we met they overcame. That was at the European Games in Minsk. There GROTH played fantastic table tennis and no one could not beat him in Team’s Event.”       Men’s Team of France at the LIEBHERR European Championships in Nantes gave enthusiastic crowd in Salle Sportive Metropolitane reason to cheer. On their opening match at the Championships they overcame Spain. Austria beat Ukraine whilst Germany and Romania succeeded in women’s Teams Event.   France needed four matches against Spain.   “I am satisfied. It’s a good start of the competition. It was not an easy match because it was already a decisive one. Spain had beaten Slovakia and they were one step closer then us. It was necessary to win tonight. Tristan was a little under his level. He did not handle the stress well. I thought he was going to recover when he saved set balls. It was not the case ” said coach Patrick CHILA. Simon GAUZY won his both matches against Jesus CANTERO and Alvaro ROBLES.   “It’s a great start for the team. The audience was here from our first night. If we had lost maybe there will be fewer people in the next days. As soon as we faced difficulties the spectators felt it. And they encouraged us. Emmanuel did the good job at the begining. I did not see Tristan’s match. But it did not affect our performance. In the last match I still have the bad habit of losing several match points. After four match points wasted it had to finish” said Simon GAUZY.   Emmanuel LEBESSON overcame ROBLES: “We had a good “Simon” with two points. I managed to start the tournament well. There were not many rallies in my match. I made a serious and solid performance. I proved to the team that they can count on me for the rest of the competition. The presentation of the players gave us chills. There was a great atmosphere. The further we go far into the competition the heat will rise.”   Carlos MACHADO prevailed against Tristan FLORE: “It is a very good result. I lose my match but the team won. It is the most important. I am disappointed to have lost. I put the team in difficulty. I had the opportunity to win. It was a player that I could beat.”    

LIEBHERR European Championships   The reigning champions team of Germany victoriously started the competition at the LIEBHERR European Championships in Nantes. On the second day of play Germany overcame Czech Republic Sweden overcame Hungary whilst in Women’s Singles Event Portugal prevailed against Croatia and France beat Greece.     Germany secured straight matches win over Czech Republic.   “Czech Republic was the expected solid opponent. We knew that this would not be an easy match. Tomorrow it will come to the last match in Group against Russia in our group and there it will be a bit harder. The Russians are highly motivated and have a strong team” said coach Jorg ROSSKOPF.    Timo BOLL gave his team a good start with the victory over Pavel SIRUCEK   “The 3:0 is a result with which we can be satisfied. I’m happy about every match I play: tournaments are the best training for me to keep my level high. It won’t be easy against Russia tomorrow. They have a good team and a strong top player in SHIBAEV who is in good shape” said BOLL.   Dimitrij OVTCHAROV played against Tomas POLANSKY.   “I had my match under control despite the lost game. Finally it was a very solid start for us. But tomorrow against Russia it’s going to be harder: We have to improve our game compared to today ” added OVTCHAROV.   Patrick FRANZISKA was stretched to full distance against Lubomir JANCARIK.   “We can be satisfied with the 3-0 win. I myself actually played quite well and didn’t go crazy after the lost sets. The Czech Republic has a good team but tomorrow against Russia we’ll have to play on an even higher level” FRANZISKA said.     Sweden played without enough recovered Kristian KARLSSON and when Bence MAJAROS leveled against Mattias FALCK after Jon PERSSON won over Adam SZUDI it was Truls MOREGHARD who stepped into the game. Young Swede overcame Tamas LAKATOS so FALCK managed to seal the duel against SZUDI.   “It was not an easy match  but the victory is here! However  tomorrow it will be necessary to bring a higher level of play. Today the team has not played very well. In my match I was good on the first two games. I had three match points but I got  scared. I was lucky with the last match point. THe goal is to fight for the medal. We can go to the final despite very young team ” said Jon PERSSON.       Laura GASNIER won both matches for hosts. She beat Maria CHRISTOFORAKI and Aikaterini TOLIOU. TOLIOU beat Stephanie LOEUILLETTE and on position no. three Audrey ZARIF accounted for Konstantina PARIDI.   “The first rallies were not easy. When I first came in to the hall there were many people and such a great atmosphere. I was not paralyzed by that but it was a positive pressure for me during the whole game. When I heard the first “Come on Laura” I got goosebumps. For one second I even had to stop me from crying. I never have had played before with such a great atmosphere except in Bercy. You really notice the people around you and how they support you. I am impressed! For my second match I had the chance to watch Stephanie’s match already. I am not surprised and I like play against defender. My style was a problem for her ” said GASNIER.   France will meet Luxembourg in the battle for the spot in the main draw.   “Tomorrow we will play women that we never played against at the Tournaments. It can be a problem because NI Xia Lian the n°1 had a very high level of play. It means that we are not allowed to lose against n°2 and n°3. And these women are n°70 world. It’s not easy in the head to say that. Even if we will be led 2-1 we must hang on. We must give our best show the desire to the public not come just to watch the men’s team who will play in the same time.”   In team of Portugal YU Fu proved too strong for Petra PETEK and Ivana TUBIKANEC. SHAO Jeni beat TUBIKANEC and Mateja JEGERE beat Leila OLIVEIRA.    

LIEBHERR European Championships     Favorites showed no weakness in the second round of the day at the LIEBHERR European Championships. In the Salle Sportive Métropolitaine in Men’s Teams Event Slovenia overcame Netherlands Belarus beat Luxembourg and in Women’s Teams Event Hungary overcame Belgium. All duels finished in straight matches. Only Serbia managed to extend their match to four matches but eventually lost to Netherlands.   Georgina POTA overcame Margo DEGRAEF Dora MADARASZ overcame Lisa LUNG and Szandra PERGEL beat Nathalie MARCHETTI.   “The victory was expected as Hungary has a better-ranked team. Still this is European championship and you never know you had to keep focus. My adversary had some problem with blocks as I used many variations in my game. I have often put a lot of spinning in my ball ” said Georgina POTA.       LI Jie of Netherlands showed no weakness against Andrea TODOROVIC and Izabela LUPULESKU. Britt EERLAND was forced to go full distance against LUPULESKU and it was only Tijana JOKIC who managed to score against Kim VERMAAS.   “My matches seem to be easy but it was not what happened at the table. You have to adjust to the new play conditions. In my second match I had to attack each time I had the opportunity to win the point ” said LI Jie.         Slovenia showed no mercy against Netherlands. All three matches concluded in straight games. Bojan TOKIC Darko JORGIC and Deni KOZUL overcame Ewout OOSTWOUDER Laurens TROMER and Rajko GOMMERS.   “The start of the game was rather easy for me as I quickly won 2-0. I managed to make the difference in the third game and at the time of finish the match my adversary came back. It is always difficult to play the decisive matches but as number three I must expected that ” said KOZUL.       Belarus had solid performance against Luxembourg. Pavel PLATONOV lost only one game against Luka MLADENOVIC Vladimr SAMSONOV and Aliaksandr KHANIN continued in the same style against Eric GLOD and Christian KILL.   “It was my first game and in the beginning I was a bit stressed but then I got more relaxed and I could adapt better to my opponent’s game. I just kind of like that serve and feel more confident when I start the game with it. Against England it will be a really tough game of course they are a great team but we are too. So let’s see ! ” said SAMSONOV.    

LIEBHERR European Championships   Top eight seeds entered the playing arena for a first time on the second day of the LIEBHERR European Championships. The morning session did not produce any surprises. In Men’s Teams Event Greece overcame Turkey 3-0 Poland beat Serbia whilst in Women’s Teams Event Turkey suffered against Sweden and Ukraine overcame Bulgaria.   Number seven seeds Poland struggled against Serbia seeded at position no 22. Marek BADOWSKI and Jakub DYJAS overcame Aleksandar KARAKASEVIC and Szolt PETO to give favorites good start but Marko JEVTOVIC changed the course of the match. He overcame Samuel KULCZYCKI and in next encounter KARAKASEVIC prevailed against DYJAS to secure decisive match. PETO had a chance against BADOWSKI but from the third game it was clear that the opportunity has gone.   “We were very confident before the match as we are just back from a training time in Portugal last week. I had a good feeling and I felt better and better as I was approaching the competition. We have a very young team and we are very ambitious for the next matches ” said BADOWSKI.       Greece had a shaky start against Turkey. Panagiotis GIONIS was forced to go full distance against Abdullah YIGENLER but as Europe’s no. 14 gave Greece winning start Ioannis SGOUROPOULOS and Konstantinos KONSTANTINOPOULOS followed the rhythm. They prevailed against Ibrahim GUNDUZ and Zihni SAHIN in straight games.   “It is a good day for us. We have avoided being too tired before the match against Portugal. We knew that normally the match against Turkey was going to finish in our favor. However Abdullah Yigenler has had two match balls against me. He played these two points too fast and that was an advantage for me ” explained GIONIS.         In the duel against Turkey Swede Linda BERGSTROM overcame Sibel ALTINKAYA Matilda EKHOLM beat Pembe Gul OZKAYA and in five games match Christina KALLBERG succeeded against Ozge YILMAZ.   “I have made many mistakes with my forehand. Usually it is one of my strong points. This made the game more difficult for me. Then I started to find a better feeling again at the end of the match and I could win ” said Christina KALLBERG.     Bulgaria’s Polina TRIFONOVA was the only player to record the victory in the match against Ukraine. She beat Ganna GAPONOVA after five games but Maria YOVKOVA and Ivet ILIEVA could not follow her path. Tetyana BILENKO won her match and Margaryta PESOTSKA was the back bone of team’s success withy two victories.   “I have tried to think over it to put my opponent in a difficult situation. I tried to build my points. Today I have been very strong with my blocks and good on both forehand and backhand” said Margaryta PESOTSKA.    

LIEBHERR 2019 European Championships   Russia beat Croatia 3-0 but both Polina MIKHAILOVA against Ivana TUBIKANEC and Yana NOSKOVA vs. Ivana MALOBABIC were forced to go full distance. Mariia TAILAKOVA overcame Mateja JEGER in four games.   “It is normal for the first match at the tournament. We needed the time to feel the venue and to settle intro the rhythm ” explained Polina MIKHAILOVA. “Against TUBIKANEC I made too much mistakes and that gave her possibility to make 2-0 at the beginning. Also she delivered the kind of performance I did not expect. It was unusual.”         Fierce battles highlighted the last round of the day one at the LIEBHERR European Championships. In Women’s Singles Event Italy beat Slovenia Russia beat Croatia whilst in Men’s Event Russia beat Czech Republic and Denmark overcame Ukraine.   Italy prevailed against Slovenia 3-1. Debora VIVARELLI was at the top of her game and overcame Aleksandra VOVK and Katarina STRAZAR. Katarina overcame Giorgia PICCOLIN and young Jamila LAURENTI accounted for Lea PAULIN. Alex GALIC was not in the Slovenia’s team due the injury.   “All the games we were playing were close. Last time in Sweden we beat them but it was 3-2 “ said VIVARELLI. “ In the first match I was focused and I easily prevailed but in the second against STRAZAR she had 2-0 advantage. However I felt that I need to adjust only small things. I did not lose the confidence and I recovered to level. In the decisive game she come back to 8-7. I was brave played with courage and won at the end.”   They will need to show the brave face in the next Round as well. They are going to play against Germany.   “Romania is title holder but I think that Germany has more powerful team here. I am not sure would it be possible to win the match against them but certainly we will try. Anyway we will enjoy that game to the maximum. We have nothing to lose.”       Russia also prevailed in Men’s Team’s Event. They overcame Czech Republic 3-1. Alexander SHIBAEV overcame Lubomir JANCARIK and Pavel SIRUCEK Vladimir SIDORENKO overcame Tomas POLANSKY whilst Kirill SKACHKOV lost to Pavel SIRUCEK.    “I always give 100%. Today I didn’t want to lose a game. It’s important for me to win 3-0 when I can. I felt really good. I did not make a lot mistakes. I think we can do better than today for the next match against Germany ” said SHIBAEV.       Denmark beat Ukraine 3-1. Jonathan GROTH recorded both wins; he overcame Yaroslav ZHMUDENKO and Yevhen PRYSHCHEPA. Tobias RASMUSEN overcame Viktor YEFIMOV. PRYSHCHEPA accounted for Anders LIND.   “As the game advanced we became better especially in the close situations. We were better in tactics. We analyzed game better ” said GROTH. “Next match is against Austria. They are strong but we can make it.”   Results Facebook  Instagram  Twitter  Tickets  Event’s web site  TV Schedule    

LIEBHERR 2019 European Championships   Croatia beat Netherlands in straight matches leaving no space for Dutch team to produce any upset. Tomislav PUCAR Andrej GACINA and Frane KOJIC overcame Rajko GOMMERS Laurens TROMER and Ewout OOSTWOUDER.   “We knew they are capable of producing upset so we were well prepared. We do not know this team well and we were not sure about their line-up but it did not change anything. We were ready for each of them ” said Andrej GACINA.   In next match they will meet Slovenia.   “We know that team very well. We spent so many time with them on preparations before the big events and also I was with them on club’s trainings in Germany. That will be very hard match but we are ready and I think the chances are even ” said Tomislav PUCAR.         It is Dana CECHOVA’s birthday today and her wish was to beat Serbia and to won her singles match. Only half of it came true. Czech Republic prevailed in four matches but Andrea TODOROVIC spoiled the birthday “party”. Hana MATELOVA proved too strong for TODOROVIC and Sabina SURJAN whilst Karin ADAMKMOVA beat Izabela LUPULESKU.   “I think at first my opponent didn’t expect my rhythm of my game. She also didn’t really know how to react to my services. But with each rally she became better and also knew how to react to what I was playing. Tomorrow we are free. We will watch the match Serbia versus Netherlands. I think it will be a really hard game ” said Hana MATELOVA.           Results Facebook  Instagram  Twitter  Tickets  Event’s web site  TV Schedule         The duels of teams seeded at the positions two and three in their respective groups at the LEBHERR European Championships produced only one surprise in third round of the play at the opening day in Nantes. In Women’s Teams Event Belgium overcame Belarus 3-1 whilst Czech Republic overcame Serbia. In Men’s Teams Event England overcame Luxembourg and Croatia beat Netherlands.   England started their journey in Nantes in unfamiliar style without Liam PITCHFORD in line up against Luxembourg. Paul DRINKHALL overcame Eric GLOD Samuel WALKER prevailed against Gilles MICHELY before Tom JARVIS got his chance. He faced player with very dangerous style of play Luka MLADENOVIC and duel between two Under 21 players went to Luka’s account. Then WALKER was 2-1 down against GLOD and situation started to look similar to one at the European Championships in Luxembourg two years ago when England without PICHFORD and DRINKHALL has lost to Netherlands.   “We needed two years to recover from that but we avoided similar scenario this time. MLADENOVIC has very specific style and despite defeat I am sure Tom will recover easily. Liam just came from Japan and struggled with jet leg so we had to give him time to recover ” said WALKER who eventually overcame GLOD in five games.       Belgium overcame Belarus in four matches. Lisa LUNG Margo DEGRAEF and Nathalie MARCHETTI prevailed against Alina NIKITCHANKA Daria TRIGOLOS and Nadezhda BOGDANOVA. Lisa won both her matches whilst BOGDANOVA brought the only point to her team after the duel against MARCHETTI.   “It was my first match at the European Championships. With the each rally I became more confident. We all gave our best to win. My two matches are very difficult but I was better in close finishes. The next match against Hungary it will be hard. Last time we lost but we hope to win this time ” said Lisa LUNG.    

LIEBHERR European Championships   Winner of the bronze medal at the European Singles Championships in Alicante year earlier Sofia POLCANOVA shined at the beginning of the LIEBHERR European Championships this year as well. Austria’s top player was the backbone of team’s success against Bulgaria in the opening match of the Women’s Team’s Event on her 25thbirthday. Poland overcame Turkey 3-0. In Men’s Team Event Serbia overcame Belgium 3-2 and Romania beat Hungary 3-1.   POLCANOVA succeeded against Polina TRIFONOVA and Maria YOVKOVA Amelie SOLJA beat Kalina HRISTOVA whilst LIU Jia lost to YOVKOVA.   “This is the best present for my birthday ” said POLCANOVA.” The defeat of LIU Jia was not expected but we managed to secure the victory. LIU had 2-0 advantage but it seamed that she lost the focus. It is nothing strange we are among top European teams and everyone can beat everyone here. Every mistake can be punished.”       Romania beat Hungary in four matches. Cristian PLETEA overcame Tamas LAKATOS and Bence MAJOROS whilst Rares SIPOS prevailed against Adam SZUDI. Bence MAJOROS proved too strong for Ovidiu IONESCU.   “It was great team’s effort and I hope we will continue the same way against Sweden. I get great deal of self confidence after victory over World’s no. five HARIMOTO so I am looking forward next challenge ” said PLETEA. “I was confident. I knew even if I lost my match IONESCU will play the decisive match.”       Serbia created upset by beating Belgium. Whilst figures worked in favor of favorites experienced proved as crucial for Serbia’s win.   “They are better on rankings but we are always more dangerous when it comes to team’s effort. This is not Singles event so our chances are greater than the numbers predicted ” said Aleksandar KARAKASEVIC.     Cedric NUYTINCK beat Zsolt PETO in straight games but in next match Aleksandar KARAKASEVIC leveled against Florent LAMBIET by same margin. The crucial match was the one that Marko JEVTOVIC won against Robin DEVOS. PETO overcame LAMBIET in decisive match. NUYTINCK preserved unbeaten status.   “That one was important. He made this victory possible. I hope it will be the same against Poland. They have two juniors and one young senior so we will be in the same position ” explained KARAKASEVIC.     Results Facebook  Instagram  Twitter  Tickets  Event’s web site  TV Schedule           Poland faced no difficulties against Turkey. Led by no. 5 in Europe LI Qian Natalia PARTRYKA and Natalia BAJOR prevailed against Sibel ALTINKAYA Ozge YILMAZ and Ece HARAC.   “It was difficult match in terms that is always hard to play first duel at the Championships for the rest we were ready. We study the adversaries and prepare good tactics ” said PARTYKA.   Next challenge is to face Sweden.   “The decisive match will between LI Qian and Matilda EKHOLM. We know each other well we played against each other many times in singles events. In team’s it was always close ” added PARTYKA.  

LIEBHERR European Championships   In the Women’s Event Maria XIAO easily prevailed against Nikoleta PUCHOVANOVA (3-1) to give Spain good start against Spain. She won in four games without great difficulties. However Galia DVORAK had much harder task against Barbora BALAZOVA. Spanish player is rankled only at the position no. 39 in Europe and she created the upset today by overcoming BALSZOVA who is listed at the position no. 14 in current Continental’s listing.   After this win ZHANG Xuan just easily close the duel with the win over Ema LOBOSOVA.   “It was expected that we win this one. We have young but very good players but we were ready for 3-2. We thought it will be much more difficult ” said DVORAK.   Her win was crucial for surprisingly quick match.   “I know BALAZOVA well. We were playing in the same team and we had so many matches between each other. She was favorite especially when we se the “numbers” but also the pressure here was on her. I took the best of it.”   Next challenge will be much harder. Spain will meet title holders – Romania.   “That will be real challenge. They are the best team in Europe one of the best in the World. Not that they have strong players in the game but also on the bench. What works for us is that we have nothing to lose. The pressure will be on them.”       The winner of the Women’s Singles Event at the European Games in Minsk earlier this summer NI Xia Lian of Luxembourg did not lose her steam. In the opening match against Greece she beat Aikaterini TOLIOU. Sarah DE NUTTE continued in same winning style against Elisavet TERPOU to secure comfortable space for Luxembourg. Konstantina PARIDI managed to prolong the match with the victory over Tessy GONDERINGER but on her second exit to the table Sarah DE NUTTE halted the suprise with the win over Aikaterini TOLIOU.   “The match was interesting because the Greek’s players were very focused. The fourth match was difficult but it went all right for us. Now we are going to play France which is a very good team with very dangerous players ” said NI Xia Lian.         Results Facebook  Instagram  Twitter  Tickets  Event’s web site  TV Schedule     Portugal successfully started their journey with the victory over Turkey. Marcos FREITAS lost second game to Abdullah YIGENLER the next one came close but Turkish player failed to cause the serious threat to Europe’s no ten. He won in four games – by the same margin in which Tiago APOLONIA managed to overcame Ibrahim GUNDUZ. Joao MONTEIRO beat Ziver GUNDUZ in straight games.   “It was not that easy as the result predicts – it was much closer game ” said APOLONIA. “Now we will have some rest because tomorrow will be even harder. We have to meet Greece the leader in our group. This is almost like knock-out system. There are three teams in the group but only the winner goes through.”             The morning session on the opening day of the Group Phase at the LEBHERR European Championship brought upsets already. Spain was in charge for most of it. In the first round they overcame Slovakia in Men’s Singles Event after full five matches. Portugal joined them with the victory over 3-0. In Women’s Team’s Event once again Spain overcame Slovakia in match in which the victory was expected but 3-0 margin for sure not something we can predict. Luxembourg overcame Greece 3-1.   The most exciting match was the one between the men’s team of Spain and Slovakia. Lubomir PISTEJ was stretched to full five games in the opening match against Alvaro ROBLES it was a close game in which PISTEJ proved he have a better nerve and better rankings in tight finishes. PISTEJ Europe’s no. 29 won last game at 10-12. For WAN Yang it was much easier case. He overcame Jesus CANTERO in four games. CANTERO won third game and came close to overcame YAN in fourth but Slovakia’s player prevented him for prolong the match.   The pendulum swung when Carlos MACHADO beat Alexander VALUCH. He brought back Spain to life. ROBLES ranked at position no. 37 stayed on winning course by beating Europe’s no. 13 WANG Yang and CANTERO ranked at 71st sealed the match with the victory over PISTEJ.   “I started with some difficulty in the opening match but later I managed to find my game again. My teammates did a nice job. Especially CANTERO in the decisive match which were perfect. He outplayed PISTEJ beautifully ” said ROBLES. “Now we have to get ready for France. We will try to take advantage of the fact that they will be under severe pressure. They are host; we already have one victory which means if they lose the competition is over for them. That is why we will put them on the pressure from the very beginning to make them nervous.”  

LIEBHERR 2019 European Championships in Nantes (September 3-8) – Women’s Team Preview   The LIEBHERR 2019 European Championships in Nantes (Sep 3-8) starts tomorrow September 3rd when 16 matches – eight in each Men’s and Women’s events – to be held. Women’s Team tournament will see once again Germany and Romania as two main candidates for the title.   Two years ago in Luxembourg Women’s Team event was concluded by super exciting gold medal contest between these two sides. Finalists were tied after four encounters but Daniela MONTEIRO DODEAN overcame HAN Ying in the decisive fifth clash to secure first Romania’s crown after 12 years.   All eight Round 1 matches are scheduled for the opening day: Spain vs. Slovakia (Group A 10:00) Luxembourg vs. Greece (Group H 10:00) Austria vs. Bulgaria (Group E 13:00) Poland vs. Turkey (Group F 13:00) Belarus vs. Belgium (Group C 16:00) Czech Republic vs. Serbia (Group D 16:00) Russia vs. Croatia (Group G 19:00) Italy vs. Slovenia (Group B 19:00).   Eight top seeds will play their first games on September 4th and they are: four-time gold medallist and reigning champion Romania (Group A no. 1 seed) seven-time winner and actual runner-up Germany (Group B no. 2) record holder and nine-time winner Hungary (Group C no. 3) four-time European champion and actual bronze medallist Netherlands (Group D no. 4) 2015 bronze medallist Ukraine (Group E no. 5) 2014 bronze medallist Sweden (Group F no. 6) Portugal (Group G no. 7) and host nation France (Group H no. 8 seed).   Starting from 2018 the European Teams Championships has been playing over a period of two years and be concluded with the final stage with 24 men’s teams and 24 women’s teams in odd numbered years.   The European Teams Championships has commenced in the preceding year with stages one and two which lasted 18 months. The winner of the previous European Championships and the host for the final stage of the Championships didn’t participate in Stage One instead they proceeded directly to the final stage of the Championships.   A total of 24 Women’s teams make eight groups of three teams each in the final stage playing a complete round robin (2 matches per team). Teams finishing in 2nd and 3rd positions in the groups have completed their matches. Group winners proceed to the quarter-finals. From the quarter-finals the knockout system will be used. The winner will be the European Champion.   Facebook Instagram Twitter Tickets Event’s web site TV Schedule