TTCLM quarter-finals 1st leg: Walter Wels – Angers 0:3 Muhlhausen – UMMC 2:3 Vaillante Sports Angers and TTSC UMMC have secured advantage in the first leg of the 2018/19 TTCLM quarter-finals playing their matches away. French club beat SPG Walters Wels 3:0 while Russian team overcame Post SV Muhlhausen 3:2. Angers is very close to the biggest achievement in its history as they never played TTCLM semi-finals before. Jens LUDQVIST beat Deni KOZUL in four games of the opener while other two games have been decided in straight sets: Joao GERALDO prevailed against Adam SZUDI and Andrea LANDRIEU defeated Dominique PLATTNER. The 2012 TTCLM runner-up UMMC was successful in Muhlhausen thanks to Andrej GACINA who won both his encounters against Daniel HABESOHN and Lubomir JANCARIK. Chinese player in Russian team FANG Bo former world Top 10 player defeated JANCARIK but lost to HABESOHN in the very exciting fourth clash (Austrian reversed the score in late third game from 8-10 to 12-10). Actual 2018 ITTF European Championships runner-up Ovidiu IONESCU prevailed against 2018 Europe Top 16 Cup bronze medallist Jonathan GROTH after full five games. TTCLM quarter-finals 1stleg SPG Walter Wels – Vaillante Sports Angers 0:3 Deni KOZUL – Jens LUNDQVIST 1:3 (9:11 11:7 6:11 4:11) Adam SZUDI – Joao GERALDO 0:3 (8:11 9:11 5:11) Dominique PLATTNER – Andrea LANDRIEU 0:3 (6:11 2:11 4:11) Post SV Muhlhausen – TTSC UMMC 2:3 Daniel HABESOHN – Andrej GACINA 1:3 (6:11 6:11 11:8 8:11) Lubomir JANCARIK – FANG Bo 1:3 (11:9 3:11 10:12 13:15) Ovidiu IONESCU – Jonathan GROTH 3:2 (8:11 11:9 4:11 11:7 11:1) Daniel HABESOHN – FANG Bo 3:1 (7:11 11:7 12:10 11:6) Lubomir JANCARIK – Andrej GACINA 1:3 (6:11 11:9 3:11 7:11)
Hodonin upset four-time ECLW champion
2018/19 ECLW quarter-finals 1st leg: Hodonin – Berlin 3:1 Etival Clairefontaine – Dr. CASL 0:3 Metz – Linz 2:3 Czech Republic’s SKST STAVOIMPEX Hodonin caused big upset in the first quarter-final leg of the 2018/19 ECLW as they beat at home former four-time winner TTC Berlin Eastside 3:1. Reigning ECLW champion Dr. CASL swept away Etival Clairefontaine 3:0 and all three encounters were decided in straight games so just miracle can prevent them to reach the semi-final. Former two-time ECLW champion Linz AG Frochberg and actual ETTU Cup winner Metz TT showed another close game between them as Austrian side secured 3:2 advantage for the second leg. China’s GUO Ruichen secured two points for Hodinin against Georgina POTA and SHAN Xiaona who lost both her games first one to Iveta VACENOVSKA. Youngest Berlin’s player Nina MITTELHAM provided unique point for her side as she beat Natalia PARTYKA in the third match. Dr. CASL recorded superb win 3:0 with all three encounters in straight games: LI Jie vs. SHAO Jieni YU Fu vs. Maria DOLGIKH DOO Hoi Kem vs. Hana MATELOVA. Second leg will be held in the same hall this Sunday (January 27) as two clubs earlier agreed about it. Hong Kong’s SOO Wai Yam Minnie was key player of Linz in the game held in Metz. She beat both DING Yaping (in the opener) and Adina DIACONU (fifth match) while Sofia POLCANOVA overcame DIACONU in the second game. After fourth clash teams have been levelled as Carole GRUNDISCH and DING Yaping prevailed against Linda BERGSTROM and Sofia POLCANOVA respectively. 2018/19 ECLW quarter-finals 1st leg SKST STAVOIMPEX Hodonin – TTC Berlin Eastside 3:1 GUO Ruichen – Georgina POTA 3:1 (6:11 12:10 11:9 13:11) Iveta VACENOVSKA – SHAN Xiaona 3:1 (11:8 11:5 3:11 11:5) Natalia PARTYKA – Nina MITTELHAM 1:3 (7:11 15:13 12:14 4:11) GUO Ruichen – SHAN Xiaona 3:1 (7:11 8:11 11:9 11:4 11:8) Etival Clairefontaine ASRTT – Dr. CASL 0:3 SHAO Jieni – LI Jie 0:3 (10:12 5:11 9:11) Maria DOLGIKH – YU Fu 0:3 (3:11 4:11 7:11) Hana MATELOVA – DOO Hoi Kem 0:3 (4:11 8:11 8:11) Metz TT – Linz AG Froschberg 2:3 DING Yaping – SOO Wai Yam Minnie 1:3 (11:7 9:11 3:11 7:11) Adina DIACONU – Sofia POLCANOVA 0:3 (11:13 4:11 13:15) Carole GRUNDISCH – Linda BERGSTROM 3:1 (11:8 11:4 13:15 11:7) DING Yaping – Sofia POLCANOVA 3:0 (11:7 11:9 11:5) Adina DIACONU – SOO Wai Yam Minnie 0:3 (8:11 6:11 9:11)
Budaorsi 2i Sport Club and FC Saarbrücken Tischtennis won opening matches
ETTU Cup quarterfinals In the first leg of the quarterfinal of the Women’s ETTU Cup after fierce fight Hungary’s Budaorsi 2i Sport Club beat TTC Kazan in five matches with four of them concluded in five games. In men’s ETTU Cup quarterfinal FC Saarbrücken Tischtennis needed one match less to overcame Chartres ASTT. Szandra PERGEL gave host team a dream start after she beat Anna BLAZHKO in five games but Antonina SAVELYEVA leveled the score after victory over Maria FAZEKAS. Just after Petra LOVAS gave host another boost and 2:1 lead against Ekaterina OKHOTNIKOVA SAVELYEVA secured second point for guests. PERGEL suffered but FAZEKAS beat BLAZHKO for overall victory. At home FC Saarbrücken Tischtennis showed no mercy against Chartres ASTT. The backbone of hosts’ success was Slovenia’s Darko JORGIC who overcame Vitor ISHIY in three games but faced a lot of pressure against Alexandre ROBINOT. ROBINOT also forced Cristian PLETEA to go full distance but it was Romain LORENTZ who won the only point for French side. Budaorsi 2i Sport Club – TTC Kazan 3:2 Szandra PERGEL – Anna BLAZHKO 3:2 (9:11 11:7 8:11 11:7 11:6) Maria FAZEKAS – Antonina SAVELYEVA 2:3 (14:12 6:11 11:7 11:13 10:12) Petra LOVAS – Ekaterina OKHOTNIKOVA 3:2 (11:8 8:11 5:11 11:9 11:7) Szandra PERGEL – Antonina SAVELYEVA 2:3 (11:6 11:13 5:11 11:7 9:11) Maria FAZEKAS – Anna BLAZHKO 3:1 (11:6 11:6 8:11 11:8) FC Saarbrücken Tischtennis – Chartres ASTT 3:1 Darko JORGIC – Vitor ISHIY 3:0 (11:6 11:3 11:6) Cristian PLETEA – Alexandre ROBINOT 3:2 (19:17 8:11 11:9 9:11 11:9) Tomas POLANSKY – Romain LORENTZ 1:3 (11:9 9:11 9:11 9:11) Darko JORGIC – Alexandre ROBINOT 3:2 (12:10 5:11 9:11 11:3 14:12)
The next level the precedent and legacy of the Liebherr 2018 World Championships
Representatives from the University of Halmstad the Swedish Table Tennis Association Halmstad Table Tennis Club and the Municipality of Halmstad at the signing ceremony (Photo: Peter Johansson) Preceding and throughout the Liebherr 2018 World Championships the motto was “to the next level”; now some nine months after medals were presented and the curtain closed the principle of “to the next level” continues in earnest. Successful collaboration between the Swedish Table Tennis Association and Halmstad University has facilitated an agreement being signed between the two organisations involving elite sport being combined with academic study; the two parties will develop international elite coach education aimed at coaches from all over the world who have ambitions to work at national team level. Alongside Mattias Nilsson Deputy Head of the Academy of Health and Welfare at Halmstad University Petra Sörling member of the ITTF Executive Committee was delighted to sign the documents in her capacity as President of the Swedish Table Tennis Association. “We are very happy to continue our co-operation with the University of Halmstad Halmstad Municipality and Halmstad Table Tennis Club; for us this is the true legacy after the World Championships. We have a need to sharpen our education programmes we are excited about the opportunity to create cutting-edge education at international level together.” Petra Sörling. Importantly for the Halmstad University it is part of a long term and conscious strategy to seek co-operation between the business and sports sectors alike; a policy which has been developed following the appointment of Urban Johnson Professor of Psychology at Halmstad University. “The dialogue with the Swedish Table Tennis Association and Halmstad Municipality has been very positive and we’re very pleased with the agreement. For us this means that we further strengthen our sports profile and become even more attractive as an institution for current and potential students ” said Urban Johnson. Notably Halmstad Table Tennis Club provides the practice environment for students with table tennis as a sport on the Professional Sports Career and Work Life programme at Halmstad University. Eventually the students will be able to take coaching roles; a situation applauded by Ola Magnusson Department Head Sports and Leisure Halmstad Municipality. “We are very pleased that an additional elite environment is being established in Halmstad and that the co-operation between Halmstad Municipality Halmstad University and national sports associations is being further developed. The positive effects are many; the elite environment in table tennis makes it possible for table tennis playing children and youth to play in the highest league in their home town and it promotes the development of the local club to name ” stated Ola Magnusson. Positive responses it is the very same reaction from Mikael Andersson High Performance Director of the Swedish Table Tennis Association and Thomas Buza and Secretary-General at the Swedish Table Tennis Association. “It feels great that all conditions are in place and that we can now start develop this high level coach education. Swedish table tennis needs more and better educated coaches and we truly believe that this will increase the status of the coaching profession in general. The international perspective makes it even more exciting! We hope for a really close co-operation with both the International Table Tennis Federation and the European Table Tennis Union. Good networking possibilities and intentions for exchanges are also available with the Shanghai University of Sports and China Table Tennis College.” Notably the University of Halmstad played a major role in the promotion and organization of the 2018 ITTF Sports Science Congress which was held in the two days prior to the Championships.
Rachel MORET: I would like to take my revenge
CCB Europe Top 16 Cup in Montreux (February 2nd and 3rd) On the first weekend of February the CCB Europe Top 16 Cup will be held for the second consecutive time in Montreux. Host nation representative Rachel MORET tells us what her expectations are for the tournament and this year 2019. What are your goals for this year ? “The Individual World Championships in April is one of my objectives for this season. Whether it’s singles or doubles I hope to go as far as I can. In May we also have the qualifications for the European Team Championships ” reminded MORET. Looking for Olympic Games what do you need to do? “There will be European and then global qualifications. All the dates are not yet known but it normally starts around June 2019 and ends in April 2020. There is still a long way to go!” What is your goal for CCB Europe Top 16 Cup? “To give everything I could during the game and not have any regrets after it. And of course to try to qualify for the second round!” Who do you want to play against? “The level is high; I know that the first round will necessarily be very difficult. I had a good game against EKHOLM two years ago at the Swiss Open I would like to take my revenge.” What would you do if you won the Top 16? “Wow! I haven’t thought about it. Already passing the first round would be nice. But I know that I will necessarily celebrate the title with my friends and family and the people who help me everyday ” said Rachel MORET. 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.
ECLW: Dr. CASL plays both games away
ECLW quarter-finals 1st leg January 25-26 First quarter-final leg of the 2018/19 will be held this Friday and Saturday (Jan 25-26) but one second game is scheduled for Sunday (Jan 27) too according agreement between French club ETIVAL Clairefontaine ASRTT and reigning ECLW champion Dr. CASL. President of Croatian club Martin-Tino CASL explains why they are going to play twice abroad: “As unique Champions League winner from Croatia in all sports we are forced to play both legs abroad! We decided to play both games on their soil as Sports Union of the city of Zagreb didn’t cover their debt to us for the organization of international games. Regarding the upcoming games I can say that Etival is good team as well as all the others participants of the ECLW quarter-finals. I hope we are able to win after two away legs if not we don’t deserve to go further.” In spite of this circumstances Dr. CASL is considered as a clear favourite against French side. Croatian team left Group A with 4-0 win-loss record while Etival had 2-2 in Group B. Four-time ECLW winner TTC Berlin Eastside (4-0) Group B winner faces Czech Republic SKST STAVOIMPEX Hodonin (3-1) second placed Group D team. “We play against Berlin who has in their team four top European players so of course they are big favourite in the quarterfinals to go through. But we will do our best and I think that we aren’t without chance and it can be very close matches ” stated Hodonin’s coach Jaroslav MIKESKA. Actual ETTU Cup winner Metz TT and former two-time ECLW winner Linz play each other third time 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. “It has always been exciting games and always with a happy ending for our team. Especially unforgettable was our clash decided by only single point” stated Linz president Gunther RENNER. President of Metz TT Phillipe BORDES expects full hall against Austrian team: “As usually Metz TT begins to be known for our fighting spirit and. … spectators! Maybe the people who come to support our team will be the “fourth” player! In any case the first leg in Metz will be a big clash. Respect to this great team of LINZ and their strong players”! Sporting finished second in the Group C with a 2-2 win-loss record after dramatic away win over TT Saint Quentinois 3:2 in the ultimate group stage round. Now they will meet no.2 seed and two-time ECLW runner-up Tarnobrzeg. “This is our debut year at ECLW. We expect two very difficult games but in which the objective will be to keep us in the test” stated Sporting’s coach Marco RODRIGUES. 2018/19 ECLW quarter-finals 1st leg SKST STAVOIMPEX Hodonin – TTC Berlin Eastside (Jan 25 18:00 CET) ETIVAL Clairefontaine ASRTT – Dr. CASL (Jan 25 19:30 CET) Metz TT – Linz AG Froschberg (Jan 25 19:30 CET) Sporting Clube de Portugal – KTS Enea Siarka Tarnobrzeg (Jan 26 18:00)
TTCLM: Timo BOLL secures win for Borussia
Reigning TTCLM champion beat away Bogoria 3:1 in the 1st quarter-final leg Reigning TTCLM champion Borussia Dusseldorf left Polish city of Grodzisk Mazowiecki with a convincing 3:1 win in the first quarter-final leg thanks to Timo BOLL who secured two points as well as to young Sweden’s player Anton KALLBERG the winner of the third encounter decided in late fifth set. Kaii YOSHIDA provided early lead to the host side as he beat Kristian KARLSSON in straight games of the opener. BOLL responded in the same manner recording convincing victory against Pavel SIRUCEK. Anton KALLBERG did an excellent job for his team as he defeated former Borussia’s player Panagiotis GIONIS after full five games turning the score from 0-2 to 3-2. He decided to attack at 2-2 (7-7) when he collected three points in a row by his sharp forehand. BOLL proved to be one of favourites at the upcoming 2019 CCB Europe Top 16 Cup in Montreux by his superb win against YOSHIDA. Current world no.5 won 13 points in a row in late second and early third set. Host led 6:2 in the second game but he lost it 11:6. Second leg will be held on February 7th in Dusseldorf. 2018/19 TTCLM quarter-finals 1st leg K.S. Dartom Bogoria Grodzisk Mazoiecki – Borussia Dusseldorf 1:3 Kaii YOSHIDA – Kristian KARLSSON 3:0 (11:5 11:3 12:10) Pavel SIRUCEK – Timo BOLL 0:3 (9:11 6:11 6:11) Panagiotis GIONIS – Anton KALLBERG 2:3 (11:6 11:8 7:11 4:11 8:11) Kaii YOSHIDA – Timo BOLL 0:3 (5:11 6:11 6:11)
TTCLM: Huge advantage for Fakel Gazprom
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)
