Draw for the Men’s and Women’s ETTU Cup The draw for the third stage of the ETTU Cup was held tonight. The draw has been conducted by the ETTU Ranking Committee Chair Igor HELLER the Secretary General Richard SCRUTON and the Deputy Secretary General Pierre KASS. Top 16 clubs will meet in knock out phase; first match is scheduled for 24th to 26th November and return leg will be played between 15th and 17th December. In Men’s ETTU CUP top seeded French Ping Pong Club Villeneuvois will meet TTC Sokah Hoboken from Belgium. After they won the Group D in Dubrovnik SF SKK El Nino Praha will travel again to Croatia to play against STK Starr Varazdin. Spanish Cajasur Priego TM will meet the winner of the Group A Logis Auderghem of Belgium. French VS Angers TT will host Spanish Arteal Tenis De Mesa whilst Austria’s SG Stockerau will host another club from Spain Irun Leka Enea Tenis de Mesa. All-Slovakia’s match will be played between Hontianske Trstany / Dudince and SK Vydrany. In Scotland Drumchapel Glasgow will host Dutch Enjoy & Deploy Taverzo. French Istres Tennis se Table is the host of the Spanish DKV Borges Vall. In Women’s ETTU Cup French Metz TT as a top seed will play against Team Grace from Ukraine. Arteal Tennis de Mesa from Spain will travel to Austria to meet TTV Villach whilst Tigrem Sport Club will host Russia’s SKNT Luch-Vladimir in Turkey. TMK-Tagmet Taganrog of Russia will host Dutch Dozy Den Helder/Noordkop. Spanish Girbau-VIC TT will host Novi Sad from Serbia and Russia’s Kazana will meet ACS Dumbravita of Romania. Hungarian Budaörsi 2I SC awaits CTT Balaguer Villart Logistic and French Etival Clairefontaine ASRTT will meet Spanish Hotel Patria Chica Museo Priego TM.
Zhu Yuling Claims Career First ITTF Women’s World Cup Title in Markham
China’s ZHU Yuling is the newly crowned Champion of the Uncle Pop 2017 ITTF Women’s World Cup presented by Polar Naturals held in Markham Canada from 27 – 29 October 2017. The top seed claimed her career first ITTF Women’s World Cup title in a grueling 7-games thriller and in turn stopping her teammate LIU Shiwen’s hope of a record fifth title. In the nail biting final that thrilled the capacity crowd at the Markham Pan Am Centre ZHU had to recover from 0-2 down and a controversial edge ball that costed her a crucial fifth game 10-12 against LIU. Determined for the title the 22-year-old was on all pumped to against her more experienced colleague and eventually winning the last two games to take the match 4-3 (11-13 8-11 11-7 11-8 10-12 11-9 12-10) & win the prestigious title. “I’m still very nervous now even after winning!” shared ZHU after her epic victory. “In the match because I was too nervous I made some errors. Now I’m really happy to win the title!” It’s double joy for the newly crowned Champions she has now also earned enough world ranking points to overtake reigning World Champion DING Ning (CHN) to become the next World Number One in the next month’s ITTF World Rankings. Finalists in Philadelphia last year defending champion Miu HIRANO (JPN) and CHENG I-Ching (TPE) had to fight for the bronze medal after being knocked out of the race for Gold by LIU & ZHU respectively in the semifinals. It was CHENG who took the victory in hand and avenged for the 2016 loss to HIRANO winning 4-2 (9-11 11-5 9-11 11-9 11-5 11-8) to take home the bronze medal. With the conclusion of the Uncle Pop 2017 ITTF Women’s World Cup presented by Polar Naturals the world’s best athletes will head off to Magdeburg Germany for the upcoming Seamaster 2017 ITTF World Tour Platinum German Open.
Asia in quest for gold at the Uncle Pop Women’s World Cup
LI Jie of Netherlands and Elizabeta SAMARA of Romania both concluded their journey at the Uncle Pop Women’s World Cup in Markham Canada in the quarterfinal. LIU Jia of Austria Georginal POTA of Hungary and Matilda EKHOLM of Sweden exited one round earlier. Both of last year’s finalists will compete on the concluding day of play with Miu HIRANO and CHENG I-Ching successfully negotiating their respective quarter-finals encounters. LIU Shiwen remains in the hunt to secure a fifth title at the competition after the second seeded contestant booked her spot in the semi-finals with a strong display on Day Two. The other player who will appear in the semi-finals lineup is top seed ZHU Yuling who is in search of her first Women’s World Cup trophy. Miu HIRANO accounted for the experienced Swedish player Matilda Ekholm in the Round of 16 (5-11 11-6 11-9 11-4 11-2). CHENG I-Ching overcame Hungary’s Georgina Pota (7-11 7-11 11-8 13-11 11-7 7-11 11-4). LIU Shiwen overcame the challenge of Romania’s Elizabeta Samara in style (11-4 11-6 11-7 11-4). ZHU Yuling beat LI Jie of the Netherlands (11-3 6-11 11-9 11-3 11-5). Previously LI overcame LIU Jia (11-9 11- 9 4-11 11-8 4:11 10-12 11-5).
Nine medals for Europeans in Fiji
2017 ITTF World Cadet Challenge At the 2017 ITTF World Cadet Challenge in Suva European players clinched nine medals – gold in Mixed Doubles Event; silver in Cadet Boys Teams and Cadet Boys Doubles; bronze medals in Cadet Girls Teams Cadet Boys Singles two in Cadet Girls Singles and Cadet Boys Doubles and Mixed Doubles. “It’s really great result for European Team! Boys played without top four players SIDORENKO MOREGARD STUMPER and KULCZYCKI. In addition girls cased great upset because Elena ZAHARIA is only 12 years old Elizabet ABRAAMIAN 13 years old but they are already at the same level with Asians. Both are the part of the ETTU Development Program ” said ETTU Development Manager Neven CEGNAR. In the Mixed Doubles the favorites prevailed with NIU Guankai and Jamila LAURENTI taking the title as they defeated the Latin America and Asia duo of Diogo SILVA and RYU Hanna. But the pair were both louder and the more physical on the table than their opponents. The Chinese and Italian duo won the match 2-1 (-11 7 6). In the penultimate stage SILVA and RYU overcame Belgium’s Olav KOSOLOSKY and Canada’s ZHOU Benita 2-0 (2 8) In the Boys’ doubles final FENG Yi-Hsin and NIU Guankai over Team Europe’s Csaba ANDRAS and Martin FRIIS. Despite spectacular rallies the score line was a one sided 3-0 (7 11 7). Previously in the match for final FENG and NIU overcame Russia’s Maksim GREBNEV and KOSOLOSKY 3-1 (2 -11 7 10). In singles Romania’s ZAHARIA were halted on the penultimate hurdle. Japan’s Yumeno SOMA prevailed 4-0 (10 2 4 8) before she beat China’s HUANG to reach the gold. In semis Russia’s ABRAAMIAN lost against HUANG 4-0 (4 7 3 8). In the contest for third position ABRAAMIAN overcame ZAHARIA 3-1 (9 9 -9 5). Csaba ANDRAS of Hungary suffered by the hands of NIU Guankai of China in the semis of the Cadet Boys Singles Event 4-1 (7 14 8 -4 9). In the final NIU beat FENG Yi Hsin to win gold.
TTCLM Round 3: Successful night for German clubs
Four matches were held on October 27th: Fakel Gazprom – Sporting 3:1 Chartres – Saarbrücken 0:3 Ochsenhausen – Walter Wels 3:1 Borussia – Roskilde 3:2 Three German clubs and one Russian won last four matches of TTCLM Round 3 held on Friday October 27th: TTC Fakel Gazprom – Sporting Clube De Portugal 3:1 Chartres ASTT – FC Saarbrücken Tischtennis 0:3 TTF Liebherr Ochsenhausen – SPG Walter Wels 3:1 Borussia Düsseldorf – Roskilde Bordtennis BTK61 3:2. There are three unbeaten teams after Round 3 with the 3-0 score: reigning TTCLM champion Fakel Gazprom (Group A) 2012 semi-finalist Saarbrucken (Group B) and 2009 runner-up Ochsenhausen (Group C). Four times TTCLM winner Fakel Gazprom beat on its soil the newcomer from Portugal Sporting 3:1. Portugal`s team suffered its very first defeat in spite of having one more time brilliant Joao MONTEIRO who beat recently crowned World Cup winner Dimitrij OVTCHAROV. Jun MIZUTANI played crucial role in the host side as he overcame both Quqadri ARUNA and Joao MONTEIRO who extended Japanese to full distance in the fourth clash. Saarbrucken had an easy job in Chartres. Bojan TOKIC brought a good energy to his side when he beat Robert GARDOS in straight games of the opener. In other two games Patrick BAUM and Tiago APOLONIA defeated Romain LORENTZ and Par GERELL respectively. Ochsenhause continued its winning streak playing at home against SPG Walter Wels. Last two out of four matches were crucial and both were stretched to full distance. First Yuto MURAMATSU prevailed against Zsolt PETÖ then Simon GAUZY beat CHO Seungmin 3:2 (7:11 11:4 11:13 11:6 12:10) in the decisive encounter. Actual Men`s Singles runner-up of ITTF European Championships won both his matches. Ten times TTCLM winner Borussia Dusseldorf faced Roskilde in very tense clash. Danish team was two matches down but refused to give up. Laurens TROMER and ZHAI Yijia leveled the score against Stefan FEGERL and Kristian KARLSSON respectively. Sweden`s Anton KALLBERG secured the winning point to the host side in the fifth match against former individual European champion Michael MAZE. Round 3 of 2017/18 TTCLM GROUP A TTC Fakel Gazprom – Sporting Clube De Portugal 3:1 Jun MIZUTANI – Quadri ARUNA 3:1 (11:9 7:11 11:8 11:6) Dimitrij OVTCHAROV – Joao MONTEIRO 2:3 (9:11 8:11 11:8 11:9 8:11) Vladimir SAMSONOV – Diogo CARVALHO 3:1 (6:11 11:5 11:6 11:2) Jun MIZUTANI – Joao MONTEIRO 3:2 (11:7 8:11 8:11 11:2 13:11) GROUP B Chartres ASTT – FC Saarbrücken Tischtennis 0:3 Robert GARDOS – Bojan TOKIĆ 0:3 (9:11 5:11 4:11) Romain LORENTZ – Patrick BAUM 1:3 (7:11 5:11 11:9 7:11) Par GERELL – Tiago APOLONIA 1:3 (11:7 11:13 8:11 7:11) GROUP C TTF Liebherr Ochsenhausen – SPG Walter Wels 3:1 Simon GAUZY – Robin DEVOS 3:0 (11:3 11:8 15:13) Jakub DYJAS – CHO Seungmin 1:3 (11:5 13:15 7:11 9:11) Yuto MURAMATSU – Zsolt PETÖ 3:2 (8:11 11:8 11:6 9:11 11:4) Simon GAUZY – CHO Seungmin 3:2 (7:11 11:4 11:13 11:6 12:10) GROUP D Borussia Düsseldorf – Roskilde Bordtennis BTK61 3:2 Kristian KARLSSON – Michael MAZE 3:2 (8:11 11:8 11:6 8:11 11:5) Anton KÄLLBERG – ZHAI Yujia 3:0 (13:11 13:11 11:8) Stefan FEGERL – Laurens TROMER 2:3 (11:9 8:11 6:11 11:5 8:11) Kristian KARLSSON – ZHAI Yujia 1:3 (11:6 8:11 8:11 11:13) Anton KÄLLBERG – Michael MAZE 3:2 (11:9 2:11 8:11 11:6 11:5)
SAMARA has her eyes set on the title
Uncle Pop 2017 ITTF Women’s World Cup Already one of the world’s most successful players in ITTF Women’s World Cup history China’s LIU Shiwen aims to go a step further for a record fifth title at the Uncle Pop 2017 ITTF Women’s World Cup presented by Polar Naturals held in Markham Canada from 27 -29 October 2017. After reigning World Champion DING Ning withdrew due to her physical condition LIU was selected to replace DING due to her strong past performance and second place finish at the 2017 ITTF-ATTU Asian Cup. The current world number four who has maintained a perfect record of winning four titles in four World Cup appearances will be determined to grasp her chance to make world history in Markham. LIU will have to fend off challenges from other hot contenders for the throne including teammate ZHU Yuling in her pursuit for a fifth crown. Things seem to be more in favor of the top seeded ZHU as she has won both of their recent major international clash at the 2017 World Championships where she made her first appearance in the Women’s Singles Gold medal match and the recent Asian Cup where she took Gold to secure her ticket to the Women’s World Cup. The current top seed who is currently just 4 points away from overtaking reigning World & Olympic Champion DING’s top spot on the world ranking will have the extra push of motivation at the event as she will become the new world number one after a successful trip in Markham. Japan’s Miu HIRANO (JPN) who shocked the world to become the first non-Chinese Women’s World Cup Champion and youngest ever ITTF World Cup Champion at 16 years old last year will be looking at repeating her success again this year to defend her hard-earned title. After leading the Romanian women’s team to Gold at the recently concluded European Team Championships European hope Elizabeta SAMARA (ROU) who received the wildcard position has her eyes set on the title as she aims to add a Gold medal to her current Silver medal from 2012. Action for the Uncle Pop 2017 ITTF Women’s World Cup presented by Polar Naturals will begin tomorrow 27 October 2017 with seeds nine to 20 competing in four groups of three players in the group stage qualification rounds. The top two players of each group will then progress on to join the top eight seeds in the knockout stage. The draw for the group stage can be found here: http://bit.ly/2lk8KF5 The knockout stage of the tournament will see the eight qualifiers facing off the top eight seeds starting with the Round of 16 followed by Quarterfinals on 28 October and the Semifinals and Final being played on 29 October 2017.
First TTCLM win for K.S. Dekorglass Dzialdowo
Three Round 3 matches were held today October 26th: K.S. Dartom Bogoria Grodzisk Mazowiecki – AS Pontoise Cergy 0:3 TTSC UMMC – Eslovs Ai Bordtennis 3:2 G.V. Hennebont T.T. – K.S. Dekorglass Dzialdowo 2:3 Polish club K.S. Dekorglass Dzialdowo secured very first TTCLM victory in its debuting season playing against Hennebont in France – 3:2. It was a team work of WANG Yang WONG Chun Ting and Jiri VRABLIK as each of them took one point to stop Hennebont`s winning streak in the Group D. Now French club have 2-1 group`s score while Dzialdowo continues with 1-2. Current World no. 62 Liam PITCHFORD played excellent tonight but it wasn’t enough for Hennebont. He beat both WANG Yang and actual World no. 10 WONG Chun Ting. Englishman has been extended to full distance by WANG in the opener while he was much more convincing against WONG in the fourth encounter. One more tense game was seen in the third match when Jiri VRABLIK defeated Quentin RIBINOT after full five games taking the last one by a narrow margin. In de decisive fifth clash WANG overcame Cedric NUYTINK who lost both his matches in straight games (first one vs. WONG game no. 2) Two more matches were held today: K.S. Dartom Bogoria Grodzisk Mazowiecki – AS Pontoise Cergy 0:3 TTSC UMMC – Eslovs Ai Bordtennis 3:2. Double TTCLM winner Pontoise had an easy job in Poland. Rising star Can AKKUZY proved his talent in his debuting TTCLM season beating HAN Chuanxi in straight games of the first encounter. In the other two matches Marcos FREITAS and Niagol STOYANOV beat Pavel SIRUCEK and Daniel GORAK respectively. The 2012 TTCLM runner-up UMMC has returned on the winning course after 3:1 defeat in Saarbrucken two weeks ago. Tatiana KUREGINA`s side beat today 2016 runner-up Eslovs 3:2. Eslov`s best player for years XU Hui did again his job winning two games (against Grigory VLASOV and Aleksandr SHIBAEV) but host side showed good team work. Aleksandr SHIBAEV Grigory VLASOV and Andrej GACINA participated with one point each in UMMC victory. Round 3 of 2017/18 TTCLM GROUP A K.S. Dartom Bogoria Grodzisk Mazowiecki – AS Pontoise Cergy 0:3 HAN Chuanxi – Can AKKUZU 0:3 (8:11 9:11 8:11) Pavel SIRUCEK – Marcos FREITAS 2:3 (8:11 11:6 11:8 2:11 7:11) Daniel GORAK – Niagol STOYANOV 1:3 (13:11 8:11 6:11 8:11) GROUP B TTSC UMMC – Eslovs Ai Bordtennis 3:2 Aleksandr SHIBAEV – Daniel KOSIBA 3:1 (11:7 11:13 11:7 11:7) Grigory VLASOV – XU Hui 2:3 (11:5 11:13 8:11 11:7 8:11) Andrej GACINA – Robert SVENSSON 3:1 (11:9 11:6 11:13 11:1) Aleksandr SHIBAEV – XU Hui 1:3 (10:12 12:10 9:11 8:11) Grigory VLASOV – Truls MOREGARDH 3:1 (11:7 11:6 5:11 11:5) GROUP D G.V. Hennebont T.T. – K.S. Dekorglass Dzialdowo 2:3 Liam PITCHFORD – WANG Yang 3:2 (11:7 8:11 11:2 9:11 11:8) Cedric NUYTINCK – WONG Chun Ting 0:3 (8:11 7:11 5:11) Quentin ROBINOT – Jiri VRABLIK 2:3 (11:6 11:9 8:11 11:7 10:12) Liam PITCHFORD – WONG Chun Ting 3:1 (11:8 9:11 11:3 11:7) Cedric NUYTINCK – WANG Yang 0:3 (7:11 8:11 9:11)
Fierce battles all over the Europe in both Men’s and Women’s Cups
The second round of the Men’s and Women’s ETTU Cup is ahead of us. This weekend 16 clubs in each category will fight for the knock out phase. Only winners and runners up of the four groups will proceed to the next round. In Men’s ETTU Cup in Group A in Poland Energa KTS Torun will host Belgium’s Logis Auderghem Spain’s Irun Leka Enea Tenis de Mesa and Romania’s CS Mioveni. Two last clubs in standings booked their place in the Second round after finished on top two positions in previous phase. In Netherlands Enjoy & Deploy Taverzo will host Belgium’s TTC Sokah Hoboken Italiy’s ASD Marcozzi and Ukraine’s Fortune Kyiv. Spain’s Arteal Tenis de Mesa is the host of the Group C. The leader at the standings is Turkish Besiktas Jimnastik Kulubu and Slovakia’s SK Vydrany and Portugal’s GDCS Juncal came from the top positions in Round One. In Group D Craotia’s STK Libertas Marinkolor will host SF SKK El Nini Praha from Czech Republic Spain’s DKV Borges Vall and Belgium’s CTT Royal Alpa Schaerbeek Woluwe. In Women’s ETTU Cup Group A will be played in Austria. Leistungszentrum Linz AG Froschberg hosts Russia’s SKNT Luch Vladimir Spain’s Irun leka Enea and Spain’s Hotel Patria Chica Museo Priego. Romania’s ASC Dumbravita awaits Greek’s AO DAO Tavrou Turkey’s Kocasinan Belediyesi Spor Club and Dutch Dozy Den Helder / Noordkop. In Group C Serbia’s Novi Sad will host Spanish Arteal Tenis de Mesa Belgium’s KTTC AFP Antwerpen and Greek’s Sarises Florinas. In Group D Czech’s TTC Moravsky Krumlov will host Spanish CTT Balaguer – Villart Logistic Ukraine’s Team Grace and Sweden’s Sparvägen TTC.
Stella Sport La Romagne wins in Ostrava
TTCLM Round 3 Group C: TTC Ostrava 2016 – Stella Sport La Romagne 1:3 Actual Men`s ETTU Cup winner Stella Sport La Romagne secured second win in its debuting season in the Table Tennis Champions League Men playing Round 3 match of Group C. They have defeated away TTC Ostrava 2016 3:1 improving their score to 2-1 while Czech Republic`s side has 1-2. Young Chinese player SHIAHO Wei provided two points for the French team beating both former Men`s Singles bronze medalists from the ITTF European Championships Greek Panagiotis GIONIS and Serbia`s Aleksandar KARAKASEVIC. Stella Sport La Romagne`s legend CHEN Tianyuan beat KARAKASEVIC in the opening clash in straight games. The same efficiency showed SHIAHO Wei against GIONIS while Tomas TREGLES kept host side in the game as he overcame Brice OLLIVIER after full five games. In the fourth encounter KARAKASEVIC and SHIAHO have been leveled after second set but Chinese was convincing in the next two games. Round 3 of 2017/18 TTCLM GROUP C TTC Ostrava 2016 – Stella Sport La Romagne 1:3 Alexandar KARAKASEVIC – CHEN Tianyuan 0:3 (8:11 6:11 4:11) Panagiotis GIONIS – SHIAHO Wei 0:3 (5:11 8:11 6:11) Tomas TREGLER – Brice OLLIVIER 3:2 (3:11 7:11 12:10 11:4 11:7) Alexandar KARAKASEVIC – SHIAHO Wei 1:3 (9:11 11:5 4:11 7:11)
Silver and bronze for Europe at the 2017 ITTF World Cadet Challenge
Europe’s youngsters clinched two medals at the 2017 ITTF World Cadet Challenge in Suva Fiji. Boys reached the second position whilst girls won bronze. Europe’s boys Csaba ANDRAS of Hungary Martin FRIIS of Sweden Olav KOSOLOSKY of Belgium and Russia’s Maxim GREBNEV were halted at the very last hurdle. They lost in the final against Asia composed by FENG Yi-Hsin of Taipei Kazuki HAMADA of Japan NIU Guankai of China and PARK Gyeongtae of Korea. In previous round Europe overcame Latin America. The team of Europe composed by Ruissia’s Elizabet ABRAAMIAN Italy’s Jamila LAURENTI and Romania’s Elena ZAHARIA clinched bronze medal in the Cadet Girls Event. In the Team’s match for bronze they overcame Latin America with Valentina RIOS and Livia LIMA in straight matches. Previously they suffered defeat by the hands of Asian representatives in four matches. It was only LAURENTI who scored. She bat Yumeno SOMA. In the Europe’s team was also Natalia BRINZA of Moldova. Asia beat North America to clinch the title.
