Thursday, November 12, 2009
1:05 PM
Euro-Asia Cup - Asian Team Defeated Despite Gao Ning's Valuable Point
Europe overcame Asia in a fantastic duel that presented table tennis in best possible way. The high-class encounters of biggest stars of today provided great suspense, beautiful performance and thrillers turn on. At the end, it was Europe that succeeded in "overtime". After 5:5 on aggregate and 20:20 in games Vladimir Samsonov kept his nerve and in 11th match of the Leg beat Li Ching.

The crucial moment was the great victory of Timo Boll against top player at the World rankings Chinese star Wang Hao. Boll beat Wang in straight sets. "I even surprised myself with the performance. When I won the opening game I was not sure that I will manage to keep in the same rhythm until the end. I succeeded and that win gave us some extra confidence;" explained Boll.

Head coach of the European team Richard Prause saw the great chance after the yesterdays 2:3. "It could easily be 3:3 for Europe, so we saw that we have enough space to improve and to force the match to the additional duel. We even had a chance to win before the Samsonov's match, but nevertheless ...The whole team played fantastic. Boll beat Wang and that is great success, but Schlager played well today too, and Vladimir had a tough task to get back in arena once again and to stay focus in additional encounter."

Werner Schlager bt Li Ching 3:1 (9:11, 11:5, 11:5, 11:7)
Li Ching gained the opening advantage with 7:4, but Schlager recovered and even had a lead in the first set at 9:8. That was not enough for safe finish, so with three points in the row Hong Kong's player sealed the opening set. Once again, in the follow up former World champion from Austria took control and in experienced manner left world's number 20 with only five points in second game to level the match.

After 5:1 in the in the third game Li Started to play better on Schlager's serve, but couple astonishing strokes from the cunning star prevented Li from taking the lead. Once again Li won only five points.

In superior style, Werner was heading to the victory, but at the middle of the fourth game, Li had other plans on his agenda. Once again, he brought the suspense in the match and leveled at 7 all. The pressure could not halt Schlager's progress and Hong Kong's player was stopped after seventh point.

Chuang Chih Yuan bt Kalinikos Kreanga (3:1 (7:11, 11:7, 13:11, 11:5)
Kalinikos Kreanga is yet to win the match after two legs of the Euro-Asia All Stars Event, but his fantastic performance once again was breathtaking. In the match against Chuang Chih Yuan of Taipei Greek star showed fabulous performance, as he always did, but just like against Ma Lin and Ma Long in Beijing the Asian adversary were too strong at Euro-Asia Cup. He took first set by the storm, but lost the pace in the second. After 6:6, Chuang was the player who dictated the rhytm.

Taipei's star leveled, but Kreanga's game becomes more aggressive. The third set was all about the speed. The fantastic strokes after stroke fired the crowd and brought the spectators on their feet. The cheering did not help Kreanga, it was Chuang who gained the first advantage after 10:10 and took the lead 2:1. Kreanga lost the match but he made Chuang sweat for every point.

Vladimir Samsonov bt Joo Se Hyuk 3:1 (11:8, 8:11, 11;7, 11:9)
There were no chinks in Vladimir Samsonov's armour when he faced Korea's JOO Se Hyuk. Like day before against Timo Boll the player with defensive skills showed great performance, but the winner of last month's World Cup was on the top of the game in the opening set.

The next game brought different picture. Samsonov trailed and his patience was challenged when Joo made a lead. Problems with Joo's service, opened the space for Vladimir in the third game, but not for long. The middle of the set brought the duels at the edge of the knife. In furious exchanges of ralies it was Samsonov who reached the 11th point first, and left Korean just with 7.

However, Joo showed no signs of capitulation and Vladi increased the pressure. Belarus left no space for Korean to threaten him in the final game.

Timo Boll bt Wang Hao 3:0 (11:6, 11:7, 11:6)
Timo Boll beat the best Chinese player at the World and he did it in fantastic style. Wang Hao lost in straight games and failed to jeopardize the German in any moment of the game. Only minute after the start of the fourth duel of the day German star Timo Boll was one game up against the world racquet number one Wang Hao. After German's dreamy start World champion tried to return in game in the second set. Triple European champion attacked and forced WANG into errors.

Boll's aggressive play did not give Wang minimal chance to react and with 2:0 German was step closer to the great victory. In final set Boll showed no mercy and did not lose the grip. He finished the match in furious style.

Gao Ning bt Michael Maze 3:1 (11:9, 3:11, 15:13, 11:9)
On the wings of great BOLL's victory Michael MAZE took an early lead against Gao Ning of Singapore. Nevertheless, he failed to capitalize on the good start and Gao was the first player to reach the 11th point. The situation changed in the second game. There were only one player at the table. Maze dominated.

When both players put a game in their pocket, the real battle stated. The spectators were given the chance to enjoy the high class performance and crowded hall embraced that opportunity. Applauses followed every stroke of the players. In nervous wrecking duels, Gao was always one step closer to the victory and he forced Maze to play at his best. At 10:9 Gao took time out, and it did not pay of. Dane saved first game ball after they returned and leveled. Maze saved four more before he had first one. It was Gao's turn, he leveled and finally took advantage of the fifth set ball to make the 2:1 lead.

His confidence grew even further . Gao was at the top of the game with 6:1 in a moment. His advantage started to melt after Maze made a series for 6:7.

Additional match (by lot): Vladimir Samsonov bt Li Ching 3:1 (11:8, 4:11, 11:9, 12:10)
The competitors in final duel of the second leg of Euro-Asia All Stars Serial were decided by the draw. Vladimir Samsonov drew Li Ching the former teammate from the Belgium's Sharleroi. After the fifth duel of the day and Maze's defeat, it was 5:5 in matches on aggregate and 20:20 in games.

Hong Kong's player exceeds his rankings and put Vladimir on serious test in the opening game. He lead 7:5, but Samsonov prevailed at the end of the opening set.

Li was in the driving seats in the second game. He left Samsonov only with four points. In the third, it was 7:7, 9:9, but Vladimir was the first to reach the 11th point. With the standing ovation Samsonov fought on his way to victorious finish. The fantastic closing stages of the match brought Europe to great triumph.

In the exhibition match Joo Se Hyuk beat Gencay Menge 3:0 (11:7, 13:11, 13;11).




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