ITTF-European Championships Teams  Germany is looking to maintain their unbeaten status in the first phase in the Women’s Singles Event at the ITTF-European Championships Teams. On Tuesday they will host Luxembourg.  Luxembourg already suffered against leader 3:1 whilst German team beat Azerbaijan twice as well.  In Group A2 Netherlands also recorded three victories; over Croatia and Italy twice. However the match in Italy went full distance so we can expect thrilling game again. In A3 Russia the leader is wounded. Despite their seeding they failed to post single victory so far. They lost against Belarus twice and against Sweden. Now they await Sweden. This is not last match Nordic team. They will meet Belarus in the last round.  In Group A4 Hungary was also caught on the wrong foot at the beginning of the phase. They lost against Spain opening match. Hungary recovered to beat them in October and added another victory over Czech Republic in away match. Now Czech Republic team comes to Hungary.  Austria is unbeaten in A5 and they will meet Portugal who suffered against hosts already in March. In A6 Poland is looking for an opportunity to level the score against Ukraine who beat them in March.  In B1 Serbia has an easy task to repeat the success against Bulgaria after they recorded three victories already. In B2 Turkey is also unbeaten and they will meet Denmark. In B3 England hosts Greece. They already beat Norway twice and Greece once. In B4 Lithuania will host Israel. So far leader is unbeaten. In B5 Slovakia beat top seeded Belgium and now they are will meet them as guests. Belgium beat Bosnia and Herzegovina twice.
Portugal seeking for avenge in Vila Nova de Gaia
ITTF European Championships Teams Penultimate round of the first phase of ITTF European Championships Teams will set up Continent on fire this Tuesday.  Ahead of Portugal in A1 Group of the Men’s Event is very important match. They suffered against Austria in the opening round 3:0 and in their last match in the Group the win comes as important task. They overcame Hungary twice whilst Austria suffered against Hungary and they will them again in December.  In Group A2 Slovenia is unbeaten although they had very tough encounter against Romania in previous occasion. Romania stretched them to full distance at home but they are yet to post a victory in the competition. Now they will play in Murska Sobota before Romania concludes the competition against Belgium next month.  In Group A3 Sweden suffered by the hands of Spanish players now they will have a chance to avenge that defeat. Spain the only unbeaten team in the group comes to Soderhamn. Sweden beat Denmark twice Spain once and they will meet in the last round.  In Group A4 Croatia will meet Poland. Croatia beat them in the opening round in straight matches. The match will be played in Osijek. Ukraine will have last chance to post a victory in first phase. They will meet Slovakia the team that has beat them already. They also lost both their encounters against Belarus.  In Group A6 Greece will meet Russia after two victories over Luxembourg. In March Russia overcame Greece 3:2 at home soil. So far Russia is unbeaten.  In B1 Group Czech Republic will meet Bulgaria they already prevailed against Bulgaria and twice against Cyprus. In B2 Italy will play against Israel Norway against Kosovo. Italy is the leader at the standing with 4 wins. In B3 Netherlands ahs all three wins and now they will meet Estonia. Same unbeaten status has Lithuania in B4 and they are yet to lose a singles match. Ireland will try to stop them. In other match in the same group Azerbaijan will play against San Marino.  In B5 England will look to avenge they surprised defeat against Serbia in May. Serbia is unbeaten whilst England beside one defeat has two wins over Bosnia and Herzegovina. In B6 Finland will meet Switzerland the team who already beat them in March. Swiss team is undefeated.
Leka Enea Tenis de Mesa secured victory over Ping Pong Club Villeneuvois
Men’s ETTU Cup  In the opening leg of the Men’s ETTU Cup Spanish Leka Enea Tenis de Mesa beat Ping Pong Club Villeneuvois in four matches. Key player was Swede Hampus SODERLUND with two victories over Romain RUIZ and Stephane OUAICHE Endika DIEZ overcame Adrien MATTENET whilst the only point for guest won Stephane OUAICHE in the duel against Daniel KOSIBA.  Dutch DeBoer Taverzo secured home victory against SF SKK El Nino Praha from Czech Republic. PARK Jeongwoo secured two point Jakub FOLWARSKI added another to the record. Dmitrij PROKOPCOV gave guest consolation with one win over David MC BEATH  Belgium’s TTC Sokah Hoboken overcame SK Vydrany Rajko GOMMERS won two points Olav KOSOLOSKY also succeeded whilst on the other side Samuel NOVOTA was in charge for one win for guests.
Silver for Russia’s Polina MIKHAILOVA in Minsk
2018 ITTF Challenge Belgosstrakh Belarus Open  Russia’s Polina MIKHAILOVA’s fantastic run at the 2018 ITTF Challenge Belgosstrakh Belarus Open was halted today in the final of the Women’s Singles Event. At the final hurdle she suffered by the hands of Saki SHIBATA (11-4 11-7 12-10 11-7). Japan’s player already won tournament in Minsk two years back. In semifinal Russian defender beat Miyuu KIHARA in five games (8-11 11-7 11-6 11-4 11-9)  In the semifinal of the Men’s Singles Event Romania’s Cristian PLETEA lost against unseeded Japanese opponent Shunsuke TOGAMI (15-13 11-3 11-8 12-10) and there were similar scenes in the other semi-final as no.4 seed Lubomir PISTEJ exited to Chinese qualifier ZHAO Zihao (8-11 11-3 9-11 11-6 11-4 9-11 11-9).  Later ZHAO Zihao clinched the trophy; he accounted for Japan’s Shunsuke TOGAMI 4-2 (11-13 11-6 11-5 11-8 10-12 11-4) to leave his first ITTF Challenge Series event with two titles to his name having prevailed in the Under 21 Men’s Singles one day earlier.  Satsuki ODO and Saki SHIBATA came away with their second Women’s Doubles trophy of the month after posting a thunderous 3-0 win against top seeded opponents Barbora BALAZOVA and Hana MATELOVA of the Slovak Republic and Czech Republic (11-3 11-4 11-7).  At the final hurdle of the Men’s Doubles tournament Kakeru SONE and Yuta TANAKA saw off Ukraine’s KOU Lei and Croatia’s WEI Shihao (11-7 11-9 13-15 11-7) to reserve their place at the top of the podium
Threee Europeans in the semis in Singles in Minsk
2018 ITTF Challenge Belgosstrakh Belarus Open  On the ultimate day of the play at the 2018 ITTF Challenge Belgosstrakh Belarus Open in Minsk Polina MIKHAILOVA of Russia the sole European competing in the Women’s Singles semi-finals will meet Miyuu KIHARA of Japan. In the other penultimate stage duel in all-Japanese clash Minami ANDO opposes Saki SHIBATA  Previously Sakura MORI the no.19 seed suffered at the hands of Polina MIKHAILOVA (11-7 11-7 11-7 11-7) whilst Miyuu KIHARA the no.15 seed beat qualifier Maria DOLGIKH (11-9 11-9 11-4 11-6). Despite the rankings the victory of Russia’s player came as surprise. In two previous encounters both time MORI secured victories. Now Maria 31 years of age will play against KIHARA who is only 14 years old.  The player who was under spotlight in Men’s Singles event on day three was Romania’s Cristian Pletea: the no.23 seed beat the odds and overcame third seed Nima ALAMIAN (11-1 11-7 11-9 11-7) before inflicted the pain in the hearts of the home fans by knocking no.14 seed Pavel PLATONOV out of the competition at the quarter-finals stage (10-12 12-10 11-7 11-6 11-6). No.4 seed Lubomir PISTEJ also enjoyed a successful day in Minsk with victories over Antoine HACHARD and Harmeet DESAI. He will meet ZHAO Zihao of China in semis. ZHAO won the gold in Under 21 Event in Minsk.  The only semi-finalist in Minsk to have previously visited the penultimate round in a Men’s Singles event at an open international tournament is Slovakia’s Lubomir PISTEJ the runner up earlier this year in Slovenia. The no.4 seed at the quarter-final stage he ousted India’s Harmeet Desai the no.9 seed (11-7 11-5 12-10 9-11 11-3).  The first gold medals were awarded to players representing China with HE Aige and ZHAO Zihao emerging victorious in the Under 21 Women’s Singles and Under 21 Men’s Singles events for the first time. HE Aige came out on top in a tight five games contest against Japan’s Miku IZUMO (11-9 9-11 8-11 11-6 11-4) while ZHAO Zihao needed just the three games to see off Russian opponent Denis IVONIN at the final hurdle (11-8 11-8 11-3).  Second seeds Satsuki ODO and Saki SHIBATA of Japan will play against the Slovak and Czech duo of Barbora BALAZOVA and Hana MATELOVA seeded first for the Women’s Doubles trophy while the Men’s Doubles title will be awarded to an unseeded partnership as Kakeru SONE and Yuta TANAKA take on fellow qualifiers KOU Lei and WEI Shihao of Ukraine and Croatia respectively. Â
Cajasur Priego TM secured home away win over Fenerbahce Sport Club
Cajasur Priego TM secured home away win over Fenerbahce Sport Club in the first leg of the Third Round of the ETTU Cup Men. Carlos MACHADO was the key player with two win whilst Mohamed ELBEIALI was the only player to score in the Turkey’s side. In Ukraine Fortune Kyiv beat another Turkish representative. Turk Telekom Ankara Sport Club suffered in straight matches. Grigory VLASOV Yevgen PRYSHCHEPA and Yaroslav ZHMUDENKO all recorded straight games victories.  In Women’s ETTU Cup TMK-TAGMET Taganrog with Yulia PROKHOROVA Valentina SABITOVA Margarita FETUKHINA beat A.S.D. Tennistavolo Norbello. Also TTC Kazan with Antonina SAVELYEVA SUN Chen and Anna BLAZHKO was not in the mood for charity against Spanish Hotel-Museo Patria Chica Priego TM. Fenerbahce Spor Kulubu higlaghted the bad weekend for Tukish clubs. They lost against TTV Lybrae Heerlen on home soil. Elena TIMINA MEN Shuohan and Rachel GERARTS played for Dutch side.
ECLW: Favourites stretched to full distance
Round 4: UCAM Cartagena – TTC Berlin Eastside 2:3 LZ Linz Froschberg – KTS Enea Siarka Tarnobrzeg 2:3  Four-times ECLW champion TTC Berlin Eastside and two-times runner-up KTS Enea Siarka Tarnobrzeg have been extended to full distance in their Round 4 games held today November 17th. German club beat away UCAM Cartagena in Group B while the best Polish club overcame ECLW newcomer LZ Linz in the Group D.  Berlin showed good team work as each of its players took one point: Matilda EKHOLM vs. Silvia ERDELJI Nina MITTELHAM vs. Viktoria LEBEDEVA and Georgina POTA vs. ERDELJI. Maria XIAO won both her matches playing against POTA and EKHLOM. It was third consecutive victory for German side.  HAN Ying did her job in Tarnobrzeg’s line-up providing two points in straight games against Anita RODRIGUES and WU Yue. Elizabeta SAMARA added winning point in the fifth encounter against Ines DIENDORFER. Host side had advantage twice first when WU defeated SAMARA then in the third game that belonged to HO Tin-Tin against Viktoria PAVLOVICH.  ECLW Round 4  GROUP B  UCAM Cartagena – TTC Berlin Eastside 2:3  Maria XIAO – Georgina POTA 3:0 (12:10 16:14 17:15) Silvia ERDELJI – Matilda EKHOLM 0:3 (5:11 5:11 8:11) Viktoria LEBEDEVA – Nina MITTELHAM 0:3 (7:11 3:11 5:11) Maria XIAO – Matilda EKHOLM 3:1 (11:6 11:7 9:11 11:9) Silvia ERDELJI – Georgina POTA 1:3 (16:14 9:11 13:15 9:11)  GROUP D  LZ Linz Froschberg – KTS Enea Siarka Tarnobrzeg 2:3  WU Yue – Elizabeta SAMARA 3:0 (11:6 11:4 11:6) Anita RODRIGUES – HAN Ying 0:3 (2:11 3:11 2:11) HO Tin-Tin – Viktoria PAVLOVICH 3:2 (11:6 7:11 8:11 13:11 11:3) WU Yue – HAN Ying 0:3 (6:11 4:11 7:11) Ines DIENDORFER – Elizabeta SAMARA 0:3 (5:11 4:11 4:11) Â
Close duel in Women’s ETTU Cup in Spain
Belgium’s Logis Auderghem secured safe advantage before the ETTU Cup return leg on home soil in ten days. Jasper MERCKX Ludovic BIERNI and Alexy VAN DONGEN overcame Croatia’s Starr Varaždin in four matches. Only Ronlad REDJEP scored for the hosts.  French clubs showed no mercy in opening legs. Chartres beat Italian’s Marcozzi Cagliari in straight matches as well as Istres Tennis de Table accounted for Borges Vall. However the second duel was much closer than the result predicts. Samuel WALKER against Marc DURAN and Laurens TROMER against Joan MASIP were stretched to full distance.  Croatia had much better result in Women’s ETTU Cup. Aquaestil Duga Resa overcame Moravsky Krumlov in four matches. Tecnigen Linares stood severe pressure in all Spanish clash. Leka Enea Tenis de Mesa recovered from 2:0 in reverse but in decisive match Roxana Ana Maria ISTRATE beat Alejandro CALVO.  CP Lyssois Lille Métropole succeeded against Sparvägen TTC in straight matches.     Â
ECLW: Dr. CASL and Linz AG Froschberg win away
Round 4: Budaorsi – Dr. CASL 2:3 Sporting – Linz AG Froschberg 1:3  Favourites have proved their status in the first two ECLW Round 4 games as reigning champion Dr. CASL and former two-time winner Linz AG Froschberg won their matches away. Croatian side beat 2013 runner-up Budaorsi 2i while the best Austrian club prevailed against ECLW newcomer Sporting 3:0.  Szandra PERGEL upset DOO Hoi Kem to set up an early lead for Hungarian team. FU Yu levelled the score against Marcedesz NAGYVARADI but Petra LOVAS secured second point and new lead for Budaorsi as he overcame Dorina SREBRNJAK. FU was again responsible for the tie beating PERGEL in four games while DOO decided the winner against Maria FAZEKAS. It was third consecutive victory for Croatian club.  Linz AG Froschberg continues unbeaten (3-0) thanks to good team work as SOO Wai Minnie Sofia POLCANOVA in Linda BERGSTROM reached one point each against Sporting. Host side managed to level the score after second game when 2013 ITTF-European Championships gold medallist LI Fen beat actual 2018 ECH bronze medalist POLCANOVA in straight games. BERGSTROM has defeated Zhenqi BARTHEL APOLONIA after full five games while POLCANOVA concluded the clash by overcoming DODEAN MONTEIRO.  ECLW Round 4  GROUP A  SH-ITB Budaörsi 2i Sport Club – Dr. CASL 2:3  Szandra PERGEL – DOO Hoi Kem 3:0 (11:9 12:10 11:5) Mercedesz NAGYVARADI – FU Yu 0:3 (5:11 11:13 7:11) Petra LOVAS – Dorina SREBRNJAK 3:2 (11:9 11:6 9:11 5:11 11:5) Szandra PERGEL – FU Yu 1:3 (5:11 12:10 2:11 5:11) Maria FAZEKAS – DOO Hoi KEM 2:3 (4:11 15:13 9:11 11:4 4:11)  GROUP C  Sporting Clube de Portugal – Linz AG Froschberg 1:3  Daniela DODEAN MONTEIRO – SOO Wai Yam Minnie 0:3 (8:11 7:11 8:11) LI Fen – Sofia POLCANOVA 3:0 (11:7 11:9 11:6) Zhenqi BARTHEL APOLONIA – Linda BERGSTROM 2:3 (8:11 9:11 11:6 12:10 7:11) Daniela DODEAN MONTEIRO – Sofia POLCANOVA 1:3 (11:7 5:11 11:8 11:5)
TTCLM: Hennebont beats Mühlhausen to keep chances alive in Group D
Five matches of Round 4 held tonight November 16th  French club Hennebont beat Post SV Mühlhausen from Germany 3:0 to keep chances alive in the battle for the first two spots and place in the knockout stage. Four more games were held tonight November 16th: AS Pontoise Cergy – Sporting Clube De Portugal 3:2 SPG Walter Wels – TTSC UMMC 3:1 Roskilde Bordtennis BTK61 – FC Saarbrücken Tischtennis 0:3 Eslovs Ai Bordtennis – TTC Fakel Gazprom 0:3.  Former two-time TTCLM winner Pontoise has been extended to full distance by last season’s semi-finalist Sporting. Actual world no. 12 Mattias FALCK secured two points for host side against two Nigerian players Bode ABIODUN and Quadri ARUNA (no. 23) while Can AKKUZU prevailed against ABIODUN in the ultimate clash after very intense opening set (18:16). Portugal’s team had advantage after first three encounters as ARUNA and CARVALHO overcame AKKUZU and FLORE respectively. French side has improved its win-loss record to 3-1 while Sporting has 1-3.  Group B leader UMMC suffered its first defeat playing away against Walter Wels. Russian side has travelled to Austria without Alexander SHIBAEV FANG Bo and Andrej GACINA. Host side has recorded its very first win thanks to current world no. 169 PARK Ganghyeon who beat both Artur ABUSEV and world no. 15 Jonathan GROTH. Adam SZUDI added one point as he overcame Ilya ZHIDKOV in the third game.  German club Saarbrucken keeps top of Group C thanks to 3:0 victory in Denmark. Patrick FRANZISKA paved the way to this win as he beat ZHAI Yujia in the opener while other two points came from two rising stars Darko JORGIC (vs. Michael MAZE in five games) and Tomas POLANSKY.  Former four-time TTCLM winner and actual no. 2 seed Orenburg beat 2016 runner-up Eslovs playing with two under-18 players Trils MOREGARD (lost to Vladimir SAMSONOV) and Ioannis SGOUROPOULOS (vs. Dimitrij OVTCHAROV). Marcos FREITAS has defeated Robert SVENSSON in the third clash.  Liam PITCHFORD continues his excellent performances from ITTF World Tour as he prevailed against Mühlhausen’s Ovidiu IONESCU actual 2018 ITTF-European Championships runner-up. Cedric NUYTINCK beat Daniel HABESOHN in straight games as well as FAN Shengpeng did against Steffen MENGEL.  TTCLM Round 4  GROUP A  AS Pontoise Cergy – Sporting Clube De Portugal 3:2  Mattias FALCK – Bode ABIODUN 3:0 (12:10 11:7 11:6) Can AKKUZU – Quadri ARUNA 1:3 (7:11 10:12 11:9 8:11) Tristan FLORE – Diogo CARVALHO 2:3 (11:9 13:15 11:7 5:11 9:11) Mattias FALCK – Quadri ARUNA 3:2 (11:3 12:10 7:11 9:11 11:6) Can AKKUZU – Bode ABIODUN 3:0 (18:16 11:9 11:3)  GROUP B  SPG Walter Wels – TTSC UMMC 3:1  PARK Ganghyeon – Artur ABUSEV 3:0 (11:4 11:6 11:6) Deni KOZUL – Jonathan GROTH 2:3 (7:11 11:7 6:11 12:10 9:11) Adam SZUDI – Ilya ZHIDKOV 3:1 (11:4 11:9 8:11 11:4) PARK Ganghyeoun – Jonathan GROTH 3:1 (11:8 11:6 7:11 11:3)  GROUP C  Roskilde Bordtennis BTK61 – FC Saarbrücken Tischtennis 0:3  ZHAI Yujia – Patrick FRANZISKA 1:3 (11:9 10:12 6:11 9:11) Michael MAZE – Darko JORGIC 2:3 (8:11 13:11 8:11 11:6 6:11) Tamas LAKATOS – Tomas POLANSKY 2:3 (5:11 11:9 12:10 7:11 8:11)  GROUP D  Eslovs Ai Bordtennis – TTC Fakel Gazprom 0:3  Truls MOREGARD – Vladimir SAMSONOV 0:3 (6:11 10:12 7:11) Ioannis SGOUROPOULOS – Dimitrij OVTCHAROV 0:3 (6:11 5:11 2:11) Robert SVENSSON – Marcos FREITAS 1:3 (14:16 12:10 6:11 6:11)  G.V. Hennebont T.T. – Post SV Mühlhausen 3:0  Liam PITCHFORD – Ovidiu IONESCU 3:1 (5:11 11:6 11:7 11:7) Cedric NUYTINCK – Daniel HABESOHN 3:0 (11:5 11:9 12:10) FAN Shengpeng – Steffen MENGEL 3:0 (11:7 11:5 11:8)
