Seamaster 2018 ITTF World Tour Swedish Open Swedish pairings Mattias FALCK and Kristian KARLSSON clinched silver in the Men’s Doubles Event at the Seamaster 2018 ITTF World Tour Swedish Open. In the final Chinese Taipei’s LIAO Cheng-Ting and LIN Yun-Ju the no.4 seeds were better (12-10 8-11 8-11 11-6 13-11). It was for Mattias FALCK and Kristian KARLSSON their fourth career appearance in an ITTF World Tour Men’s Doubles final; in 2015 they won in Poland in 2012 they were the runners up in the Czech Republic the same fate as they were to experience five years later in Qatar. Rather differently for Liao Cheng-Ting and Lin Yun-Ju it was their first such excursion but their 10th appearance of the year on the Seamaster 2018 ITTF World Tour more than any other pairing; most significantly it was success. Youth Olympic Games gold medallists at opposite ends of the table it was SUN Yingsha the winner one month ago in Buenos Aires who partnered CHEN Xingtong to success in the Women’s Doubles final. Occupying the no.7 seeded position; they beat LIU Gaoyang who had won in Nanjing and ZHAO Rui a pair who had been required to compete in the qualification tournament. Confronting their Chinese national team colleagues they succeeded in four games (11-5 9-11 11-7 11-6); thus Sun Yingsha had a double celebration she struck gold on her 18th birthday.
Mattias FALCK halted in semis of the Singles but still in game for Doubles title
Seamaster 2018 Swedish Open in Stockholm Mattias FALCK reached the semi final of the Seamaster 2018 Swedish Open in Stockholm. His progress has been halted at the penultimate stage – FAN Zhendong the top seed recorded straight games victory to secure the final. In the quarter final Mattias FALCK the no.15 seed accounted for Kristian KARLSSON the no.16 seed (14-12 7-11 8-11 11-7 6-11 12-10) in all Swedish clash. “It was a very close match determined by small margins I had a good start in every game but Kristian kept catching up. We know each other so well. After Kristian took the “Time Out” I changed my services; that gave me the chance I needed. Now Fan Zhendong; I’ve never played him before. Let’s see what happens ” said Mattias FALCK. Previously China’s ZHOU Qihao caused the biggest upset at the quarter-final stage of the Men’s Singles; he beat Germany’s Dimitrij OVTCHAROV the no.4 seed in five games (11-9 11-7 9-11 11-9 11-6). However there is still a chance for Mattias to reach the highest step at the medal rostrum. Tomorrow in the final of the Men’s Doubles Event FALCK and Kristian KARLSSON will play against LIAO Cheng-Ting and LIN Yun-Ju of Taipei. In the semis Anton KALLBERG and Truls MOREGARD of Sweden and Paul DRINKHALL and Liam PITCHFORD of England suffered by the hands of the finalists.
Mattias FALCK halted in semis of the Singles but still in game for Doubles title
Seamaster 2018 Swedish Open in Stockholm Mattias FALCK reached the semi final of the Seamaster 2018 Swedish Open in Stockholm. His progress has been halted at the penultimate stage – FAN Zhendong the top seed recorded straight games victory to secure the final. In the quarter final Mattias FALCK the no.15 seed accounted for Kristian KARLSSON the no.16 seed (14-12 7-11 8-11 11-7 6-11 12-10) in all Swedish clash. “It was a very close match determined by small margins I had a good start in every game but Kristian kept catching up. We know each other so well. After Kristian took the “Time Out” I changed my services; that gave me the chance I needed. Now Fan Zhendong; I’ve never played him before. Let’s see what happens ” said Mattias FALCK. Previously China’s ZHOU Qihao caused the biggest upset at the quarter-final stage of the Men’s Singles; he beat Germany’s Dimitrij OVTCHAROV the no.4 seed in five games (11-9 11-7 9-11 11-9 11-6). However there is still a chance for Mattias to reach the highest step at the medal rostrum. Tomorrow in the final of the Men’s Doubles Event FALCK and Kristian KARLSSON will play against LIAO Cheng-Ting and LIN Yun-Ju of Taipei. In the semis Anton KALLBERG and Truls MOREGARD of Sweden and Paul DRINKHALL and Liam PITCHFORD of England suffered by the hands of the finalists.
Angers improves its chances for the quarter-finals
TTCLM Group C impressions after Round 3 On the half way of the group stage of 2018/19 Table Tennis Champions League Men three clubs are continuing unbeaten reigning champion Bourssia Dusseldorf (Group A) former four-time winner Orenburg (D) and 2012 runner-up UMMC (B). The most uncertain Group C sees three teams on the top with same win-loss record (2-1): Angers Saarbrucken and Bogoria. “We are very satisfaid to beat Bogoria 3:0 with as the all three our players made a so good match. Now all is possible for the quarter-finals. For us it will depend first with the rematch in Bogoria but after a so bad beginning in Saarbrucken we prove that we could have the level to continue” stated Angers’ president Gerard SARAZIN. In the same group C last season’s quarter-finalist Roskilde still has no victory. Manager of Danish club Allan BENTSEN explains: “For Roskilde it has been some hard matches in first three matches we have feeling that some matches could have gone the other way but also accept that we play against good teams. We will try in last three matches to chance things around and hopefully get some wins.”
Reigning TTCLM champion moves toward quarter-finals
The 2018/19 Table Tennis Champions League Men Reigning TTCLM champion and 11-time-winner Borussia Dusseldorf has recorded its third consecutive win last weekend beating Czech Republic’s TTC Ostrava 2016 3:0 at home. Coach Danny HEISTER praises his players for good team work: “We played well as team and won our third match. Timo (BOLL) had no problems with Ondrej BAJGER. Kristian (KARLSSON) had a strong opponent with Tomas TREGLER but he solved all challenges perfect. I share his happiness. Anton (KALLBERG) didn´t play at his highest level. But he won the match against Petr KORBEL That is important to get back self-confidence.” Kristian KARLSSON has improved his season’s win-loss record to 3-0 as he overcame Tomas TREGLER in straight games: “To win 3:0 is great. We managed to beat Ostrava and whole team played very well and we looking forward to next match. Now we played three of six matches and we have been successful in all of them. So we have a good chance to reach the quarter finals.” German side tops Group A with 3-0 ahead of former two-times winner AS Pontoise Cergy (2-1) last year’s semi-finalist Sporting Clube de Portugal (1-2) and TTC Ostrava 2016 (0-3). Round 4 games to be held in two weeks: Ostrava vs. Borussia (Nov 14) and Pontoise vs. Sporting (Nov 16).
Reigning TTCLM champion moves toward quarter-finals
The 2018/19 Table Tennis Champions League Men Reigning TTCLM champion and 11-time-winner Borussia Dusseldorf has recorded its third consecutive win last weekend beating Czech Republic’s TTC Ostrava 2016 3:0 at home. Coach Danny HEISTER praises his players for good team work: “We played well as team and won our third match. Timo (BOLL) had no problems with Ondrej BAJGER. Kristian (KARLSSON) had a strong opponent with Tomas TREGLER but he solved all challenges perfect. I share his happiness. Anton (KALLBERG) didn´t play at his highest level. But he won the match against Petr KORBEL That is important to get back self-confidence.” Kristian KARLSSON has improved his season’s win-loss record to 3-0 as he overcame Tomas TREGLER in straight games: “To win 3:0 is great. We managed to beat Ostrava and whole team played very well and we looking forward to next match. Now we played three of six matches and we have been successful in all of them. So we have a good chance to reach the quarter finals.” German side tops Group A with 3-0 ahead of former two-times winner AS Pontoise Cergy (2-1) last year’s semi-finalist Sporting Clube de Portugal (1-2) and TTC Ostrava 2016 (0-3). Round 4 games to be held in two weeks: Ostrava vs. Borussia (Nov 14) and Pontoise vs. Sporting (Nov 16).
Bronze and silver for Elizabet ABRAAMIAN in Tottori
2018 ITTF World Cadet Challenge Russia’s Elizabet ABRAAMIAN clinched bronze medal at the 2018 ITTF World Cadet Challenge in Tottori. In the semifinal she suffered by the hands of China’s KUAI Man (11:13 5:11 4:11 12:10 6:11) the player who latter clinched the gold in Japan. Both European representatives in Cadet Boys Doubles Event concluded their journeys in semis. Maciej KUBIK of Poland and Myshaal SABHI of France lost against Sora MATSUSHIMA and Yuma TANIGAKI of Japan (11:6 7:11 7:11 8:11) whilst Germany’s Mike HOLO and Belgium’s Adrien RASSENFOSSE suffered by the hands of another Japan’s pairings Kazuki HAMADA and Hiroto SHINOZUKA (11:8 4:11 5:11 11:5 8:11). MATSUSHIMA and TANIGAKI clinched gold. Elizabet ABRAAMIAN and Rebecca MUSKANTOR of Sweden clinched silver in the Cadet Girls Doubles Event. They lost in the final against Honami NAKAMORI and Hikari OKUBO of Japan (8:11 10:12 2:11). Kornelija RILISKYTE of Lithuania and Elena ZAHARIA of Romania won bronze. They lost in semis match against gold medal winners. In Cadet Mixed Doubles event in the final Iulian CHIRITA of Romania and Yukari SUGASAWA of Japan beat XU Nathan of New Zealand and Elena ZAHARIA (11:4 7:11 11:9).
ZHANG Mo’s wins not sufficient for Saint-Quentin
Manager of French club Jean-Louis POLARD comments ECLW Round 3 After first two games in the 2018/19 ECLW TT Saint-Quentinois has 0-2 win-loss record but they were very close to the victory playing Round 3 game in Lisbon. Sporting won 3:2 after crucial win of Zhenqi APOLONIA-BARTHEL against former European bronze medalist Polina MIKHAILOVA. Russian player lost by a narrow margin after full five games. “Big disappointment for TT Saint-Quentin as the team lost 2:3 in Lisbon against Sporting Clube de Portugal” stated manager of French club Jean-Louis POLARD. “Although the three home players are very skilled and well-known as they all played in the French PRO League their guests were ready to fight. Canadian ZHANG Mo won twice against TTSQ former player Daniela MONTEIRO-DODEAN and against 2013 European Champion LI Fen and Aurore LE MANSEC did her best too and grabbed one set. Unfortunately the key problem is new player Polina MIKHAILOVA who lost 9/11 in the 5th set against German Zhenqi APOLONIA-BARTHEL. The Russian player hasn’t won a match yet for Saint-Quentin neither in ECLW competition nor in the French PRO League. Can 2015 European bronze medalist recover soon and play as expected? The answer in November!” Saint-Quentin will play last two Group C games in late November against Linz AG Froschberg (away Nov 25th) and Sporting Clube de Portugal (home Nov 30th).
Europe secured eight medals in Tottori
2018 World Cadet Challenge At the penultimate day of the 2018 World Cadet Challenge in Tottori European players secured eight medals in Singles Event. Already in Team’s event boys clinched bronze. In Cadet Girls Singles Event Elizabet ABRAAMIAN of Russia reached semi final. In querters she beat Kaho AKAE of Japan and tomorrow she will play against KUAI Man of China. In cadet Boys Doubles Event Maciej KUBIK of Poland and Myshaal SABHI of France reached semis. They will play against Sora MATSUSHIMA and Yuma TANIGAKI of Japan for the place in the final. Mihe HOLO of Germany and Adrien RASSENFOSSE of Belgium will play in other semis against Kazuki HAMADA and Hiroto SHINOZUKA also of Japan. In cadet girls doubles Event ABRAAMIAN and Rebecca MUSKANTOR of Sweden will meet Korea’s BYUN Seoyoung and China’s CHN KUAI Man in their match for final. In second semi final Lithuania’s Kornelija RILISKYTE and Romania’s Elenna ZAHARIA will play againsy Honami NAKAMORI and Hikari OKUBO of Japan. In Mixed Doubles Event Maciej KUBIK partnering Korea’s BYUN Seoyoung also reached semis. They will meet Romania’s Iulian CHIRITA and Japan’s Yukari SUGASAWA. New Zealend’s Nathan Xu and ZAHARIA will meet Sora MATSUSHIMA of Japan and Giulia TAKAHASHI of Brazil.
Bronze for European team at the 2018 ITTF World Cadet Challenge
The 2018 ITTF World Cadet Challenge in Japan’s Tottori On the ultimate day of the Team’s Events at the 2018 ITTF World Cadet Challenge in Japan’s Tottori Europe team clinched the bronze medal in Cadet Boys Teams Event whilst Girls concluded their journey at the position no. 5. In match for third position Maciej KUBIK of Poland Myshaal SABHI of France and Mike HOLO of Germany beat North America‘s Edward LY of Canada Sid NARESH of USA and his compatriot Nikhil KUMAR. In semis Japan prevailed against Europe in straight matches. In Group’s phase Europe suffered only by the hands of Asian representatives and beat Oceania and Hopes team. In Cadet Girls Teams Event Elena ZAHAROVA of Romania Elizabet ABRAMIAN of Russia and Rebecca MUSKANTOR of Sweden beat Sophie ERLEY of Ireland Emily TAN of USA and LEE Xin of Malesia in the match for the fifth position. In Group phase Europe overcame Africa but lost against North America and Japan. “Girls were step from being true heroes but misfortunate schedule and course of events brought them to the position no. five. In the group stage they were only few points away from beating newly crowned champions Japan. It was 2:2 and ABRAAMIAN lead 2:0 and 7:1 against Japan’s no. 1 SUGASAWA. She failed to seize that opportunity and lost the match. The girls were devastated that match was already their. They cried and unfortunately only 25 minutes later they had to play against North America. Girls just could not be at their best after such hard disappointment ” explained ETTU Development Manager Neven CEGNAR. The competition is the hardest in past 10 years. “The competition is really fierce. Asian representatives are in full power here ” said CEGNAR.” Boys were also great. Against Asia yesterday we were close to 2:0 Myshaal had 1:0 and 8:5 against Chinese player. We lost but the boys showed brave face and true quality in the match for bronze.”
