Champions League Men | 8 May 2019

Fakel-Gazprom Orenburg wins fifth TTCLM title

2018/19 TTCLM final, leg 2: Fakel-Gazprom Orenburg – TTSC UMMC 3:2 (leg 1 3:2)

 

Fakel-Gazprom became five-time TTCLM champion, as they beat TTSC UMMC 3:2 in the second leg of the all-Russian final held today, May 8th, in the city of Orenburg. They recorded the same win in the first match four days ago in the city of Verkhnaya Pyshma. Orenburg won its very first crown seven years ago, when they overcame same opponent, UMMC. Other three titles came in 2012/13, 2014/15 and 2016/17.

 

ETTU President Ronald KRAMER handed over gold medals and the trophy to the winning team, in front of 1,200 spectators.

 

By winning this final, Orenburg joined CSM Cluj, Slavia/Sparta Praha and Spartacus Budapest on the short list of five-time champions. Borussia Dusseldorf is the most successful club in the history of TTCLM, collecting 11 crowns, while Belgian club La Villette Charleroi still occupies second place with seven titles, although they stepped out from the event after 2010/11 season.

 

Vladimir SAMSONOV opened second leg by his clear victory against Jonathan GROTH, but FANG Bo evened the score, as he prevailed against Dimitrij OVTCHAROV in straight games.

 

After fourth encounter opponents remained tied. First YAN An overcame Andrej GACINA in straight sets, then FANG once again leveled the score at 2:2, by winning his game against SAMSONOV. In that moment everything was open, as Orenburg had small advantage (7:6 in sets, while set-ratio in leg 1 was 11:11), but OVTCHAROV emerged once again as the key man in his team's success, beating Alexander SHIBAEV after three sets.

 

Vladimir SAMSONOV and Dimitrij OVTCHAROV contributed in each of five Orenburg’s winning campaign. The 43-year-old Belarus won his 13th TTCLM title: he took three with Borussia Dusseldorf (1997, 1998, 2000), five with Belgian La Villete Charleroi (2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2007) and five with Fakel Gazproma Orenburg (2012, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019).

 

2018/19 TTCLM final, leg 2

 

Fakel-Gazprom Orenburg – TTSC UMMC 3:2 (leg 1 3:2)

 

Vladimir SAMSONOV – Jonathan GROTH 3:0 (11:3, 11:7, 11:8)

Dimitrij OVTCHAROV – FANG Bo 0:3 (8:11, 4:11, 9:11)

YAN An – Andrej GACINA 3:0 (11:3, 13:11, 11:9)

Vladimir SAMSONOV – FANG Bo 1:3 (9:11, 8:11, 11:8, 5:11)

Dimitrij OVTCHAROV – Alexander SHIBAEV 3:0 (11:7, 11:9, 12:10)

 

2018/19 TTCLM final, leg 1

 

TTSC UMMC – Fakel-Gazprom Orenburg 2:3 (11:11)

 

FANG Bo – Dimitrij OVTCHAROV 2:3 (11:8, 6:11, 13:11, 5:11, 5:11)

Andrej GACINA - YAN An 3:2 (14:16, 8:11, 11:9, 11:9, 11:7)

Alexander SHIBAEV – Vladimir SAMSONOV 2:3 (9:11, 10:12, 11:9, 11:8, 10:12)

FANG Bo – YAN An 3:0 (11:5, 11:9, 11:6)

Andrej GACINA – Dimitrij OVTCHAROV 1:3 (11:7, 8:11, 3:11, 7:11)