Champions League Men | 2 Nov 2013
Hard-fighting Hennebont plays along
Hennebont won the match in situation when it had no right for mistake in Group C of Men`s European Champions League. After tonight`s away win against Walter Wels 3:2, French club continues its fight for quarter final with same score (1-1) as Austrian side
Hennebont won the match in situation when it had no right for mistake in Group C of Men`s European Champions League. After tonight`s away win against Walter Wels 3:2, French club continues its fight for quarter final with same score (1-1) as Austrian side and German champion Werder Bremen.
World`s no. 23 ZHAN Jian beat Dmitrij PROKOPCOV (no. 89) in five games of opening match. Guest had two set balls for 2:0 lead (10:9, 11:10), but Singaporean leveled on 1:1. PROKOPCOV saved a match ball in fourth set, equalizing on 2:2. In fifth set the game went point by point until 6:6 and host took next five points in a row.
CHEN Chien-An was the winner of second encounter. He beat Lehel DEMETER in four sets. Hungarian started well, reaching first set (5:5, 11:6), but CHEN absolutely dominated in next three
The legend of European table tennis Kalinikos KREANGA overcame Serbian Zolt PETE in straight sets to provide the lead to Hennebont. Individual bronze medalist from 2003 World Championships at Paris, controlled each of three sets.
ZHAN Jian captured his fourth MECL win in his fourth match, defeating CHEN Chien-An in four games. Singaporean was the hero of surprising Walter Wels` win against German champion Werder Bremen, when he surpassed world`s no. 7 CHUANG Chih Yuan.
PROKOPCOV brought the victory to the guest, overcoming easily DEMETER in straight games.
Walter Wels – Hennebont 2:3
ZHAN Jian – Dmitrij PROKOPCOV 3:2 (10:12, 13:11. 11:3, 10:12, 11:6)
Lehel DEMETER – CHEN Chien-An 1:3 (11:6, 4:11, 8:11, 7:11)
Zolt PETE – Kalinikos KREANGA 0:3 (9:11, 7:11, 8:11)
ZHAN Jian – CHEN Chieh-An 3:0 (11:5, 11:8, 11:5)
Lehel DEMETER – Dmitrij PROKOPCOV 0:3 (6:11, 4:11, 5:11)
