Kristian KARLSSON is semi-finalist in Korea

June 14, 2014
12:00 am
Other Events

For a first time in his career Sweden’s 22 year old Kristian KARLSSON reached the quarter-final at the GAC Group 2014 ITTF World Tour Korea Open. The no.25 seed beat Japanese qualifier Yuya OSHIMA in six games (10-12 11-7 12-10 11-9 2-11 11-9) and i

Other semi finalists XU Xin FANG Bo of China and Patrick BAUM of Germany have previously appeared in ITTF World Tour Men’s Singles quarter-finals; for Kristian KARLSSON it was a totally new experience. Prior to the GAC Group 2014 ITTF World Tour Korea Open KARLSSON had made 26 ITTF World Tour appearances and had never progressed beyond the second round. He had only reached the second round on five occasions; in 2012 he progressed to round two in China and the Czech Republic in 2013 in Qatar Japan and once again in the Czech Republic. In Incheon it will be the first time the Swede will ever have competed on the concluding day of an ITTF World Tour tournament since making his debut in Poland in 2008.

Germany’s Patrick BAUM the no.5 seed in a full distance seven games contest beat colleague Steffen MENGEL the no.15 seed (11-3 10-12 8-11 4-11 11-4 11-5 11-9). XU Xin the top seed accounted for colleague and qualifier 16 year old YU Ziyang (9-11 11-8 6-11 11-3 11-6 11-9) who was competing in his first ITTF World Tour tournament. FANG Bo upset the pecking order like YU Ziyang he had been required to negotiate the qualification stage; he beat the last remaining Korean LEE Jungwoo (12-10 11-5 11-5 11-5).

At the semi-final stage in Incheon Kristian KARLSSON meets XU Xin Patrick BAUM confronts FANG Bo.

In Women’s Singles Event in the semi-final stage FENG Tianwei meets colleague YU Mengyu; YANG Haeun confronts HAN Ying. Germany’s HAN Ying the no.7 seed beat Portugal’s YU Fu the no.13 seed (11-5 11-9 11-8 14-12).

Félix LEBRUN targets European Singles crown in Ljubljana

France’s Félix LEBRUN will arrive at the 2026 European Championships in Ljubljana with one major ambition still to fulfil – winning the European Men’s Singles title. At just 20, LEBRUN...

SAMARA: The passion and excitement are just as strong as ever

Almost 21 years after making her first appearance at the European Championships, Romania’s Elizabeta SAMARA is preparing for another challenge on the continental stage. At 37, with eight European titles...

Greece, Poland, Sweden and Romania claim Team titles at JOOLA EYS Czech Open

The first four titles at the 2026 JOOLA Europe Youth Series Czech Open have been decided in Pilsen, with Greece, Poland, Sweden and Romania celebrating victories in the Team competitions....

POLCANOVA Returns to Defend European Title, WINTER Heads the Seeds

Two years after Sofia POLCANOVA of Austria stood on top of the podium in Linz, the European Women’s Singles title will once again be up for grabs, with a deep...