All stars under same roof – a good aspect of difficult time

ARAG CenterCourt Düsseldorf

As Winston CHURCHILL once said “never waste a good crisis” we must learn to make the best of the moment. Pandemic halted many aspects of our life but at least it opened the door for a few opportunities. First time in history Champions League Men is playing as a tournament under specific “bubble” conditions. Making it possible required a lot of dedicated work but having top European clubs and top class players under the same roof is a wonderful win for our sport.

The action at the Champions League Men 2020/21 commenced today in the ARAG CenterCourt the home for the Borussia Düsseldorf. Please follow the live action at https://www.ettu.org/en/

TTC Enfireex Ostrava (CZE) – TTSC UMMC (RUS) 0:3

Felipe OLIVARES – Tomislav PUCAR 1:3 (11:9 4:11 3:11 4:11)

Simon BELIK – Jonathan GROTH 0:3 (1:11 10:12 7:11)

Filip DELINCAK – Liam PITCHFORD 0:3 (4:11 6:11 3:11)

Russia’s TTSC UMMC runners up from 2019 and 2012 opened the first day of the play at Champions League Men 2020/21 in ARAG CenterCourt Düsseldorf. TTC Enfireex Ostrava failed to upset the favorites which prevailed in straight matches.

Croatia’s Tomislav PUCAR needed some time to settle into the rhythm against Felipe OLVIARES. However in four games Europe’s no. 13 gave the dream start to Russia’s club.

“The most difficult part was to overcame the lack of the tournaments. I played very little official tournaments and matches since the start of the Pandemic. I was out of the focus at the beginning of the match but then I settled into my rhythm ” explained PUCAR.

Dane Jonathan GROTH held the grip tight from the very start of the match against Simon BELIK.

“It is nice to be back and to play at the team competition. I faced the player who beat few very powerful players in the Champions League before. He proved dangerous player in second game. I was down and under pressure. If it had been 1:1 it will make my win much difficult ” said GROTH.

Liam PITCHFORD sealed the match with the win over Filip DELINCAK in straight games.

“I am happy to get a win in the first match. I was playing against the younger player DELINCAK who I never play before. He looked quite good in practice and I knew it is going to be tough match. I had to be focused and that was the aim to try to get into the game. I received the service really well and that was the main point how I won. I could dominated the rallies and felt comfortable which is very nice in the opening match.

 

GROUP A

Fakel Gazprom Orenburg (RUS) – Post SV Mühlhausen 1951 e.V. 3:1

Marcos FREITAS – Ovidiu IONESCU 3:1 (11:2 11:9 5:11 11:6)

Vladimir SAMSONOV – Daniel HABESOHN 3:0 (11:7 11:6 14:12)

Alexey LIVENTSOV – Steffen MENGEL 2:3 (12:10 10:12 11:7 7:11 3:6)

Marcos FREITAS – Daniel HABESOHN 3:0 (11:9 11:1 11:8)

Five time winners Russia’s Fakel Gazprom Orenburg recorded very confident victory in the opening Round of the Group phase in Group A. Post SV Mühlhausen 1951 e.V. only won one match.

Marcos FREITAS looked very focused at the beginning of the duel. Ovidiu IONESCU failed to find a response for Portugal’s player aggressive play.

“We have a very tough group and every match is important. That is why this victory is very important for us. Ovidiu IONESCU is not the adversary who should be underestimated and after I start with the win over him it gave me extra confidence. I was well prepared for that match. I stayed on good course in the match against Daniel HABESOHN. I hope I can keep this level on play in forthcoming matches ” said FREITAS.

Vladimir SAMSONOV also prevailed against Daniel HABESOHN.

“It is always tough to play first match and maybe in this one we surprised ourselves a little. We did not expect 3:1 win against Post SV Mühlhausen. Not the result but the way we did it exceeded our expectations. I am sure HABESOHN could play much better. On the other side Marcus gave us fantastic performance today. He was very aggressive; did not give any easy ball; he is very good shape. Alexey LIVENTSOV lost to Steffen MENGEL but he had few good chances ” stated SAMSONOV.

Bogoria Mazowiecki (POL) – Leka Enea (ESP) 3:0

Marek BADOWSKI – Daniel PALACIOS 3:0 (11:8 11:9 11:9)

Pavel SIRUCEK – Endika DIEZ 3:1 (11:6 10:12 11:4 11:8)

Milosz REDZIMSKI – Oriol MONZO 3:2 (10:12 7:11 21:19 13:11 6:2)

Marek BADOWSKI and Pavel SIRUCEK took Bogoria Mazowiecki to relatively quiet ride in two opening matches against Spanish Leka Enea. In next one 14-yeras old Milosz REDZIMSKI was under severe test against Oriol MONZO. REDZIMSKI managed to recover from two games to null in reverse to win the match under the new rule of 6 points in decisive game.

“I much against Daniel PALACIOS was tough. In two games it ended at 11:9. I am happy that I won it. Also it is great pleasure that our young player Milosz REDZIMSKI managed to have success against Oriol MONZO. He showed good nerves in close moments of the match ” said BADOWSKI.

Group D

Borussia Düsseldorf – De Boer Taverzo (NED) 3:0

Anton KALLBERG – Dorian NICOLLE 3:0 (11:6 11:8 11:6)

Timo BOLL – Yannick VOSTES 3:0 (11:7 11:7 11:6)

Ricardo WALTHER – Trinko KEEN 3:0 (11:8 11:5 11:7)

The leaders in Group D Borussia Düsseldorf easily justified their status; all three wins were recorded by 3:0 margin.

“It was must-win for our team we are big favorites. It is allways good to have such a opponent at the beginning so we can settle into the rhythm to fell the ball..Important games are in front of us and we must be ready ” said Timo BOLL.

Dekorglass Dzialdowo (POL)- Hennbont TT (FRA)  2:3

WEI Shihao – Cedric NUYTINCK 0:3 (8:11 8:11 5:11)

Andrej GACINA – Omar ASSAR 3:2 (5:11 11:7 11:5 8:11 6:4)

Jakub DYJAS – Anders LIND 3:1 (8:11 13:11 11:1 11:8)

WEI Shihao – Omar ASSAR 0:3 (8;11 5;11 5:11)

Andrej GACINA – Cedric NUYTINCK 1:3 (11:6 12:14 13:15 9:11)

When you have Borussia Düsseldorf in your group the chances that anyone else can book the leading position are very slim. That is why no one in Group D has a space for mistake in order to book one remaining place that leads to quarterfinal. And that is why you could almost feel the pressure that radiated from table no. 1 where French Hennbont TT and Poland’s Dekorglass Dzialdowo played tonight.

Dekorglass Dzialdowo stretched French club to full distance.

“Very tough match every duel was full of tension. The importance took its toll there is to much on stake ” said Cedric NUYTINCK.

Cedric NUYTINCK was the back-bone of Hennbont’s success with two wins over WEI Shihao and Andrej GACINA.

“Last time I beat GACINA at the European Games. It was also close match 4:3. It is not such a big surprise ” added Cedric.

GACINA prevailed against Omar ASSAR but ASSAR recorded the win on his second exit to the table. He beat WEI. In the middle Jakub DYJAS beat Anders LIND who lost his temper over one ball after very good start.

GROUP C

SPG Walter Wels (AUT) – 1.FC Saarbrücken 0:3 (GER)

Gabor BOHM – Kun SHANG 0:3 (3:11 1:11 11:13)

Julian RZIHAUSCHEK – Patrick FRANZISKA 0:3 (5:11 3:11 4:11)

Petr HODINA – Darko JORGIC 0:3 (1:11 1:11 2:11)

1.FC Saarbrücken got the chance today to warm up without big threat for their position. Young team of Walter Wels which step up when COVID 19 messed up with Austria club’s line-up were to weak to put Germany’s club under pressure.

“We are looking next challenges. I expect hard duels against both Roskilde Bordtennis and AS Pontoise-Cergy ” stated Darko JORGIC.

Roskilde Bordtennis (DEN) – AS Pontoise-Cergy (FRA) 3:2

Jens LUNDQUIST – Patrick BAUM 3:1 (11:9 11:6 10:12 11:6)

Michael MAZE – Tristan FLORE 0:3 (4:11 9:11 7:11)

Allan BENTSEN – Quentin ROBINOT 3:2 (11:6 11:7 6:11 5:11 6:2)

Jens LUNDQUIST– Tristan FLORE 2:3 (5:11 11:7 11:9 12:14 2:6)

Michael MAZE – Patrick BAUM 3:2 (15:17 8:11 11:9 11:9 6:3)

Long after Saarbrücken’s players has finished their match Roskilde Bordtennis and AS Pontoise-Cergy were fighting their battle in the venue. Jens LUNDQUIST gave good opener with the victory over Patrick BAUM but Tristan FLORE changed the course of the match after his victory over Michael MAZE. The closest third duel went on the account of 52years old Allan BENTSEN. He whitstood Quentin ROBINOT’s recovery to win the match in the fifth game.

Jens LUNDQUIST had a chance to finish the match after having 2:1 advantage in fourth match. Tristan FLORE recovered to bring the duel into fifth decisive match.