National Championships   At he Swedish Championships played in Idrottens Hus Helsingborg Sweden Kristian KARLSSON in Men’s Singles and Matilda EKHOLM in Women’s Singles clinched the titles in their respective Events.   Swedish champions   MS Kristian Karlsson Jens Lundquist   WS Matilda Ekholm Linda Bergström   Boys U21 Truls Möregårdh Simon Berglund   Girls U21 Filippa Bergand Stina Källberg   MD Anton Källberg/Anders Eriksson Jiang Chang Hong/Simon Söderlund   WD Matilda Ekholm/Ellen Holmsten Jennifer Jonsson/Linda Bergström    

National Championships   The new champion of Moldova was Vladislav URSU from Chisinau. He took this important title from his team-mate Andrei PUTUNTICA. Apprentice Vladimir SEMIPEADNII Vladislav URSU in a beautiful duel was able to outplay Andrei PUTUNTICA and for the first time in his career to become the champion. The second place in the championship was occupied by Andrij PUTUNTICA. In the third place Veniamin DUBROVIN from the town of Beltsy.   In the semifinals Andrei PUTUNTICA met – Veniamin DUBROVIN 4: 1 (11: 5 11: 7 9:11 11: 4). In the second semi-final Vladislav URSU – Denis TERNA played 4: 1 (11: 5 11: 9 4:11 11: 7 11: 9). Final Vladislav URSU – Andriy PUTUNTICA 4: 2 (11: 7 11: 8 7:11 11: 8 4:11 12:10)   Among the women Alexandra KIRIAKOVA from Dubossary became the champion. The second place was taken by Ekaterina ZHIBRIK (Chisinau). The third is Ekaterina SHMYGANOVSKAYA (Dubossary). Alexandra KIRIAKOVA – Ekaterina ZHIBRIK 3: 1 (11: 9 11: 7 5:11 14:12)   In the women’s doubles champions were Olga BLIZNETS – Ekaterina SHMYGANOVSKAYA. In the men’s doubles champions Andrei PUTUNTICA and Vladislav URSU. In a mixed category Andrei PUTUNTICA and Vitalina BRYNZA.    

Lithuanian National Championships   Three days of Lithuanian National Championships held in Lithuania capital Vilnius brought a lot of surprises.    The winner of the Lithuanian National Table Tennis Championships for the first time became Medardas STANKEVICIUS (coachV. STANKEVICIUS) and Ingrida PRIEDZIUTE (coach VELICKA).    PREIDZIUTE secured place in finals when winning against BASKUTYTĖ in the semi-finals. In finals she met with fifteen years old RILISKYTE (coach. PRUSIENE) who after the persistent battle with the result 4:3 (11: 9 12:10 5:11 8:11 11:13 11: 6 11: 9) had to recognize the advantage of the PREIDZIUTE.   In the quarterfinals STUCKYTE who was the favorite in women’s competitions suffered an injury in the third set and could not continue competitions in this way sending BASKUTYTE to the semifinals.   Four times national champion Udra did not reach finals too. In the quarterfinals after a very tense battle with the result 3: 4 (11: 5 4:11 11: 6 11: 7 7:11 9:11 9:11) he lost for Vilkas who met in the semifinals with Stankevicius.   In the second half of semifinals the audience was surprised by the player LESIV who with result 4: 2 (11: 7 6:11 11: 6 8:11 11: 8 11: 8) beat one of the favorites Mikutis.   In the final duel STANKEVICIUS beat LESIV with a score of 4:1 (11: 5 11: 6 11: 8 10:12 11: 7).   VENCKUTE with BASKUTYTE in the final with result of 3:1 defeated RASIMAVICIENE with PREIDZIUTE and became the winners of the women’s doubles. The winners of the man doubles were brothers Arnoldas and Tonetas DOMEIKA who defeated brothers Alfredas and Manfredas UDRA with the result 3:2. VENCKUTE and Medardas STANKEVICIUS became the winners in mixed doubles.   Champions and winners Man Singles Woman Singles 1. Medardas Stankevicius 1. Ingrida Preidziute 2. Rimas Lesiv 2. Kornelija Riliskyte 3. Matas Vilkas and Tomas Mikutis 3. Vitalija Venckute and Ugne Baskutyte   Man Doubles Woman Doubles Mixed Doubles 1. Arnoldas Domeika / Tonetas Domeika 1. Vitalija Venckute/ Ugne Baskutyte 1. Medardas Stankevicius / Vitalija Venckute 2. Alfredas Udra / Manfredas Udra 2. Aukse Rasimaviciene / Ingrida Preidziute 2. Tonetas Domeika / Egle Stuckyte 3. Agnius Kacerauskas / Medardas Stankevicius and  Matas Vilkas / Matas Skucas 3. Egle Stuckyte / Emilija Riliskyte and Kornelija Sciglaite / Egle Orlovaite 3. Alfredas Udra / Kornelija Riliskyte and  Arnoldas Domeika / Aukse Rasimaviciene  

National Championships Ilka DOVAL and Eskil LINDHOLM are crowned Norwegian champions. After two days of fierce battles they clinched their gold medals at National Championships.   In the women’s final Ilka DOVAL beat Maja HAUGEN GJELLE 4-3 and Eskil LINDHOLM beat Borgar HAUG 4-3 in men`s final. This was Eskil first title and Ilka second in single.   Men Singles Eskil LINDHOLM FORNEBU BTK Borgar HAUG Fokus BTK Geir ERLANDSEN STORD BTK and Roger ANDERSSON Stord BTK   Women Singles Ilka DOVAL Modum BTK Maja HAUGEN GJELLE B-72 Rebekka CARLSEN B-72 and Anne Sophie KALVATN B-72   Men’s Doubles Event Lars RØNNEBERG/ Eskil LINDHOLM Fornebu BTK Istvan MOLDOVAN/WANG Bing Modum BTK Vegard SANDBERG/Mats Meinseth EIKER BTK and Jimmy OJAKANGAS/Christian IBFENFELT Laksevåg BTK   Women’s Doubles Event Sonja OBRADOVIC/Rikke SKÅTTET B-72 Maja HAUGEN GJELLE / Rebekka CARLSEN B-72 Ilka DOVAL Modum BTK/Aida Dahlen RANDESUND and Anna GRUTLE AASEBØ / Marte GRUTLE AASEBØ Fokus BTK   Mixed Doubles Event Anna GRUTLE AASEBØ/Borgar HAUG Fokus BTK Rebekka CARLSEN/Sondre BERNER B-72 Sunniva SJØHOLT/Fredrik B. LANGEN B-72 and Katarina Evensen WETZEL/Henrik B. NILSEN B-72

Latvian National Championships   Sabina MUSAEVA aged 14 became one of the youngest national champions in Europe. She upset the odds to clinch the title of Latvian National Championships defeating four-time winner Baiba BOGDANOVA after full seven games with result 4:3 (11:9 12:10 6:11 7:11 11:3 11:13 13:11).   Antra VINERTE and Inga BIRZNIECE have reached bronze in the Women`s Singles event. In the reprise of the Men`s Singles final Arturs REINHOLDS again beat Olegs KARTUZOVS 4:1 (11:9 7:11 11:8 11:9 11:6). Bronze medalists are Rihards MENCIS and Leonīds MASLOVS.   Baiba BOGDANOVA and Antra VĪNERTE are Women`s Doubles winners as they beat in the final Ina JOZEPSONE and Margarita JUDINA in straight games 3:0 (11:7 12:10 11:8). Olegs KARTUZOVS and Rihards MENCIS clinched Men`s Doubles gold beating Artūrs REINHOLDS and Leonīds MASLOVS also in three games 3:0 (11:8 11:6 11:8).   Olegs KARTUZOVS and Antra VINERTE are Mixed Doubles winners as they beat in the final Arturs REINHOLDS and Baiba BOGDANOVA by result 3:0 (16:14 11:8 11:9).  

Portuguese National Championships   Olga CHRAMKO and Diogo CARVALHO are the new Portuguese national champions for this season. Diogo CARVALHO won the second national title in a row and third overall. For the 41-year-old Olga CHRMAKO is the second title.   CARVALHO won the final against the surprise player Nuno GONZAGA by 4-1 after beating in the semi-final Diogo CHEN. CHRAMKO needed seven sets to overcome Cátia MARTINS and reconquer the title won in 2016.   Men`s Singles Diogo CARVALHO Nuno GONZAGA Diogo CHEN / José FRANCISCO   Women`s Singles Olga CHRAMKO Cátia MARTINS Rita FINS / Joana MOTA   Men`s Doubles Vítor AMORIM / LI Tiago Rui ARAÚJO / Gonçalo BRANDÃO João NEVES / António MALHEIRO and Duarte COSTA / Hugo SANTOS   Women`s Doubles Vitória SANTOS / Leila OLIVEIRA Patrícia SANTOS / Inês MATOS Olga CHRAMKO / Mariana GONÇALVES and Liu YANGZI / Alexandra PISCO   Mixed Doubles David BESSA / Raquel ANDRADE José MAGALHÃES / Raquel MARTINS Vítor AMORIM / Mariana GONÇALVES and Gonçalo GOMES / Patrícia SANTOS  

Luxembourg`s National Championships   In Luxembourg national championships have been organized earlier than in other European countries (four weeks ago) in the “Coque” Luxembourg-Kirchberg.   Eric GLOD has won for the first time the national title in the Men’s Singles event. He beat in the final Luka MLADENOVIC the champion of the last year 4-0 (7 6 6 7)   Once again a victory for Eric GLOD for the third time in row in the Men`s Doubles event. He has won the final with Carlo FELTES what they did also in 2016. Last year Eric GLOD was doubles winner with Christian KILL. This time GLOD/FELTES DEFEATED in the final MLADENOVIC/THILLEN 3-2 (8 5 -8 -8 5).   For the 6th time Sarah DE NUTTE is Women’s Singles champion in Luxembourg. She has won in the final against Danielle KONSBRUCK 4-1 (7 9 -4 7 9)   Egle TAMASAUSKAITE/Carole HARTMANN have won the Women`s Doubles final against Danielle KONSBRUCK/Martine SIMON 3-1 (8 -6 9 4).   Mixed Doubles champions are Christian KILL/Carole HARTMANN after a 3-1 –Victory (9 -6 11 3) against Eric GLOD/Martine SIMON and they defend the title of 2017.

Danish National Championships   The 19- year-old Anders LIND (club Brønshøj) and 24 year-old Stefanie H. CHRISTENSEN (Hillerød) are the newly crowned Danish champions in singles. They won one more gold LIND in Mixed Doubles and CHRISTENSEN in Women`s Doubles.   LIND beat former European Team champion 49-year-old Allan BENTSEN in straight games of the final whilst Stefanie H CHRISTENSEN has defended her 2017 title in six sets against Sophie WALLØE in the women`s final. It was very first national title for LIND whilst eight-time champion BENTSEN had his 13th final.   Men`s Singles semi-finals Anders LIND (Brønshøj) – Finn TUGWELL (Roskilde) 4:0 (11-9 11-5 11-4 14-12) Allan BENTSEN (Roskilde) – Tobias RASMUSSEN (København Sisu/MBK) 4:1 (11:7 11:9 12:10 6:11 11-9)   Final Anders LIND – Allan BENTSEN 4:0 (11-9 11-8 11-7 12-10)   Women`s Singles semi-finals Stefanie H. CHRISTENSEN (Hillerød) –Izabell NØRLEM (Bordtennis) 4:0 (11-9 11-8 11-7 12-10) Mie BINNERUP Jacobsen (Sis/MBK) – Sophie WALLØE (Brønshøj) 2:4 (11-9 2-11 5-11 6-11 12-10 7-11)   Final Stefanie H CHRISTENSEN – Sophie WALLØE 4:2 (11-9 11-2 10-12 10-12 11-9 11-7)   Men`s Doubles semi-finals Allan BENTSEN / Finn Peter TUGWELL (Roskilde Bordtennis BTK 61) – Tobias RASMUSSEN (Københavns BTK)/Nichlas MIDDELHEDE (Brønshøj Bordtennis) 3:0 (14-12 11-7 11-5) Kasper STERNBERG Sjelle (Københavns BTK)/ Kasper Schübeler (Brønshøj Bordtennis) – Christian T KONGSGAARD/Morten Hyrup RASMUSSEN (Brønshøj Bordtennis) 3:1 (13-15 11-6 12-14 6-11)   Final Allan BENTSEN / Finn Peter TUGWELL – Christian T KONGSGAARD / Morten Hyrup RASMUSSEN 3:2 (7-11 9-11 11-7 11-4 11-8)   Women`s Doubles semi-finals Stefanie CHRISTENSEN (Hillerød) / Izabell NØRLEM (Brønshøj Bordtennis) – Thea Amalie NIELSEN (Silkeborg BTK) / Jocefina HAAGENSEN (Hvidovre Bordtennis) 3:1 (7-11 11-6 11-5 11-6) Mie Binnerup JACOBSEN (Sisu/MBK) / Pia TOELHØJ (Hillerød GI) – Pernille AGERHOLM (BTK Viby) / Pernille SØNDERGAARD (Sisu/MBK) 0:3 (7-11 8-11 3-11)   Final Stefanie CHRISTENSEN / Izabell NØRLEM – Pernille AGERHOLM /Pernille SØNDERGAARD 3:1 (12-10 10-12 11-9 11-3)   Mixed Doubles semi-finals Pernille Refstrup AGERHOLM / Tobias STEMANN LAU (BTK Viby) – Sophie WALLØE / Anders LIND (Brønshøj Bordtennis) 3:0 (12-14 7-11 6-11) Izabell NØRLEM (Brønshøj Bordtennis) / Thomas JENSEN (Brønshøj Bordtennis) – Pia TOELHØJ (Hillerød GI) / Kasper Sternberg SJELLE (Københavns BTK) 0:3 (4-11 4-11 8-11)   Final Sophie WALLØE/ Anders LIND – Pia TOELHØJ / Kasper Sternberg SJELLE 3:2 (11-4 7-11 11-8 7-11 12-10)

English National Championships   Liam PITCHFORD won his fourth career men’s singles crown and Tin-Tin HO completed a hat-trick of women’s singles titles on the final day of the PG Mutual National Championships.   PITCHFORD England’s star performer at the Team World Cup in London last week defeated England colleague Sam WALKER in the final 4-1 (8-11 11-4 11-4 11-9 11-6).   HO beat Kelly SIBLEY 4-1 (6-11 11-8 12-10 11-8 11-8) to ensure the same outcome in the women’s singles final for the third year in a row.   The two winners had earlier combined to take the Mixed Doubles – PITCHFORD’s first ever success in that event – at the Copper Box Arena. They saved four match points on the way to defeating David McBEATH & SIBLEY 3-2 (11-9 6-11 8-11 14-12 12-10).   The Men’s Doubles saw Paul DRINKHALL & McBEATH beat PITCHFORD & WALKER 3-1 (11-8 11-6 6-11 11-1) while SIBLEY teamed up with Maria TSAPTSINOS to defeat HO & Denise PAYET 3-0 (11-4 11-6 11-7) in the Women’s Doubles.   Every member of England’s squad for the forthcoming Commonwealth Games appeared in at least one final.

National Championships of Greece   New champions of Greece were have been crowned on Sunday in Athens. In the National Championship which took place at the Byzantine Athletic Center Konstantinos KONSTANTINOPOULOS won the Men`s Singles title for the first time and in his 24 years he became the 19th champion in the history of the event. Katerina TOLIOU emerged as the winner of the Women’s Singles and celebrated the second gold medal in the event. Konstantinos KONSTANTINOPOULOS arrived at the top in Men’s Doubles also with his brother George. They managed it for the third year in a row. In Women’s Doubles the gold medal went to Konstantina PARIDI/Dimitra-Thomais TSEKOURA and that was a surprise to the approximately 150 fans who were on the platforms.   In Men’s Singles KONSTANTINOPOULOS started as the 4th favorite. In the semifinals he beat the eight-time Greek champion Kostas PAPAGEORGIOU 4:3. He was first qualified for the final and then beat Tssos RINIOTIS with 4:2. Greek champion of 2017 participated in the final of the competition for the third year in a row.   “Too important result for me and I can say I did not expect it. I say this because in an official game I had never defeated Papageorgiou and with Renios I was an underdog in all the games. But I did well and believed myself” said the player of Panathinaikos.   Important absences from the event were John SGOUROPOULOS (actual European champion in Junior’s Singles) and John VLOTINOS (national record holder with 14 titles) due to minor illness and injury respectively.   The final of the Women’s Singles also had a new face. It was Konstantina PARIDI who made an amazing tournament at the weekend. TOLIOU however had chances due to her defensive style of play and her experience of such finals. PARIDI who beat year’s champion Christina FILI in the quarterfinals 4-2 took the first game but the top Greek woman at the World Rankings improved her game and dominated the next games (4-1).   “I am very happy and excited because I managed to regain the national title for the second time. I worked a lot and it worked. In the final I tried to be firm on my defense I had patience and I did very good attacks” said Toliou.   The results of the finals   MS: Konstantinos KONSTANTINOPOULOS – Tasos RINIOTIS 4-2 (12-10 10-12 6-11 11-7 11-6 11-2) WS: Katerina TOLIOU – Konstantina PARIDI 4-1 (8-11 11-5 11-9 11-8 11-4) MD: George KONSTANTINOPOULOS/Konstantinos KONSTANTINOPOULOS – Kostas PAPAGEORGIOU/Tasos RINIOTIS 3-1 (4-11 11-8 11-8 11-9) WD: Dimitra-Thomais TSEKOURA/Konstantina PARIDI – Georgia ZAVITSANOU/Christina FILI 3-2 (11-9 11-4 7-11 10-12 11-2)   Final standings   Men’s Singles   Konstantinos KONSTANTINOPOULOS (Panathinaikos) Tasos RINIOTIS (Olympiacos) Kostas PAPAGEORGIOU (club of Europe) Kostas LAGOGIANNIS (Panathinaikos)   Women’s Singles   Katerina TOLIOU (DAO Tavrou) Konstantina PARIDI (Phoenix of Piraeus) Alice KIOUFI (Sarises Florina) Maria CHRISTOFORAKI (Olympiacos)   Men’s Doubles   Giorgos KONSTANTINOPOULOS/Konstantinos KONSTANTINOPOULOS (Panathinaikos) Kostas PAPAGEORGIOU/Tasos RINIOTIS (Club of Europe/Olympiacos) John BOSKOVIC/John DAMIANIS (Aris Voulas / Eagles of the City) Nikos ANTONIADIS/Stratos DAMIANIS (Pera Athens)   Women’s Doubles   Konstantina PARIDI/Dimitra-Thomais TSEKOURA (Phoenix of Piraeus) Christina FILI/Georgia ZAVITSANOU (DAO Tavrou/Sarisses Florina) Katerina TOLIOU/Filareti EXARCHOU (DAO Tavrou) Olga GEORGOPOULOU/Maria CHRISTOFORAKI (Pera Athens/Olympiacos)