LIEBHERR 2016 ITTF European Championships   On the penultimate day of the play in the Men’s Singles Event at the LIEBHERR 2016 ITTF European Championships Jakub DYJAS of Poland crowned his great run in Budapest with the medal. Tomorrow he will meet Emmanuel LEBESSON in the semi final. France already secured two medals. Simon GAUZY will play against Timo BOLL. After great success and victory over Dimitrij OVTCHAROV yesterday Jakub DYJAS beat Joao MONTEIRO of Portugal (11-8 11-7 11-5 9-11 11-5) and KOU Lei of Slovakia (6-11 11-4 11-9 11-6 11-7) today to reach the medal rostrum.   “I enjoy my game here. Even against MONTEIRO I could win 4:0 ” said DYJAS.” Against KOU I was little bit worried because of my service. It was too low but it worked fine.”   In Round of 16 KOU Lei accounted for Swede Anton KALLBERG (10-12 11-8 11-6 11-9 5-11 11-9).   Emmanuel LEBESSON of France overcame Stefan FEGERL of Austria (6-11 11-8 10-12 10-12 12-10 9-11) before he secured the medal in the duel against Marcos FREITAS of Portugal (8-11 11-9 11-13 11-6 11-7 11-9).   “ I could finish the match in the fifth game but FEGERL never gives up ” said LEBESSON for his first today’s encounter. “It was crazy game against FREITAS especially the last set. I cannot say it was good game both of us made a lot of errors but at the end it is important I won”.   For the duel against DYJAS French player added: ”He beat OVTCHAROV here he will be very dangerous.”   In morning session Marcos FREITAS overcame Swede Kristian KARLSSON (11-6 6-11 4-11 3-11 7-11).   “I started with one tactic then I lost opening game. I changed and started with the longer rallies. It proved as a good decision said FREITAS.   Simon GAUZY prevailed against Robert GARDOS of Austria in the quarterfinal (5-11 11-8 11-8 6-11 11-8 11-5).   “Robi is known as a one of the strongest players and big fighter. I managed to push him back from the table with my forehand; that put me in good position to control the game” said GAUZY.   Timo BOLL of Germany recovered from the two games to null in reverse to beat Benedek OLAH of Finland. Once he settled in the rhythm it was almost impossible to stop him (6-11 8-11 11-8 11-3 11-5 11:8).   In the Round of 16 Jonathan GROTH of Denmark put Timo BOLL on severe test but after seven games battle record holder prevailed (7-11 13-11 1-11 11-4 8-11 11-8 11-1).   “I am struggling with my shape. After the Olympics I had a break and this is my first tournament. In addition GROTH did not made my life any easier. He was very good today ” said BOLL.   Benedek OLAH was the first Finish player to secure his place in the Olympic Games. To day he reached the quarterfinal of the European Championships for a first time. He beat Daniel GORAK of Poland (3-11 11-5 11-6 11-9 8-11 11-6).   “I did not start well but I managed to find my game in time. GORAK is a dangerous player. I was cautious. I am also struggling with the pains in my foot ” said OLAH.  

LIEBHERR 2016 ITTF European Championships   In the semi final of the Women’s Singles Event at the LIEBHERR 2016 ITTF European Championships HU Melek will meet LI Jie whilst Elizabeta SAMARA will meet FU Yu.   HU Melek reached the penultimate stage after the victory over top seeded HAN Ying of Germany (7-11 11-9 9-11 8-11 11-8 9-11).   “I had to try everything to beat her. It was very long match. Sometimes I felt like I am hitting the wall everything came back. HAN is top World player ” said HU.   Previously Polina MIKHAILOVA suffered by the hands of HU (11-7 11-9 5-11 4-11 9-11 9-11).   In the Round of 16 HAN Ying overcame Daniela MONTEIRO DODEAN of Romania (11-3 11-3 7-11 14-12 12-10). All games were very close but last two concluded by narrowest of margins.   “It was really long game. In the final stages of the match I lost my focus ” said HAN.   To reach Round of 4 LI Je of Netherlands overcame Matilda EKHOLM of Sweden in seven games (16-14 14-16 9-11 4-11 13-11 11-7 11-6). It was the same outcome like earlier this year in the Olympic Qualifications in Sweden.   “I started good but then she improved her top spin. I could not block her; I was in great problem but I did not want to think of it. I just continued to play ” said LI. “Against HU I played twice before and lost. However now it is new chance for me.”   Round earlier LI Jie easily prevailed against Viktoria PAVLOVICH of Belarus in straight games (11-6 11-8 11-3 11-8).   “I did not prepare any tactics. I just entered the arena and started to play. I do not like to think about my adversaries before the match. I am just focused on my game ” said LI.   In Round of 16 EKHOLM reduced the number of German players on the field. She beat SHAN SHAN Xiaona (11-7 6-11 5-11 11-8 11-6 11-5).   “I started very well but latter maybe I was focused to much on the tactics and not on what was going on. I lost two games before I recovered ” said EKHOLM.   No. two seed Petrissa SOLJA is also out after the quarterfinal matches. She suffered by the hands of YU Fu of Portugal (11-8 11-9 11-7 9-11 8-11 9-11 11-5). YU inflicted the pain in the harts of the host nation supporters by beating Georgina POTA of Hungary in Round 16 (11-5 11-2 5-11 11-7 5-11 2-11 7-11).   After the match POTA cried in the mixed zone area but even visibly shaken she did not forget her fans. She disappeared for a few minutes to calm down and come back to sign the autographs for fans at the stands.   “POTA get an extra power from the fans. They made incredible atmosphere. It was very hard to play against her ” said YU.   In the same round Petrissa SOLJA needed only four games to beat Maria DOLGIKH of Russia (3-11 4-11 7-11 1-11).   “ I enjoyed this match. Everything I planed happened. Every stroke worked well. I was very relaxed ” said SOLJA.   Elizabeta SAMARA of Romania needed six games to secure her place in the semis. She beat Kristin SILBEREISEN of Germany (11-5 13-11 9-11 7-11 13-15 11-13).   “I had a set ball in the second game but I missed it I could of made my life less difficult for sure ” Said SAMARA.” Now I have to focu on my game against FU. we are in the same club in France so there will be no big secrets tomorow.”   Previously Kristin SILBEREISEN of Germany beat NI Xia Lian of Luxembourg but she had to go all seven games to achieve that. Kristin was 1:3 in reverse before she recovered.   “At that point I changed my service game and I started to play more aggressive ” said SILBEREISEN.   Elizabeta SAMARA prevailed against Sabine WINTER in the Round of 16 (12-10 5-11 9-11 8-11 9-11).   “In the third game Sabine was on the way to win that set. It was important to stop her then. I did it and regain complete control ” said SAMARA.

LIEBHERR 2016 ITTF European Championships   Germany secured one gold in tomorrow’s Women’s Doubles and will play for another in Men’s Doubles final. In the all- German final of the Women’s Doubles Event at the 2016 ITTF LIEBHERR European Championships Kristin SILBEREISEN and Sabine WINTER of Germany will meet SHAN Xiaona and Petrissa SOLJA.   Both German pairings recovered to win their semi final encounters. SHAN Xiaona and Petrissa SOLJA prevailed against European champions from 2012 in Herning and 2009 in Stuttgart Daniela MONTEIRO DODEAN and Elizabeta SAMARA of Romania (12-14 12-10 4-11 11-3 11-9 9-11 8-11).   “Now we are not under the stress any more. We secured gold and silver for Germany. In addition we played against our final adversaries so many time in Bundesliga and we know each other very well. We can go and have the coffee together after that match ” said SOLJA.   Inspired by the enthusiastic supporters Dora MARADARASZ and Szandra PERGEL had a good start against SILBEREISEN and WINTER. Hungarian players had 3:1 lead before German pairings recovered (11-7 11-8 8-11 11-6 8-11 6-11 9-11).   “After we were down 1:3 we changed the tactics. Mostly we changed the service. We had to put a little bit more of variations in the game ” said WINTER.   In Men’s Doubles Final Patrick FRANZISKA of Germany and Jonathan GROTH of Denmark will meet Jakub DYJAS and Daniel GORAK of Poland.   German pairings prevailed against runners up from Herning 2012 Kristian KARLSSON and Mattias KARLSSON of Sweden (11-4 11-6 11-6 11-13 13-11).   “I am happy with the way we played in three opening game but after that we became little bit nervous. We realized we are close to the final. It put some pressure on us. The last two game were very close ” said GROTH.   DYJAS and GORAK beat Tiago APOLONIA and Joao GERALDO of Portugal on their way to the ultimate stage (11-9 12-10 9-11 7-11 11-6 11-9).   “The combination of Denmark’s and German player is very good but since we get so far we will not give up. We are very confident in our game ” said DYJAS.  

2016 LIEBHERR ITTF European Championships   In Men’s Doubles Event last year’s champions and top seeds Stefan FEGERL of Austria and Joao MONTEIRO of Portugal departed the competition already in the Round of 16 of the Event at the 2016 LIEBHERR ITTF European Championships. They suffered by the hands of Patrick FRANZISKA of Germany and Jonathan GROTH of Denmark (6-11 10-12 11-9 3-11 16-14 11-8 3-11).   FRANZISKA and GROTH playing together for a while but it is the first time they are together at the European Championships.   In the semi final they fill meet runners up from Herning 2012 Kristian KARLSSON and Mattias KARLSSON of Sweden. They beat Panagiotis GIONIS of Greece and WANG Yang of Slovakia (11-4 6-11 14-12 4-11 4-11 2-11).   On the lower half of the draw Tiago APOLONIA and Joao GERALDO of Portugal will play against Jakub DYJAS and Daniel GORAK of Poland. Poland’s pairings beat Russia’s Alexey LIVENTSOV and Mikhail PAIKOV in straight games (9-11 9-11 7-11 9-11) whilst Portugal’s players succeeded against Anton KALLBERG and Par GERELL (12-10 11-5 11-3 11-8).     Women’s Doubles     At the penultimate day of the play at the LIEBHERR 2016 ITTF European Championships Dora MARADARASZ and Szandra PERGEL secured the first medal for host nation in Budapest. In the Women’s Doubles Event they prevailed against Luxembourg’s combination of experienced NI Xia Lian and young Sarah DE NUTTE in seven games which kept the spectators at the very edges of their seats (13-11 11-13 8-11 10-12 11-9 11-4 9-11).   In the semi final they will meet Kristin SILBEREISEN and Sabine WINTER of Germany. Germany’s pairings beat Alex GALIC of Slovenia and Rachel MORET of Switzerland (11-1 11-9 11-9 9-11 11-3).   European champions from 2012 in Herning and 2009 in Stuttgart as well as silver medal winners in Gdansk/Sopot Daniela MONTEIRO DODEAN and Elizabeta SAMARA of Romania are into the semi final once again. On their way to the penultimate stage they overcame Russia’s Yana NOSKOVA and Yulia PROKHOROVA in very effective way (11-5 5-11 11-4 12-10 11-8).   Second contenders to the throne from Germany are SHAN Xiaona and Petrissa SOLJA. They beat Barbora BALAZOVA of Slovakia and Han MATELOVA od Czech Republic (11-4 6-11 11-9 11-9 7-11 8-11 8-11). SOLJA clinched gold in Schwechat in 2013 partnering Sabine WINTER.   Last year in Russia HU Melek and SHEN Yanfei won the title but Spanish player will say Goodbye later this month and she is not on duty in Budapest. Silver medalists were Georgina POTA and Elizabeta SAMARA. In Budapest POTA with Matilda EKHOLM suffered defeat in previous round in the duel against BALAZOVA and MATELOVA.      

2016 LIEBHERR ITTF European Championships   Joao MONTEIRO of Portugal and Daniela MONTEIRO DODEAN of Romania become the first ever married couple to clinch the gold medal at the 2016 LIEBHERR European Championships. In the final they overcame Mattias KARLSSON and Matilda EKHOLM of Sweden (11-5 12-10 5-11 6-11 12-14).   In thrilling contest both sides fought hard but in close finished “family” prevailed.   “I started this journey as Joao as my colleague in a meanwhile when we faced great pressure he acted like my husband. The support helped ” said Daniela.   Two opening games went on Sweden’s account but in third the pendulum swung.   “It was important to we kept on fighting because we wer5er better today. We deserved to win ” said Joao.   In the semi final Mattias KARLSSON and Matilda EKHOLM beat top seeded pairings Aleksandar KARAKASEVIC of Serbia and Ruta PASKAUSKIENE of Lithuania 1:3 (9-11 11-8 12-14 9-11).   “It is was important to keep KARAKASEVIC away from the table; to prevent him of playing his game. We succeeded and we won ” explained KARLSSON.   Mattias and Matilda playing together for couple years; his partnership started in 2011 in Rotterdam at the World Championships. “We are very good double but we always struggled with the draw. We were unlucky to have Japan’s and Korean’s players against us in early stages at the Championships ” said EKHOLM.   Joao MONTEIRO and Daniela MONTEIRO DODEAN needed three games to beat Ovidiu IONESCU and Bernadette SZOCS of Romania (9-11 6-11 8-11) .   “It was not as easy as the result predicts. Both are very dangerous players. Tactically we nullify aggressive approach he could not move the way he wanted. Also we did not allowed SZOCS to settle in her rhythm with short balls ” said Joao Monteiro.   It seams that players are enjoying the return of the Event at the big Championships.   “This way we have much stronger competition the players are interested in playing it.’        

2016 LIEBHERR European Championships   Unlike the Women’s Singles the Men’s Event at the 2016 LIEBHERR European Championships was shattered with surprises. Most notable name that left the field earlier then his rankings predicted was the no. one seed Dimitrij OVTCHAROV of Germany. The last year’s champion will left Budapest after only two games in singles. The man who was in charge for the biggest upset was Jakub DYJAS of Poland (13-11 9-11 11-4 5-11 8-11 9-11).   Those two players meet twice before.   “Only in unofficial match at Donic tournament I was able to come close and lost by narrow margin 2:3; on official matches I did not have a chance ever. I lost against Dimitrij at the European Championships twice 0:4 and 0:3 in teams event.”   In addition Jakub never managed to reach the second round of the European Championships before.   “Last year I did not passed the group stage and in Gdansk I lost in the first round against Robert GARDOS ” said Jakub currently ranked at the position no. 20 at the European rankings.   To beat OVTCHAROV DYJAS realized he had to avoid being caught in adversaries’ web.   “I had to play my game. I did not think how he would play. I just tried to stay on my course. I could not afford easy mistakes and I had to be focused. At some point I lost the confidence to my service but I did not panic ” said Jakub.   OVTCHAROV was calm.   “I have to accept that I will not be always the best player in the hall. At some point my dominance will stop. I am not in best of shape. It was not enough time to recover after Olympic Games. On top of all DYJAS was a better player today. Maybe we could have different scenario if I had won the second game. I had good opportunity there I missed it and the match went on different direction ” said Dimitrij OVTCHAROV.   The long line of upsets started with the departure of the player ranked at the position no. 9 at the European rankings Andrej GACINA of Croatia. Currently placed at the position no. 49 Anton KALBERG of Sweden beat the odds and succeeded to the third round. It was nerves wracking seven games duel (5-11 12-10 4-11 11-7 11-4 8-11 11-9).   “In crucial moments my service game prevailed ” explained KALBERG.   Europe’s no. 11 Panagiotis GIONIS of Greece also suffered by the hands of lower ranked player. Joao MONTEIRO no. 21 (11-7 11-8 12-10 11-9) is safely through to the Round of 16.   He will join his compatriot Marcos FREITAS who beat another player from Germany Benedikt DUDA (11-6 5-11 9-11 12-10 10-12 11-9 6-11).   “DUDA improved his game in past few months. He is very good player so I expected hard duel. Tomorrow will not be any easier. I have to meet the player who I know very well. I will play against Kristian KARLSSON my teammate. We know each other very well ” explained FREITAS.   Another full seven games duel kept the spectators on the edge of their seats. Stefan FEGERL of Austria prevailed against Liam PITCHFORD of England (11-9 12-10 11-9 9-11 4-11 10-12 11-4). PITCHFORD recovered from the 3:0 in reverse but FEGERL withstood his spirited comeback to seal the match in the decisive game.   “After third game Liam’s service game became more aggressive so I had to change my plan and it did not work well. I tried to make the rallies longer and failed to succeed and then when I finally pushed him far from table the tactics started to work ” said FEGERL.

2016 LIEBEHERR European Championships   The European champion from 2005 silver medalists from 2008 and 2010 and bronze medalists from 2012 LIU Jia of Austria are out of the competition in Women’s Singles Event at the 2016 LIEBEHERR European Championships in Budapest. In the second round she suffered by the hands of Kristin SILBEREISEN of Germany 1:4 (5-11 9-11 8-11 11-9 7-11).   “I had beat LIU few times when I was much younger seven – eight years ago but after that seven times in the row she beat me. Last year in Top 16 she gave me no chance. I suffered in straight games and year before that in the quarterfinal I had 3:1 advantage with 8:3 in the fifth game and I lose. For sure I knew this is going to be a tough encounter ” said SILEBEREISEN.   After bad experience Germany’s player came well prepared.   “I was practicing to win short rallies. I know she would not let me play long points. “   In the next round she will meet experienced NI Xialian of Luxembourg. NI overcame Klaudia KUSINSKA of Poland in seven games thriller (9-11 9-11 11-4 11-9 11-5 7-11 11-7).   “KUSINSKA improved her game. She is so powerful player now “ said NI.   However NI admitted something else is bother her more then the powerful strokes of her adversaries.   “At my age it is hard to stay focused all the time. I made few silly mistakes. I gave easy points. However I am still winning and I am enjoying the game ” stated NI.   Polina MIKHAILOVA of Russia beat Sofia POLCANOVA of Austria in six games (13-11 11-7 9-11 11-7 9-11 11-5). POLCANOVA made Polina’s life difficult with her service game but Russia’s player regains her control in the closing stages of the match.   “I started to receive better and I put more power in my service game in order to stay in the match ” explained MIKHAILOVA.   To seed HAN Ying of Germany overcame SHAO Jieni of Portugal (11-3 11-5 5-11 11-2 11-4) before no. two seed Petrissa SOLJA joined her with express straight games win over Barbora BALAZOVA (5-11 5-11 7-11 1-11).   YU Fu of Portugal was stretched to full distance in the match against Hana MATELOVA of Czech Republic (11-9 10-12 11-4 11-7 4-11 5-11 11:13).   “I was not very confident. I had an injury recently ” said YU.   Maria DOLGIKH of Russia maintained the patience and beat LI Fen of Sweden.   “Swede wanted to finish the game quickly. I was not rushing ” added Maria.    

2016 LIEBHERR ITTF European Championships   Top seeds in the Women’s Doubles Event at the 2016 LIEBHERR ITTF European Championships Maria DOLGIKH and Polina MIKHAILOVA are out from the competition. They suffered by the hands of Sarah DE NUTTE and NI Xialian of Luxembourg (12-10 6-11 8-11 8-11 3-11). In Men’s Doubles Pavel PLATONOV and Vladimir SAMSONOV of Belarus also faced the defeat. Patrick FRANZISKA and Jonathan GROTH (Germany Denmark) progressed to the quarterfinal (9:11 12:14 6:11 4:11).   Host nation aces Dora MADARASZ and Szandra PERGEL overcame Romania’s partnership of Camelia IACOB and Bernadette SZOCS (4-11 4-11 13-11 9-11 12-10 1-11).   “In the second game my thoughts drifted away a bit but luckily Dora was very focused. Only what my coach could advise me at that point was to follow the tactics. That is exactly what I did and we won 11:1 in the last game ” said PERGEL.   No. two seeds SHAN Xiaona and Petrissa SOLJA are safely through after five games duel against Oceane GUISNEL and Stephanie LOEUILLETTE of France (5-11 4-11 12-10 6-11 13-15).   “We were to much confident after easily won opening games so we lost our focus in the third. However we did not change the tactics and we had control in the fourth game. In the last French pairings played better on service and return and that caused a little problem for us ” said SOLJA.   Yana NOSKOVA and Yulia PROKHOROVA prevailed against Sara RAMIREZ and ZHANG Xuan of Spain (13-11 11-13 8-11 7-11 7-11).   “We struggled with the new balls. We are not adjust to them yet ” admitted NOSKOVA.   Top Seeds in Men’s Doubles Event Stefan FEGERL and Joao MONTEIRO of Portugal booked their quarterfinal place after the victory over Tamas LAKATOS and Adam SZUDi of Hungary (12-10 12-14 11-7 11-8 9-11 12-10) Panagiotis GIONIS of Greece and WANG Yang of Slovakia joined them. They beat Tristan FLORE FRA and Emmanuel LEBESSON of France (10-12 11-9 9-11 13-11 11-7 12-10).   “French boys are playing together very well; it was hard match but we succeeded. We managed to control them ” said GIONIS.   Jakub DYJAS and Daniel GORAK of Poland beat Paul DRINKHALL and Liam PITCHFORD of England (11-9 3-11 11-6 5-11 5-11 3-11).   “In three opening games it was like a roller-coaster. It was very tough. They forced us to change the tactics because we were getting nowhere ” said DYJAS.