Champions League Men
The action continued on the second day of the play at the Champions League Men bubble tournament in ARAG CenterCourt in Düsseldorf. In the second round of the Group stage best European clubs will continued to fight for the top two position in their respective groups which leads to to the quarterfinal.
Please follow the live action at ETTU TV.
Group B
Sporting Clube de Portugal (POR) – TTSC UMMC (RUS) 1:3
Diogo CARVALHO – Jonathan GROTH 2:3 (11:6 11:9 6:11 8:11 5:6)
Thiago MONTEIRO – Liam PITCHFORD 2:3 (11:13 11:7 8:11 11:5 1:6)
Bode ABIODUN – Tomislav PUCAR 3:2 (11:6 12:10 8:11 7:11 6:1)
Diogo CARVALHO – Liam PITCHFORD 1:3 (2:11 6:11 12:10 4:11)
In the Group B the only with the three clubs Sporting Clube de Portugal entered the playing box for a first time in this tournament – 40 minutes later we already had one historical note. For a first time in Champion League Men the sudden death point was played. Diogo CARVALHO player ranked at the position no. 84 in Europe stretched Continent’s no. 11 Jonathan GROTH to full distance before he lost decisive game 5:6. CARVALHO missed the chance to finish the match in close fourth game and fifth game was played at the edge of the knife.
“It was very tough match for us and you can see that by the results – three matches finished in decisive game. We used to play in similar way in Russia’s League where we play to seven points in tie break and it really add the extra excitement to the game. For sure it is difficult to play under such pressure ” said GROTH.
Thiago MONTEIRO did not give the chance to Liam PITCHFORD to settle into the game before the scoreboard showed 9:5. However from that moment Liam took the control and won the opening game. Thiago MONTEIRO responded fast and leveled the match. No. 4 in Europe failed to hold his grip tight and MONTEIRO moved the match into the decisive game; once again Portugal’s club was denied of win.
Tomislav PUCAR recovered from two games to null in reverse to level the match against Bode ABIODUN but first time today six points rule worked in favor of Portugal’s club. On his second exit to the table Liam PITCHFORD justified his status.
“For me it was very good today that Jonathan came back from 0:2 down to win the match and put a little bit less pressure on me after that. In first match I did not get into the rhythm. I did not feel so good. I still getting used to come back to the table playing competitive matches but I did enough to win. In the second match I felt quite comfortable I controlled the game much better. My focus slipped a little at 2:0 10:7 but I managed to get it back and to win quite comfortably ” said PITCHFORD.
GROUP A
KS Dartom Bogoria Grodzisk Mazowiecki (POL) – Fakel-Gazprom Orenburg (RUS) 1:3
Marek BADOWSKI – Vladimir SAMSONOV 3:2 (11:6 11:4 6:11 9:11 6:1)
Pavel SIRUCEK – Marcos FREITAS 1:3 (11:9 5:11 6:11 10:12)
Milosz REDZIMSKI – Alexey LIVENTSOV 2:3 (12:10 6:11 11:9 7:11 4:6)
Marek BADOWSKI – Marcos FREITAS 0:3 (12:14 6:11 7:11)
In Group A winners of yesterday’s rounds met today and the duel started with great upset. Playing like he is in the fire Europe’s no. 39 Marek BADOWSKI overcame no. 9 at the Continent Vladimir SAMSONOV. In opening two games Marek took complete control and with aggressive and fast game forced SAMSONOV into errors. However legendary Belarus made his way back into the match. He recovered but Marek continued to make the pressure with the fantastic service game and he left SAMSONOV with only one point in fifth game. That point came after one of the most beautiful rallies in the match but it was weak consolation for SAMSONOV.
Marcos FREITAS brought club back into the game with the victory over Pavel SIRUCEK but that did not come easy. Poland’s club continued to put the pressure even in the third match when 14 years Milosz REDZIMSKI met Alexey LIVENTSOV. Milosz REDZIMSKI forced LIVENTSOV into fifth game and even had 4:1 lead but younger player stumbled in the closing stage.
Marcos FREITAS’ s services dictated the rhythm in the duel against Marek BADOWSKI who did not find the answer to his adversaries game.
“It was really tough duel. After SAMSONOV lost very close match I was under bigger pressure because it was crucial to win. I knew SIRUCEK very well and tactically I was well prepared but crucial was my confidence. We are all very happy because LIVENTSOV managed to win the fifth game for a first time in the Champions League ” said FREITAS.
FREITAS radiated with confidence in the match.
“Two wins day earlier gave me a lot of power. I was very calm and tactically I had a solution for every tough situation on top of all I knew if it come close I have advantage. I feel strong. No one expects easy matches here. Here are the best each country can offer in clubs competition and we are prepared for all challenges ” concluded FRAITAS.
Leka Enea TDM (ESP) – Post SV Mühlhausen 1951 e.V. (GER) 0:3
Oriol MONZO – Steffen MENGEL 0:3 (7:11 5:11 2:11)
Endika DIEZ – Ovidiu IONESCU 0:3 (5:11 8:11 2:11)
Daniel PALACIOS – Lubomir JANCARIK 1:3 (11:4 11:13 4:11 3:11)
Post SV Mühlhausen 1951 e.V. Recovered after yesterday’s defeat in the match against Fakel-Gazprom Orenburg to overcame Leka Enea TDM. They prevailed without be seriously tested. Both Steffen MENGEL and Ovidiu IONESCU dominated and recorded straight games victories whilst Lubomir JANCARIK lost one game.
“It was important for us to restore our confidence after last round’s defeat. Also we knew that we can not underestimated Spanish club. We played against them before in the Champions League and they could be dangerous. Now when we won it is important that we use all our power to secure victory tomorrow and to progress to quarterfinal which was our aim from the start ” said IONESCU.
GROUP D
De Boer Taverzo (NED) – K.S. Dekorglass Dzialdowo (POL) 0:3
Yannick VOSTES – Andrej GACINA 1:3 (11:7 4:11 4:11 5:11)
Trinko KEEN – Jakub DYJAS 0:3 (6:11 7:11 6:11)
Gabrielius CAMARA – WEI Shihao 0:3 (1:11 4:11 6:11)
K.S. Dekorglass Dzialdowo returned into the game for the quarterfinal after victory over De Boer Taverzo. In impressive style Poland’s club finished the encounter against Dutch side.
“It was good match despite my poor start against Yannick VOSTES. I moved to fire gear after the opening game and from that moment everything was fine. Now we hope we will give our best performance tomorrow against Borussia Düsseldorf ” said Andrej GACINA.
Hennebont TT (FRA) – Borussia Düsseldorf (GER) 0:3
Andres LIND – Kristian KARLSSON 2:3 (9:11 12:10 8:11 13:11 2:6)
Cedric NUYTINCK – Timo BOLL 1:3 (11:7 9:11 12:14 5:11)
Omar ASSAR – Anton KALLBERG 2:3 (11:6 7:11 1:11 11:8 5:6)
Düsseldorf posted second victory at the tournament but it was much harder than the result predicts. Both Kristian KARLSSON and Anton KALLBERG were stretched to full distance whilst Anton faced match balls against him.
“We managed to win against Hennebont the team who already recorded victory day earlier. That put us in very good position in Group before the last match ”said KARLSSON. “I had very close match against Lind. He already proved how dangerous he could be yesterday so I was ready. It is difficult to find good rhythm against him. He has very good touch and play very aggressive. It was good for me to beat him in my first match here in Champions League. Anton also turned three match points against ASSAR our former club-mate and to win by sudden death point.”
Group C
Roskilde Bordtennis BTK 61 (DEN) – 1. FC Saarbrücken TT (GER) 0:3
Jens LUNDQUIST – SHANG Kun 1:3 (2:11 10:12 11:4 7:11)
Michael MAZE – Patrick FRANZISKA 1:3 (10:12 11:8 4:11 8:11)
Allan BENTSEN – Darko JORGIC 0:3 (4:11 7:11 7:11)
Comparing last night fierce battle against AS Pontoise-Cergy TT todays match between Roskilde Bordtennis BTK and 1. FC Saarbrücken TT was relatively quiet affair. SHANG Kun set the pace at the beginning of the match with the impressive win over Jens LUNDQUIST. He demonstrate speed and power in the opening game. LUNDQUIST recovered but lost close second game before he won in third. SHAN did not lose the steam and in next game he was in the fast lane again.
Two opened games in the duel between Patrick FRANZISKA and Michael MAZE were close but after that the match had only one way. It did not prevent Michael MAZE of creating magical rallies.
AS Pontoise-Cergy TT (FRA) – SPG Walter Wels (AUT) 3:0
Patrick BAUM – Petr HODINA 3:0 (11:4 11:3 11:0)
Tristan FLORE – Gabor BOHM 3:0 (11:2 11:7 11:7)
Adrien MATTENET – Julian RZIHAUSCHEK (11:4 11:4 11:6)
Young and unexperienced second team of Wels could not threaten French AS Pontoise-Cergy TT but at least boys gained valuable experience.
