European team failed to preserve the advantage gained on the opening day in Qingdao. Asian side won the first leg of the the 2013 Asia-Europe All Stars Series 7:3 on aggregate, after being 2:3 down. On a second day Europe had few chances but hosts showed , European team failed to preserve the advantage gained on the opening day in Qingdao. Asian side won the first leg of the the 2013 Asia-Europe All Stars Series 7:3 on aggregate, after being 2:3 down. On a second day Europe had few chances but hosts showed no mercy. At the end it was 5:0. Jun MIZUTANI – Marcos FREITAS 3:2 (11:6, 9:11, 11:6, 11:13, 11:6) Japan’s Jun MIZUTANI repeated the success from the previous day. Like day earlier he gave Asian team early boost with the good opener. Powerful shots and endless tension marked first duel of the day. In the match between two left-handers it was MIZUTANI who had a better start and won opening game 11:6. In next game Marcos took the initiative. He had 4:0, 8:4, 9:5 and then he stopped at 9:8. Coach Jorg ROSSKOPF was forced to call for time-out. As Marcos almost won that game it was crucial for match to stop turn over. That was good call and Marcos won finally with 11:9 after long forhand-forhand exchange of strokes. In the third game we saw a copy of the first one as Jun started with 2 points of advantage, Marcos tried to catch him up to 8:6 but then with three fast points Jun secured the lead. Jun was 2:1 up but at break-neck pace in the fourth game FREITAS prolonged the duel to the decisive game by narrow margin. Marcos was playing on the edge with lot of risky balls and created 8:3 advantage, but Samurai came back on 9:9, and only after two game-balls at 10:9 and 11:10, Marcos finally equalized on 2:2 with fantastic forehand parallel strike. Final game was played in three big series, first Jun came up to 5:0 and 6:1, afterwards Marcos recovered to level at 6:6 but that was last point for him as all next 5 points were won by Jun. Asia leveled at 3:3.  JIANG Tianyui – Adrian CRISAN 3:1 (3:11, 12:10, 11:7, 11:8) Adrian CRISAN took the first game by the storm starting with 8:1 and finished with 11:3. Player from Hong Kong could not find the rhytm before Romania’s CRISAN sealed the first set. In the second game CRISAN had 4:0 but then his adversary leveled at 4:4. After that they played point by point to 10:10. At the end JIANG was lucky and won 12:10. From that part of the game it was clear that World’s no. 15 found the right tactic for Adrian . It brought Asia into first advantage in two days, 4:3. CHUANG Chih Yuan – Vladimir SAMSONOV 3:1 (11:4, 8:11, 12:10, 12:10) Vladimir SAMSONOV beat ZHANG Jike yesterday, but in the opening game against CHUANG Chih Yuan it was Taipei’s player who dominated completely. SAMSONOV recovered and won second game. He took the control over CHUANG’s powerful attacks for 1:1. After that we saw fantastic exchange of strokes from both players in the thrid game. Vladi had game-ball at 10:9 but 3 great counter spins gave CHUANG lead 2:1. Spectacular points in the fourth game, Vladi once again at game-ball 10:9 but CHUANG made 3 great fast speed attacks to close 3:1.In aggregate is now already 5:3 for Asia. ZHANG Jike – Dimitrij OVTCHAROV 3:0 (11:8, 11:2, 11:9) SAMSONOV inflicted the pain in the hearts of the host team’s supporters yesterday, when he beat ZHANG Jike. Today, reigning Olympic and World Champion was at the top of the game and prevented any upsets in front of his town crowd. OVTCHAROV and ZHANG played another re run of the Olympic Games semi final with the same outcome at the end. Jike had a hood start and with quick 5:1 set the course of the duel. In the same pace he clinched the victory in next one leaving Dimitrij with only two points. It was one way street for Chinese player and despite Dimitrij’s efforts 3.000 spectators in Qingdao gets the chance to celebrate Asia’s overall victory even one match before the end, 6:3. JOO Se Hyuk – CHEN Weixing 3:1 (11:5, 7:11, 11:8, 14:12) In the match for the prestige JOO Se Hyuk secured another point for Asian side. Austrian player managed to win only second game in the match where Korea’s player dominated completely. It was the clash between the players with the similar style of play, with defence from backhand side and offensive attacks from forhand sides. The most thrilling game was the last one. Fourth game started with 5:0 and 6:1 for JOO, finished with 14:12. Photo: Marcos FREITAS (courtesy ATTU)

First day of the 2013 Asia-Europe All Stars Series opening leg in Qingdao concluded with the 3:2 advantage for the Old Continent. It was great day for European players, but one victory outshined all others. Vladimir SAMSONOV beat reigning Olympic and Worl, First day of the 2013 Asia-Europe All Stars Series opening leg in Qingdao concluded with the 3:2 advantage for the Old Continent. It was great day for European players, but one victory outshined all others. Vladimir SAMSONOV beat reigning Olympic and World Champion ZHANG Jike in front of his hometown crowd. Tomorrow the battles will continue (14h00 local time, 6:00 CET). Jun MIZUTANI will meet Marcos FREITAS, JIANG Tianyui will play against Adrian CRISAN, CHUANG Chih Yuan against Vladimir SAMSONOV, ZHANG Jike against dimitrij OVTCHAROV and JOO Se Hyuk against CHEN Weixing. Jun MIZUTANI – CHEN Weixing 3:1 (8:11, 11:8, 16:14, 11:9) – ASIA-EUROPE 1:0 In the high quality match with plenty of nice points and very attractive exchanges of strokes CHEN Weixing of Austria gave guests good start against Jun MIZUTANI of Japan. Experience prevailed in the first set, but Jun was soon on his feet and strikes back by same force. The real beauty of the match was the third game. The game was leveled numerous times but at the end MIZUTANI has taken control to win it. In the last game he preserved cool head and sealed the match. CHEN´s defencive style of play with unexpected counter-attacks gave him advantage 9:7 in fourth game but that was all. Jun put four points in the row to ensure 1:0 lead fro Team Asia In three previous occasions Jun played in the Asian leg of the Event each time and in 2010 he was the man drawn to play the additional match that brought victory to Asia in Beijing. At the same year in Belgium’s Mons CHEN also played but failed to record the victories over TANG Peng and CHUAN Chih Yuan. JOO Sehyuk – Adrian CRISAN 0:3 (6:11, 5:11, 10:12) – ASIA-EUROPE 1:1 Romania’s Adrian CRISAN World’s no 19, took the first game by the storm, leving Korea’s JOO Sehyuk currently ranked at position no. 13 at the World’s rankings, with only six points. Adrian put his best attacking skills in function to nullify JOO’s defencive play. In the same rhytm CRISAN ensured the 2:0 lead leaving his adversary without any chances. Adrian started with 8:2, before moving to 8:5 and finally 11:05. JOO was forced to change his tactic, tried with more aggressive approach, but failed to produce any change. The match continued at break-neck pace in the third game but this time it was JOO who led throughout. In the closing stages Adrian fought back and won the second match. In previous six, out of eight occasions, JOO Sehyuk was a member of the Asian team. He was part of Asian success since the first Event in 2009, and only missed the heat last year. On the other side Adrian joined the team for a first time in 2011 and in the very same year he played against JOO in Bejing. In that duel JOO prevailed. ZHANG Jike – Vladimir SAMSONOV 2:3 (12:10, 11:13, 9:11, 12:10, 8:11)- ASIA-EUROPE 1:2 The reigning Olympic and World champion, China’s ZHANG Jike, currently placed at position no. 3 at the World rankings, suffered from the shocking defeat on his second appearance at the at the Asia-Europe All Stars Series. Like two years earlier in Beijing he meet Belarus star Vladimir SAMSONOV, World’s no. 11, the player who never missed competition in this Event. In between those two encounters ZHANG and SAMSONOV also played against each other in the Round of 16 of the Olympic Games in London 2012. In that match Belarus player led 3:2, before he eventually suffered 3:4 defeat. Now SAMSONOV had his revenge. The duel started with the furious 5:1 lead for SAMSONOV and at 4:1 we saw Jike smashing one high ball out. However, even 7:2 advantage was not enough for Vladi to seal that game. ZHANG recovered to win the opening game 12:10. Once again in the second set it was SAMSONOV who led, but ZHANG recovered. However in the closing stages pendulum swung. Vladi was 5:1 up, than 8:4, and after 8:8, both players played with high risk on every point. Great flip and forehand top-spin brought Vladi equalizer on 1:1 by 13:11. With the momentum still with him after that late rush SAMSONOV took the match under control and sealed the third game in his favor. In fourth game with 3:1 and 8:3 advantage it seemed like match was over in favor of SAMSONOV, but Jike came-back from 9:4 to 9:8 and ROSSKOPF called for time-out. Unfortunately game finished with 12:10 for Jike who leveled at 2:2. It is clear that simple points could not be won against such Champion. In the decisive game the players played point by point until 5:5, than it was 7:5 for Jike and turn-over from Vladi on 10:7. At 10:8 SAMSONOV had another one time last services and second match-ball was good one to beat Zhang Jike and bring the lead to Team Europe on 2:1. CHUANG Chih-Yuan – Dimitrij OVTCHAROV 0:3 (13:15, 8:11, 8:11) – ASIA-EUROPE 1:3 Year earlier in Tianjin at the 2012 Asia-Europe All Stars Event CHUANG Chih-Yuan beat Dimitrij OVTCHAROV in straight games, this season Germany’s star revenge was by same force. It was high speed “boom-boom” table tennis at its best. Both players were at the top of the game, but in the exchanges of fast strokes Dimitrij was slightly better. He clinched the opening game by narrowest margin. In next Dimitrij settled more and more in position of first attack and this initiative brought him 11:8 in second game and 2:0 lead. After 8:3 in the third game it was question of minute when OVTCHAROV sealed the victory. JIANG Tianyi – Marcos FREITAS 3:2 (17:15, 9:11, 15:13, 10:12, 12:10) – ASIA-EUROPE 2:3 World’s no. 15 JIANG Tianyui was up

European expedition arrived in Qingdao (China) and already concluded first training session after they attended press conference. More then 40 media representatives were present at the meeting where ZHANG Jike promised good result at the first leg of 2013, European expedition arrived in Qingdao (China) and already concluded first training session after they attended press conference. More then 40 media representatives were present at the meeting where ZHANG Jike promised good result at the first leg of 2013 Euro-Asia All Stars Series match scheduled for this weekend.  The reigning Olympic and World champion, China’s ZHANG Jike will play in his home town, so the organizers announced very good visit. They expect that the venue with the capacity of 8.000 seats will be full in next two days. The leading name in the European team Dimitrij OVTCHAROV of Germany stated that he feels very good. “I had good practice in recent time and I feel ready to face ZHANG. I will give my best to try to upset him at his home soil,” said OVTCHAROV. ZHANG will play against World’s no. 11 Vladimir SAMSONOV at the opening day and against OVTCHAROV in early hours in Europe, on Sunday. In team of Europe are also: Austria’s CHEN Weixing, Romania’s Adrian CRISAN and Portugal’s Marcos FREITAS. For Asia will play Japan’s Jun MIZUTANI, Korea’s JOO Sehyuk, Taipei’s CHUANG Chih Yuan and Hong Kong’s JIANG Tianyui. Total prize money is 95,000 Euros. Winning team will receive 63,000. First competition day start at 12h00 local time (5:00 am CET).   Photo: Dimitrij OVTCHAROV (Photo Roscher)

This weekend, Qingdao (China) on 16th and 17th March, will host first leg of 2013 Euro-Asia All Stars Series match. Host Continent’s elite will be led by the reigning Olympic and World champion, China’s ZHANG Jike, whilst best ranked player in European te, This weekend, Qingdao (China) on 16th and 17th March, will host first leg of 2013 Euro-Asia All Stars Series match. Host Continent’s elite will be led by the reigning Olympic and World champion, China’s ZHANG Jike, whilst best ranked player in European team is German Dimitrij OVTCHAROV. In the past two years, it seems that everything ZHANG Jike has touched had turned to gold. World’s no. three made fantastic progress since October 2009, when he made his debut for the Chinese National Men’s Team at the World Team Cup in the Austrian city of Linz. On a first day he will play against World’s no. 11 Vladimir SAMSONOV, three times European champion, player who never missed Europe-Asia All Stars Event in five years series. On Day 2 , Chinese super star will meet Old Continent’s best player in Qingdao – World’s no. 7 and Europe’s no. two – Dimitrij OVTCHAROV. It will be re – run of the Olympic Games semi final. In London ZHANG beat OVTCHAROV in five games. On the opening day Jun MIZUTANI World’s no 9 and experienced Austria’s CHEN Weixing will kick off the Event. CHEN is currently ranked at position no. 30 at the rankings. JOO Sehyuk of Korea placed at position no. 13 at the rankings and Romania’s Adrian CRISAN World’s no 19 will play second match of the day and the competition will goes on with the duels between ZHANG Jike and SAMSONOV. World’s no 6 and 7 Chinese Taipei’s CHUANG Chih Yuan and OVTCHAROV will show their skills in match number 4, whilst Hong Kong’s JIANG Tianyui and Portugal’s Marcos FREITAS will close the day one program. Total prize money is 95,000 Euros. Winning team will receive 63,000. Team Europe will lead former World Champion in doubles and actual head-coach of German national team Jorg ROSSKOPF. Physiotherapist who will travel with the team is Birgit SCHMIDT (GER). Photo: ZHANG Jike, Olympic and World Champion (Photo Roscher)