Top seed XU Xin won the Men’s Singles title at the $1,000,000 GAC GROUP 2012 ITTF World Tour Grand Finals in Hangzhou beating Chinese National Team compatriot WANG Hao, the second seed, in the final. XU Xin won in four straight games (11:8, 11:7, 11:6, 11,

LIU Shiwen retained her title by once again beating Chinese National Team colleague, DING Ning in the final of the GAC GROUP 2012 ITTF World Tour Grand Finals in Hangzhou. LIU recovered from a two games to nil deficit to record a six games success (9:11, ,

Germany’s Patrick FRANZISKA won the Under 21 Men’s Singles titles at the GAC GROUP 2012 ITTF World Tour Grand Finals in Hangzhou. At the final hurdle, Patrick FRANZISKA overcame Iran’s Noshad ALAMIYAN in five games (11:4, 14:12, 9:11, 11:5, 11:6). In the , Germany’s Patrick FRANZISKA won the Under 21 Men’s Singles titles at the GAC GROUP 2012 ITTF World Tour Grand Finals in Hangzhou. At the final hurdle, Patrick FRANZISKA overcame Iran’s Noshad ALAMIYAN in five games (11:4, 14:12, 9:11, 11:5, 11:6). In the final of the Under 21 Men’s Singles Event, Patrick FRANZISKA made the better start; he clinched the first game and doubled his lead by securing the second. However, the second game was a much more severe test; he had to save game points at 10:9 and 12:11 before emerging successful. A two games to nil lead, Patrick FRANZISKA appeared more settled and confident; he established a lead in the third game as he forced Noshad ALAMIYAN away from the table. ALAMIYAN experienced some problems receiving service but to his great credit he stuck to his task and reduced the deficit tom 9:7 in favour of the German; sensing danger Patrick FRANZISKA called “Time Out”. It appeared a shrewd move but for Patrick FRANZISKA it proved the exact opposite. He lost the next four points and from what seemed a commanding situation was back to a one game advantage. “I made silly mistakes”, confessed Patrick FRANZISKA. Advice from Jörg ROSSKOPF, once again FRANZISKA established a lead. He went ahead 7:5 in the fourth game; this time he did not let the advantage slip. The title belonged to Germany but for Iran it was success; a first ever medal in a Grand Finals. Defeat for Europe, success for Asia and in particular for the host nation; such was the scenario at the quarter-final stage of the Women’s Singles event. DING Ning, CHEN Meng and LIU Shiwen flew the flag for China; Romania’s Elizabeta SAMARA, the Czech Republic’s Iveta VACENOVSKA and Sweden’s Matilda EKHOLM departed but not without a fight. All three gave spirited displays against adversaries who have won World titles. Elizabeta SAMARA won the first game against DING Ning before words of wisdom from KONG Linghui, now the Head Coach of the Chinese Women’s Team, set matters straight. DING Ning won the next four games (9:11,11:5,11:4,11:9,11:8) to book her place in the quarter-finals. For both Matilda EKHOLM and Iveta VACENOVSKA it was a slow start before acclimatising to the situation. Defeat was the end result in both cases. However, Matilda EKHOLM, coached throughout by Anders JOHANSSON, did respond. In the third game the Swede had chances but was not able to convert the game point opportunity against Singapore’s FENG Tianwei (11:3, 11:4, 14:12, 11:5). Earlier it had been very much the same situation for Iveta VACENOVSKA; however, she was able to build on her efforts and most certainly caused CHEN Meng consternation.  “In the first two games it was very difficult to adjust to the spin on the ball”, said Iveta VACENOVSKA.”She is very good close to the table, very good counter attacking.” After losing the first two games comfortably, Iveta VACENOVSKA was the equal of CHEN Meng. In the third game she had a golden opportunity to level matters when trailing 10:11, a forehand top spin against a relatively high return from CHEN Meng flew long. A close third game reverse, Iveta VACENOVSKA responded to clinch the fourth game and in the fifth had opportunities. She went ahead 4:2 before Chen Meng, anticipating her opponent’s every move, won the next five points. It seemed the Czech Republic challenge was over but that was not the situation. Iveta VACENOVSKA reduced the arrears to one point at 7:6 forcing Chen Meng to take a “Time Out”. However, the break did not reap immediate dividends for CHEN Meng; Iveta VACENOVSKA levelled at 8-all but that was to be the end of success for the Czech Republic.Chen Meng won in five games (11:6, 11:3, 12:10, 8:11, 11:8). (courtesy of ITTF)  Click here for further information Photo: Patrick FRANZISKA (Photo Roscher)

At the GAC GROUP 2012 ITTF World Tour Grand Finals in Hangzhou five European women entered the arena for the second round of the Women’s Singles event and three booked quarter-final places. In the round of eight will play Czech Republic’s Iveta VACENOVSKA,