The 2018 ITTF World Tour is officially underway with the first stop of the tour Seamaster 2018 ITTF World Tour Hungarian Open kicking off in Budapest Hungary from 18 – 21 January 2018. The 2018 Hungarian Open will be the first out of 12 events of the Seamaster 2018 ITTF World Tour where the world’s best table tennis players compete to earn valuable World Ranking points and World Tour ranking points to be the top 16 to qualify for the prestigious World Tour Grand Finals at the end of the season. World number two FAN Zhendong (CHN) will be on a mission in Hungary to take the crown in order to catch up with newly crowned World number one Dimitrij OVTCHAROV and continue his pursuit for the top spot on the ITTF World Rankings. The top seed who has held on to the world number two position since November 2015 will be the hot favorite for the title to move a step closer to overtaking OVTCHAROV on the new ITTF World Rankings. The 20-year-old will face 2017 World Junior Champion XUE Fei (CHN) in the first round of action towards his goal today. The legendary Vladimir SAMSONOV (BLR) who currently holds the record for the most number of World Tour titles at 27 Gold will lead the European charge to challenge FAN in Budapest in search of another Gold to add on to his collection. China’s CHEN Xingtong looks at defending her Women’s Singles title from 2017. The task will be challenging for the ninth seed as she will have to fend off competition from her team mates including SUN Yingsha WANG Manyu & world number one CHEN Meng who are all eyeing to take the first Gold of the year. Local hopes fall on Georgina POTA Szandra PERGEL and qualifier Dora MADARASZ as they will all be putting up their best performance in front of the home crowd for their chance to win the title on home soil. Action for the Seamaster 2018 ITTF World Tour Hungarian Open starts today 18 January with the Doubles round of 16 and Singles round of 32 matches and the Gold medal matches being played off on Sunday 21 January at the Budapest Olympic Hall.
Samara’s warm up in China
China Construction Bank 2018 ITTF Europe Top 16 Cup European champion Elizabeta SAMARA has a strong warm up for China Construction Bank 2018 ITTF Europe Top 16 Cup. Romania’s star was invited to participate at the Hainan Qiankun Masters Challenge Grand Prix in China on 19th and 20th January. “I was at home in Constanta before the trip having preparateions and rehabilitation. After China I will not participate at any tournaments before ITTF Europe Top 16 Cup in Monteraux. Only the match in Seamaster European Champions League Women” said SAMARA. Last year Elizabeta was forced to cancel the ITTF Europe Top 16 Cup in France. Two years ago in Gondomar she was fourth. “Begining of 2017 started not like I wished with the surgery of my knee. However after that I came back stronger becoming European Champion with the team of Romania!” This year started for Elizabeta in much better mood. “This year in Montreaux my aim for Top 16 is to win and I believe i can do it. It will not be easy with the new system and knock out draw. Every match will be difficult but I am ready for this challenge.” Her fourth position in 2016 is her best result so far in seven apperances. “I still do not have good memories from this tournament. I hope I will create best one this year. My main goal in Switzerland is to stay fit to train to enjoy and to win.” In Salle Omnisport du Pierrier will play Dimitrij OVTCHAROV of Germany Timo Boll of Germany Simon GAUZY of France Vladimir SAMSONOV of Belarus Marcos FREITAS of Portugal Ruwen FILUS of Germany Kristian KARLSSON of Sweden Alexander SHIBAEV of Russia Bastian STEGER of Germany Jonathan GROTH of Denmark Emmanuel LEBESSON of France Tiago APOLONIA of Portugal Mattias KARLSSON of Sweden Panagiotis GIONIS of Greece Stefan FEGERL of Austria Lionel WEBER of Switzerland. In Women’s Top 16 will play: LI Jie of Netherlands Elizabeta SAMARA of Romania Georgina POTA of Hungary Sofia POLCANOVA of Austria Petrissa SOLJA of Germany LI Qian of Poland Matilda EKHOLM of Sweden Daniela MONTEIRO DODEAN and Bernadette SZOCS of Romania Viktoria PAVLOVICH of Belarus NI Xia Lian of Luxembourg Polina MIKHAILOVA of Russia Sabine WINTER of Germany Tetyana BILENKO of Ukraine and Rachel MORET of Switzerland. Event’s page here Organisers web site here Tickets are available here Facebook here Twitter here Instagram here
Kristian KARLSSON ready to upset favorites in Montreux
China Construction Bank 2018 ITTF Europe Top 16 Cup Swedish player Kristian KARLSSON had one of his best tournaments so far two years ago in Gondomar playing at the 2016 ITTF Europe Top 16 Cup. He finished fourth being very close to upset no. 1 seed Dimitrij OVTCHAROV in the semi-final as he led 3:2 and 6:3 in the sixth game. Last year he was far from that achievement (13-16th place) but he hopes he will be able to repeat 2016 at the upcoming China Construction Bank 2018 ITTF Europe Top 16 Cup in Montreux (on 3rd and 4th February). “My goal is to reach the semifinals of the tournament” stressed Kristian KARLSSON speaking about the forthcoming event in the Swiss city of Montreux. The 26-year-old KARLSSON actual World no. 22 had successful start of the 2018 as he won German Cup with Borussia Dusseldorf. Two of his teammates Timo BOLL and Stefan FEGERL (lost to KARLSSON 4:1 in the quarter-final of the 2016 Europe Top 16 in Gondomar) will also play in Montreux. “We had a great start of the year winning the German Cup so hope to keep my shape from that event. I feel I have a good chance to repeat the success from 2016.” Like many experts he sees two German players as favorites for the crown four times winner Dimitrij OVTCHAROV (current World no. 1) and five times champion Timo BOLL (no. 3). But who can create upset? “Favorites have to be Timo BOLL and Dimitrij OVTCHAROV. I hope me and my countryman Mattias KARLSSON can upset the seeding a bit (smile)!” Regarding goals for this year Kristian KARLSSON emphasized one event in his country in the city where he spent two seasons playing for Halmstad BTK: “The big goal for 2018 is to reach a medal in World Team Championship on home field in Halmstad.” In Salle Omnisport du Pierrier will also play Vladimir SAMSONOV of Belarus Marcos FREITAS of Portugal Ruwen FILUS of Germany Simon GAUZY of France Alexander SHIBAEV of Russia Bastian STEGER of Germany Jonathan GROTH of Denmark Emmanuel LEBESSON of France Tiago APOLONIA of Portugal Panagiotis GIONIS of Greece Stefan FEGERL of Austria Lionel WEBER of Switzerland. In Women’s Top 16 will play: LI Jie of Netherlands Elizabeta SAMARA of Romania Georgina POTA of Hungary Sofia POLCANOVA of Austria Petrissa SOLJA of Germany LI Qian of Poland Matilda EKHOLM of Sweden Daniela MONTEIRO DODEAN and Bernadette SZOCS of Romania Viktoria PAVLOVICH of Belarus NI Xia Lian of Luxembourg Polina MIKHAILOVA of Russia Sabine WINTER of Germany Tetyana BILENKO of Ukraine and Rachel MORET of Switzerland. Event’s page here Organisers web site here Tickets are available here Facebook here Twitter here Instagram here
Europe’s no 3 GAUZY coming back from injury
China Construction Bank 2018 ITTF Europe Top 16 Cup In the less of the month time elite Europe’s players will gather for another prestigues China Construction Bank ITTF Europe Top 16 Cup in Montreux (on 3rd and 4th February). Crème de la crème of Old Continet will face great challenge in glamorous Swiss city. World’ no. one Dimitrij OVTCHAROV and legendary Timo BOLL leads the list with Frenchman Simon GAUZY at the position no. three at the seedings. Unfortunately currently he is not in the best of shape. “ I’m suffering from a back injury for more than one month now and it’s difficult for me to come back ” said GAUZY. “I have no aim at the moment… my only aim is to come back as soon as possible from that injury. Last year in Antibes he was third. So far is unknow will he play any tournament before China Construction Bank ITTF Europe Top 16 Cup. “I am in Germany now and I don’t know what will be my first tournament in 2018. Top 16 last year was great for me. Playing in France was for me was awesome experience and I have played some great matches. I missed the final by narow margin but that was great match.” Whole year was very good. “2017 was my best year for me. I have entered the top 10 in the World and made huge progress into the tournaments I have played. My table tennis level has increased a lot. In my opinion so it was great.” He is not afraid of challernge in Montreux. “My main opponent will be my body… if my body is fine I will be able to face anyone. Keep improving my table tennis wise is my goal. If I can get my first title on tour would be great but I’m focusing on my practice and how to improve!” In Salle Omnisport du Pierrier will also play Vladimir SAMSONOV of Belarus Marcos FREITAS of Portugal Ruwen FILUS of Germany Kristian KARLSSON of Sweden Alexander SHIBAEV of Russia Bastian STEGER of Germany Jonathan GROTH of Denmark Emmanuel LEBESSON of France Tiago APOLONIA of Portugal Mattias KARLSSON of Sweden Panagiotis GIONIS of Greece Stefan FEGERL of Austria Lionel WEBER of Switzerland. In Women’s Top 16 will play: LI Jie of Netherlands Elizabeta SAMARA of Romania Georgina POTA of Hungary Sofia POLCANOVA of Austria Petrissa SOLJA of Germany LI Qian of Poland Matilda EKHOLM of Sweden Daniela MONTEIRO DODEAN and Bernadette SZOCS of Romania Viktoria PAVLOVICH of Belarus NI Xia Lian of Luxembourg Polina MIKHAILOVA of Russia Sabine WINTER of Germany Tetyana BILENKO of Ukraine and Rachel MORET of Switzerland. Event’s page here Organisers web site here Tickets are available here Facebook here Twitter here Instagram here
Guests in superb shape in ETTU Cup
On Sunday all four mathes in Men’s and Women’s ETTU Cup concluded in favor of guests. First leg of the Fourth Stage was successfill for Spanish Girbau-VIC TT in Romania French Metz in Spain TMK-Tagmet Taganrog vs. SKNT Luch Vladimir and Austria’s SG Stockerau recorded victory in Slovakia. ACS Dumbravita was beaten in straight match against Girbau-VIC. NI Xia Lian WANG Tingting and Ana GARCIA MONTERO showed no mercy against Izabela LUPULESKU Andreea Valentina ZANFIR and Mihaela Roxana DOSPINA. In all Russia’s duel SKNT Luch Vladimir. Elena TROSHNEVA Olga VOROBEVA and Valentina SABITOVA played for a winning side. In Spain Arteal Tenis de Mesa failed to create advantage before the second leg. They lost 3:0 against Metz led by Carole GRUNDISCH and with Xin LIU and Pauline CHASSELIN. In last match of the Round in Men’s ETTU Cup Hontianske Trstany/Dudince streched SG Stockerau to full distance before Adam PATTANTYOS CHEN Weixing and David SERDAROGLU secured victory. In last match Oleksandr DIDUKH forced Adam to play all five games.
Angers wins in Spain Etival Clairefontaine upsets Bidaorsi
ETTU Cup quarter-finals first leg Vaillante Sports Angers TT confirmed its status on the seeding list of the ETTU Cup Men beating CAJASUR PRIEGO TM 3:0 in Spain while Etival Clairefontaine upsets Bidaorsi 3:2 in the ETTU Cup Women quarter-final leg no.1. Returning encounters will be held on January 26th. Angers was unstoppable in Spain winning each of three individual games 3:1. Jens LUNDQVIST prevailed against Carlos MACHADO in the opener in spite of losing first set. In other two clashes Jon PERSSON and Andrea LANDRIEU beat Andre SILVA and Alejandro CALVO respectively. Regarding women`s competition Etival Clairefontaine recorded new important victory in its very first season in the ETTU Cup. French side defeated the 2012/13 Seamaster ECLW runner-up by a narrow margin (3:2 10:9) thanks to two points of SHAO Jieni and Camelia JACOB`s victory against Timea VARGA in the decider extended to full distance. ETTU Cup Men Quarter-finals 1st leg CAJASUR PRIEGO TM – Vaillante Sports Angers TT 0:3 Carlos MACHADO – Jens LUNDQVIST 1:3 (11:6 8:11 6:11 6:11) Andre SILVA – Jon PERSSON 1:3 (4:11 9:11 11:8 7:11) Alejandro CALVO – Andrea LANDRIEU 1:3 (4:11 14:12 10:12 5:11) ETTU Cup Women Quarter-finals 1st leg Budaorsi 2i Sport Club – Etival Clairefontaine ASRTT 2:3 Szandra PERGEL – Camelia JACOB 3:1 (12:10 11:2 9:11 11:7) Mercedesz NAGYVARADI -SHAO Jieni 0:3 (5:11 9:11 6:11) Maria FAZEKAS – Maria DOLGIKH 3:2 (11:5 9:11 5:11 11:6 11:9) Szandra PERGEL – SHAO Jieni 1:3 (4:11 7:11 11:9 5:11) Timea VARGA – Camelia JACOB 2:3 (11:6 6:11 11:7 7:11 6:11)
Pota Prepares For Top-16 Cup
We caught up with Hungary’s Georgina Pota in Luxembourg this week as the no.20 in the world ranking prepares for the year ahead including the Seamaster ITTF World Tour Hungarian Open and the China Construction Bank ITTF Europe Top 16 Cup in Montreux. How was your winter break? Did you have a holiday? -It was amazing. We were in Dubai for 1 week. We had already been there 2 years ago. I really enjoyed it. The weather was good. I like going from winter to summer. I had a tough year lots of travelling. I think it is very important to find time for a rest especially for the head. Last summer I practiced because of T-2. Normally in Hungary we have 3-4 weeks rest in a row in the summer. What about 2017? You played T-2. It was a new format and new rules of playing table tennis and finishing at the World Tour Grand Finals in Astana Kazakhstan. -2017 was a big challenge in my life. I signed a contract with T-2. It was good to play against the best Asian players. In world tours I cannot often play with world Top-20 players. Of course I had matches in the Champions league and Bundesliga but after T-2 I felt that I improved my game. During the year Matilda Ekholm and I played very well in doubles. I think it was a bit unreal that we were seeded no.1 in Dusseldorf at the World Championships. I was dreaming about a medal but we had a difficult draw [the pair lost in 1 round EKHOLM M SWE / POTA Georgina HUN – BILENKO T UKR / PAVLOVICH V BLR 2-4 (11-4 7-11 9-11 11-8 8-11 11-13)]. I am happy that we got to the World Tour Grand Finals in Astana Kazakhstan. We continue to play together. I hope we will win more titles. What are your main goals for 2018? How is training going? -Overall nothing special. Next week I am going to play Hungarian Open. As always it will be difficult to play at home. Nevertheless my dream is to win a medal at the European Championships in singles. I was 5 times in the last 8 so close. Are you ready for the ITTF Europe Top-16 Cup in Montreux? -Almost I have had little time for practice. I don’t have any free weekends until Top-16 travelling as usual. My aim is to win a medal. If I play well I can do it. It is possible but not easy. You became no. 20 in the January world ranking. What do you think about the new ranking system? -I am surprised and happy. However with this system you must play more tournaments and choose the right ones. However it will be difficult for European players due to club league matches.
Enjoy & Deploy Taverzo upsets Istres
ETTU Cup Men Quarter-finals 1st leg: Istres Tennis de Table – Enjoy & Deploy Taverzo 0:3 TTC Sokah Hoboken – SF SKK El Nino Praha 2:3 Enjoy & Deploy Taverzo from Netherlands upset French club Istres Tennis de Table 3:0 in the first Quarter-final leg of the 2017/18 ETTU Cup Men while Czech Republic`s SF SKK El Nino Praha beat TTC Sokah Hoboken 3:2 away in matches held tonight January 12th. Jakub FOLWARSKI did a great job for Dutch club by winning opener against Paul GAUZY after full five games in spite of being one game down twice. Greek star Kalinikos KREANGA was extended to full distance by Benjamin BROSSIER but provided 2:0 lead for the guests. Third encounter was decided in straight games thanks to Dorian NICOLLE who overcame Konstantinos PAPAGEORGIOU to secure big advantage for Enjoy & Deploy Taverzo before the returning leg. Jeremy PETIOT took two points for Belgian club TTC Sokah Hoboken but El Nino`s team work prevailed. Jakub KLEPRIK Antonin GAVLAS and David REITSPIES provided one point each in the victory of the Czech Republic`s side. KLEPRLIK defeated Rajko GOMMERS in the decider taking eight consecutive points at the beginning of the fifth set. 2017/18 ETTU Cup Men Quarter-finals 1st leg Istres Tennis de Table – Enjoy & Deploy Taverzo 0:3 Paul GAUZY – Jakub FOLWARSKI 2:3 (11:3 7:11 11:6 7:11 8:11) Benjamin BROSSIER – Kalinikos KREANGA 2:3 (11:9 6:11 9:11 11:5 5:11) Konstantinos PAPAGEORGIOU – Dorian NICOLLE 0:3 (9:11 10:12 4:11) TTC Sokah Hoboken – SF SKK El Nino Praha 2:3 Jeremy PETIOT – Jakub KLEPRIK 3:1 (12:10 9:11 11:4 11:4) Rajko GOMMERS – Antonin GAVLAS 2:3 (9:11 9:11 11:6 11:8 4:11) Laurens DEVOS – David REITSPIES 1:3 (6:11 3:11 11:8 4:11) Jeremy PETIOT – Antonin GAVLAS 3:1 (11:8 9:11 11:5 11:4) Rajko GOMMERS – Jakub KLEPRIK 1:3 (11:7 7:11 8:11 3:11) CAJASUR PRIEGO TM – Vaillante Sports Angers TT (Jan 13 18:00) Hontianske Trstany/Dudince – SG Stockerau (Jan 14 15:00)
Clubs seeking the place in the quarterfinal of the ETTU Cup
First leg of the Fourth Stage of the Men’s and Women’s ETTU Cup will be played this weekend. On Friday Istres Tennis de Table will meet Enjoy & Deploy Taverzo (19:30 CET) TTC Sokah Hoboken will play against SF SKK El Nino Praha (20:00 CET) in Men’s ETTU Cup. On Saturday CAJASUR PRIEGO TM will meet Vaillante Sports Angers TT (18:00 CET) in men’s whilst Budaorsi 2i Sport Club will play against ETIVAL Clairefontaine ASRTT in Women’s ETTU Cup. On Sunday Hontianske Trstany/Dudince awaits SG Stockerau in Men’s Cup and in Women’s there are three matches: ACS Dumbravita vs.Girbau – VIC TT (10:00 CET) Arteal Tenis de Mesa vs. Metz TT (11:00 CET) and SKNT Luch Vladimir vs.TMK-TAGMET TAGANROG (16:00 CET). “We expects very difficult away match in Slovakia ” stated Tarek Al-SAMHOURY from SG Stockerau.” Our both defenders CHEN Weixing and Adam PATTANTYUS are in good shape. In addition our youngest member and Austrian national player David SERDAROGLU showed good performance in recent games. In Romania ACS Dumbravita will play against Girbau – VIC TT. “We have a great respect for ACS Dumbravita. We know them very well since we have meet in season 2015/16. My players are excited and in good shape to face this match and we hope we will reach the quarterfinal. We have very experienced players ” said Salvador SERRA coach of the team GIRBAU VIC TT.
ITTF World Tour & T2 Sign Collaboration Agreement
During the Seamaster 2017 ITTF World Tour Grand Finals in Astana Kazakhstan; the ITTF World Tour and T2 signed a collaboration agreement. The agreement will see the ITTF World Tour and T2 Asia & Pacific Table Tennis League working together to grow both properties for the betterment of global table tennis. Mr Frank JI who is the Founder & Chairman of T2 as well as the Chairman of Seamaster the title sponsor of the ITTF World Tour stated: “My goal is to create an environment where our table tennis players are adored and loved by millions across the world and not just by table tennis fans. An environment that would attract more media attention more TV broadcasters more fans and more money into the sport. I want table tennis to be one of the biggest sports in the world and have our players become rich and famous! This is why I created the T2 league and sponsored the ITTF World Tour.” “I see many synergies between the two properties which is why this collaboration makes sense so ITTF and T2 can work more closely together and achieve my goal of table tennis being a flourishing commercial sport ” concluded Mr JI who is also the Special Advisor to the ITTF President for Commercial Business. The collaboration will involve the ITTF World Tour incorporating certain elements from T2 such as using multiple balls during matches increased player promotion player contracts and broadcast innovations. The biggest aspect of the collaboration is that T2 will become the ITTF competition laboratory whereby the ITTF can test new innovations such as ball tracking spin and speed as well as the challenge system where players can challenge an umpire’s decision. This could work for edge ball and even fault serves. T2 is a perfect environment for testing to see if concepts are fit for official ITTF competitions. ITTF President Thomas WEIKERT stated during the signing ceremony: “We are very happy to have people like Frank Ji in our sport we need more passion more ideas and more energy. With Mr Frank JI on board we have been able to innovate and develop the 2017 ITTF World Tour which resulted in record prize money record TV viewership and record TV interest.” “2018 is an important year for the ITTF so we are looking forward to the collaboration which will assist the ITTF to take the ITTF World Tour to new heights.” The first event of the Seamaster 2018 ITTF World Tour will be the Hungarian Open commencing on 18 January 2018.
