Draw to be held this Friday July 6th in Saarbrucken The meeting and draw for the 2018/19 Table Tennis Champions League Men will take place this Friday July 6th at the Victor’s Residenz-Hotel in Saarbrücken (13h30 to 19h00 CET). As usual top 16 European clubs are going to participate in this prestigious competition divided in four groups. After seven years Fakel Gazprom Orenburg will not be drawn no. 1 seed as this place belongs to the actual TTCLM champion and 11-times winner Borussia Dusseldorf. Last time Timo BOLL & Co. topped the seeding list seven years ago and this time they have 37 121 points followed by two Russian clubs Orenburg (36 775) and TTSC UMMC (28 001) Germany`s Saarbrucken (24 063) Poland`s Dartom Bogoria Grodzisk Mazowiecki (21 903) two-times TTCLM winner AS Pontoise Cergi (France 21 871) GV Hennebont (Frnce 20 298)… A total 34 players ranked among the Top 100 at the ITTF World Ranking list are promising spectacular season with some new names like UMMC`s FANG Bo from China (actual No. 32) the runner-up from the 2015 ITTF World Championships in Suzhou. Many clubs have made significant changes in their line-ups. Defending champion Borussia signed the 2018 ITTF African-Cup winner Omar ASSAR (WR 17) instead of Stefan FEGERL while 2017/18 TTCLM runner-up Orenburg has parted ways with former Assian champion Jun MIZUTANI and signed 2015 ITTF European Championships silver medalist Marcos FREITAS (WR 16). Four-time TTCLM champion Fakel Gazprom now has three former Borussia`s players: Dimitrij OVTCHAROV (WR 3) Marcos FREITAS and Vladimir SAMSONOV (WR 26). No. 3 seed and 2012 runner-up UMMC strengthened its line-up with one more world class player Jonathan GROTH (WR 19) from Denmark. No. 4 Saarbrucken kept just one member from its last year`s starting trio Patrick FRANZISKA (WR 25) while LIAO Cheng-Ting (WR 46) and Darko JORGIC (WR 67) are new names. Sporting Clube de Portugal actual No. 9 seed and last season`s semi-finalists is continuing with the same line-up from their debuting campaign: Aruna QUADRI (WR 22) Joao MONTEIRO (WR 71) Diogo CARVALHO (WR 194). German Post SV Mühlhausen 1951 e.V the 2018/19 No. 10 seed will be unique TTCLM newcomer. They will be represented by former Niederosterreich`s Daniel HABESOHN (WR 53) Ovidiu IONESCU (WR 64) Lubomir JANCARIK (WR 113) and Steffen MENGEL (358). 2018/19 Table Tennis Champions League Men 1 Borussia Düsseldorf (GER) 37121 2 Fakel-Gazprom Orenburg (RUS) 36775 3 TTSC “UMMC” (RUS) 28001 4 FC Saarbrücken TT (GER) 24063 5 KS Dartom Bogoria Grodzisk Mazowiecki (POL) 21903 6 AS Pontoise Cergy TT (FRA) 21871 7 GV Hennebont TT (FRA) 20298 8 K.S. Dekorglass Dzialdowo (POL) 19760 9 Sporting Clube de Portugal (POR) 18726 10 Post SV Mühlhausen 1951 e.V. (GER) 18477 11 VS Angers TT (FRA) 15850 12 Stella Sport La Romagne (FRA) 12615 13 Table Tennis Club Ostrava 2016 (CZE) 11323 14 Roskilde Bordtennis BTK 61 (DEN) 9648 15 SPG Walter Wels (AUT) 9577 16 Eslövs AI BTK (SWE) 8845
ITTF Announces Pioneering Plans for 2021 Commercial Rights Cycle
The International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) today announced revolutionary plans to professionalize the sport by 2021. As part of the announcement the ITTF signed an agreement with Sportsmaster to set up a new professional tournament platform in 2021 with an integrated commercial programme that will take the sport to the next level. The strategy unifies the ITTF World Tour TTX (Table Tennis X) World Veterans Tour and T2APAC League under ITTF’s new professional platform. With this table tennis will become one of the first sports to have its world championships and truly professional platforms under one roof connected to its world ranking and Olympic Qualification systems. Innovation and change for playersA major part of the Sportsmaster contract is to assist the ITTF to fully professionalize its World Tour. As part of this deal in 2019 and 2020 the ITTF will grant T2APAC the rights to arrange Diamond events. In doing so T2APAC will act as an innovation engine testing the feasibility of new initiatives that will help ensure that the Seamaster ITTF World Tour will be restructured and taken to the next level and transform the future of the sport in 2021. These include new gameplay formats ball-tracking technology player management and broadcast innovations etc. If this proves to be successful the ITTF will consider with all its stakeholders a milestone shift for the way it’s events deal with players and event organizers. Commercial rights availability driving the changeITTF currently have commercial rights agreement for the ITTF World Tour TTX and World Veterans Tour with Sportsmaster until 2020 and the ITTF will then go to market in 2019 with a fully integrated commercial programme covering 2021 and beyond. ITTF CEO Steve DAINTON stated: “With our commercial rights in 2021 becoming available we have analyzed our core product offerings to ensure they provide the maximum commercial value. To make this happen we have pushed through instrumental changes to our products to really transform table tennis into one of the leading sports globally. “During meetings at the 2018 World Table Tennis Championships the ITTF approved the first massive step by expanding the World Table Tennis Championships. Today we announce the next big step which is our new professional platform. This will be quite unique for a sport having its World Championships and a separate yet truly professional platform under one roof which is all connected to the world ranking and Olympic qualification which we believe will make us pioneers in the sporting world.” ITTF President Thomas WEIKERT stated: “This is potentially one of the most significant steps that we have taken as a federation. It is a great step for us as we professionalize the sport and create a brand new proposition for the players and fans together with the ITTF family. This change is a result of many years of support and synergy with various partners in the sport. We must acknowledge the vision of Mr Frank JI who has spearheaded the development of this partnership.” At the announcement Sportsmaster Founder Frank JI stated: “Table tennis has massive untapped commercial potential. Over the past few years we’ve worked with the ITTF to unlock this commercial potential and believe that together we can professionalize and turn table-tennis into a leading sport globally” Find out the more about historic moment here Quick Links: Photos for Editorial Use
Gold for Slovenia and Spain in Tarragona
Mediterranean Games 2018 At the Mediterranean Games 2018 in Spanish Tarragona Slovenia’s Darko JORGIC added another title to his record. After he clinched gold in Men’s Singles Event JORGIC helped team of Slovenia to reach the highest step at the medal rostrum in Men’s Team’s Event. Together with Bojan TOKIC he beat France in the final 3:1. Alexandre ROBINOT Leo DE NORDEST and Joe SEYFRIED played for French team which managed to grab the only point in doubles. In the match for bronze Portugal’s Diogo CARVALHO and CHEN Diogo beat Spain 3:2. After Galia DVORAK won bronze in Singles Event she went with top position with Spain in Team’s Event. Teamed with Maria XIAO GALIA overcame Turkey 3:0 on her way to gold medal. Ozge YILMAZ Sibel ALTINKAYA and Gulpembe OZKAYA played for Turkey. France beat Greece in match for bronze.
China Open: Liam PITCHFORD beats Hugo CALDERANO
Seamaster 2018 ITTF World Tour Platinum Kaisa China Open Actual World No. 58 Liam PITCHFORD from England beat No. 11 Hugo CALDERANO in five games 4:1 (11:9 11:7 13:11 10:12 11:6) to reach Round of 16 at the Seamaster 2018 ITTF World Tour Platinum Kaisa China Open. Current European champion Emmanuel LEBESSON (France) overcame actual African champion Egypt`s Omar ASSAR 4:1 (9:11 11:9 11:4 11:8 11:3) to set the clash with World No. 1 and top seed FAN Zhendong from China. Austrian Robert GARDOS won first two games against Hong Kong`s WONG Chung Ting but World No. 7 responded by four sets in a row – 4:2 (7:11 8:11 11:9 11:6 11:7 11:7). Korea`s JANG Woojin (No. 40) prevailed against Portugal`s Marcos FREITAS (No. 15) 4:1 (11:6 12:14 11:3 11:6 11:7). Second seed Timo BOLL from Germany did his job against young Slovenian Darko JORGIC who managed to win one game. Romania`s Ovidiu IONESCU and Spain`s Alvaro ROBLES secured their place in the Men`s Doubles semi-finals as they beat French pair Alexandre CASSIN/Emmanuel LEBESSON 3:1 (8:11 11:6 12:1011:7). They will face former World champions MA Long/XU Xin in their attempt to reach the ultimate stage. More information:here
Papageorgiou announced his retirement
Kostas PAPAGEORGIOU announced his retirement from the Greek national team and generally from the top level competition. His last action for the national team was at the ITTF World Championships in Halmstad. He also had farewell in Istres and in Hellenic Table Tennis Federation. He was present during the Board meeting in the building of the Hellenic Olympic Committee alongside his coach and teammates. Τhe captain of runner-up team of European Championship 2013 and eight-time Greek champion in Men’s singles decided to put the weight on other very important areas of his life and explained he no longer have time to train adequately. He retires after 20 consecutive years in the men’s national team and has put his seal on the sport especially from the 2000s to the present. “I’ve decided it three months ago. I discussed it with my colleagues in the office and with my family. I realised how much I missed my family. Constant journeys become hard for me. I made the difficult decision. It was great being the part of the national team for a years “ said PAPAGEORGIOU. He is a graduate engineer who has been working in the family business for years. The mini-ceremony took place in the H.O.C. and in a thrilling atmosphere. There were nine H.T.T.F. Board of Directors members and athletes Panagiotis GIONIS Kallinikos KREANGA Tasos RINIOTIS Ioannis SGOUROPOULOS and the national coach Kostas VATSAKLIS. “ I think it’s a good time to stop and do other things in my life” underlined PAPAGEORGIOU and received a warm applause. Manolis KOLIMPADIS president of Hellenic Table Tennis Federation and general secretary of Hellenic Olympic Committee stressed: “The announcement of his decision to stop sounded like a thunderbolt in the sky. Despite the fact that everything has a beginning and an end I did not take it so seriously when it told us in Sweden. Kostas had an invaluable contribution to the sport. It is the decision of the athlete the scientist; the family man who is always respected. The Federation will face a big gap by losing great competitor and athlete.”. President of the Hellenic Federation made a personal and symbolic gift to Kostas PAPAGEORGIOU. He had a festive picture on the board with both of them from Austria and the European Championship 2013 and wrote: «To the leader of our heart. Thank you for the many untold emotions you gave me». Immediately afterwards VATSAKLIS and the four athletes of the national team offered their own «Papa» a wonderful bouquet.
China Open: Robert GARDOS upsets Maharu YOSHIMURA
Seamaster 2018 ITTF World Tour Platinum Kaisa China Open Sweden’s Kristian KARLSSON and Germany’s Patrick FRANZISKA are only two top eight players from the Men`s Singles qualification tournament who reached main draw at the Seamaster 2018 ITTF World Tour Platinum Kaisa China Open. KARLSSON recently crowned TTCLM champion with Borussia Dusseldorf and bronze medalist from LIEBHERR 2018 World Team Table Tennis Championships beat Frenchman Alexandre ROBINOT 4:2 (9:11 11-:8 11:7 11:9 8:11 11:5) while Saarbrucken`s player overcame Spain’s Alvaro ROBLES 4:1 (9:11 11:5 11:6 11:7 11:3). Two Slovenian players have secured their places among the best 32: Bojan TOKIC defeated Denmark’s Jonathan GROTH in five games Darko JORGIC eliminated Romania’s Ovidiu IONESCU after six sets. JORGIC faces in the Round of 32 No. 2 seed Timo BOLL from Germany. Englishman Liam PITCHFORD prevailed against Austrian Stefan FEGERL in five games whilst FEGERL`s compatriot Robert GARDOS (WR No. 49) upset Japan’s Maharu YOSHIMURA (WR No. 25). Hong Kong`s WONG Chung Ting awaits GARDOS in the opening round of the main draw which commences tomorrow May 31st. Former Olympic and World champion China`s ZHANG Jike actual World No. 168 beat current No. 22 Quadri ARUNA from Nigeria. Four European representatives survived in the Women`s Singles qualification two from Germany – HAN Ying and Petrissa SOLJA; and two from Austria – Sofia POLCANOVA and Amelie SOLJA. No. 2 seed Kasumi ISHIKAWA will play against Petrissa SOLJA in the opening round of the Women`s Singles event. More information:here
Orenburg not worried about losing TTCLM crown
Coach Vladimir ENDOLOV explains that Dimitrij OVTCHAROV could not play at full strength due to his health problem Four-time TTCLM winner Fakel Gazprom Orenburg lost its crown two weeks ago but the season is not over yet. From June 15th to 17th they will host the concluding fourth tournament of Russian Premier League composed by 12 teams. Orenburg lost both TTCLM final games from Borussia Dusseldorf (3:2 3:1). Coach Vladimir ENDOLOV explains: “During this season our team gave our fans a series of remarkable victories over the best clubs in Europe. In the first final our team lost with a minimum lag 2:3. We perfectly understood that the second final in Orenburg would be far from easy for both teams. So in front of a thousand audience the most intense drama of the outgoing season of the European Champions League was played out. Orenburg people and the whole world saw table tennis of the highest level”. ENDOLOV emphasized that his side faced injuries in the most important moment of the season: “Unfortunately Dimitrij OVTCHAROV the leader of our team could not play at full strength due to his health problem that forced him to miss several prestigious tournaments of the Pro-Tour series. In addition Alexey LIVENTSOV got sick on the eve of the match. Only Vladimir SAMSONOV – our experienced player gave chance to our team to continue fight. His match with Kristian KARLSSON was the highlight of the final. SAMSONOV did not give any set to the young Swede. However the following game between Jun MIZUTANI and Timo BOLL was decisive in this match. Obviously Jun could not handle the excessive excitement that prevented him from demonstrating his best table tennis this time. Moreover Timo who is now at the peak of his form perfectly coped with his task and brought a winning point to the German team”. Fakel Gazprom a seven-time Russian champion will fight for its 8th title in two weeks. After first three tournaments of national Premier League they top the standings followed by their fierce rival UMMC. More information: here
Triple Crown for Borussia Duseeldorf
Actual TTCLM and German Cup winner beat Ochsenhausen 3:1 in the finals of Bundesliga Borussia Dusseldorf secured its third Triple Crown in the last nine seasons as they beat TTF Liebherr Ochsenhausen 3:1 in the Bundesliga finals held in Frankfurt. Earlier this season Timo BOLL & Co. have reached German Cup and Table Tennis Champions League Men after win against defending champion Fakel Gazprom Orenburg from Russia. Timo BOLL concluded this season in a style contributing with two points like many times before against one of his hardest opponents in recent years Simon GAUZY 3:0 (11:7 11:6 11:7) and big fighter Hugo CALDERANO 3:0 (11:6 15:13 19:17). Ultimate clash against Brazilian was spectacular and took 36 points in total. CALDERANO overcame Stefan FEGERL in the opener then BOLL leveled the score against GAUZY. Like in TTCLM Kristian KARLSSON did a great job for his side in the third match. This time he prevailed against Joao GERALNDO after full five games in spite of being two sets behind. This is the 30th crown of Bundesliga for Borussia Dusseldorf and its 71st title in total counting TTCLM German Cup and Bundesliga. More information:here
FREITAS and PERSSON beaten in quarter-finals
Seamaster 2018 ITTF World Tour Hang Seng Hong Kong Open Two European players lost their quarter-final matches at the Seamaster 2018 ITTF World Tour Hang Seng Hong Kong Open: Jon PERSSON (Sweden) – ZHOU Qihao (China) 1:4 (13:15 9:11 7:11 11:9 2:11) Marcos FREITAS (Portugal) – LIM Jonghoon (Korea) 2:4 (9:11 3:11 12:10 8:11 11:7 9:11). ZHOU faces Korea`s CHO Seungmin in the semi-finals while LIM is going to play against Japan`s Kazuhiro YOSHIMURA who upset in straight fames No. 2 seed LEE Sangsu from Korea. Actual Women`s World No. 4 WANG Manyu (China) overcame current No. 5 Mima ITO (Japan) after full seven games of the semi-finals. All-Chinese finals is secured as HE Zhuojia (China) faces CHEN Xingtong (China) in other semi-final clash. More information:here
NETU Championships 2018: Gold for Sweden`s teams
North European table tennis championships 2018 Haapsalu Estonia Team events have brought successes for Sweden`s national teams at the North European table tennis championships 2018 Haapsalu Estonia (May 25-27th). Men`s team of Sweden beat Norway in the finals 3:1 while women`s one finished on the top in the round-robin tournament with five teams in total. Finland reached bronze in the Men`s Team event beating Latvia 3:1. Host nation finished on the fifth spot Iceland is sixth and Greenland is seventh. Sweden`s women team won all four games at the tournament: Latvia 3:1 Estonia 3:0 Norway 3:0 and Finland 3:2. Finland (3-1) is second Estonia (2-2) third Norway fourth and Latvia fifth (0-4). North European table tennis championships 2018 will be concluded tomorrow Sunday 27th by singles events. More information: here
