Olympiacos SFP in men and AS Pera Athens in women emerged champions at the Greece in the season 2013-2014. In National league A1 which ended on April 6 Olympiacos returned to the headlines after nine years and took the title from the Pera Athens which Olympiacos SFP in men and AS Pera Athens in women emerged champions at the Greece in the season 2013-2014. In National league A1 which ended on April 6 Olympiacos returned to the headlines after nine years and took the title from the Pera Athens which was victorious in 2012 and 2013. In women’s the team of Pera retained the title won last season. Olympiacos and Pera clinched their trophies after fierce battles in both leagues. In men’s Olympiacos scored two victories against Pera and preserved their unbeaten status throughout the whole season while in women’s Championships it was the exact opposite! Overall this was the 11th title in the history of men’s Olympiacos team and the 5th for the female’s team of Pera. Important for the prestige was the fact that Olympiacos had a very good foreign player in the roster this year the Portuguese Enio MENDES. However the coach George CHRISTOFORAKIS relied on Tasos RINIOTIS and Ntaniel TSIOKAS while was deputy Andreas TSOPELAS. The basic triad of Pera Athens and this year were Laura NIKOULAE Christina FILI and Olga GEORGOPOULOU. Coach is John VLOTINOS. “In the first round we beat Pera 4-1 and this safe win played a crucial role in the return leg. It seamed in both matches that we wanted this championship more than the adversary “ commented on the success of the Olympiacos coach George Christoforakis In the side of the champion team of women’s Pera Christina FILI said: ” We benefit from victory in the first round. We believed in triumph very much. I think we are better composed team and we are very happy that we won second title in the row “.
Berlin takes the title in superb style
Berlin Eastside reached its second Women`s European Champions League title in superb style defeating Fenerbahce 3:0 in Istanbul`s Ulker Sports Arena in returning game of the 2013/14 final. German side won first leg 3:2 so absolutely deserved the crown o Berlin Eastside reached its second Women`s European Champions League title in superb style defeating Fenerbahce 3:0 in Istanbul`s Ulker Sports Arena in returning game of the 2013/14 final. German side won first leg 3:2 so absolutely deserved the crown of this prestigious competition. It was a great accomplishment of Irina PALINA`s team and this season could be the best ever in Berlin`s history. They already have two trophies (German Cup and WECL) while in the national championships are still unbeaten. Fenerbahce was considered as main candidate for the crown prior the season starting as no 1. seed. Turkish champion has all three line-up players among Top 30 on ITTF World ranking list much better ranked then Berlin`s girls. But PALINA`s players have been mentally stronger for these clashes and no doubt experience from previous WECL seasons had its role. Fenerbahce took ETTU Cup last year but it debuted in main club`s league this season. Georgina POTA (world`s no. 35) opened the door of Berlin`s success defeating HU Melek (no. 28) in four games of first clash. Hungarian was stabile during the game while host made too many mistakes with her backhand. Third set determined the whole match. HU led 7:4 and had two set balls (11:10 12:11) but she missed it. Fourth set showed that HU was fully affected by epilogue of third set. Two best players from both sides met in second encounter as 2013 ECH individual runner-up SHAN Xioana (world`s no. 19) overcame twice single European champion (2010 2012) Viktoria PAVLOVICH (no. 11) in four sets. Byelorussian women easily won opening set having even 4:0 lead in second but from that moment SHAN dominated. In late second set both missed some set balls while in third guest was unstoppable. CHENG I-Ching (world`s no 30) was the last hope of Turkish champion but 2011 European Championship silver medalist Irene IVANCAN (no. 46) beat her in five games to secure the title for Berlin. It showed again that CHENG had a problem with defenders and above all IVANCAN played excellent. The fifth set was fully amazing with the longest point on 14:14 which belonged to host. That rally with more than 30 changes won CHENG but guest took next three points in a row. Berlin Eastside became fourth club with two WECL titles in the history after Sterilgarda (Italy) Heerlen (Netherlands) and Linz (Austria). In Cup of Champions era several German clubs took European title but just Berlin did it twice since establishing of WECL. 2013/14 WECL final (leg2) Fenerbahce – Berlin Eastside 0:3 HU Melek –Georgina POTA 1:3 (5:11 11:4 12:14 4:11) Viktoria PAVLOVICH –SHAN Xiaona 1:3 (11:2 6:11 13:15 6:11) CHENG I-Cheng –Irene IVANCAN 2:3 (11:4 9:11 11:7 6:11 15:17)
Enjoy ECL climax live on LAOLA1.tv
Two top quality table tennis matches from the Champions League will be broadcast LIVE and FREE on ETTU TV powered by LAOLA1.tv this weekend as the winner of the women’s Champions League will be declared and we find out which Russian team will be facing Po Two top quality table tennis matches from the Champions League will be broadcast LIVE and FREE on ETTU TV powered by LAOLA1.tv this weekend as the winner of the women’s Champions League will be declared and we find out which Russian team will be facing Pontoise in the men’s final! ETTU Champions League Men – Gazproma Orenburg – UMMC | 11.04.2014 13:20 CEST Which of these two Russian giants will be facing AS Pontoise Cergy in the Men’s European Champions League final? At the moment the reigning Russian league champions have the advantage after they won 3-2 in front of their own fans. It was a rather off day for Orenburg and their supporters will be hoping for a better performance from their players. One thing is for certain this match will be full of quality table tennis as two real giants of the sport at the moment face off. Orenburg are looking to win their 3rd Champions League title in a row and will need to play some of their best table tennis if they want to keep this dream alive. Join the coverage at 12:20 CET on Friday afternoon here to find out if UMMC can end Orenburg’s dominance in this competition. Full matches from the 1st leg here ETTU Champions League Women – Fenerbahce Sport Club – TTC Berlins Eastside | 13.04.2014 13:00 CEST It is all set up perfectly for the 2nd leg of the women’s final as Fenerbahce Sport Club welcomes TTC Berlin Eastside to Istanbul. The Germans were able to win 3-2 in Berlin in March and they know they will be treated to a fiery welcome in this 2nd leg as the Fenerbahce fan club will look to roar their team on to victory. It was an epic 1st leg in Berlin which could have gone either way. The German’s had the stronger nerves though as Irene Ivancan put on a hero’s display to give her team the win. The Turkish club know that the pressure is on and that they will have to play their best table tennis of the season so far if they want to get their hands on the Champions League gold. It is difficult to call a favourite in this one the home advantage may help Fenerbahce but if Berlin can get an early match under their belts then the atmosphere may work in their favour. Join us on Sunday afternoon here to see who will be crowned champions of Europe in the ETTU Women’s European Champions League.
Breathless Russian clash awards Orenburg
Two Russian clubs Fakel Gazproma Orenburg and UMMC Verkhnaya Pyshma presented new four hours long thriller in returning match of 2013/14 Men’s European Champions League semi-final but this time reigning champion won by narrow margin: Orenburg – UMMC 3: Two Russian clubs Fakel Gazproma Orenburg and UMMC Verkhnaya Pyshma presented new four hours long thriller in returning match of 2013/14 Men’s European Champions League semi-final but this time reigning champion won by narrow margin: Orenburg – UMMC 3:2 (11:8). Vladimir SAMSONOV & Co. are going to the final thanks to better set-ratio (UMMC won 1st leg 3:2 11:9). Orenburg will meet Pontoise in the final (16-18 may 30th may-1st June). Defending MECL champion is going to play for its third title in a row whilst French club is preparing for its first ever MECL final. Vladimir SAMSONOV fully deserved his nickname „Mr. ECL” wining two games so he has a chance to improve his MECL all-time record to 11 titles (already has 3 crowns with Borussia 5 with Charleroi and 2 with Orenburg). Today he managed to beat Jun MIZUTANI in straight games leveling on 1:1 after clear win of Alexander SHIBAEV against Dimitrij OVTCHAROV. Byelorussian had a last word in ultimate decisive clash defeating SHIBAEV in four sets. Opening game didn’t promise too much to the host side. SHIBAEV easier than expected beat actual individual European champion OVTCHAROV. All three sets were quite close but Russian concluded each set in confident style. SAMSONOV had a big task to keep his side in good direction but his rival was Jun MIZUTANI. Japanese who took two points in first clash in Verkhnaya Pyshma this time lost both his games. Against Byelorussian MIZUTANI had just one small chance when he managed to save two set balls in first set (10:8 10:10). Host player did an important step in late third set winning three points in a row (7:8 10:8). Former individual European vice-champion TAN Ruiwu beat the best no. 3 player in MECL in last four years Alexey SMIRNOV playing five sets. Orenburg again leveled when OVTCHAROV overcame MIZUTANI in four sets. Finally SAMSONOV brought the victory to Orenburg beating SHIBAEV. Russian missed good chance in third set when he led 7:3 and 9:6. Bielorussian concluded the match with 11:1 in last set. The 2013/14 Men`s European Champions League semi-final (leg2) Fakel Gazproma Orenburg – UMMC Verkhnaya Pyshma 3:2 Dimitrij OVTCHAROV – Alexander SHIBAEV 0:3 (8:11 10:12 9:11) Vladimir SAMSONOV – Jun MIZUTANI 3:0 (12:10 11:5 11:8) Alexey SMIRNOV – TAN Ruiwu 2:3 (6:11 11:6 13:11 8:11 7:11) Dimitrij OVTCHAROV – Jun MIZUTANI 3:1 (11:6 12:10 8:11 11:8) Vladimir SAMSONOV – Alexander SHIBAEV 3:1 (11:6 8:11 13:11 11:1)
Historical chance for Fenerbahce
“I ‘m still speechless the six ladies have celebrated table tennis at the highest possible level and I am incredibly proud of our team!” It was a first comment of Berlin`s president President Alexander TEICHMANN after 1st leg of 2013/14 Women “I ‘m still speechless the six ladies have celebrated table tennis at the highest possible level and I am incredibly proud of our team!” It was a first comment of Berlin`s president President Alexander TEICHMANN after 1st leg of 2013/14 Women`s European Champions League final played five weeks ago but now sounds like good invitation for returning clash which will be held this Sunday (April 13th 13h00 CET live on LAOLA1.tv). TTC Berlin Eastside managed to beat Fenerbahce 3:2 (11:9) so no. 1 seed is under big pressure to confirm all predictions prior the season. Berlin arrives at Fenerbahce Ulker Sports Arena (capacity 2.500) with an impressive 14-0 score in regular season of Bundesliga. Irina PALINA`s girls have a chance to repeat success from 2011/12 and also to become fourth club with two WECL crowns in the history after Sterilgarda (Italy) Heerlen (Netherlands) and Linz (Austria). In Cup of Champions era several German clubs took European title but just Berlin could do it twice since establishing of WECL. “I am realist in this match. Not optimist not pessimist and I think balance now 50/50 percent. I hope it would be good day for us. All team was playing good in last Pro-Tour tournaments they are in good form now and all of them wish for this WECL season the best result” says Irina PALINA. On the other side Fenerbahce is preparing to create new chapter of WECL history. After two ETTU Cup titles in a row Istanbul`s side fights for its very first WECL crown and even more to become first ever Turkish club with that achievement. In last six season they took all 12 possible titles in domestic competitions (league and cup) having now an opportunity to reach third triple-crown in three years (2012 and 2013 domestic league and cup plus ETTU Cup). Fenerbahce`s manager Gurhan YALDIZ has no doubt that his side will have a super support from the stands: “This match will be very difficult for us. Berlin is coming with an advantage but last time we won 3:1 and it means that we have enough power to win this final in total. My players have very good concentration and I believe in our hall with our spectators and good atmosphere we can play much better than in Berlin. If we start good than I believe we can win the cup. Last two seasons we won ETTU cup in away hall but first time we play the final match at home and we do not want to give cup to Berlin. We will fight until last point because even one point could decide the WECL title”. The upcoming game will be forth one between these two clubs this season. They also met in group stage when Berlin also won first home game 3:2 but Fenerbahce answered by 3:1 in Istanbul. Although SHAN Xiaona (Berlin) and Viktoria PAVLOVICH (Fenerbahce) are considered as no. 1 players in their teams they were under expectations in previous clashes: German 1-3 score Byelorussian 2-2. Georgina POTA played excellent having 3-1 against Turkish champion and on the other side HU Melek has 4-2 (beat twice the best Berlin`s player SHAN). The winner could be decided by the tactics knowing how big role used to have defensive players in the past (IVANCAN 3-2 PAVLOVICH 2-2). No doubt that Turkish side expects more from CHING I-Cheng (1-2). Actual ITTF World rankings are – Fenerbahce: Viktoria PAVLOVICH no. 17 Elizabeta SAMARA no. 27 CHENG I-Ching no. 28 HU Melek no. 32; TTC Berlin Eastide: SHAN Xiaona no.38 Georgina POTA no. 42 Kristin SILBEREISEN no. 46 Irene IVANCAN no. 64. The first final game of 2013/14 WECL final TTC Berlin Eastside – Fenerbahce 3:2 Irene IVANCAN – CHING I-Cheng 3:1 (4:11 11:6 11:7 11:4) Georgina POTA – HU Melek 1:3 (13:11 12:14 6:11 8:11) SHAN Xiaona – Viktoria PAVLOVICH 1:3 (11:8 9:11 12:14 5:11) Irene IVANCAN – HU Melek 3:0 (11:9 11:9 11:9) Georgina POTA – CHING I-Cheng 3:2 (3:11 12:10 14:12 11:8)
LEVENKO and LUNG secure places for Nanjing YOG
Austria’s Andreas LEVENKO and Belgium’s Lisa LUNG emerged as the successful players at the 2014 Road to Nanjing Series – North America tournament staged in Mississauga Canada. In the final Andreas LEVENKO beat Carl AHLANDER-JOHANSSON in a full distance s Austria’s Andreas LEVENKO and Belgium’s Lisa LUNG emerged as the successful players at the 2014 Road to Nanjing Series – North America tournament staged in Mississauga Canada. In the final Andreas LEVENKO beat Carl AHLANDER-JOHANSSON in a full distance seven games duel; whilst Lisa Lung defeated Hungary’s Leila IMRE in straight games to gain her invitation card for Nanjing. LEVENKO overcame Denmark’s Claus NEILSEN in semi final. In the Girls’ Singles event Lisa LUNG who earlier this year had won the Cadet Girls’ Singles title at the Czech Junior and Cadet Open was tested in the penultimate round; she needed six games to overcome Italy’s Giorgia PICCOLIN. Players qualified for the Nanjing so far after six events: Boys: Adam SZUDI (HUN) Killian ORT (GER) David REITSPIES (CZE) YANG Heng Wei (TPE) Can AKKUZU (FRA) Patryk YATOWKA (POL) Diogo CHEN (POR) Tomislav PUCAR (CRO) Yuto MURAMATSU (JPN) Hugo CALDERANO (BRA) KIM Minhyeok (KOR) Padask TANVIRIYAVECHAKUL (THA) Kirill GERASSIMENKO (KAZ) Brian AFANDOR (PUR) fermin TENTI (ARG). Girls: DOO Hoi Kem (HKG) CHIU Ssu Hua (TPE) Adina DIACONU (ROU) Miyu KATO (JPN) Natalia BAJOR (POL) Maria MALANINA (RUS) Nicole TROSMAN (ISR) Audrey ZARIF (FRA) Nina MITTELHAM (GER) ZHANG Lily (USA) Tamolwan KHETKHUAN (THA) Kim VERMAAS (NED) Seri PARK (Korea) Gremlis ARVELO (VEN) Maria LORENZOTTI (URU).
Russia choose its MECL finalist
Who is going to play against AS Pontoise Cergy in the 2013/14 Men`s European Champions League final will be known after upcoming all-Russian semi-final rematch which this Friday: Fakel Gazproma Orenburg – UMMC Verkhnaya Pyshma (April 11th 12h20 CET liv Who is going to play against AS Pontoise Cergy in the 2013/14 Men`s European Champions League final will be known after upcoming all-Russian semi-final rematch which this Friday: Fakel Gazproma Orenburg – UMMC Verkhnaya Pyshma (April 11th 12h20 CET live on LAOLA1.tv). Reigning MECL champion expects actual Russian champion who won first leg 3:2 “It is expected to be a fantastic duel of the best clubs of Russia and Europe. The reigning Champion of the Men’s European Champions League against the reigning Champion of Russia and winner of the ETTU Cup! It will be the battle of the titans! Our rivals are very strong” said Orenburg`s head coach Victor ANDREEV. Orenburg fights for third MECL title in a row while UMMC hopes that continues its way to first ever crown of main club`s competition in Old Continent. Vladimir SAMSONOV Dimitrij OVTCHAROV and Alexei SMIRNOV suffered their first loss this season in 1st semis when Japanese Jun MIZUTANI brought two wins to UMMC (OVTCHAROV 3:1 SAMSONOV 3:0) whilst victorious point to Tatiana KUTERGINA`s side came from Alexander SHIBAEV who overcame Dima OVTCHAROV in fifth match playing five sets. “The first match in Verkhnaya Pyshma was tremendous and tense” stressed ANDREEV. “The exciting show kept the fans in suspense for over four hours. We lost unfortunately. But let’s remember that the finalist is defined in results of two matches. Our team is incredibly motivated. We are determined to win this hardest battle”. Last couple of days UMMC players had preparation at Werner SCHLAGER Academy in Schwechat (without MIZUTANI who was in Germany). Head coach Tatiana KUTERGINA said: “We trained twice a day. I am very satisfied with the shape of TAN Ruiwu and Alexander SHIBAEV”. One of UMMC`s directors Yana ZAKHAROVA emphasizes that this game will be some kind of final: “We as well as our fans are preparing to go to Orenburg to support our players in Orenburg”. 2013/14 Men`s European Champions League semi-final (1st leg) UMMC Verkhnaya Pyshma – Fakel Gazproma Orenburg 3:2 Jun MIZUTANI – Dimitrij OVTCHAROV 3:1 (9:11 11:9 11:9 11:7) Alexander SHIBAEV – Vladimir SAMSONOV 1:3 (5:11 9:11 11:2 9:11) Joao MONTEIRO – Alexey SMIRNOV 1:3 (15:13 6:11 7:11 4:11) Jun MIZUTANI – Vladimir SAMSONOV 3:0 (11:7 11:7 13:11) Alexander SHIBAEV – Dimitrij OVTCHAROV 3:2 (11:2 11:4 8:11 7:11 11:9)
Jean-Michel SAIVE clinched the title in Poland
In memory of Andrzej GRUBBA the most outstanding Polish table tennis player and one of the legends of the Polish sport four great players played at the tournament last weekend. Jean-Michel SAIVE of Belgium clinched the title by beating Jorgen PERSSON of In memory of Andrzej GRUBBA the most outstanding Polish table tennis player and one of the legends of the Polish sport four great players played at the tournament last weekend. Jean-Michel SAIVE of Belgium clinched the title by beating Jorgen PERSSON of Sweden in the final – 3:2. The event was organized at the main stage of the Opera and Philharmonic hall. The tournament gathered Olympic medalists and World Champions SAIVE PERSSON Frenchman Jean-Philippe GATIEN and Poland’s Leszek KUCHARSKI. In the semi final SAIVE beat KUCHARSKI whilst PERSSON overcame GATIEN. Among the guests were the members of Andrzej GRUBBA family. “Such moments are very touching. At one hand this event commemorates my husband but the other it is still hard to accept he is not any more among us ” said Lucyna GRUBBA.
Paul DRINKHALL wins the title in Almeria
Paul DRINKHALL of England 24 from Loftus in the north east of England the no. 22 seed beat the Japan’s Masataka MORIZONO to secure the title at the Men’s Singles event at the GAC Group 2014 ITTF World Tour Spanish Open in Almeria. So far DRINKHALL neve Paul DRINKHALL of England 24 from Loftus in the north east of England the no. 22 seed beat the Japan’s Masataka MORIZONO to secure the title at the Men’s Singles event at the GAC Group 2014 ITTF World Tour Spanish Open in Almeria. So far DRINKHALL never has progressed beyond the second round of a Men’s Singles event on the ITTF World Tour. One round earlier Masataka MORIZONO overcame WING Chung Ting of Hong Kong in six games. Paul DRINKHALL needed one less to beat Yuto MURAMATSU of Japan. It is the first time that LI Fen has reached a Women’s Singles final on the ITTF World Tour and latter today she moved step further; she won her first title in singles. European champion overcame Miu HIRANO of Japan in five games In penultimate stage Miu HIRANO overcame Germany’s Sabine WINTER in seven games encounter whilst LI Fen accounted for YU Fu of Portugal in straight games. Frenchman Romain LORENTZ and Austria’s Sofia POLCANOVA won the respective Under 21 Men’s Singles and Under 21 Women’s Singles titles. The no.3 seed LORENTZ overcame Germany’s Benedikt DUDA the no.9 seed in the final; whilst Sofia POLCANOVA the no.5 seed accounted for Britt EERLAND of the Netherlands the no.7 seed At the semi-final stage LORENTZ had beaten Hong Kong’s LAM Siu Hang who had been required to compete in the qualification group stage of affairs. At the same hurdle POLCANOVA had ended the hopes of Hungary’s Dora MADARASZ the no.9. WONG Chun Ting and TANG Peng of Hong Kong beat the top seeds Chinese Taipei’s CHUANG Chih-Yuan and HUANG Sheng-Sheng in the final to claim their first such title as a partnership. Miu HIRANO and Mima ITO of Japan beat the partnership of Austria’s LIU Jia and the Czech Republic’s Iveta VACENOVSKA by the very narrowest of margins in the final of the Women’s Doubles Event.
Paul DRINKHALL achieves semis in Almeria
At the GAC Group 2014 ITTF World Tour Spanish Open (Major) in Almeria England’s Paul DRINKHALL the no.22 seed reached the penultimate stage of the ITTF World Tour Men’s Singles for the first time in his career. In the quarterfinal also first ever at I At the GAC Group 2014 ITTF World Tour Spanish Open (Major) in Almeria England’s Paul DRINKHALL the no.22 seed reached the penultimate stage of the ITTF World Tour Men’s Singles for the first time in his career. In the quarterfinal also first ever at ITTF Tour for him he beat Czech Republic’s Dmitrij PROKOPCOV the no.8 seed. Earlier in the day beat Italy’s Niagol STOYANOV the no.30 seed.Mihai BOBOCICA of Italy also reached quarterfinal but WONG Chun Ting halted his progress after seven games thriller. In the quarterfinal of the Women’s Singles Event Sweden’s Li Fen the reigning European champion; the no.4 seed she ended the progress of Germany’s Kristin SILBEREISEN the no.8 seed. Sabine WINTER of Germany the no. 24 seed beat Misako WAKAMIYA of Japan seed no. 14 to reach penultimate stage. In Round of 16 WAKAMIYA beat no. one seed LIU JIa of Austria.
