TTCLM final: Borussia travels to Russia with 3:2 win

May 13, 2018
4:53 pm
Champions League Men

German club beat actual TTCLM champion Orenburg in the first leg as Timo BOLL won two matches and Kristian KARLSSON added one

Ten times TTCLM winner Borussia Dusseldorf has secured 3:2 (12:8 in sets) advantage in the first leg of 2017/18 against reigning champion and no. 1 seed Fakel Gazprom Orenburg. Timo BOLL provided two points as he beat Dimitrij OVTCHAROV and Jun MIZUTANI while Kristian KARLSSON concluded the clash by his win against OVTCHAROV who wasn’t in his best shape due to injury.

Timo BOLL prevailed against his team mate from the German National Team Dimitrij OVTCHAROV in four games. Host controlled the game in the first two sets but guest managed to reach third one by a narrow margin in spite of having four set points (6:10). BOLL responded by four consecutive points in an early fourth game (4:1) making crucial run from 6:4 to 9:4.

Two left-handers met in the second encounter as Jun MIZUTANI was extended to full distance by Kristian KARLSSON. There were dozen incredible points but “craziest” moment was one at 10:10 in the third set when Japanese concluded the longest rally in the match.

Third game confronted one of the youngest TTCLM participants 20 year-old Anton KALLBERG and the oldest one 42 year-old Vladimir SAMSONOV. Belarus legend won in four games.

Timo BOLL ended Jun MIZUTANI`s winning run to level the score at 2:2. German has improved his season`s win-loss record to 14-3 while Japanese now has 11-1. Most probably this match was BOLL`s best one in 2017/18 TTCLM so far.

KARLSSON secured victory for German team as he overcame OVTCHAROV in straight games. Swede decided the game by five consecutive points in third set (5:7 10:7).

Second leg will be held next Friday May 18^th in Orenburg.

2017/18 TTCLM final first match

Borussia Dusseldorf (no. 2 seed) – Fakel Gazprom Orenburg (no. 1 seed) 3:2

Timo BOLL – Dimitrij OVTCHAROV 3:1 (11:7 11:8 10:12 11:6)

Kristian KARLSSON – Jun MIZUTANI 2:3 (8:11 11:8 10:12 11:9 12:14)

Anton KALLBERG – Vladimir SAMSONOV 1:3 (6:11 3:11 11:7 6:11)

Timo BOLL – Jun MIZUTANI 3:1 (13:11 11:8 5:11 11:3)

Kristian KARLSSON – Dimitrij OVTCHAROV 3:0 (11:8 11:4 11:8)

In Memoriam: Peter ENGEL

The European table tennis community mourns the passing of former German international and highly respected coach Peter ENGEL, who died on Friday at the age of 72. Born on 13...

SIP and SALPIN Crowned Champions as Belgium Open 2026 Concludes in Pepinster

The Belgium Open concluded at the Hall Sportif du Paire in Pepinster, with Martin SIP and Anaïs SALPIN claiming the Men’s and Women’s Singles titles after four days of competition....

Portugal’s LAINE and PINTO Claim U21 Titles at Belgium Open 2026

Portugal enjoyed a double success in the U21 events at the Belgium Open 2026 in Pepinster, with Clément LAINE and Matilde PINTO taking the titles in the respective Boys’ and...

ETTU Opens Applications to Host 2027 Development Camps

The ETTU is pleased to open the application process for Member Associations and Network of European Training Centres interested in hosting the 2027 ETTU Development Camps. Applications are now invited...