From Friday until Sunday the Slovak National Table Tennis Centre in Bratislava – Krasnany is hosting the 2015 Slovak Championships. At the starting lineup there are 56 men and 31 women. There are missing only three top national team players who could pos From Friday until Sunday the Slovak National Table Tennis Centre in Bratislava – Krasnany is hosting the 2015 Slovak Championships. At the starting lineup there are 56 men and 31 women. There are missing only three top national team players who could possibly be the candidates for a medal. From the men category BAI He was forced to withdraw. He is getting married and he travelled to China. In addition his future wife is expecting a baby. Also Michal BARDON will be missing. In the run for gold in singles most likely main role will have the defending champion WANG Yang Lubomír PIŠTEJ Thomas KEINATH and Peter ŠEREDA. In the women category Eva ÓDOROVÁ has been missing from the home championships for several years now so it is expected that the national title will be taken by Barbora BALÁZOVÁ or Eva JURKOVÁ. However we can be surprised by performance of Andrea DAUBNEROVÁ or also by Lucia TRUKSOVÁ. Barbora BALÁZOVÁ won the title last year. There are 16 men and 8 women seeded in the main stage the other players starts in qualification rounds on Friday. Best 16 men and 16 women will advance to the next stage. After the national championships the coaches Jarolím MIKO (men) and Valentina POPOVA (women) will announce the list of players selected to the national team for the World Table Tennis Championships in Su Zhou.      

The 2015 Butterfly Irish National Table Tennis Championships will take place in the National Basketball Arena Tallaght Dublin this weekend (February 28th/March 1st). The Eddie Limberg Perpetual trophies for the Men’s and Women’s Singles competitions wil The 2015 Butterfly Irish National Table Tennis Championships will take place in the National Basketball Arena Tallaght Dublin this weekend (February 28th/March 1st). The Eddie Limberg Perpetual trophies for the Men’s and Women’s Singles competitions will be the most coveted prizes of the weekend. Last year saw Paul McCREERY repeat and take his second consecutive Men’s Singles title; Paul based at Nottingham University in the UK will be many people’s favourite and has every chance of making it a trilogy of titles. Paul will face very stiff competition from international team-mates Gavin MAGUIRE and Ashley ROBINSON. Maguire has had a solid season with some fine recent wins at the Munster Open and has shown strong form of late in the German League – he pushed McCreery all the way last year in a tremendous Final and will look to add to the title he won in 2009. Robinson has based himself in Sweden this year and went close in 2014 making the semi-final – many will fancy the youngster to be there or thereabouts when the Limberg Trophy is handed out. John MURPHY has focused increasingly on his coaching career; however he has won 5 titles since 2007 and should never be written off when it comes to the National Championships where experience nerve and guile count for so much. Other contenders to watch out for are Ryan FARRELL Nationally Ranked 6 and Zac WILSON Nationally Ranked 7. Both players are exciting young talents who will go in to the event with no fear. Watch out also for Donic’s Tom DAVIS Nationally Ranked 10. Irish Women’s table tennis could also see some big battles this weekend with the title race wide open. Unfortunately two of the game’s brightest talents Sarah TIMLIN and Hannah LYNCH-DAWSON miss out through injury – both would have expected to be involved in the latter stages of the event and will be sorely missed. Lynch-Dawson in particular has had a stormer of a season and tops the Women’s rankings. All in Table Tennis Ireland wish both players a speedy recovery. Last year’s champion Emma Ludlow returns to strive to retain her title – she emerged from the pack last year and showed huge character and ability to claim the title. Hard also to look past Katie MCGLONE Nationally Ranked 2 and with all the ability required to claim this title. Chloe O’HALLORAN is back to defend her Under 21 title and many will feel has all the tools required to claim her maiden singles title. Ashley GIVAN has already 3 National Singles titles to her name – she will be keen to add to this tally this year also now that she is at university in Belfast with the opportunity for additional practice partners. There is no shortage of challengers ready to battle for the title including Marta ZAREBA Sabina DEVEREUX and Nationally Ranked 10 Rebecca FINN. It will be an intriguing battle to become National Champion 2015. The other events will see several battles as the holders look to retain their titles. The tournament referee is Tony MARTIN. List of Events and current holders: Men’s Singles (Eddie Limberg Perpetual Trophy) – Paul McCREERY Women’s Singles (Eddie Limberg Perpetual Trophy) – Emma LUDLOW Veterans Singles – Darius ZATYLNY Under 21 Mens Singles – Ashley ROBINSON Under 21 Ladies Singles – Chloe O’HALLORAN Men’s Wheelchair Singles – Colin JUDGE Ladies Wheelchair Singles – Rena McCARRON ROONEY Men’s Doubles – Paul McCREERY and John MURPHY Ladies Doubles – Ashley GIVAN and Amanda MOGEY Wheelchair Doubles – Philip QUINLAN and Ronan ROONEY Mixed Doubles – Katie McGLONE and John MURPHY

The Danish Championships will be played in Odense. 88 players participate in the five events. Jonathan GROTH can win his third title in a row. He is top seeded together with Kasper STERNBERG in the Men´s singles. Mie SKOV nine times champion makes a come The Danish Championships will be played in Odense. 88 players participate in the five events. Jonathan GROTH can win his third title in a row. He is top seeded together with Kasper STERNBERG in the Men´s singles. Mie SKOV nine times champion makes a come back and participates even she is pregnant. Last year Pernille AGERHOLM won in Mie Skovs absence. For the first time in 30 years Allan BENTSEN does not participate due to an Achilles injury. Allan BENTSEN has won 50 Danish championships titles. In men’s double Kasper STERNBERG and Mikkel HINDERSSON are favourites. The champion from last year the 18 year old Claus Schou Nielsen has replaced Allan BENTSEN with another veteran Finn TUGWELL. Mie SKOV and Stefanie CHRISTENSEN are top seeded in women’s double together with the champions from last year Pernille AGERHOLM and SØNDERGAARD. Pernille AGERHOLM and Morten HYRUP have won mixed doubles the last two years and they are top seeded with Stefanie CHRISTENSEN and Kasper STERNBERG.      

Czech National Championship 2015 will be held in Hranice (27th February to 1th March 2015). The 2014 titles winners in singles are Tomáš KONECNY in the Men’s and Iveta VACENOVSKA in Women’s Event. In Plzen Tomáš KONECNÝ overcame Dmitrij PROKOPCOV in the Czech National Championship 2015 will be held in Hranice (27th February to 1th March 2015). The 2014 titles winners in singles are Tomáš KONECNY in the Men’s and Iveta VACENOVSKA in Women’s Event. In Plzen Tomáš KONECNÝ overcame Dmitrij PROKOPCOV in the final (Men’s Singles winner in 2013) 4:2 the top seed. Iveta VACENOVSKÁ in final overcame Katerina PENKAVOVÁ 4:1. Czech National Championship 2015 in Hranice: Friday 27th February – qualification Saturday 28th February – Main draw Sunday 1th. March – afternoon – finals    

The list of stars that will play at the final phase of the Greek National championship to be held in Athens is the strongest one comparing last few years. Among the participants will be a total of 13 athletes who have won national titles in individual e The list of stars that will play at the final phase of the Greek National championship to be held in Athens is the strongest one comparing last few years. Among the participants will be a total of 13 athletes who have won national titles in individual event at least once! The championships include four events the singles and doubles for men the singles and doubles for women. Total number of entries is 36 men and 25 women. Greek champion in singles over the last 5 years Kostas PAPAGEORGIOU is on the top of the list. The record holder at the same event (14 titles) John VLOTINOS follows; the list goes on with the current champions in men’s doubles Tasos RINIOTIS and George KONSTANTINOPOULOS the former champion in all events Kostas LAGOGIANNIS the two-time champion in men’s doubles Dimitris PAPADIMITRIOU and the champion in the same contest in 2008 Lefteris MAKRAS. Athlete who aims for a position on medal rostrum is also 21 year old Konstantinos KONSTANTINOPOULOS. As a winner could emerge Konstantinos AGGELAKIS while you can count on former international Claudio KIROU who had won gold medal in mixed doubles in 1999. Kallinikos KREANGA and Panagiotis GIONIS will be absent again and this year Daniel TSIOKAS will join them. In women’s event there will be no Aggeliki PAPADAKI. However there will be no lack of international players. Maria CHRISTOFORAKI the champion of 2012 Filareti EXARCHOU Katerina TOLIOU Georgia ZAVITSANOU are all listed. Not to be forgotten the teammates in Pera Athens Christina FILI and Laura NIKOULAE the players who only in the single’s women have won 11 titles together! Maria MOIROU is back. At age of 38 the champion of Greece in women’s singles in 1994 may not claim the highest positions but her games in A1 championship showed that she remains competitive and will surely contribute to the competition. Finally the athletes who have the potential to create surprises are Olga GEORGOPOULOU Aliki KIOUFI Eleni GEORGIADOU and Rosa HOVSEPIAN.

Moscow and Sverdlovsk region will play in the final of the Russian 2015 Team’s Championships. In Women’s final Moscow will meet Nizhny Novgorod. You can follow the action live HERE Start: 17:00 Moscow Time Men’s Team Final – Moscow – Sverdlovs Moscow and Sverdlovsk region will play in the final of the Russian 2015 Team’s Championships. In Women’s final Moscow will meet Nizhny Novgorod. You can follow the action live HERE Start: 17:00 Moscow Time Men’s Team Final – Moscow – Sverdlovsk region . Moscow – Men’s team (Alexey LIVENTSOV Vasily LAKEEV Andrey BAIBULDIN Taras MERZLIKIN Viacheslav KRIVOSHEEV) Sverdlovsk region / Men’s team (Grigory VLASOV Vildan GADIEV Konstantin CHERNOV Ilya ZHIDKOV Pavel KHRIPUNENKO) Women’s Team Final – Moscow – Nizhny Novgorod region Moscow Women’s Team (Olga BARANOVA Anna BLAZHKO Yulia PROKHOROVA Anastasia VORONOVA Valentina SABITOVA) Nizhny Novgorod Region – Women’s Team (Yana NOSKOVA Maria DOLGIKH Oxana FADEEVA Ekaterina GUSEVA Darya CHERNOVA)  

It’s the biggest surprise of the event. Jean-Michel SAIVE (45 years) will not play at the National Series A Championships at Roulers. After the conquest of his 25th title in thirty years he announced: “I have no motivation and no preparation It’s the biggest surprise of the event. Jean-Michel SAIVE (45 years) will not play at the National Series A Championships at Roulers. After the conquest of his 25th title in thirty years he announced: “I have no motivation and no preparation for such event. Emotionally and physically you need to be at 100 % it’s not my case. I played the qualifications in Dubai and Qatar World Pro Tour to assure my qualification for the Europaen games in Baku in June and i have a Legend’s Tour dates in Sweden newt week and an important Cup match in Virton next Sunday. My head says no…” From his first title in 1985 Jean-Mi won 25 times lost three finals (1989 and 1990 to Thierry Cabrera; 2002 to Philippe Saive) a semi-final (1992 to Frédéric Sonnet) and a quarter-final (2010 to Lauric Jean). Cédric NUYTINCK the new Belgian N.1 at the World ranking is the new favorite. Only Yannick VOSTES in 2010 was a previous winner of this event amongst all participants. On the women’s event Nathalie MARCHETTI is the favourite for a triple crown. Venue: Sporthal Schiervelde  Diksmuidesteenweg 396 – 8800 Roulers Schedule: Saturday: from 9.30: qualifications and final round at 5.30. Sunday: 9.30: MX double final  10.00: men and women double’s finals  12.00: quarter finals  14.20: semi-finals  15h10: women’s final  16h00: men’s final  

Austrian National Closed Championship is scheduled for this weekend. The Event will be hold in “Sporthalle Horn” around 80 km outside of Vienna. All players listed showed impressive form in past few weeks so exciting matches are expected. Al Austrian National Closed Championship is scheduled for this weekend. The Event will be hold in “Sporthalle Horn” around 80 km outside of Vienna. All players listed showed impressive form in past few weeks so exciting matches are expected. All Austrian top-stars will take part at this Event with a total entry of 79 in Men’s single and 20 in Women’s single. Only top-player missing is title holder in Women’s single and women’s doubles event LIU Yuan from LZ Linz-Froschberg. Last year LIU Jia and Sofia POLCANOVA could not participate because of illness so Froschberg-Manager Renner sent LIU Yuan who win the title. Time-Schedule: Saturday: Pre-Rounds up to last 16 and QF in doubles; Sunday morning: QF in single and SF in doubles; Sunday afternoon: At 1:00 pm the finals will start end around 4 or 5 pm Titleholders: Men’s Single: Stefan FEGERL. Women’s single: LIU Yuan. Men’s Double: Dominique PLATTNER/Martin STORF. Women’s Double: LIU Yuan / Amelie SOLJA. Mixed Double: Dominique PLATTNER/Amelie SOLJA      

The Swedish National Championships will be played in the famous table tennis city of Falkenberg. It is surprisingly the first time that Falkenberg will host the Championships. In the Men’s singles all the top players will be on sight. Last year’s winner The Swedish National Championships will be played in the famous table tennis city of Falkenberg. It is surprisingly the first time that Falkenberg will host the Championships. In the Men’s singles all the top players will be on sight. Last year’s winner Kristian KARLSSON is seeded number one and will try to defend his title. Second seeded is Pär GERELL third seeded Jens LUNDQUIST and fourth seeded is Jon PERSSON. The old stars Jan-Ove WALDNER and Mikael APPELGREN will not participate. In the Women’s singles the big favorite is Matilda EKHOLM last year’s winner LI Fen will not participate. Matilda has won the title four times and aims for her fifth title. Second seeded is SUN Jie third seeded is Linda BERGSTRÖM and fourth seeded is Tilda JOHANSSON.      

In Italy the National Championship will be held in Molfetta (Puglia Region in Southern Italy) from 27 february to 1st march. Last year’s champions are Niagol STOYANOV and Nikoleta STEFANOVA. This year’s favorites are Niagol STOYANOV again and Mihai BOBOC In Italy the National Championship will be held in Molfetta (Puglia Region in Southern Italy) from 27 february to 1st march. Last year’s champions are Niagol STOYANOV and Nikoleta STEFANOVA. This year’s favorites are Niagol STOYANOV again and Mihai BOBOCICA whilst in Woman category the championship is very open. STEFANOVA is absent (pregnant) and a lot of players has capability to win because the level is very similar. On Fitet home page there is a dedicate site “Campionati Italiani Assoluti 2015 di Molfetta” where you can find more information.