LIEBHERR 2019 ITTF World Championships   Alvaro ROBLES of Spain and Ovidiu IONESCU of Romania clinched the silver medal at the LIEBHERR 2019 ITTF World Championships. In the final of the Men’s Doubles Event they suffered by the hands of MA Long and WANG Chuqin of China (3-11 11-8 7-11 3-11 5-11).   Followed by the fantastic run and victories over Tiago APOLONIA and Joao MONTEIRO of Portugal GADIEV and SKACHKOV of Russia BOBOCICA and STOYANOV of Italy GROTH and PITCHFORD of Denmark and England they failed to create a top rated upset and to beat Chinese pairings.   “They were much better they controlled the whole match. We had a small chance in the opening game but it was just slim one ” said ROBLES.   They already defeated half of China’s doubles at China open year ago. That made their adversaries more alert and better prepared.   “I dreamed I can achieve a medal at the big Championships but to play in the final of the World Championships was even beyond my dreams. I am so proud of our achievement ” said IONESCU.   MA Long underlined they were ready this time.   “This pairing proved how good they are after their success at the China Open. We studied them well. Today we get our engines started faster then them and we were quicker ” said MA.  

LIEBHERR 2019 ITTF World Championships   The thrilling semi final match in the Men’s Doubles Event at the LIEBHERR 2019 ITTF World Championships concluded with the great victory for Alvaro ROBLES of Spain and Ovidiu IONESCU of Romania. For Portugal’s partnership of Tiago APOLONIA and Joao MONTEIRO there is a consolation in bronze – first ever medal for Portugal at the World Championships (11-6 3-11 10-12 11-7 11-7 9-11 11-8).   At the beginning of the dramatic duel ROBLES and IOENSCU were in charge but in next two games Portugal’s pairings took over the control. In the battle that kept spectators at the edge of their seats there were many ups and downs. In the seventh game ROBLES and IONESCU recovered from being 4:8 in reverse to win the match and the last point were followed by eruption from the stands.   “Everything came at the end to the small points to the details. At 4:8 we had to change something to risk more. We did not panic and the proof is that we are the winner now. We open the game because the short-short tactics did not work any more. We had to attack and to prevent any attack from the other side ” explained Alvaro.   Second and third game went on the Portugal’s account.   “They adjusted so quickly to our game. They forced us constantly to change and to risk. In addition I felt really heavy on my legs. We had very difficult match yesterday and it made a difference today in the seventh game ” said Alvaro.     In other semi final MA Long and WANG Chuqin of China overcame compatriots LIANG Jingkun and LIN Gaoyuan 4-0 (12-10 11-7 11-7 11-5).   “We already beat MA Long and XU Xin at ITTF tour. It is good for our confidence but I am sure that Chinese team studied our game. They will be much better prepared now ” explained IONESCU.” Howeve3r we believe in our partnership and we have confidence in each other. I am looking forward tomorrow’s match.”

LIEBHERR 2019 ITTF World Championships First time after 1999 World Championships in Eindhoven Swede reached medal rostrum. At the LIEBHERR 2019 ITTF World Championships Mattias FALCK beat Simon GAUZY of France in the quarterfinal of the Men’s Singles Event (11-8 11-13 11-6 11-3 11-7) in Budapest. That is the first medal for Sweden following the bronze won by Jan Ove WALDNER 20 years earlier.   The opening games promised long and fierce battle but after 1:1 FALCK closed the game. He managed to control Simon’s good service.   “I was nervous at the beginning. It was very important match for both of us. To much was in stake. However after second game I managed to control the match at to play more aggressive with much more variations ” said FALCK.   Understandably Simon was disappointed.   “It is hard not to be. I came this far…The opening two game were close but after that FALCK played much better. He took the control. He was much better. I could not repeat my good game from the match against XU Xin ” said GAUZY.   FALCK will meet AN Jaehyunof Korea in the match for the final. An overcame JANG Woojin 4-3 (12-10 10-12 7-11 11-3 11-5 8-11 12-10).   In all Chinese quarterfinal MA Long overcame LIN Gaoyuan (11-8 11-9 11-8 11-4) LIANG Jingkun of China beat Koki NIWA of Japan (12-10 12-12 11-8 11-4 9-11 7-11 11-5).

LIEBHERR 2019 ITTF World Championships Alvaro ROBLES re-writes the history books by winning the first ever medal for Spain at the World Championships. His doubles partner Ovidiu IONESCU added 47thmedal to the long list of Romania’s successes. They reached the semi final of the LIEBHERR 2019 ITTF World Championships in Budapest.   In quarterfinal they overcame Sweden’s pairings Mattias FALCK and Kristian KARLSSON (11-5 11-7 13-11 11-9).   “Our partnership is like good marriage. It is all about good communication and understanding. We have confidence playing together and this is the result of good friendship “ said IONESCU.   IONESCU had incredible season. He won the silver medal in Singles Event at the European championships in Alicante five months ago and now he reached the medal rostrum at the Worlds.   “Everything I have been doing in past 20 years exploded now. I matured and I am experienced enough for great results. It is fantastic time for me. Even in Alicante we were close to the medal we lost in the quarterfinal ” said Ovidiu.   They beat Ma Long and XU Xin at China open to reach the silver last year.   “We decided to try to improve our rankings and to reach the place among top eight seeds. That was first task which was almost impossible but we did it. We came here as seventh seeds. Then we seized our opportunity and took the best of our seedings. We beat GADIEV and SKACHKOV of Russia 4:0 BOBOCICA and STOYANOV of Italy 4:1 GROTH and PITCHFORD of Denmark and England by same margin…There were a lot of close games but we proved better in the finishes ” said ROBLES.   Same applies for the quarterfinal match against FALCK and KARLSSON.   “They were after my backhand try to attack me but kept to my tactics. We also study their game closely and we were prepared ” added ROBLES.   They have great support from the fans.   “I am so grateful for the atmosphere that supporters from my club made. They are the part of this success ” said IONESCU.   They will meet Tiago APOLONIA and Joao MONTEIRO of Portugal in the semi final. Timo BOLL withdrew completely from the tournament. Portugal’s pairings received walk over.    

LIEBHERR 2019 ITTF World Championships It seams that Simon GAUZY always enjoys his time in Hungary. In Budapest he reached the highs of his career by playing in the final of the European Championships three years ago and now he is on the way to overcame that by already reached the quarterfinal of the Men’s Singles Event at the LIEBHERR 2019 ITTF World Championships.   In the Round of 16 he overcame Slovakia’s WANG Yang (11-0 11-5 11-4 11-8).   “I lost against him twice recently so I started the match fully focused. I did not have the adversary like I had yesterday when I beat XU Xin but this match was mentally harder. I was under bigger pressure because this time I was favorite. It is so good that I did not play morning match because I really needed some time today to find my focus and to calm down ” said GAUZY.   Simon had furious start of the match.   “I am not feeling comfortable playing against chopper and that is why I started in full power from the first minute. I did not want to give him chance to attack first. I attacked with the fast backhand and through all four games he did not find the chance to recover ” explained GAUZY.   German team faced great blow. Timo BOLL got fever last night. The team doctor tries to help him recover for the doubles and whilst the outcome of this attempts still remains unknown he withdrew from the Singles Event.   In the Round of 16 Tomislav PUCAR of Croatia suffered by the hands of Koki NIWA of Japan (10-12 5-11 11-5 8-11 11-8 10-12).    

LIEBHERR 2019 ITTF World Championships World’s no. six LEE Sangsu of Korea is out from the Round of 16 of the Men’s Singles Event at the LIEBHERR 2019 ITTF World Championships in Budapest. After five games duel Mattias FALCK of Sweden booked his place in the quarterfinal. Tomorrow he will meet another European – Simon GAUZY. French player today overcame WANG Yang of Slovakia.   “I am playing in the best shape of my life; even better than last time in Halmstad. I am very happy for this victory ” said FALCK.   LEE was the player with the better start today 1-4 (13-11 8-11 8-11 5-11 6-11).   “It was important to have a better start but I managed to recover quickly. I won muck more points on the first attack in the second game. I played more aggressive. I had no doubts in my speed and I had no concerns about my ability to move around the court. Forehand served me good too…”said FALCK.   Jorgen PERSSON joined the coaching staff in Swedish federation as a match manager and he we will be present in Minsk at the European Games this summer in the same role.   “He helped me a lot with the tactics. I got good advices from him and his experience also gave me calmness and confidence ” explained FALCK.  

LIEBHERR 2019 ITTF World Championships   Best ranked player from Europe in the Men’s Singles Event at the LIEBHERR 2019 ITTF World Championships Timo BOLL needed only four games to overcame Japan’s Masataka MORIZONO (3-11 9-11 7-11 8-11). He reached the Round of 16 to join Mattias FALCK of Sweden who just few minutes earlier departed Tiago APOLONIA of Portugal by same margin (6-11 4-11 5-11 8-11).   BOLL backhand did most of the damage to MORIZONO.   “It was really good this time. In felt comfortable but to be honest I need it. I am not fast as I used to be and good backend saves me from lot of running. I saved some strength. It is not easy to play against lefthander but my backhand game me the opportunity to stay there and play strong ” said BOLL.   BOLL’s game improves from match to match in Budapest.   “I did not come in best of shape here. I lost many important matches in League and Champions League. I needed good matches to rebuilt my confidence ” said BOLL   Mattias FALCK and Tiago APOLONIA played against each other only once – ten years ago at the World Tour in Germany. It was of Mattias’ first tournaments. Back then APOLONIA was in charge; today the pendulum swung.   “The good service/return game is always essential part of victory. With the good forehand I imposed the control. It gave me opportunity to control the match and to be aggressive ” explained FALCK.  

LIERBHERR 2019 ITTF World Championships   Former World’s no. 1 now no. two winner of three Men’s World Cups and 14 ITTF World Tours Singles titles XU Xin is defeated today in the Round of 32 of the Men’s Singles Event at the LIERBHERR 2019 ITTF World Championships. Man who halted his progress is Simon GAUZY of France European vice-champion from 2016 ranked at position no. 34 in the World – (11-8 6-11 11-13 11-6 11-9 11-9).   GAUZY’s success was rewarded with standing ovations in Budapest’s Hungexpo.   “It is fantastic win; I am so happy to over came such exciting player ” said GAUZY.   GAUZY showed no fear from the very start.   “We both used opening game to looked each other into the eyes. To “measure” our strength. Recently I lost against XU at the German Open mostly thanks to his service game and he did the same today. He attacked me with the same weapon ” explained GAUZY.   French player was not intimidated he took the control and won the open game.   “I had advantage. I went deep into his forehand and put pressure on him. He recovered but I attacked with the backhand and lost third game really close. Nevertheless I saw that my tactics work and that is the only meter of time when he will start to suffer from pressure. I came close and kept forcing the same game. The dangerous moment was in the sixth game when I realized I could win. I was 8:3 up and he narrowed the advantage. I was afraid he might start to play riskier but he was very nervous and could not return to the game ” explained GAUZY.   In the next Round he will meet WAN Yang of Slovakia.   “In don not know who is my next adversary. I did not open the draw to see it. I will do it in the hotel room. I want to enjoy the moment.”