First quarter-final leg: AS Pontoise Cergy – TTC Fakel Gazprom 0:3 Russian club Fakel Gazprom four-time TTCLM champion secured huge advantage in the first quarter-final leg held in France this evening January 23rd. Actual no.2 seed beat two-time winner AS Pontoise Cergy 3:0 (9:3 in sets). Second match is scheduled for February 8th and will take a place in the Russian city of Orenburg. The opening encounter determined the entire game as Mattias FALCK missed good chance to provide the lead for the host side. He won first two games against former Pontoise’s member Marcos FREITAS but guest responded by three sets in a row all three taken by a narrow margin. Portugal’s player got two consecutive points in the most exciting moment at 2:2 (8:8). Tristan FLORE managed to extend Dimitrij OVTCHAROV to full distance but German showed his persistence and strength in the concluding game. The youngest player in the clash faced the most experienced one in the third match as Vladimir SAMSONOV beat Can AKKUZU in straight games. Young Frenchman did everything he could but Belarus just displayed his usual quality. 2018/19 TTCLM quarter-finals 1st leg AS Pontoise Cergy – TTC Fakel Gazprom 0:3 Mattias FALCK – Marcos FREITAS 2:3 (11:7 11:7 12:14 9:11 9:11) Tristan FLORE – Dimitrij OVTCHAROV 2:3 (5:11 17:15 8:11 11:4 6:11) Can AKKUZU – Vladimir SAMSONOV 0:3 (5:11 4:11 4:11)
Universal named title sponsor of 2019 ITTF Pan America Cup
One of the largest insurance groups in the Caribbean region Universal becomes the first ever title sponsor of the ITTF Pan America Cup to be held 1-3 February 2019 in Guaynabo City Puerto Rico The International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) and the Puerto Rico Table Tennis Federation (FPRTM) are proud to announce that Universal has been named title sponsor of the 2019 ITTF Pan America Cup. One of the largest insurance groups in the Caribbean region Universal becomes the first ever title sponsor of the prestigious event which will be held between 1-3 February fittingly in Guaynabo City Puerto Rico. Set to showcase the very best table tennis talent from across the Pan America region – not least native stars Adriana Diaz and Brian Afanador the Pan America Cup has now received a significant boost off the court as well thanks to this agreement with Universal helping to take the event to a new level commercially. “For Puerto Rican table tennis the Universal 2019 Pan America Cup represents a dream come true. We will be putting on a professional international event at a world-class venue in what will be a true celebration of the sport for our fans and players. This all represents a first for our sport in our country and we’re very excited. We would like to place on record special thanks to our title sponsor Universal for making this event possible helping us make an indelible footprint on our sport’s history. A big thank you also to the ITTF and the Municipality of Guaynabo City for their enormous support to Telemundo who will broadcast the event live and to all the sponsors supporting us as we stage this historic tournament ” said Ivan Santos President of Puerto Rico Table Tennis Federation “Our commitment to support Puerto Rican youth players develop their skills and capabilities to the fullest leads us to sponsor events like this. In addition to allowing us to enjoy table tennis of the highest quality it gives us the opportunity to support the effort and dedication of this new generation of Olympic-calibre athletes as a symbol of quality that has always highlighted what we do in Puerto Rico. With these young talents representing us so worthily we reiterate our firm belief that sport unites us as people and enables us to share collective joy. Our athletes represent the true essence of our people. That is why it is our duty and responsibility to help them realise their dreams ” stated Monique Miranda President of the Board of Directors of Universal Group Inc. This will be the 3rd edition of the Pan America Cup and the biggest yet following its inaugural showing in San Jose Costa Rica and last year’s event in Asuncion Paraguay. Hugo Calderano (BRA) and Zhang Mo (CAN) are the defending men’s and women’s champions respectively and will be looking to retain their titles amidst stiff competition not least from the aforementioned Puerto Rican representatives Adriana Diaz and Brian Afanador. This will be the first time since 2016 that the pair participate in an international event on home soil. So far more than 1 500 tickets have been sold for the three-day event in Guaynabo City. Make sure you don’t miss the region’s biggest stars battle it out for glory between 1-3 February and get your ticket right here! Quick Links Tickets Event Info Universal
TTCLM: Pontoise knows how to play against Orenburg
Today January 23rd (19:30 CET) TTCLM quarter-finals will be opened by the game in France The 2018/19 TTCLM quarter-finals will be opened today January 23rd (19:30 CET) by the clash between two teams that won six titles between them in last seven seasons. Two-time champion AS Pontoise Cergy faces four-time winner TTC Fakel-Gazprom Orenburg. “Receiving the Orenburg team is not the best draw for us” stated coach of French club Christian ADAM. “They are certainly the favorites of the competition this season and we know it will be difficult! In the past we have already beaten Orenburg and our record against them is not bad. We will therefore play our best chance. Moreover it is always a pleasure to play against Orenburg and Marcos FREITAS’ return “home” after 7 seasons at the club will be an event in itself!” Second seeded Russian club left group stage (Group D) with a perfect 6-0 win-loss record as unique unbeaten team so far while second placed Group A side Pontoise had 4-2. The upcoming encounter will be a reprise of the 2013/14 finals when French side lifted the trophy. Two years after that finals Pontoise again prevailed (5:4 on aggregate) in the semi-final contest what was decisive for their second and last TTCLM crown so far. Four-time winner Orenburg celebrated twice last year within Group A. Orenburg’s team manager Victor ANDREEV emphasized earlier speaking for ETTU website that “the management of the TTC Fakel-Gazprom has set a serious task for the team – to win the European Champions League for the fifth time”. He praised Pontoise as a good table tennis organization while now president of French club Louise ADAM replies in the same manner. “For me Orenburg is and will always be a club for which I have a particular “affection”… We started together more than 10 years ago and our relations with Victor ANDREEV in particular have always been warm and friendly. Moreover seeing Marcos again will be a real pleasure! Let’s hope that for this umpteenth confrontation the show and the emotions will be at the rendezvous this 23rd of January…” 2018/19 TTCLM quarter-finals (1stleg) AS Pontoise Cergy – Fakel-Gazprom (Jan 23 19:30 CET) K.S. Dartom Bogoria – Borussia Dusseldorf (Jan 24 18:00 CET) Post SV Muhlhausen – TTSC UMMC (Jan 25 19:00 CET) SPG Walter Wels – Vaillante Sports Angers (Jan 25 19:30 CET)
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Jonathan GROTH ready to increase his level
CCB Europe Top 16 Cup Montreux February 2-3 Denmark’s Jonathan GROTH enjoyed his success in Montreux last year winning bronze medal at the 2018 CCB Europe Top 16 Cup. Now seeded at the no. 6 he would like to repeat it in the same Switzerland’s city at the event to be held on February 2nd and 3rd. We spoke about it with the left-handed player of Russian club UMMC… Two years ago you had lost in the opening round last year you got the third place and what is your target at the 2019 Euro Top 16 Cup? “I hope I can make a performance similar to last year where I played some of the best table tennis I have played in my career.” How do you see the list of 2019 favorites who is the top candidate for the title? “I see Timo Boll as the biggest favorite for the title.” What is your personal goal in 2019? “To increase my level in the matches where I’m not playing so well. So I can have a more stable season.” Are you satisfied with your current shape? “I have only played one match so far in 2019. So I do not know exactly how my shape is. Time will tell.” Two months ago GROTH climbed to his best ITTF ranking spot so far no. 15. Currently he occupies no. 18. In men’s singles will play: Timo BOLL (Germany) Dimitrij OVTCHAROV (Germany) Mattias FALCK (Sweden) Liam PITCHFORD (England) Vladimir SAMSONOV (Belarus) Jonathan GROTH (Denmark) Simon GAUZY (France) Kristian KARLSSON (Sweden) Marcos FREITAS (Portugal) Emmanuel LEBESSON (France) Daniel HABESOHN (Austria) Tiago APOLONIA (Portugal) KOU Lei (Ukraine) Ovidiu IONESCU (Romania) Panagiotis GIONIS (Greece) Lionel WEBER (Switzerland). Women’s Event: Sofia POLCANOVA (Austria) Bernadette SZOCS (Romania) Elizabeta SAMARA (Romania) LI Jie (Netherlands) Petrissa SOLJA (Germany) Matilda EKHOLM (Sweden) LI Qian (Poland) Georgina POTA (Hungary) Britt EERLAND (Netherlands) Polina MIKHAILOVA (Russia) NI Xia Lian (Luxembourg) Nina MITTELHAM (Germany) Natalia PARTYKA (Poland) Hana MATELOVA (Czech Republic) Barbora BALAZOVA (Slovakia) Rachel MORET (Switzerland). Tickets are available here.
Chinese clean sweep three months before the World Championships in Budapest
Three months before the World Championships begin in Budapest the Seamaster 2019 ITTF World Tour Hungarian Open concludes with a Chinese clean sweep.Make that 10 ITTF World Tour titles for CHEN Meng after Women’s Singles success in Budapest. The first ITTF event of the year is in the books as China’s finest stole the show in Budapest claiming all five gold medals on offer at the Seamaster 2019 ITTF World Tour Hungarian Open. Fans were treated to plenty of jaw-dropping shots and epic rallies over the past six days (qualification rounds 15-16 Jan. & main draw 17-20 Jan.) setting the scene nicely for when the biggest Table Tennis event of all kicks off in Budapest: the Liebherr 2019 ITTF World Championships taking place in exactly three months’ time between 21-28 April. CHEN Meng confirmed her status as the undisputed form player on the women’s circuit wrapping up the first trophy of 2019 just one month on from celebrating a second straight success at the Seamaster 2018 ITTF World Tour Grand Finals in Incheon. The Chinese star currently ranked 4th in the world showed spirit aplenty as she came from behind twice to overcome compatriot and top seed ZHU Yuling in the final by four games to two (9-11 11-7 11-13 13-11 11-4 11-5). In doing so CHEN Meng recorded her 10th career ITTF World Tour title: a fantastic milestone for a player who has often been overlooked by Chinese selectors for previous World Championships but would now surely be one of the first names on their list. “We (ZHU Yuling and I) have played each other many many times. I am pleased to win the title and I’ll do my best to raise or at least maintain my level of performances for the next competitions ” said CHEN Meng Could LIN Gaoyuan finally be emerging from the shadows of his Chinese peers? The 23-year-old world no. 4 has been knocking on the door for silverware of late and was runner-up at the Seamaster 2018 ITTF World Tour Grand Finals in Incheon. Emerging from the disappointment of defeat to Tomokazu HARIMOTO that night in Korea the ‘Dark Knight’ stormed to two consecutive 4-0 victories on Sunday beating compatriots XU Xin in the semi-final (14-12 11-9 11-6 11-9) and WANG Chuqin (13-11 12-10 11-8 11-9) to secure his second ever ITTF World Tour title. “I am really happy about winning the first event of 2019. Such a good start is a positive sign for the rest of the year for me ” explained LIN Gaoyuan. Beaten finalist WANG Chuqin had impressed greatly en route to Sunday’s showpiece match. Ranked 83rd in the world the 18-year-old defeated world no. 6 Hugo CALDERANO (BRA) and no. 1 FAN Zhendong (CHN). He is now a player to watch out for at upcoming events on the 2019 ITTF World Tour. In Adam SZUDI and Szandra PERGEL Hungary had two players to light up the tournament and provide a source of pride for the host nation. The pair defeated HO Kwan Kit & LEE Ho Ching (HKG) Tristan FLORE & Laura GASNIER (FRA) and Alexander SHIBAEV & Polina MIKHAILOVA (RUS) dropping just two games in the process to reach Saturday’s final. At the final hurdle XU Xin & LIU Shiwen (CHN) ultimately had too much in their locker for the Hungarians to handle as they romped to a 3-0 victory (11-3 11-6 11-5). Nonetheless silver medals for SZUDI & PERGEL were the proof of a fantastic campaign and a possible sign of things to come from the pair. In their very first international appearance as a partnership 5th seeds XU Xin & LIANG Jingkun (CHN) defeated compatriots and 2nd seeds FAN Zhendong & LIN Gaoyuan over five games of high-intensity Table Tennis (11-5 9-11 11-7 5-11 11-8). “LIANG is a very young player and after he lost to me yesterday (in the Men’s Singles) he did very well today. He prepared well plus I encouraged him a lot ” said XU Xin “The encouragement I received from XU was very important. He has been a champion with many Doubles’ partners. I feel honoured to be playing alongside him ” added LIANG Jingkun WANG Manyu & ZHU Yuling (CHN) emerged champions in the Women’s Doubles competition in Budapest. It was only their second campaign as a pair on the international stage but you would not have imagined so as they combined formidably to despatch of compatriots CHEN Meng & SUN Yingsha 3-1 in the final (8-11 11-7 15-13 11-2). QUICK LINKS: Match Highlights Photo Gallery Flash Quotes Live Blog Media Kit Social Media: Facebook Instagram Twitter Weibo Youtube
Gold for LIN Gaoyuan and CHEN Meng
Seamaster 2019 ITTF World Tour Hungarian Open 15-20 January LIN Gaoyuan and CHEN Meng are the crowned champions of the Seamaster 2019 ITTF World Tour Hungarian Open in Budapest concluded today Sunday 20th January. They emerged successful in the all all-Chinese finals of the respective Men’s and Women’s singles events: No. 3 seed LIN beat 18-year-old WANG Chuqin in straight games while second seeded CHEN prevailed against no. 1 ZHU Yuling reversing the score from 1-2 to 4-2. “I am really happy winning the title in the first competition of the year. Such a good start is a positive sign for the rest of the year for me. I was prepared for a long match in the final as we always play tight matches.” LIN Gaoyuan who secured his second World Tour win after 2017 Austrian Open. WANG Chuqin must be proud of his accomplishment bearing in mind that he commenced the event from the qualification tournament. Moreover he upset world no. 1 FAN Zhendong in the semi-final contest after full seven games. CHEN who won her 10th title in 13 World Tour finals explained after the Women’s Singles final game: “We’ve played each other many many times. I am pleased to win the title and I will do my best to raise or at least keep up my performance for the next competitions.” More information: here Quick links Daily Schedule Knock-outs Reports Flash Quotes LIVE Blog Media Kit Media accreditation
Silver for Adam SZUDI and Szandra PERGEL
Seamaster 2019 ITTF World Tour Hungarian Open 15-20 January Host mixed pair Adam SZUDI/Szandra PERGEL won silver medal at the Seamaster 2019 ITTF World Tour Hungarian Open as they lost to China’s XU Xin/LIU Shiwen in straight games of the gold medal contest. Day after he upset Hong Kong’s WONG Chun Ting actual world no. 8 Russian player Alexander SHIBAEV has beaten by no. 1 seed FAN Zhendong in five games of the Men’s Singles quarter-finals. Belarus Vladimir SAMSONOV lost to FAN’s compatriot LIN Gaoyuan in six sets in spite of having 2-1 lead. All three last games have been decided by a narrow margin. Like in the Women’s Singles event all-Chinese semi-finals will be held (tomorrow January 20th) in the Men’s Singles competition: FAN Zhendong vs. WANG Chuqin XU Xin vs. LIN Gaoyuan. Top four seeds have been involved in the Women’s Singles semi-finals as no. 1 ZHU Yuling beat no. 4 LIU Shiwen while no. 2 CHEN Meng prevailed against no. 3 WANG Manyu. ZHU managed to reverse the score from 1-3 to 4-3 against LIU taking ultimate set 12:10. Regarding double events two all-Chinese finals were held in the Budapest Olympic Hall. LIANG Jingkun and XU Xin overcame FAN Zhendong and LIN Gaoyuan after full five games while WANG Manyu and ZHU Yuling beat CHEN Meng and SUN Yingsha in four sets. More information: here Quick links Daily Schedule Knock-outs Reports Flash Quotes LIVE Blog Media Kit Media accreditation
Panagiotis GIONIS aiming semifinal in Montreux
CCB Europe Top 16 Cup For a sixth time Greek star Panagiotis GIONIS will play at the CCB Europe Top 16 Cup in Montreux (2nd and 3rd February). It will be for a second time in the row in Switzerland but this time GIONIS aim higher position than last year. Last year in Montreux GIONIS was fifth now first aim is to reach semifinal and then to try to go even higher. “My goal is to enter the first four which will qualify me for the World Cup. I was 5th in Europe Top 16 last year to secure the place in the World Cup last year and I want to make it even better this season. I know that it is difficult and the draw will also play a role but I am in good shape and I can claim very good results” said the top Greek player. Panagiotis GIONIS creates his own tradition in Top 16 of Europe as he entered the invitations for the 6th consecutive season. He made his first appearance in 2014 after he won bronze medal in Singles and silver in the Teams Event at the European Championship in Austria. Since then he is regular participant. In fact he is walking in the footsteps of Kallinikos KREANGA who had made two big streaks in his total of 11 appearances. The winner of Top 12 in 2011 in Liège played constantly in the competition from 1996 to 2001 and after 2007 to 2011 marking many successes. GIONIS’ best achievement is bronze medal which he won in Baku in 2015. In the fight for positions 3-4 he had defeated the French Simon GAUZY. The great defensive player is now in Budapest for the World Tour of Hungary and it will make a solid rehearsal for Top 16 and the Table Tennis Champions League Men quarter-finals. There his team Bogoria a champion of the Polish League will play on January 24 in the first quarter-final against his former team German Borussia Düsseldorf. In men’s singles at the CCB Europe Top 16 Cup in Montreux will play: Timo BOLL (Germany) Dimitrij OVTCHAROV (Germany) Mattias FALCK (Sweden) Liam PITCHFORD (England) Vladimir SAMSONOV (Belarus) Jonathan GROTH (Denmark) Simon GAUZY (France) Kristian KARLSSON (Sweden) Marcos FREITAS (Portugal) Emmanuel LEBESSON (France) Daniel HABESOHN (Austria) Tiago APOLONIA (Portugal) KOU Lei (Ukraine) Oividiu IONESCU (Romania) Panagiotis GIONIS (Greece) Lionel WEBER (Switzerland). Women’s Event: Sofia POLCANOVA (Austria) Bernadette SZOCS (Romania) Elizabeta SAMARA (Romania) LI Jie (Netherlands) Petrissa SOLJA (Germany) Matilda EKHOLM (Sweden) LI Qian (Poland) Georgina POTA (Hungary) Britt EERLAND (Netherlands) Polina MIKHAILOVA (Russia) NI Xia Lian (Luxembourg) Nina MITTELHAM (Germany) Natalia PARTYKA (Poland) Hana MATELOVA ( Czech Republic) Barbora BALAZOVA (Slovakia) Rachel MORET (Switzerland). Tickets are available here.
Hungarian Open: SHIBAEV vs. FAN in the quarter-finals
Seamaster 2019 ITTF World Tour Hungarian Open 15-20 January Alexander SHIBAEV of Russia upset Hong Kong’s WONG Chun Ting actual world no. 8 to set up Men’s Singles quarter-final clash with world no. 1 China’s FAN Zhendong at the Seamaster 2019 ITTF World Tour Hungarian Open. UMMC player won in six games as well as FAN did against CHUANG Chih-Yuan from Chinese Taipei. France’s Simon GAUZY suffered at the hands of China’s WANG Chuqin after six games in spite of having 2-0 lead. Two players from Bundesliga met in the Round of 16 as Ochsenhausen’s Hugo CALDERANO from Brazil overcame Borussia’s Kristian KARLSSON from Sweden. Actual world no. 16 Liam PITCHFORD from England lost to no. 17 Korea’s LIM Jonghoon after full seven games. Englishman led 3-2 but next two sets lost by a narrow margin. Vladimir SAMSONOV reached quarter-finals without playing (twice w.o. wins QIU Dang and Patrick FRANZISKA). Portugal’s YU Fu managed to reverse the score from 0-3 to 4-3 against Germany’s Petrissa SOLJA to reach Women’s Singles quarter-finals. In the next stage YU suffered at the hands of WANG Manyu world no. 6 from China therefore all-Chinese semi-finals will be held: ZHU Yuling vs. LIU Shiwen CHEN Meng vs. WANG Manyu. Romania’s Bernadette SZOCS has defeated Germany’s SHAN Xiaona in straight games to progress among the best eight but then she lost to no. 2 seed China’s CHEN Meng current world no. 4. CHEN’s team mate from China’s National Team ZHU Yuling no. 1 seed at the Hungarian Open secured her place in the semi-final as she recorded two wins in straight games today January 18th. Men’s Doubles quarter-finals saw victory of Tristan FLORE/Emmanuel LEBESSON (France) over Benedikt DUDA/Ruwen FILUS (Germany). French pair lost to China’s LIANG Jingkun and XU Xin in straight games of the semis. Regarding Women Doubles event Romania’s Elizabeta SAMARA and Bernadete SZOCS were not able to play (w.o. because of SAMARA’s injury) against no. 1 seed WANG Manyu/ZHU Yuling from China. Host pair Adam SZUDI/Szandra PERGEL reached final in the Mixed Doubles event as they beat Russia’s Alexander SHIBAEV/Polina MIKHAILOVA in straight games. They will play for the title against China’s XU Xin/LIU SHIWEN. More information: here Quick links Daily Schedule Knock-outs Reports Flash Quotes LIVE Blog Media Kit Media accreditation
