Champions League Men | 10 Feb 2017
TTCLM top seed eliminates last season`s runner-up
Photo: Courtesy ITTF
TTC Fakel Gazprom Orenburg – Eslovs Al Bordtennis 3:1 (1st match 3:1). Jun MIZUTANI again won two points
Top-seeded Russian club TTC Fakel Gazprom Orenburg will play seventh time in a row in the Table Tennis Champions League Men semi-final, as they eliminated current runner-up from Sweden Eslovs Al Bordtennis in the clash held in Russian TT Center in Orenburg. Triple TTCLM champion beat Swedish side 3:1 in the returning quarter-final match, like it did in the first leg in Sweden. More than 1,000 fans cheered for host club and huge favorite for the crown in the ongoing season.
Like two weeks ago, Jun MIZUTANI provided two points for his side. Japanese, actual World No. 4 defeated both, Daniel KOSIBA and XU Hui, in the opening and fourth match respectively, while World No. 5 Dimitrij OVTCHAROV overcame XU in four games of the second encounter. Recently crowned 2017 ITTF Europe Top 16 Cup champion OVTCHAROV saved a set ball in the third game against Chinese who missed a chance for 2:1 lead.
Robert SVENSSON upset World No. 8 Vladimir SAMSONOV in the third clash, being extended to full distance. Belarus reached fourth set 11:1 to level the score at 2:2, but Swede responded in same style, losing just four points in the fifth game.
TTCLM quarter-finals, 2nd leg
TTC FAKEL GAZPROM ORENBURG – ESLOVS Al BORDTENNIS 3:1 (1st leg 3:1)
Jun MIZUTANI – Daniel KOSIBA 3:1 (9:11, 11:9, 11:8, 11:8)
Dimitrij OVTCHAROV – XU Hui 3:1 (9:11, 11:7, 12:10, 11:8)
Vladimir SAMSONOV – Robert SVENSSON 2:3 (11:4, 9:11, 8:11, 11:1, 4:11)
Jun MIZUTANI – XU Hui 3:0 (11:3, 15:13, 11:2)
