Champions League Men | 13 Nov 2018

TTCLM: Top 3 seeds continue unbeaten

Round 4 to be held from Wednesday to Friday: Reigning champion Borussia and two Russian clubs, Orenburg and UMMC, have 3-0 win-loss record. Liam PITCHFORD returns to TTCLM after his success in Linz

 

After three rounds at the 2018/19 Table Tennis Champions League Men top three seeds continue unbeaten, reigning champion and record holder with 11 titles Borussia Dusseldorf (no.1), four-time winner Fakel Gazprom Orenburg (no. 2) and 2011/12 runner-up TTSC UMMC (no. 3).

 

Borussia travels to Czech Republic to face lowest placed club in Group A, TTC Ostrava 2016. German side targets fourth consecutive win in order to book its place among the best eight European clubs, while host team will do its best to upset TTCLM record holder. Three weeks ago, in the Round 3, Borussia beat Ostrava 3:0 (9-1). Other Group A clash will see battle for the second spot, between AS Pontoise Cergy (2-1 win-loss record) and Sporting Clube de Portugal (1-2). French side won their mutual clash 3:0. Three players from this group have 3-0 win-loss record so far, Timo BOLL and Kristian KARLSSON from Bourssia, as well as Tristan FLORE from Pontoise.

 

Russian club UMMC, the 2011/12 TTCLM runner-up, has its best ever opening in this competition, recording 3:0 win in each of three rounds in Group B. Jonathan GROTH and Andrej GACINA have 3-0 win-loss record each, while Alexander SHIBAEV stands at 2-0. CHEN Tian Yuan (4-1, only loss from GROTH) was a key man of Stella Sport La Romagne (2-1) in the first three rounds, providing two points in the victory against Dekorglass (1-2) three weeks ago.

 

“We have never had such start in European Champions League: three victories by a score of 3:0. Certainly, it makes me happy", stated UMMC Coach Tatiana KUTERGINA.

 

Most unpredictable group (C) is composed by three clubs with 2-1 win-loss record, Angers, Saarbrucken and Bogoria, while Roskilde has 0-3. German side travels to Denmark, while K.S. Dartom Bogoria Grodzisk Mazowiecki hosts Vaillante Sports Angers TT, after clear win (3:0) of French team in the Round 3.

 

Former 4-times TTCLM winner Orenburg is determined to improve its winning streak in Group D what would secure them place in the quarter-final stage. They play against 2016 runner-up Eslovs, currently third placed team (1-2). Liam PITCHFORD will try to push Hennebont to its very first victory, against Post SV Muhlhausen, after his fantastic performances in the recently held Seamaster 2018 ITTF World Tour Platinum LIEBHERR Austrian Open in Linz, where he reached semi-finals, by beating Timo BOLL.

 

Mühlhausen‘s best player so far Daniel HABESOHN (3-1win-loss record) is aware that his side has a good chance to reach quarter-finals in its very first season in the TTCLM:

 

"We are in a quite good position now to reach the TTCLM quarterfinals. With 2 wins 1 loss we are very motivated and confident for the 2nd part of the group stage. All of our team have now a very good shape and so we have a lot of possibilities to set the team."

 

Coach of Post SV Mühlhausen Erik SCHREYER explains:

"With this second place in TTCLM-group D we are very happy at the moment. But it will be a hard fight to stay on this position because Hennebont and Eslövs are both away games. My players are in a very good shape specially Daniel HABESOHN is at the moment in my opinion one of the best players in Europe. If we should end up second in the group then entering the quarterfinals would be a historic moment. Then everything is possible."

 

TTCLM Round 4

 

GROUP A

TTC Ostrava 2016 - Borussia Düsseldorf (Nov 14, 18:00 CET)

AS Pontoise Cergy - Sporting Clube De Portugal (Nov 16, 19:30 CET)

 

GROUP B

K.S. Dekorglass Dzialdowo - Stella Sport La Romagne (Nov 15, 18:00 CET)

SPG Walter Wels - TTSC UMMC (Nov 16, 18:00 CET)

 

GROUP C

K.S. Dartom Bogoria Grodzisk Mazowiecki - Vaillante Sports Angers TT (Nov 15, 18:30 CET)

Roskilde Bordtennis BTK61 - FC Saarbrücken Tischtennis (Nov 16, 18:30 CET)

 

GROUP D

Eslovs Ai Bordtennis - TTC Fakel Gazprom (Nov 16, 19:00 CET)

G.V. Hennebont T.T. - Post SV Mühlhausen (Nov 16, 20:00 CET)