Marek Badowski lost to Marcos Freitas but beat Vladimir Samsonov (Photo: Jörg Fuhrmann)
Fakel-Gazprom Orenburg and TTSC UMMC, both outfits very much on the lips of the wise and wonderful as being in line for honours, maintained their unbeaten records on the second day of play, Saturday 12th December, in the Table Tennis Champions League Men group stage.
Staged on the ARAG Centre Court in Düsseldorf, in their second fixtures of the competition, both Russian clubs recorded 3-1 wins; the players to cause the problems being Poland’s Marek Badowski and Nigeria’s Bode Abiodun.
Facing KS Dartom Bogoria Grodzisk Mazowiecki, in the opening match of the fixture, Marek Badowski accounted for Vladimir Samsonov (11-6, 11-4, 6-11, 9-11, 6-1), before in the match that brought matters to a conclusion, losing to Marcos Freitas (14-12, 11-6, 11-7).
A cool head from Marcos Freitas, he was very much the key to the victory. In the second match of the engagement, he accounted for Pavel Sirucek (9-11, 11-5, 11-6, 12-10), before Alexey Liventsov gave the Russian club the lead by defeating Milosz Redzimski (10-12, 11-6, 9-11, 11-7, 6-4).
Marek Badowski, the thorn in the side, for TTDC UMMC it was Bode Abiodun, a player who very much lives in the shadows of Quadri Aruna. Representing Sporting Clube de Portugal, in the third match of the contest, he accounted for Tomislav Pucar (11-6, 12-10, 8-11, 7-11, 6-1).
Alas his efforts were in vain, England’s Liam Pitchford was the man in form for the Russian club. After Jonathan Groth had overcome Diogo Carvalho by the very narrowest of possible margins (6-11, 9-11, 11-6, 11-8, 6-5), he beat Thiago Monteiro (13-11, 7-11, 11-8, 5-11, 6-1), prior to overcoming Diogo Carvalho (11-2, 11-6, 10-12, 11-4) to end matters.
The win confirms TTSC UMMC in group first place; Sporting now meet TTC Enfireex Ostrava to decide second position and a place in the main draw.
Play in the group stage concludes on Sunday 13th December.
Results & Reaction – Saturday 12th December
Group A
KS DARTOM BOGORIA GRODZISK MAZOWIECKI (POL) 1-3 FAKEL-GAZPROM ORENBURG (RUS)
Marek Badowski v Vladimir Samsonov 11-6, 11-4, 6-11, 9-11, 6-1
Pavel Sirucek v Marcos Freitas 11-9, 5-11, 6-11, 10-12
Milosz Redzimski v Alexey Liventsov 12-10, 6-11, 11-9, 7-11, 4-6
Marek Badowski v Marcos Freitas 12-14, 6-11, 7-11
“It was really tough duel. After Samsonov lost very close match, I was under bigger pressure because it was crucial to win. I know Sirycek 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, his first time in the Champions League.” Marcos Freitas
“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 came close, I have the advantage. I feel strong. No one expects easy matches here. Here is the best each country can offer in club competition. We are prepared for all challenges.” Marcos Freitas
LEKA ENEA TDM (ESP) 0-3 POST SV MÜHLHAUSEN 1951 E.V. (GER)
Oriol Monzo v Steffen Mengel 7-11, 5-11, 2-11
Endika Diez v Ovidiu Ionescu 5-11, 8-11, 2-11
Daniel Palacios v Lubomir Jancarik 11-4, 11-13, 4-11, 3-11
“It was important for us to restore our confidence after yesterday’s defeat. Also, we knew that we could not underestimate the Spanish club. We played against them before in the Champions League and they can be dangerous. Now, it is important that we use all our power to secure victory tomorrow and progress to quarter-final which was our aim from the start.” Ovidiu Ionescu
Latest Positions:
- FAKEL-GAZPROM ORENBURG (RUS) 4pts
- KS DARTOM BOGORIA GRODZISK MAZOWIECKI (POL) 3pts
- POST SV MÜHLHAUSEN 1951 E.V. (GER) 3pts
- LEKA ENEA TDM (ESP) 2pts
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Group B
SPORTING CLUBE DE PORTUGAL (POR) 1-3 TTSC UMMC (RUS)
Diogo Carvalho v Jonathan Groth 11-6, 11-9, 6-11, 8-11, 5-6
Thiago Monteiro v Liam Pitchford 11-13, 11-7, 8-11, 11-5, 1-6
Bode Abiodun v Tomislav Pucar 11-6, 12-10, 8-11, 7-11, 6-1
Diogo Carvalho v Liam Pitchford 2-11, 6-11; 12-10, 4-11
“It was very tough match for us and you can see that by the results, three matches finished in a 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 adds the extra excitement to the game. For sure it is difficult to play under such pressure.” Jonathan Groth
“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. In my first match I did not get into a rhythm. I did not feel so good. I am 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 two-nil 10-7, but I managed to get it back and to win quite comfortably.” Liam Pitchford
Latest Positions:
- TTSC UMMC (RUS) 4pts
- SPORTING CLUBE DE PORTUGAL (POR) 1pt
- TTC ENFIREEX OSTRAVA (CZE) 1pt
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Group C
ROSKILDE ON-BOARD TENNIS BTK 61 (DEN) 0-3 1. FC SAARBRÜCKEN TT (GER)
Jens Lundquist v Shang Kun 2-11, 10-12, 11-4, 7-11
Michael Maze v Patrick Franziska 10-12, 11-8, 4-11, 8-11
Allan Bentsen v Darko Jorgic 4-11, 7-11, 7-11
AS PONTOISE-CERGY TT (FRA) 3-0 SPG WALTER WELS (AUT)
Patrick Baum v Petr Hodina 11-4, 11-3, 11-0
Tristan Flore v Gabor Bohm 11-2, 11-7, 11-7
Adrien Mattenet v Julian Rzihauschek 11-4, 11-4, 11-6
Latest Positions:
- 1. FC SAARBRÜCKEN TT (GER) 4pts
- ROSKILDE ON-BOARD TENNIS BTK 61 (DEN) 3pts
- AS PONTOISE-CERGY TT (FRA) 3pts
- SPG WALTER WELS (AUT) 2pts
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Group D
DE BOER TAVERZO (NED) 0-3 K.S. DEKORGLASS DZIALDOWO (POL)
Yannick Vostes v Andrej Gacina 11-7, 4-11, 4-11, 5-11
Trinko Keen v Jakub Dyjas 6-11, 7-11, 6-11
Gabrielius Camara v Wei Shihao 1-11, 4-11, 6-11
“It was a good match despite my poor start against Yannick Vostes. I moved to a higher 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.” Andrej Gacina
HENNEBONT TT (FRA) 0-3 BORUSSIA DÜSSELDORF (GER)
Andres Lind v Kristian Karlsson 9-11, 12-10, 8-11, 13-11, 2-6
Cédric Nuytinck v Timo Boll 11-7, 9-11, 12-14, 5-11
Omar Assar v Anton Källberg 11-6, 7-11, 1-11, 11-8, 5-6
“We managed to win against Hennebont, the team who already recorded victory a day earlier; that puts us in very good position in the group before the last match. 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 plays very aggressive. It was good for me to beat him in my first match here in Champions League. Anton also saved three match points against Assar, our former clubmate and to win by sudden death point.” Kristian Karlsson
Latest Positions:
- BORUSSIA DÜSSELDORF (GER) 4pts
- HENNEBONT TT (FRA) 3pts
- K.S. DEKORGLASS DZIALDOWO (POL) 3pts
- DE BOER TAVERZO (NED) 2pts