Belarus Open: VLASOV and SZOCS in the semi-final

Viktoria PAVLOVICH reached semis after exciting quarter-final clash against Maki SHIOMI from Japan – 4:3 (8:11 10:12 11:7 7:11 11:9 11:5 12:10)

Second seeded Russian Grigory VLASOV and World no. 117 from Romania Hunor SZOCS reached the semi-final of the Men`s Singles Event at the 2016 ITTF World Tour Belarus Open (Challenge) in Minsk. Regarding Women`s Singles Event host player Viktoria PAVLOVICH is unique European player among the best four competitors.

Both VLASOV and SZOCS were confident in the quarter-finals. Russian World no. 72 beat LIM Jonghoon from Korea 4:1 (11:9 5:11 11:5 11:8 12:10) while Romanian overcame Russian Kirill SKACHKOV in straight games – 4:0 (11:4 15;13 11:8 11:9). They will play against CHO Eonrae (Korea World no. 112) and top seeded JANG Woojin (World no. 48) respectively.

Viktoria PAVLOVICH defeated Maki SHIOMI (Japan) after full seven games of the quarter-final 4:3 (8:11 10:12 11:7 7:11 11:9 11:5 12:10). Two times individual champion of Europe will play against one more Japanese in the semi-final Yuka ISHIGAKI. The winner of that clash is going to play for the title against the better player from the duel between top seeded Hitomi SATO and Saki SHIBATA adversaries it the all-Japanese semis.

Konstantin CHERNOV and Sadi ISMAILOV will play in the Men`s Doubles Event final as they beat compatriots from Russia Kirill SKACHKOV and Grigory VLASOV in four games. Other finalists are Korean pair JANG Woojin/LIM Jonghoon.

Yana NOSKOVA and Yulia PROKHOROVA from Russia lost to JUNG Yumi and PARK Seri from Korea in the Women`s Doubles semi-final. They won first two sets but Korean pair took control of the game in the latest moments of the exciting third set.