by Ian Marshall, Editor
However, both nearly came to grief, both had to recover from the very precipice of defeat.
…………Dimitrij Ovtcharov trailed 8-10 in the deciding seventh game in the final against Vladimir Samsonov, before winning four points in a row to claim victory (6-11, 11-8, 11-3, 14-16, 6-11, 11-7, 12-10).
…………Petrissa Solja, the no.5 seed, recovered from a three games to nil deficit to beat Romania’s Bernadette Szocs, the no.2 seed and defending champion (9-11, 9-11, 6-11, 12-10, 11-8, 11-8, 11-4) to secure the title.
…………Notably, Petrissa Solja beat the leading two names to emerge victorious. At the semi-final stage she overcame Austria’s Sofia Polcanova, the top seed (15-13, 4-11, 11-7, 3-11, 12-10, 11-9).
…………It was the third time when Petrissa Solja had appeared in the final; she was the runner up in 2015 in Baku and in 2017 in Antibes.
…………A men’s semi-final defeat for Timo Boll at the hands of German colleague, Dimitrij Ovtcharov (11-9, 11-3, 11-3, 5-11, 4-11, 9-11, 11-7) meant that the record of Sweden’s Jan-Ove Waldner with seven wins remains. Timo Boll has won six times
…………The semi-final win recorded by Dimitrij Ovtcharov meant that on every occasion since the Europe Top 12 became the Europe Top 16 in Baku in 2015 he has reached the final.
…………Success for Dimitrij Ovtcharov, with five wins means he is third on the all-time list behind Sweden’s Jan-Ove Waldner, seven wins and Timo Boll, six wins.
…………The men’s penultimate round success for Vladimir Samsonov in opposition to Austria Daniel Habesohn assured him of his 14th medal in the tournament more than any other player; he surpassed Jan-Ove Waldner who won seven gold, four silver and two bronze.
…………Sofia Polcanova beat Poland’s Natalia Partyka, the no.15 seed (7-11, 11-4, 7-11, 12-10, 11-7, 11-6) to book her place in the ITTF Women’s World Cup alongside Petrissa Solja and Bernadette Szocs.
………..Timo Boll overcame Daniel Habesohn (11-7, 11-4, 7-11, 9-11, 3-11, 12-10, 11-5) to join Dimitrij Ovtcharov and Vladimir Samsonov on the ITTF Men’s World Cup invitation list.
CCB 2019 Europe Top 16 Cup: Quotes of the day – Sunday 3rd February
