Christin SILBEREISEN put very hard task in front of her. She is trying to make balance between sport and academic career. She had to reduce her tournament schedule but her aspirations remained high. Instead of eight she is having four international Worl Christin SILBEREISEN put very hard task in front of her. She is trying to make balance between sport and academic career. She had to reduce her tournament schedule but her aspirations remained high. Instead of eight she is having four international World Tour tournaments a year and that keeps the pressure to improve her rankings very high. At the 2015 NN Table Tennis Club ITTF – Europe Top 16 in Baku SILBEREISEN is seeded no. 10. She is a part of the very strong German delegation with WU Jiaduo Petrissa SOLJA and Irene IVANCAN playing at the same Event. “I have not any special preparation for the Event. Right now I have to be focused on my education. I am preparing myself to be Physiotherapist. That is why I conducted only regular trainings ” explained SILBEREISEN. Last week Christin was a member of German team at the Dubai World Cup. The best result last year she recorded at the Swedish Open where she reached quarterfinal. That made her proud and by her words proved her that self-confidence is sometimes more important then long hours in training hall. With her club Berlin she won European Champions Legaue become German champion and Cup winner. With the 5th position in World Cup and title in doubles at national championships it was great year for her. Top seeds in Baku are: LIU JIa of Austria Georgina POTA of Hungary Elizabeta SAMARA of Romania. “I think that hot favorite for the title is Georgina POTA. She is in very good shape. I am very happy that I qualified for the Top 16 and for a start I hope I will manage to pass the group stage.”
2015 World Tour to offer a record 3mln USD prize money
The GAC Group 2015 ITTF World Tour is set to be the most lucrative Tour of all time with the ITTF announcing that a record US$3 000 000 prize money will be on offer for the world’s best table tennis players. In 2015 the GAC Group World Tour will b The GAC Group 2015 ITTF World Tour is set to be the most lucrative Tour of all time with the ITTF announcing that a record US$3 000 000 prize money will be on offer for the world’s best table tennis players. In 2015 the GAC Group World Tour will be made up of 23 events in 23 countries making it the biggest ever World Tour in ITTF history. ITTF’s CEO Judit FARAGO stated: “With the support of our title sponsor GAC Group the Tour offers more prize money than ever exactly 3 million US dollars an increase of US$240 000. A first in 2015 the 3 Most Active Players on the World Tour will share a bonus award of 39 000 US dollars above the prize money they earn.We are happy that again five continents are included in the series and we warmly welcome two new organisers. Looking forward with great excitement to the start of the Tour next week in Hungary where the last year’s event participation record will be broken immediately with 360 entries.” New World Tour stops in 2015 include North Korea and Bulgaria and the GAC Group 2015 World Tour will touch all corners of the globe in 2015 making it a truly international tour. In addition to offering the highest prize money in history the 2015 World Tour will also be the most viewed in history with more events shown live throughout the world on television and all the events being shown live on ITTF’s live streaming platform itTV. As was the case in 2014 the GAC Group 2015 ITTF World Tour will be split up into three tiers (highest first): Super (6 events) Major (6 events) Challenge (11 events). The higher the series the more prize money World ranking points World Tour ranking points and higher quality of competition on offer. The top 16 singles and top 8 doubles pairs of the World Tour point standing will then be invited to the prestigious World Tour Grand Finals at the end of the year a location to be announced later. ITTF’s 970 000 social media followers on Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube as well as Sina and Tencent Weibo will be in a prime position to receive exclusive content from what will be the most social #ITTFWorldTour in history. The GAC Group 2015 World Tour kicks off in Hungary on 28 January 2015. Check out the full World Tour calendar here and a breakdown of the prize money here..
Berlin and Strock up against impossible
Two host clubs enters returning semi final matches of WECL with big advantages: Linz AG Froschberg – SVNO STROCK (January 22nd 18h00 CET 1st leg 3:0) Fenerbahce – TTC Berlin Eastside (January 24th 12h00 CET 1st leg 3:1). The winners are going to play Two host clubs enters returning semi final matches of WECL with big advantages: Linz AG Froschberg – SVNO STROCK (January 22nd 18h00 CET 1st leg 3:0) Fenerbahce – TTC Berlin Eastside (January 24th 12h00 CET 1st leg 3:1). The winners are going to play for the title and the finals will be held on March 13-15th and April 3-5th. “It’s not much to say. Now we have really small chance to reach final. Just 3:0 can help us. Last time in Istanbul we won there 3:0 who knows may be we can make it again… We will try our best” stressed Berlin’s coach Irina PALINA after her side’s 3:1 home defeat from top seeded Fenerbahce. Berlin Eastside still defends the WECL title but Fenerbahce is a clear favorite leading by world’s no. 7 WU Yang who brought two points in the first game in Germany against Georgina POTA and SHAN Xiaona. Manager of the Turkish champion Gurhan YALDIZ hopes that his club will reach this spring the very first WECL crown in its history: “We have very good advantage. I am sure that the match will be very difficult but I believe that we will be in the final. This time we want so much the WECL title. The main thing is that we would like to do it without loosing any match and that is the reason why we will play for the victory in upcoming game. It’s good fact for us to play in half final with Berlin because they beat us in the final last year. But this time I hope we will win one more time and progress to the final”. Linz is 99 percent in the final after 3:0 (9:1) away win in all-Austrian semis. However the two times WECL champion is still motivated to reach new victory against its big opponent SVNO STROCK as Froschberg`s president Gunther RENNER announced: “We expect a match similar to the first semi final. We just need two single sets to go up to the final. Anyway we fight to show our home crowd that the 3:0 in Schwechat was no coincidence. We want to have a result that shows with no doubt that we are now and we will be the number one in Austria”. WECL semi final leg2 Fenerbahce – TTC Berlin Eastside (January 24th 12h00 CET) Linz AG Froschberg – SVNO STROCK (January 22nd 18h00 CET) WECL semi final leg1 results TTC Berlin Eastside – Fenerbahce 1:3 SVNO STROCK – Linz AG Froschberg 0:3
Simon GAUZY matured for top senior events
The member of the outstanding generation which ruled the European Youth Championships for years Simon GAUZY matured for top senior events. First time in his career 20 years old Frenchmen received invitation to play at the most prestigious senior tourna The member of the outstanding generation which ruled the European Youth Championships for years Simon GAUZY matured for top senior events. First time in his career 20 years old Frenchmen received invitation to play at the most prestigious senior tournament. He will have his premiere at 2015 NN Table Tennis Club ITTF – Europe Top 16 in Baku (from 6th to 8th February). In past few months GAUZY recorded great results which launched him at the top of European U21 rankings whilst at senior European rankings he holds position no. 13 (in January). Simon is also pleased with his current shape and performance at the tournament and in Bundesliga for LIEBHERR Ochsenhausen. “Yes I am in good shape now. I am satisfied with my results in German Bundesliga for last six months. I am so happy that I reached the position which gave me opportunity to play at Top 16. I’m practicing as hard as usually but I’m excited to go there ” said GAUZY. Simon set a new landmark in his career in November at the GAC Group 2014 ITTF World Tour Swedish Open in Stockholm. “I played fantastic tournament. I reached quarter final after beating Gustavo TSUBOI Koki NIWA and Kenda MATSUDAIRA ” explained GAUZY a player who had been required to compete in the two days of qualification at the very same event. Speaking about his chances at the forthcoming 2015 NN Table Tennis Club ITTF – Europe Top 16 GAUZY is cautious. “I do not have high expectations since I am a “new comer” there. I have huge respect for all the players who will be in Baku. After all I am the youngest there and they are best players in Europe right now. If I will be able to win one or two matches it will be already a great tournament for me.” The competition is fierce indeed. From Top 10 players in Europe only name of Patrick BAUM is missing. “At this moment the best player is Dimitrij OVTCHAROV of my opinion. However Marcos FREITAS is getting better and better and Timo BOLL and Vladimir SAMSONOV are still fantastic. Let’s see what WILL happen there but my favorite for the title is OVTCHAROV. Recently I have played against Steffen MENGEL and I beat him but this will be a total different atmosphere and let’s see if I am able to beat one of these guys in Baku.” It will be very long and demanding season. “My main goal is to qualify for Olympic Games and to improve my World rankings . I am going step by step because I know it is hard to have so much season’s goals . I try to improve to reach the best guys one day.”
Linz shows its power in Schwechat
Two times Women`s European Champions League winner Linz AG Froschberg is 99 percent in the 2014/15 final after tonight`s 3:0 away victory in Schwechat. LIU Jia & Co. showed one of their best games in all-Austrian WECL semis bearing in mind that actu Two times Women`s European Champions League winner Linz AG Froschberg is 99 percent in the 2014/15 final after tonight`s 3:0 away victory in Schwechat. LIU Jia & Co. showed one of their best games in all-Austrian WECL semis bearing in mind that actual ETTU Cup champion SVNO STROCK took just one set. The rematch will be held on January 22nd (18h00 CET). When these two clubs play one against another that is the more than a table tennis. They met in the 2012/13 WECL semis too when Linz won both games (3:0 home 3:2 away). But STROCK reached three Austrian Championships in the last four seasons. Tonight two youngest players in the line-ups opened the encounter as Sofia POLCANOVA (world`s no. 43) defeated Dora MADARASZ (no. 75) in straight games. Former Asian Youth Junior champion Chinese LI Xiaodan continued in that style beating easily Matilda EKHOLM (no. 70). Tetyana BILENKO (no. 95) was the last hope of the host but this time this well known defender had no answer for LIU Jia`s attacks. Ukrainian took opening set while the 2005 individual European champion and the best ranked player in the game (no. 12) won next three in a row. SVNO STROCK – Linz AG Froschberg 0:3 Dora MADARASZ – Sofia POLCANOVA 0:3 (5:11 7:11 8:11) Matilda EKHOLM – LI Xiaodan 0:3 (7:11 8:11 4:11) Tetyana BILENKO – LIU Jia 1:3 (11:8 4:11 8:11 10:12)
WECL top seed overcomes reigning champion
In the first semi final game of 2014/15 Women`s European Champions League no. 1 seed Fenerbahce beat away reigning champion TTC Berlin Eastide 3:1 as world`s no. 7 WU Yang took two points. SHAN Xiaona beat Elisabeta SAMARA in four games of the first enc In the first semi final game of 2014/15 Women`s European Champions League no. 1 seed Fenerbahce beat away reigning champion TTC Berlin Eastide 3:1 as world`s no. 7 WU Yang took two points. SHAN Xiaona beat Elisabeta SAMARA in four games of the first encounter. When Georgina POTA reached opening set against WU Yang Turkish champion was faced with a hard task. But the best ranked WECL player turned the game winning next three sets Two German players met in the third clash which took five sets. Petrissa SOLJA managed to take the first very close set but as always you need to have all the time good concentration against such good defender as IVANCAN is. After many upside-downs in first four sets the 2011 ECH runner-easily won the latest one Finally Chinese WU secured important win for her side defeating SHAN in straight games. That is for sure decent advantage for Istanbul`s club but Berlin showed last season that is able to play good game in Turkey. TTC Berlin Eastside – Fenerbahce 1:3 SHAN Xiaona – Elisabeta SAMARA 3:1 (11:3 11:5 7:11 11:5) Georgina POTA – WU Yang 1:3 (11:9 9:11 5:11 6:11) Petrissa SOLJA – Irene IVANCAN 2:3 (15:13 7:11 4:11 11:8 3:11) SHAN Xiaona – WU Yang 0:3 (9:11 7:11 9:11)
Only Sweden’s Eslovs shined at home
In the quarterfinal of the Men’ ETTU Cup Eslovs AL Olimpia Unia Grudziadz and Vaillante Angers secured opening leg victories. In Zoetermeer Dutch Enjoy & Deploy Taverzo suffered straight matches defeat against Olimpia Unia Grudziadz. Polish side rec
UCAM Cartagena in good shape
In Table Tennis and Boxing Center in Russia Kazan suffered defeat against Spanish UCAM Cartagena. Even missplaced laguage after long trip could not stop former ETTU Cup champions. In the first leg of the Women’s Cup quarterfinal Cartagena won 3:1. In Table Tennis and Boxing Center in Russia Kazan suffered defeat against Spanish UCAM Cartagena. Even missplaced laguage after long trip could not stop former ETTU Cup champions. In the first leg of the Women’s Cup quarterfinal Cartagena won 3:1. Host club started good. Antonina SAVELYEVA beat Iulia NECULA before LI Xiang leveled the match. She beat Svetlana MOKHNACHEVA in straight games. Maria XIAO also showed no mercy against Viktoriia LEBEDEVA whilst LI Xiang on her second enter to the playing box secured important victory for Spanish club. It was bad day for host. Another Russia’s representative failed to produce victory at home soil. In sport center Admiral in Taganrog Tagmet suffered defeat against Austria’s TTC Carinthiawinds Villacher. Anna BLAZHKO was the only player to score whilst on the other side of the net Amelie SOLJA and LI Qiangbing were no in the mood for the charity. In the last Women´s ETTU Cup match in the first leg quarterfinal in Budaorsi 2I SC suffered defeat against French Metz TT in Hungary. WU Jiaduo opened the match in furious style. She left the table after duel against Szandra PERGEL with 17 points on her adversaries’ account. Cornelia MOLNÁR managed to steal the game from FU Yu and it was same case in the match between Mária FAZEKAS VS. Yunli SCHREINER. TTC Kazan – UCAM Cartagena TM 1:3 Antonina SAVELYEVA – Iulia Georgiana NECULA 3:2 (6:11 13:11 11:3 9:11 13:11) Svetlana MOKHNACHEVA – LI Xiang 0:3 (5:11 6:11 3:11) Viktoriia LEBEDEVA – Maria XIAO 0:3 (7:11 3:11 6:11) Antonina SAVELYEVA – LI Xiang 1:3 (6:11 13:11 9:11 7:11) TMK Tagmet -TTC Carinthiawinds Villacher 1:3 Valentina SABITOVA – LI Qiangbing 1:3 (8:11 12:10 9:11 5:11) Olga BARANOVA – Amelie SOLJA 1:3 (8:11 11:8 3:11 9:11) Anna BLAZHKO – Ganna FARLADANSKA 3:0 (11:8 11:6 11:2) Valentina SABITOVA – Amelie SOLJA 1:3 (4:11 15:17 11:3 7:11) Budaorsi 2I SC – Metz TT 0:3 Szandra PERGEL – WU Jiaduo 0:3 (4:11 4:11 9:11) Cornelia MOLNÁR – FU Yu 1:3 (9:11 11:9 5:11 8:11) Mária FAZEKAS – Yunli SCHREINER 1:3 (8:11 4:11 11:7 10:12)
MECL top seed shines in Germany
In the 1st quarter final game of Men`s European Champions League top seeded Fakel Gazproma Orenburg beat away Sarbrucken 3:0 whilst other two results of the matches held tonight are Bogoria Grodzisk – Wienviertel Niederosterreich 1:3 Chartres – UMMC 3: In the 1st quarter final game of Men`s European Champions League top seeded Fakel Gazproma Orenburg beat away Sarbrucken 3:0 whilst other two results of the matches held tonight are Bogoria Grodzisk – Wienviertel Niederosterreich 1:3 Chartres – UMMC 3:1. Last night reigning champion AS Pontoise Cergy defeated Borussia Dusseldorf 3:1. Russian champion Orenburg is 99 percent into the semis after 3:0 (9:3) win in Saarbrucken. All three matches took four games and in each host players won opening set. Vladimir SAMSONOV beat Bojan TOKIC in the first encounter. Slovenian managed to take the opening set after several shifts and missing set balls while Byelorussian controlled the next three sets. Host side hoped that Tiago APOLONIA is able to repeat his feat from 2014 Team`s European Championships final when he overcame Dimitrij OVTCHAROV in the game between Portugal and Germany. But tonight the best ranked Orenburg`s player prevailed. It could say that the second set (34 points in total) was crucial one because APOLONIA missed good chance for 2:0 lead. Alexey SMIRNOV just confirmed his good reputation in MECL as no. 3 player defeating Adrien MATTENET. Former Euro Top 12 winner has the best percentage of wins in last five years on his position in the line-up. The 2008 MECL winner Wienviertel Niederosterreich did nice job in Poland. Austrian side beat Polish champion thanks to well known Chinese defender HOU Yingchao who defeated Pawel FERTIKOWSKI and Korean OH Sang Eun. Third point of the visitors came from Stefan FEGERL who overcame Daniel GORAK in five games. Two former Top 10 players on ITTF WR list HOU and OH showed good table tennis especially in the opening set which took 34 points in total. The 2012/13 MECL runner-up Chartres beat UMMC 3:1 but bearing in mind set ratio (9:9) it is not too bad result for Russian club who played without its best player world`s no 5. Jun MIZUTANI (he went to Japan to play on National Championships of his country). Grigorij VLASOV brought early advantage in the first clash beating Robert GARDOS in straight games. But Alexander SHIBAEV lost both his matches in five games as well as Joao MONTEIRO his encounter against Singaporean GAO Ning. 2014/15 MECL quarter final leg1 Saarbrucken – Fakel Gazproma Orenburg 0:3 Bojan TOKIC – Vladimir SAMSONOV 1:3 (14:12 6:11 7:11 5:11) Tiago APOLONIA – Dimitrij OVTCHAROV 1:3 (11:9 16:18 4:11 4:11) Adrien MATTENET – Alexey SMIRNOV 1:3 (11:8 9:11 6:11 4:11) Bogoria Grodzisk Mazowiecki – Wienviertel Niederosterreich 1:3 OH Sang Eun – Daniel HABESOHN 3:0 (12:10 11:6 11:5) Pawel FERTIKOWSKI – HOU Yingchao 0:3 (4:11 3:11 7:11) Daniel GORAK – Stefan FEGERL 2:3 (12:14 11:9 11:9 6:11 9:11) OH Sang Eun – HOU Yingchao 1:3 (16:18 11:6 7:11 6:11) Chartres ASTT – TTSC UMMC 3:1 Robert GARDOS – Grigorij VLASOV 0:3 (9:11 6:11 10:12) Par GERELL – Alexander SHIBAEV 3:2 (7:11 11:9 11:7 8:11 11:7) GAO Ning – Joao MONTEIRO 3:2 (11:8 11:4 9:11 8:11 11:8) Robert GARDOS – Alexander SHIBAEV 3:2 (9:11 12:10 7:11 11:6 13:11)
Tarnobrzeg on the way to another final
In the opening leg of the quarterfinal duel between SKST Hodonin and KTS SPAR Zamek Tarnobrzeg guests secured great advantage. Polish team overcame Hodonin in straight matches in front of TV cameras. LI Qian gave Tarnobrzeg dream start. Katerina PENKAKOVA In the opening leg of the quarterfinal duel between SKST Hodonin and KTS SPAR Zamek Tarnobrzeg guests secured great advantage. Polish team overcame Hodonin in straight matches in front of TV cameras. LI Qian gave Tarnobrzeg dream start. Katerina PENKAKOVA managed to won only 13 points. It seemed the second fixture of the proceedings will finish in same style. HAN Ying won first two game by 5:11 and 4:11 before ONO Shino fought back and won third game. However despite great fight in fourth part of the match HAN won by narow margin. In the final duel Natalia PARTYKA was stretched to full distance against Lenka HARABASZOVA but hosts failed to prolong the match much longer. Second leg is scheduled for January 25th. SKST Hodonin – KTS SPAR Zamek Tarnobrzeg 0:3 Katerina PENKAKOVA – LI Qian 0:3 (4:11 5:11 4:11) ONO Shino – HAN Ying 1:3 (5:11 4:11 14:12 10:12) Lenka HARABASZOVA – Natalia PARTYKA 2:3 (7:11 11:9 4:11 11:9 8:11)
