ETTU Cup quarterfinal second leg In the Men’s ETTU Cup FC Saarbrücken Tischtennis and Hennebont TT and booked their place in the semi final. Only one of two French clubs in Men’s event reached the next stage. G.V. Hennebont T.T. overcame Ukraine’s Fortune Kyiv. Liam PITCFORD Cedric NUYTINCK and FAN Scheng Peng needed only three matches to overcame Yevhen PRYSHEPA Viktor YEFIMOV and Yaroslav ZHMUDENKO Chartres ASTT suffered by the hands of the German’s FC Saarbrücken Tischtennis 1:3. Alexandre ROBINOT beat LIAO Cheng-Tin to give host’s crowd something to chear up but soon Darko JORGIC nullified Chartres’ advantage. Cristian PLETEA beat Vitor ISHIY before JORGIC overcame ROBINOT to seal the match. In Women’s ETTU cup TT SAINT QUENTINOIS overcame CP Lyssois Lille Métropole 3:2 but in the opening leg they lost 3:0 so CP Lyssois Lille Métropole progressed to the semis. Tonight all three Polina MIKHAILOVA Mo ZHANG ana Aurore LE MANSEC scored but allready in the second match YANG Xiao Xin beat MO and launched guests to the next round. G.V. Hennebont T.T – Fortune Kyiv 3:0 Liam PITCFORD – Yevhen PRYSHEPA 3:0 (11:6 11:6 11:8) Cedric NUYTINCK – Viktor YEFIMOV 3:1 (11:5 13:15 11:5 11:5) FAN Scheng Peng – Yaroslav ZHMUDENKO 3:0 (11:8 11:8 13:11) Chartres ASTT – FC Saarbrücken Tischtennis 1:3 Alexandre ROBINOT – Cheng-Ting LIAO 3:2 (11:5 11:7 9:11 9:11 11:7) Romain LORENTZ – Darko JORGIC 1:3 (4:11 8:11 13:11 4:11) Vitor ISHIY – Cristian PLETEA 2:3 (11:8 8:11 9:11 12:10 6:11) Alexandre ROBINOT – Darko JORGIC 0:3 (6:11 11:13 6:11) TT SAINT QUENTINOIS – CP Lyssois Lille Métropole 3:2 Polina MIKHAILOVA – Tamolwan KENTHUAN 3:1 (10:12 11:5 11:1 13:11) Mo ZHANG – YANG Xiao Xin 1:3 (11:9 7:11 7:11 9:11) Aurore LE MANSEC – Agnes LE LANNIC 3:1 (11:5 11:13 11:4 11:5) Polina MIKHAILOVA – YANG Xiao Xin 0:3 (7:11 7:11 4:11) Mo ZHANG : Tamolwan KHETKHUAN 3:1 (11:7 11:3 10:12 11:8)
ITTF and ETTU expand TT development in Europe: MoU signed in Montreux
On Saturday 2 February 2019 the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) signed the 2019-2020 Continental Development Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the European Table Tennis Union (ETTU) in Montreux Switzerland making it the first signing Continental Federation The 2019 Europe Top 16 Cup held in Montreux was not only an event for European table tennis stars were battling for the title. It was also an occasion for a significant moment in continental development. ITTF President Thomas WEIKERT and ETTU President Ronald KRAMER signed one of the most crucial documents for the continuing effective and progressive development cooperation between ITTF and ETTU with the 2019-2020 Continental Development MoU. In line with the ITTF Strategic Plan the 2019-2020 Continental Development MoUs aim at developing a system that is based on objective factors real and realistic needs and are guided by good governance principles. The Strategic Plan introduced the National Association categorization concept which establishes a needs-based approach based on an objective and comprehensive set of criteria: technical level demographics management membership. Its goal is also to ensure an effective use of the ITTF’s investment. Indeed the considerable 30% overall increase in funding for 2019 and 2020 amounts to a planned investment of US$1.5 million per year. ITTF’s aim is that each MoU is designed in accordance with each continent’s profile and portfolio. A common thread and one of the major pillars that cannot be omitted is an enhanced high performance development program. A complex and optimized range of high performance activities and the addition of the first ever U21 training camps are just the next important steps towards excellence. This MoU provides the opportunity to enrich and expand the ETTU Development Program for 2019-2020 through efficient ITTF-ETTU coordination and evaluation of the well-structured path for table tennis development of young promising athletes through the EuroTalents Program. Furthermore the strengthened National Associations Assistance Program aims to identify and support Associations with greater basic development needs. To sum up the ITTF-ETTU Development Program will strengthen the existing talent identification programs through the hosting of U12 U13 U15 U17 development camps where highly talented youth players will receive top level technical physical mental and tactical support and coaching. In addition the agreed Program will provide educational coaching activities as a platform to upskill and empower European coaches and share common knowledge and experience. Furthermore the aim is to consider the development needs of the whole continent starting with demanding high performance activities to basic development courses for Associations focusing more on grassroots. ETTU President Ronald KRAMER and Vice President Pedro MOURA are enthusiastic about this new form of cooperation and support. President KRAMER said : “I am very pleased for table tennis development in Europe that the ITTF has reached out to Europe and now intensively supports and strengthens our Development Program which we started in 2014. Apart from the overall development of our sport I hope this cooperation will further boost our high performance efforts to close the gap with our Asian friends.” ETTU Vice President MOURA added: “Europe has been an historically key Continent in the development of our beloved sport. I am very pleased that this agreement with ITTF has been signed allowing ETTU to keep working on its Development Program so European young players can keep the highest level of performances.” The other five continents have already received a copy of a customized Memorandum of Understanding but so far the ETTU is the first Continental Federation to sign the 2019-2020 MoU and will benefit from the support that comes with it. Until further signings take place the programs in the other Continents will be applied based on the current schemes.
TTCLM quarter-finals: Fakel-Gazprom and Angers need to prove their places among the best four teams
TTCLM quarter-finals Leg 2 Four-time TTCLM champion Fakel-Gazprom Orenburg and former TTCLM semi-finalist Angers are approaching second quarter-final leg with huge advantage secured away – 3:0. Russian team beat former two-time TTCLM winner AS Pontoise Cergy while French side was better than Walter Wels. “Our team Fakel-Gazprom takes the quarter-finals leg 2 very seriously and responsibly. Despite the victory in the first leg with a score of 3:0 we are well aware that in the second leg in order to win we will need to show all our best qualities. We hope that the spectators will see a very beautiful exciting and tense match ” explained Orenburg’s coach Vladimir ENDOLOV whose team will present to the audience two finalists from the recent 2019 CCB Europe Top 16 Cup in Montreux Dimitrij OVTCHAROV (winner) and Vladimir SAMSONOV (runner-up). Angers is very close to repeat its best TTCLM result ever but president Gérard SARAZIN is aware that must be proved in the upcoming game: “We hope to qualify for the semi-finals of the Champions League for the second time in our history after the excellent result in the first leg. Our players made a very good match and it is clear that the absence of the Korean player has weighed heavily. We still have two sets to win for this and with the support of our audience we want to do it. We are confident but vigilant because this competition has sometimes given rise to extraordinary situations but playing at home is a real advantage”. 2018/19 TTCLM quarter-finals Leg 2 Leg 2 Borussia Düsseldorf – K.S. Dartom Bogoria Grodzisk Mazowiecki 3:1 TTC Fakel Gazprom – AS Pontoise Cergy (Feb 8 14:00) TTSC UMMC – Post SV Mühlhausen (Feb 8 15:00) Vaillante Sports Angers – SPG Walter Wels (Feb 8 19:30) Leg 1 K.S. Dartom Bogoria Grodzisk Mazowiecki – Borussia Düsseldorf 1:3 AS Pontoise Cergy – TTC Fakel Gazprom 0:3 Post SV Mühlhausen – TTSC UMMC 2:3 SPG Walter Wels – Vaillante Sports Angers TT 0:3
ECLW: Linz and Metz ready for new stage in their rivalry
ECLW quarter-finals Leg 2 (Feb 8-11). RENNER (Linz): “I think we are really ready to win”. BORDES (Metz): “We must push up our level for hope”. PALINA (Berlin): “We are not favourites”. MIKESKA: “It will be fight over every ball.” Two-time ECLW champion Linz AG Froschberg hosts actual ETTU Cup winner Metz TT in the second quarter-final leg of 2018/19 ECLW this Sunday (February 10th 16:15) after 3:2 away win two weeks ago. It will be a third knockout clash between these two teams in last four seasons. Austrian team won previous two meetings both in the quarter-final stage. First one in 2015/16 has been decided by just one-point difference – 5:5 in matches (19:19 sets 347:346 points) while the second one in 2016/17 Linz won 6-2 on aggregate. “We are hungry for a victory now POLCANOVA’s health condition looks good Minnie SOO and Linda BERGSTROM play better and better so the upward trend continues. I can`t even think about the chance that the international season could be over for us after Sunday. I think we are really ready to win” stated Linz’s president Gunther RENNER. SOO Minnie won two games in Metz against DING Yaping and Adina DIACONU who lost to Sofia POLCANOVA too. Carole GRUNDISCH beat Linda BERGSTROM while DING overcame POLCANOVA to secure two points for French side. “Everything is possible in table tennis we must focus on every move every second and every ball risk when it`s time for it and play safe also sometimes. The match play decides and not the ranking so it doesn’t mean anything that people say we are the favourites ” explained Linz’s coach Zsolt HARCZI. Metz’s president Philippe BORDES is looking forward to new clash with Linz: “We are going to play third time against Linz this Sunday in their great sport hall … and we need to be full power in order to fight! Because it is a strong team clearly favorite. Last weekend Sofia POLCANOVA was bronze medallist at Europe Top 16 Montreux high performance too. First leg in Metz we have lost 3:2 and we must now push up our level for hope… We will see soon! Four-time ECLW champion TTC Berlin Eastside was favourite against SKST Hodonín – STAVOIMPEX but Czech side won first leg 3:1 thanks to GUO Ruichen. Their second match will be held this Friday (February 8th 18:30). “Unfortunately in the match on Friday we are not favorites. We created this situation ourselves the question is whether we can change it. To do this all three players need the best game and a bit of luck ” emphasized Berlin’s coach Irina PALINA. Hodonin’s coach Jaroslav MIKESKA believes that his side faces another hard encounter with German team: “First of all we are all looking forward to the next quarter-final match against Berlin. As I already said before the first game for our club it is historical moment to be in the quarter-finals of the Champions League and we were very happy that we could beat such a good team in the first leg. But again in the second leg I expect very close matches as it was in the first leg in Hodonín and it is still opened because everything can happen. Of course we will try to do our best in every game in Berlin and we will see how the match will finish. For sure it will be fight over every ball. Everybody is healthy so we should play in the strongest setup and also our player Natalia PARTYKA proved herself in a good shape last week in Europe Top 16 Cup where she finished in the 4th place. So I think my team is quite decently prepared for the game in Berlin.” Reigning ECLW champion Dr CASL already booked its place among the best four teams (3:0 and 1:3 vs. Etival Clairefontaine) while two-time ECLW runner-up KTS Enea Siarka Tarnobrzeg hosts Sporting this Monday (February 11th 18:00) after 3:1 away victory. 2018/19 ECLW quarter-finals Leg 2 Dr. Časl – Etival Clairefontaine ASRTT 1:3 TTC Berlin Eastside – SKST STAVOIMPEX Hodonin (Feb 8 18:30) Linz AG Froschberg – Metz TT (Feb 10 16:15) KTS Enea Siarka Tarnobrzeg – Sporting Clube de Portugal (Feb 11 18:00) Leg 1 Etival Clairefontaine ASRTT – Dr. CASL 0:3 SKST STAVOIMPEX Hodonin – TTC Berlin Eastside 3:1 Metz TT – Linz AG Froschberg 2:3 Sporting Clube de Portugal – KTS Enea Siarka Tarnobrzeg 1:3
TTCLM: Reigning champion into semi-finals
Quarter-finals leg 2: Borussia Düsseldorf – K.S. Dartom Bogoria Grodzisk Mazowiecki 3:1 Reigning TTCLM champion and actual no. 1 seed Borussia Düsseldorf moved one step closer to its 12 TTCLM title as they beat at home K.S. Dartom Bogoria Grodzisk Mazowiecki 3:1 in the second quarter-final leg. German team won first game in Poland with the identical score. Timo BOLL once again provided two points for his side as he did in the Polish city of Grodzisk Mazowiecki two weeks ago. First he beat both Pavel SIRUCEK then his former teammate Panagiotis GIONIS. Polish club levelled score at 1-1 after Kaii YOSHIDA’s win against Anton KALLBERG but in the next encounter Kristian KARLSSON secured semi-final berth for host side defeating Marek BADOWSKI in straight games. Borussia Düsseldorf – K.S. Dartom Bogoria Grodzisk Mazowiecki 3:1 Timo BOLL – Pavel SIRUCEK 3:1 (9:11 11:8 11:9 11:5) Anton KÄLLBERG – YOSHIDA Kaii 0:3 (9:11 10:12 4:11) Kristian KARLSSON – Marek BADOWSKI 3:0 (11:7 11:5 11:7) Timo BOLL – Panagiotis GIONIS 3:0 (11:5 11:8 11:9) 2018/19 TTCLM quarter-finals Leg 2 Leg 2 Borussia Düsseldorf – K.S. Dartom Bogoria Grodzisk Mazowiecki 3:1 TTC Fakel Gazprom – AS Pontoise Cergy (Feb 8 14:00) TTSC UMMC – Post SV Mühlhausen (Feb 8 15:00) Vaillante Sports Angers – SPG Walter Wels (Feb 8 19:30) Leg 1 K.S. Dartom Bogoria Grodzisk Mazowiecki – Borussia Düsseldorf 1:3 AS Pontoise Cergy – TTC Fakel Gazprom 0:3 Post SV Mühlhausen – TTSC UMMC 2:3 SPG Walter Wels – Vaillante Sports Angers TT 0:3
Battle for each point: UMMC vs. Post SV Mühlhausen
2018/19 TTCLM quarter-finals Leg 2 After a tight match held two weeks ago in Germany UMMC and Post SV Muhlhausen are preparing for another tough game in the second leg of the 2018/19 TTCLM quarter-finals. Russian club 2012 runner-up starts with a 3:2 (12:9) advantage thanks to Andrej GACINA who took two points including decisive one against Lubomir JANCARIK. The match will be held this Friday February 8th 15:00 CET. “Taking into account that we won only in the fifth match the fight turned out to be difficult” stated Dmitrii BALACHENKOV director of the UMMC. “Post SV Mühlhausen is rather strong team the opponent has four approximately equal in strength athlete. Not everything worked out for our players in that match. FANG Bo was a little bit tired after the match for GROTH IONESCU was not a very convenient rival so maybe this determined the outcome of the match. They fought for every point. Andrej GACINA was the hero of the match. We were very satisfied with his play.” BALACHENKOV added that his side approaches this clash in a full strength: “All the players are in good physical shape now. Everything is easier at home so it should be easier to play. By the end of the match in Mühlhausen my head started to ache a little because of very loud fans. We hope our fans will support as the same actively and then the victory will be ours! Ovidiu IONESCU cut UMMC lead to 2-1 as he beat Jonathan GROTH in the third game. “I think we proved we are strong enough to beat Ekaterinburg. We know in Russia will be very hard to beat them but the team is in good shape and looking forward for another big game ” explained Romania’s player. Muhlhausen’s Daniel HABESOHN won bronze medal at the CCB Europe Top 16 Cup held last weekend in Montreux as he lost to Timo BOLL after full seven games. He did a great job for his team in the first leg by beating China’s FANG Bo to level the score at 2-2: “We are under pressure but I think our team is strong enough to deal with it. Despite the 2:3 loss in the first leg we still believe that we can reach the semi-final of the TTCLM. We are good prepared and we will fight like lions to get this victory.” 2018/19 TTCLM quarter-finals Leg 2 Leg 2 Borussia Düsseldorf – K.S. Dartom Bogoria Grodzisk Mazowiecki (Feb 7 19:00) TTC Fakel Gazprom – AS Pontoise Cergy (Feb 8 14:00) TTSC UMMC – Post SV Mühlhausen (Feb 8 15:00) Vaillante Sports Angers – SPG Walter Wels (Feb 8 19:30) Leg 1 K.S. Dartom Bogoria Grodzisk Mazowiecki – Borussia Düsseldorf 1:3 AS Pontoise Cergy – TTC Fakel Gazprom 0:3 Post SV Mühlhausen – TTSC UMMC 2:3 SPG Walter Wels – Vaillante Sports Angers TT 0:3
Reigning TTCLM champion in good shape hosts Bogoria
2018/19 TTCLM quarter-finals leg 2 Reigning TTCLM champion Borussia Dusseldorf and K.S. Dartom Bogoria Grodzisk Mazowiecki will open 2018/19 quarter-finals leg 2 this Thursday (Feb 7) while other three games are scheduled for Friday (Feb 8). TTCLM record holder with 11 titles has provided 3-1 advantage in the match held in Poland and awaits the clash in a good shape. Timo BOLL didn’t manage to defend his crown at the CCB 2019 Europe Top 16 Cup in Montreux last weekend but won bronze. “We won the first match in quarter finals 3:1. But this is just the first step to reach the semi-finals” stated coach of German side Danny HEISTER. “In Poland we have been 0:1 down. This could be always crucial if you lose the second match too. So we will be totally focused to keep the lead. Timo (BOLL) is actually in a very good shape Anton (KALLBERG) is on the way back to use his potential and Kristian (KARLSSON) and Omar (ASSAR) are playing on a good level. So I am optimistic to reach next round.” Borussia’s manager Andreas PREUSS explains: “Our coach has to be spoilt for choice. The performances of all our players are good at the moment. Every line-up will be good. We shall be focused to win the game not only to think two points are enough to go to the semis. Bogoria will fight until the last ball is played but we are ready for this. We are happy to see Panos (GIONIS) again in Düsseldorf.” TTCLM quarter-finals Leg 2 Borussia Düsseldorf – K.S. Dartom Bogoria Grodzisk Mazowiecki (Feb 7 19:00) TTC Fakel Gazprom – AS Pontoise Cergy (Feb 8 14:00) TTSC UMMC – Post SV Mühlhausen (Feb 8 15:00) Vaillante Sports Angers – SPG Walter Wels (Feb 8 19:30) Leg 1 K.S. Dartom Bogoria Grodzisk Mazowiecki – Borussia Düsseldorf 1:3 AS Pontoise Cergy – TTC Fakel Gazprom 0:3 Post SV Mühlhausen – TTSC UMMC 2:3 SPG Walter Wels – Vaillante Sports Angers TT 0:3
Albena to host two European Championships for deaf players
14th European Deaf Championships and 2nd European Deaf Youth Championships to be held in April Two table tennis events will be held in Albena Bulgaria this April both for deaf athletes. Albena one of the biggest and most beautiful sea resorts on the Black Sea is going to host 14th European Deaf Championships (11-18 April) and 2nd European Deaf Youth Championships (7-12 April). The resort is situated 30km from the city of Varna which has an international airport and harbor. It offers excellent conditions for sports and is a traditional host of national and international sports events. Both table tennis championships will take a place at Albena Multifunctional Sports Hall. More information: here
8 Players 4 Matches 2 Countries 1 Goal: ITTF-Europe Top 16 & Pan American Cups end on a high!
Separated by the Atlantic Ocean 2 top-class ITTF events were played out in front of packed venues over the weekend. The China Construction Bank 2019 ITTF-Europe Top 16 Cup held in Montreux Switzerland and the Universal 2019 ITTF-Pan America Cup held in Guaynabo City Puerto Rico saw a total of 4 gold medals up for grabs. Fans were treated to plenty of heart-stopping moments on the final day of action (3 February 2019) as the players fought for qualification for the Men’s and Women’s World Cups to be held in Chengdu China in October this year. Having suffered a sub-par 2018 due to a multitude of injuries this was the first international tournament of 2019 for former world number 1 Dimitrij OVTCHAROV (GER) who came back with a vengeance claiming the Men’s title on an emotional final day. The road to recovery was tough but OVTCHAROV showed that mentally he is rock-solid once again as his physicality also catches up. Twice he found himself in a tight spot twice he found a way to come up tops. Losing a 3-0 lead against 2018 Europe Cup champion Timo BOLL (GER) OVTCHAROV managed to pull himself ahead in the 7th game winning 4-3 to make the final where he faced Belarusian legend Vladimir SAMSONOV. The evergreen veteran 42 years of age turned back the clock to deliver a vintage performance leading OVTCHAROV for most parts in a keenly-contested encounter. The German had to play catch up for most of the match and was only one point away from losing the title. SAMSONOV led 10-8 in the 7th game only for the eventual champion to save two match points and convert his own to win 4-3 (6-11 11-8 11-3 14-16 6-11 11-7 12-10). “The game had so many ups and downs for both of us. I could have finished it 4-1 but I missed the opportunity. Samsonov was always there. He looked for every chance to come back; he covered every angle and every spot on the table. Vladi had the advantage in the 6th game and even more so in the 7th but no matter how tired I was I thought he was even more so I kept pushing. It was a similar match like against Boll where small points made big differences. I am so happy I came back from injury and a few heavy defeats ” said OVTCHAROV. OVTCHAROV was not the only German to walk away victorious as Petrissa SOLJA too had her own special moment to savour. Staring at the face of defeat she produced the fightback of the tournament to steal the crown from last year’s champion Bernadette SZOCS (ROU). SZOCS was in command taking a 3-0 lead against a familiar opponent. With nothing to lose SOLJA begun her incredible turnaround in the 4th game winning it 12-10 to spark the comebacks of all comebacks. She won four consecutive games to power home and win her first European Cup title after missing out in 2013 and 2017. She won 4-3 (9-11 9-11 6-11 12-10 11-8 11-8 11-4) in front of an ecstatic crowd. “I was very nervous at the beginning. I did not play at my best. Also Bernadette knows my service game she can read my spin. After I lost three games my coach encouraged me to win at least one game to play with less pressure. Slowly I returned into the match. I was thinking only about the next point. We have played against each other since our Cadet days. Who knows how many matches we played in Juniors and Cadets and mostly in finals. I am happy that we are playing finals as Seniors now and that we both are among the top European players ” said Petrissa SOLJA Timo BOLL and Sofia POLCANOVA (AUT) won their respective bronze medal matches and have also booked their spots at this year’s World Cups in Chengdu along with the finalists. Across the Atlantic Ocean in a completely different time zone two frantic finals followed. Carrying the host nation’s hopes on her very young shoulders Adriana DIAZ (PUR) showed that she has what it takes to be an icon for Puerto Rican table tennis. Staged in Guaynabo City Puerto Rico DIAZ claimed the Universal 2019 ITTF Pan America Cup gold with the country behind her. Facing off against 2018’s winner she showed maturity beyond her age by limiting ZHANG Mo’s (CAN) game to win 4-1 (13-11 11-8 6-11 11-9 11-9) repeating the same scoreline from their previous meeting. Meanwhile in the Men’s final current World number 6 Hugo CALDERANO (BRA) once against proved his credentials as one of the globe’s greatest at present by claiming the title for the second time in two years. The eagerly anticipated match between two of America’s Top talents saw Kanak JHA (USA) push CALDERANO early on in their match. Eventually experience paid off as CALDERANO halted JHA’s momentum in the 3rd game to win 4-1 (11-2 12-14 11-3 11-8 12-10) preventing an upset. Despite the disappointment for JHA these are exciting times for Pan American table tennis as the more experienced CALDERANO is only 22 with his opponent four years younger. Both will get a chance to showcase their talents in Chengdu in October 2019 at the ITTF Men’s World Cup. FIRST QUALIFIERS FOR 2019 ITTF WORLD CUPS The ITTF World Cups are the second most prestigious events on the international table tennis calendar where only 17 of the top table tennis players who have qualified through their respective Continental Cups together with the current world champions one host player and a wildcard can compete for the prestigious title that counts towards the Grand Slam (Olympic Games World Championships World Cup). Qualified Players: China Construction Bank 2019 ITTF-Europe Top 16 Cup: Dimitrij OVTCHAROV (GER) Vladimir SAMSONOV (BLR) Timo BOLL (GER) Petrissa SOLJA (GER) Bernadette SZOCS (ROM) Sofia POLCANOVA (AUT). Universal 2019 ITTF-Pan American Cup: Hugo CALDERANO (BRA) Kanak JHA (USA) Adriana DIAZ (PUR) ZHANG Mo (CAN).
Fifth crown for Dimitrij OVTCHAROV
CCB Europe Top 16 Cup Montreux No. 2 seed Dimitrij OVTCHAROV clinched the fifth title at the CCB Europe Top 16 Cup Montreux. In the final he overcame Vladimir SAMSONOV of Belarus (6:11 11:8 11:3 14:16 6:11 11:7 12:10). In the action roller-coaster power shifted from one side to another and until the last ball the game was open. “The game has so many ups and downs for both of us. I could finish it up at 4:1 but I missed the opportunity. SAMSONOV was always there he looked for every chance to come back; he covered every angle and every spot on the table. Vladi has advantage in sixth game and even bigger in seventh but no meter how much tired I was I thought he was even more so I kept pushing. It was similar match like against BOLL. Small points made big differences ” explained OVTCHAROV.” I am so happy I came back from injury and few heavy defeats.” Before 2019’s final SAMSONOV and OVTCHAROV both had four titles in their record books and shared third position in the overall standings behind legendary Swede Jan OWE VALDNER and Timo BOLL with seven and six. Now OVTCHAROV took the third spot. Four-time Europe Top 16 Cup winner Vladimir SAMSONOV played for a 22nd time at the event. Belarus legend started his journey through the Euro Top 16 cups in the French city of Dijon 24 years ago as the youngest participant sharing fifth spot with current Dima’s coach Jorg ROSSKOPF from Germany. The duel for the spot no. three at the CCB Europe Top 16 Cup Montreux concluded with the win for Germany’s Timo BOLL against Daniel HABESOHN of Austria (11:7 11:4 7:11 9:11 3:11 12:10 11:5). Six times winner at Top 16 and Top 12 was stretched to full seven games in the last match before he prevailed. “I had some advantage by finished my semi final match hour or two before Daniel. Also I was mentally stronger today ” said BOLL.
