Two ECLW Round 1 matches were held tonight: Zamek Tarnobrzeg – CP Lyssois Lille Metropole 1:3 TTC Berlin Eastside – TT Saint Quentin 3:1 Just one out of two top seeded clubs in the ECLW fulfilled expectations tonight in the Round 1 of 2015/16 season: TTC Berlin Eastside – TT Saint Quentin 3:1 (Group A) KTS SPAR-Zamek Tarnobrzeg – CP Lyssois Lille Metropole 1:3 (Group D). Actual ETTU Cup winner and no. 2 seed of ECLW didn`t find solution for YANG Xiaoxin who secured two points for Lille Metropole. In the decisive encounter YANG beat in straight games HAN Ying the best ranked ECLW participant current world`s no. 12. In the opening game HAN defeated WANG Yuting in three sets. Natalia PARTYKA was on good way to imrpove the lead of the host side but YANG prevailed against her after five dramatical games. Talented Bernadette SZOCS streached LI Qian to full distance for Lille`s 2:1 lead. HAN who many times provided two wins to Zamek tonight had no answer for YANG`s play. SHAN Xiaona dominated in the Berlin`s clash. She won both her games against Sanja KORAK and Aurore DESSAINT both in four games. Third point came from Georgina POTA who overcame DESSAINT in straight sets. ECLW Round 1 GROUP A TTC Berlin Eastside – TT Saint Quentin 3:1 SHAN Xiaona – Sanja KORAK 3:1 (11:7 11:13 11:3 11:6) Georgina POTA – Aurore DESSAINT 3:0 (11:9 11:1 12:10) Petrissa SOLJA – RAN Li Kath 1:3 (6:11 10:12 11:8 5:11) SHAN Xiaona – Aurore DESSAINT 3:1 (11:5 6:11 11:4 11:8) GROUP D KTS SPAR-Zamek Tarnobrzeg – CP Lyssois Lille Metropole 1:3 HAN Ying – WANG Yuting 3:0 (11:4 11:7 11:7) Natalia PARTYKA – YANG Xiaoxin 2:3 (11:8 12:14 11:8 10:12 9:11) LI Qian – Bernadette SZOCS 2:3 (7:11 5:11 12:10 11:7 7:11) HAN Ying – YANG Xiaoxin 0:3 (6:11 6:11 5:11)
Walter Wels` astonishing victory
Austrian club beat away reigning TTCLM champion Orenburg 3:1 in the opening round of TTCLM One of the most astonishing victories in the recent history of TTCLM has happened today in the Russian city of Orenburg where the 2013/14 champion of Austrian league beat actual TTCLM winner in the Round 1 of Group A: Fakel Gazproma – SPG Walter Wels 1:3. It doesn’t happen too often that two world`s Top 8 players lost all their matches in the same round but this time it was case with Dimitrij OVTCHAROV and Vladimir SAMSONOV. Serbian Zsolt PETO announced big victory for his side beating world`s no 5 and current individual European champion OVTCHAROV in four games. German was two points up in the middle of the fourth set but guest managed to provide very important point to Walter Wels. After surprising victory against Dima OVTCHAROV in the Round of 32 of the recent China Open Yuya OSHIMA continued his winning streak against Orenburg`s players. Today he defeated both SAMSONOV (in five games) and OVTCAROV (in straight sets) showing that Walter Wels could be one of the biggest challengers in the 2015/16 TTCLM. Fedor KUZMIN brought unique point for the host side in front of about 900 spectators. TTCLM Round 1 Group A Fakel Gazproma Orenburg – SPG Walter Wels 1:3 Dimitrij OVTCHAROV – Zsolt PETO 1:3 (8:11 11:8 4:11 8:11) Vladimir SAMSONOV – Yuya OSHIMA 2:3 (10:12 11:8 11:6 6:11 4:11) Fedor KUZMIN – Mihai BOBOCICA 3:0 (11:8 11:6 14:12) Dimitrij OVTCHAROV – Yuya OSHIMA 0:3 (8:11 9:11 9:11)
Superb start for Eslovs
TTCLM Round 1 Group C: KST Energa-Manekin – Eslovs AI Bordtennis 0:3 The 2014/15 ETTU Cup winner had an easy job in Poland playing Round 1 game of TTCLM: KST Energa-Manekin Torun – Eslovs AI Bordtennis 0:3. Swedish champion needed just two hours to beat newcomer in this competition. The opening game has determined the whole clash when Robert SVENSSON beat Cazuo MATSUMOTO in five games. Brazilian MATSUMOTO who arrived in Torun just few days ago missed two set balls in the opening set and soon he was two sets down. But he managed to level the score after four sets. Finally SVENSSON secured important victory for his side. In the next two matches Eslovs` players showed how is important an experience from TTCLM. First XU Hui easily overcame Tomas KOTOWSKI in straight games. Konrad KULPA was the last hope for the Torun`s team but he just took one set from Mattias OVERSJO. TTCLM Round 1 Group C KST Energa-Manekin – Eslovs AI Bordtennis 0:3 Cazuo MATSUMOTO – Robert SVENSSON 2:3 (11:13 9:11 11:4 11:8 7:11) Tomasz KOTOWSKI – XU Hui 0:3 (9:11 4:11 3:11) Konrad KULPA – Mattias OVERSJO 1:3 (7:11 8:11 11:5 8:11)
Michael MAZE beat MA Lin in exhibition match
In front of 500 spectators in the City Hall in Odense Denmark beat China in exhibition match as the part of the Hans Christian Andersen Festival. Michael MAZE who has just returned after almost a year long break due the injury won 4-2 (11-8 11-5 6-11 11-2 8-11 12-10) against the Chinese legend the triple Olympic gold medalist MA Lin. MA beat Michael MAZE in the World Championships semi-final in Shanghai in 2005. Ruben S. JENSEN opened the evening by winning 2-0 (13-11 13-11) against ZOU Huaren. In the next match Trine GRAUHOLM lost 1-2 to the former Asian champion TANG Weiyi. Trine Grauholm won the first set 11-8 but lost the next two 9-11 and 6-11. Rasmus KLEIN-DØSSING beat 2-0 (16-14 11-6) Zhang Hua. “It was amazing to play Tsingtao Table Tennis Tour in front of more than 500 people in Odense yesterday and of course winning against Ma Lin again.It was a great event and thank You once again for all the support. I’m so grateful to be back playing the sport I love!” wrote MAZE on his Facebook account.
Eslovs targets TTCLM quarter-final
President of the actual ETTU Cup winner Thomas ANDERSON speaks about today`s away match against KST Manekin-Energa Torun KTS Manekin-Energa Torun and Eslovs AI Bordtennis are privileged to open the 2015/16 TTCLM season today in Poland (18.00 CET). The actual ETTU Cup winner from Sweden is focused to reach next stage this time because they finished 3rd last year in the group stage although they played very well. Eslovs`president Thomas ANDERSON explains what will be the target in the upcoming season. “After last season when we finished 3rd in the group and later became winners of the ETTU Cup our aim this season is to advance to at least the quarterfinals stage of the Champions League. The match away against KST – Manekin Energa Torun will obviously be tough but we hope it will be a good match and that we are victorious.
Walter Wels excited to play against reigning TTCLM champion
In the opening round Austrian club plays away against Fakel Gazproma Orenburg (Friday 14.20 CET) The reigning TTCLM champion and no. 1 seed opens the new season by the home encounter against SPG Walter Wels which players are – as they stressed – very excited to play opening game against Fakel Gazproma Orenburg. President of Austrian club Bernhard HUMER hopes that newcomer from Japan Yaya OSHIMA could be able to repeat excellent performance from recent China Open where he reached the semi-final (in the Round of 32 Japanese eliminated Orenburg`s Dimitrij OVTCHAROV in seven games): “As we have a newly composed team (BOBOCICA and OSHIMA are new to the club) we are very happy to play against Orenburg in the first round. We know that Orenburg is a very strong opponent so there is not too much pressure but maybe we can win a game having in mind that Oshima played excellent at China open some days ago.” Walter Wels` coach Edi VECKO agreed with his president: “We know that we are the underdog in this match but we will try our best.” On the other side Orenburg`s coach Valeriy SALABAEV announces his victorious squad (Dimitrij OVTCHAROV Vladimir SAMSONOV Alexei SMIRNOV): “As always all home matches we take very seriously. I hope nothing will prevent us to put the strongest lineup. In the new TTCLM season we shall try to defend the title won a year ago.”
ECLW starts without clear-cut favorite
Fenerbahce defends the title but this time TTC Berlin Eastside is the top seed. Round 1 will be held from August 21st to 24th Everything indicates that the 2015/16 European Champions League Women will be one of the most exciting seasons ever in this competition. Twelve clubs divided in four groups (instead eight in two) will fight for the prestigious European trophy starting from this Friday when double ECLW champion TTC Berlin Eastside hosts TT Saint Quentin (August 21st 19.30 CET) while actual ETTU Cup winner KTS Spar Zamek Tarnobrzeg plays at home against CP Lyssois Lille Metropole (August 21st 17.00 CET). Other two Round 1 matches will be held in Austria and Turkey: SVNO STROCK – UCAM Cartagena (August 24th 19.00 CET) Fenerbahce – Postas Sport Egyesulet (August 23rd 17.30 CET). Reigning ECLW champion Fenerbahce defends the title without strong Chinese players but manager Gurhan YALDIZ kept his optimism: “The 2015/16 season will be more strong and difficult. I think that 12 teams will be better for Champions League. This season first match is very important for us because we are the winner of the last Cup. As you know we won all our matches in the last season making 10 wins in 10 games. We will start so early this season and I hope that we start with the good result”. YALDIZ stressed that first aim of Istanbul`s side is to play in quarter final: “After that we will see what we can do. Our young and strong team need to be good concentrated in the first match at home and I hope we`ll win” Newcomer from France has its debut in the home of top ranked club. Saint Quentin`s coach Franck DELCAMBRE said: “Our group A is very strong with Berlin Eastside seeded N°1 and firm favourite for the title. As far as TT Saint-Quentin is concerned we are very pleased to discover such a prestigious competition and our aim is to stay ‘alive’ as long as we can… We lack experience but we are looking forward to playing the best players in Europe.” Saint Quentin`s manager Jean-Louis POLARD explains how hard will be to overleap the group stage: “Two seasons ago we took part in the ETTU Cup with our Singaporian player YU Mengyu and reached the semi-finals but we lost against Tarnobrzeg. This season is a new step for us being in the ECLW Top 12 and we are proud of it. Nevertheless we realize that it will be very difficult indeed. We know that our first opponents from Berlin Eastside deserve their N°1 ranking and we wish them good luck for the whole ECLW season. Bursa B.B. SK’s leader HU Melek is one of the best competitors too and we will have to focus on her two colleagues to compete for the second place in the group.” ECLW Round 1 (August 21-24th) GROUP A TTC Berlin Eastside – TT Saint Quentin (August 21st 19.30 CET) GROUP B SVNO STROCK – UCAM Cartagena (August 24th 19.00 CET) GROUP C Fenerbahce – Postas Sport Egyesulet (August 23rd 17.30 CET) GROUP D KTS Spar Zamek Tarnobrzeg – CP Lyssois Lille Metropole (August 21st 17.00 CET)
PREUSS: At least 50% of the clubs are able to win the TTCLM
Borussia`s manager predicts very hard season in the European best club`s competition Borussia didn’t manage to reach its new triple crown last season but there is no doubt that 2014/15 was successful bearing in mind that they won two titles (Bundesliga and German Cup) and reached the final in the TTCLM. Despite 3:1 home win in the first final leg they were beaten by Orenburg 3:0 in the returning match. The most successful European club ever opens its new TTCLM chapter this Friday (19.30 CET) at home against Bogoria Grodzisk Mazowiecki. “Last season we had a big chance to win the title but Orenburg took the cup away from us in the last moment” commented Borussia`s manager Andreas PREUSS. “I hope that we can do it better this time. But first of all we have to be successful in group stage. This will be tight enough. And if we reach the quarter finals we have to beat other top teams. I think at least 50% of the clubs are able to win the TTCLM. So it´s a long way to be on the top of this competition.” Patrick FRANZISKA had a problem with an injury in the first months of last season but he managed to recover and played an important role in Borussia`s line-up during last spring. “We are happy that the new season begins on Friday” said young German. “The time since we played the last match in May was long enough although the upcoming season will be hard and long with Olympic Games at the end of it. Bogoria will be an excellent opponent which will show us directly the way for the group stage. I hope that we are strong enough to start successful into the new season.”
New TTCLM season begins on Thursday
Borussia`s coach Danny HEISTER explains why the 2015/16 season will be tough like previous one: “Even no. 16 seed Ostrov has a top player like Masataka MORIZONO” The 18th edition of TTCLM starts this Thursday by Round 1 game between KST Energa-Manekin Torun and Eslovs Al Bordtennis (August 20th 18.00 CET) while other seven matches will be held on Friday and Saturday. Again 16 clubs will fight for the title divided in four groups. Russian Fakel Gazproma Orenburg defends the crown which it has won in the final clashes against ten times European champion Borussia Dusseldorf. Borussia plays in Group D and it starts new season against well known opponent Bogoria Grodzisk Mazowiecki. Coach of German side Danny HEISTER explained why the upcoming season should be a huge challenge for his team: “The new TTCL season will be as tough as it was last year. There are several teams playing with excellent players. Even number 16 seeded Ostrov has got a top player with Masataka MORIZONO world´s 21. So I think this TTCL season will be as balanced as never before. Bogoria with JUNG Youngsik Daniel GORAK and Pawel FERTIKOWSKi is one of the candidates in our group D to reach quarter finals. So it will be a great match to start into the new season. Our hall ARAG CenterCourt will be sold out and we will have a special atmosphere.” Other Group D match will be held in France where Chartres ASTT expects STEN Marketing HB Ostrov. Host team the 2012/13 TCLM finalist is considered as one of favorites. They are continuing with same four players like in last couple of seasons: GAO Ning Robert GARDOS Par GERELL and Damien ELOI. “We respect the strength of team Chartres and we travel to France with thoughts that we can only surprise our opponent. Regarding the whole season our goal is to take the 3rd place in the group” emphasized Jan HRNCIRIK manager of STEN Marketing. Top seeded Orenburg will fight for its fourth crown as unique TTCLM participant with two Top 10 players on ITTF World Ranking List: Dimitrij OVTCHAROV (no. 5) and Vladimir SAMSONOV (no. 8). They will be supported by the best no. 3 team`s player in TTCLM in last five seasons Alexei SMIRNOV. They are going to host SPG Walter Wels in the Round 1. The 2012/13 semi-finalist Saarbrucken expects VS Angers TT in the other Group A match. Coach of German club Slobodan GRUJIC who won TTCLM as a player (with Gonnern) has sent compliments to his first opponent in the new season: “Angers is very strong experienced and well balanced team. We had good preparation thus we are ready for the match. As usual in the eve of the new season players lack the matches but we hope that we can reach first TTCL victory”. Two big names are in the Group B are the 2008 TTCLM champion Wienviertel Niederosterreich and the 2012 finalist UMMC. In the Round 1 Russian side plays at home against GV Hennebont who still counts on Kalinikos KREANGA. World`s no. 6 Jun MIZUTANI will be a biggest weapon of Verkhnaya Pyshma`s side. Niederosterreich hosts Olimpia Unia one of three TTCLM participants from Poland. The 2014 TTCLM champion and 2015 ETTU Cup winner play in Group C and both start new season away: AS Pontoise Cergy in Bremen and Eslovs in Torun. Pontoise is determined to continue its successful run after 2014 TTCLM title and 2015 French National League crown. Marcos FREITAS should be a guarantee for that. Round 1 of the 2015/16 TTCLM (August 20-22nd) GROUP A Fakel Gazproma Orenburg – SPG Walter Wels (August 21st 14.20 CET) 1.FC Saarbrucken TT – Angers TT (August 21st 18.00 CET) GROUP B UMMC – GV Hennebont (August 21st 14.00 CET) Wienviertel Niederosterreich – Olimpia Unia Grudziadz (August 22nd 17.00 CET) GROUP C SV Werder Bremen – AS Pontoise Cergy TT (August 21st 19.00 CET) KST Energa-Manekin Torun – Eslovs Al Bordtennis (August 20th 18.00 CET) GROUP D Borussia Dusseldorf – Bogoria Grodzisk Mazowiecki (August 21st 19.30 CET) Chartres ASTT – STEN Marketing HB Ostrov (August 21st 19.00 CET)
Season kick off in Spain Scotland Turkey and Hungary
The ETTU Cup starts this weekend This weekend 19 clubs will start their journer toward the title in Men’s ETTU Cup. In Spain Scotland Turkey and Hungary divided in four groups clubs from all over the Continet will kick off the first stage tournaments. In Group A top seeds Spanish Irun leka Enea will host CTT Royal Alpa Ixelles Schaerbeek (Belgium) GDCS Juncal (Portugal) TED Sports Club (Turkey). That is the only group with the four clubs remaining three has five teams each. In Scotland North Ayrshire will host TT Vedrinamur (Belgium) Arteal Tenis de Mesa (Spain) Yalova Belediye (Turkey) and SC Mioveni (Romania). Team from belgium is seeded at the position no. one in Group B. Top seeded in Group C G.D. Toledos of Portugal will travel to Istanbul to play against Istanbul BBSK (Turkey) NTK Iliria (Slovenia) Montoutojas (Lithuania) and ASD Marcozzi (Italy). In Group D Hungary’s Floraton Szeged will host top seeds Tenis de Mesa Rivas (Spain) alsongside Rio-Star Muttenz (Switzerland) Turk Telekom Ankara (Turkey) and Sarkuysan Spor (Turkey). Top two teams in this stage will progreess to the second round scheduled for 9 – 11 October.
