OVTCHAROV against MA in the semis

October 17, 2015
8:30 pm
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Actual European champion beat today both GAO Ning and Koki NIWA to secure his very first semi-final at the LIEBHERR 2015 Men`s World Cup in Halmstad. Top four seeds in the battle for the title: MA (1) FAN (2) OVTCHAROV (3) and MIZUTANI (4)

In the semi-final of LIEBHERR 2015 Men`s World Cup in Halmstad European champion will play against World champion tomorrow at 11:30 CET: Dimitrij OVTCHAROV (Germany) – MA Long (China). German is unique representative of the Old Continent who survived both Round of 16 and quarter-finals to secure his very first semis in this competition. In previous seven participations he has recorded five quarter-finals.

OVTCHAROV has never beat MA who won all 11 mutual encounters so far. Last time they met seven months ago in the semi-final of GAC Group 2015 ITTF World Tour German Open as Chinese needed six games to confirm his place in the final.

Round of 16 was successful for just two out of seven European players – finalists of recent 2015 LIEBHERR ITTF European Championships at Ekaterinburg Dimitrij OVTCHAROV and Marcos FREITAS. German easily beat Singaporean GAO Ning in straight games while Portuguese defeated Panagiotis GIONIS (4:2) in the unique all-European clash.

OVTCHAROV started badly quarter-final duel with Japanese Koki NIWA because he failed to convert three set points to 1:0 lead. But after that he played in a style taking four sets in a row.

Brazilian Gustavo TSUBOI deserves to be emphasized one more time because of new thrilling moments which he gave to the spectators in Halmstad Arena. Yesterday he emerged on the top of his group thanks to one point in his favor (set-ratio determined final standings) while today caused biggest upset in the Round of 16 eliminating Hong Kong`s TANG Peng by the two points margin. His first three matches in Halmstad lasted seven games each but in the quarter-final he was easily beaten by Jun MIZUTANI.

Four top seeds will fight tomorrow for the title: MA Long (1st seed) – Dimitrij OVTCHAROV (3) Jun MIZUTANI (4) – FAN Zhendong (2).

Round of 16 (October 17th)

MA Long (CHN) – Omar ASSAR (EGY) 4:1 (10:12 11:9 11:7 11:5 11:8)

Panagiotis GIONIS (GRE) – Marcos FREITAS 2:4 (12:10 9:11 12:10 13:15 3:11 0:11)

Koki NIWA (JPN) – Robert GARDOS (AUT) 4:2 (11:7 7:11 11:6 8:11 11:4 11:5)

GAO Ning (SIN) – Dimitrij OVTCHAROV 0:4 (4:11 7:11 7:11 6:11)

Jun MIZUTANI (JPN) – Anton KALLBERG (SWE) 4:1 (6:11 11:6 11:8 11:7 11:8)

Gustavo TSUBOI (BRA) – TANG Peng (HKG) 4:3 (12:10 11:9 10:12 6:11 11:9 6:11 14:12)

CHUANG Chih-Yuan (TPE) – Kristian KARLSSON (SWE) 4:1 (11:9 10:12 11:8 11:9 13:11)

Simon GAUZY (FRA) – FAN Zhendong (CHN) 0:4 (7:11 5:11 10:12 3:11)

Quarter-finals (October 17th)

MA Long – Marcos FREITAS 4:0 (12:10 11:4 11:6 11:6)