World Team Table Tennis Championships 2018

[JesperStef]

Main Draw results (2-6 May 2018):

Men's Teams

Round of 16:

Croatia 2:3 Brazil
1) Andrej Gacina 3:1 Gustavo Tsuboi (11:6, 11:7, 12:14, 11:9)
2) Tomislav Pucar 1:3 Hugo Calderano (9:11, 11:8, 9:11, 6:11)
3) Frane Kojic 3:2 Eric Jouti (11:8, 8:11, 11:4, 6:11, 11:7)
4) Andrej Gacina 2:3 Hugo Calderano (11:6, 5:11, 8:11, 11:7, 3:11)
5) Tomislav Pucar 2:3 Gustavo Tsuboi (11:9, 11:8, 10:12, 7:11, 9:11)

Hong Kong 0:3 Japan
1) Wong Chun Ting 0:3 Tomokazu Harimoto (8:11, 8:11, 9:11)
2) Ho Kwan Kit 1:3 Jun Mizutani (12:10, 12:14, 9:11, 4:11)
3) Lam Siu Hang 0:3 Koki Niwa (3:11, 7:11, 11:13)

Chinese Taipei 2:3 Sweden
1) Chuang Chih-Yuan 0:3 Mattias Karlsson (13:15, 7:11, 9:11)
2) Chen Chien-An 0:3 Kristian Karlsson (8:11, 12:14, 9:11)
3) Lin Yun-Ju 3:2 Jon Persson (6:11, 11:9, 9:11, 11:8, 11:4)
4) Chuang Chih-Yuan 3:1 Kristian Karlsson (7:11, 12:10, 11:5, 13:11)
5) Chen Chien-An 1:3 Mattias Karlsson (8:11, 11:13, 12:10, 8:11)

Portugal 2:3 Austria
1) Tiago Apolonia 3:1 Robert Gardos (11:8, 11:13, 11:9, 12:10)
2) Marcos Freitas 3:1 Stefan Fegerl (11:8, 7:11, 11:6, 11:7)
3) Joao Monteiro 0:3 Daniel Habesohn (10:12, 9:11, 5:11)
4) Tiago Apolonia 0:3 Stefan Fegerl (9:11, 3:11, 9:11)
5) Marcos Freitas 1:3 Robert Gardos (5:11, 5:11, 11:4, 9:11)


Quarter-finals:

Brazil 1:3 Germany
1) Hugo Calderano 3:1 Bastian Steger (11:4, 6:11, 11:8, 11:6)
2) Eric Jouti 0:3 Ruwen Filus (6:11, 8:11, 8:11)
3) Gustavo Tsuboi 1:3 Dimitrij Ovtcharov (9:11, 11:9, 7:11, 3:11)
4) Hugo Calderano 2:3 Ruwen Filus (11:7, 5:11, 11:8, 9:11, 9:11)

South Korea 3:1 Japan
1) Jeoung Youngsik 3:2 Tomokazu Harimoto (17:15, 6:11, 9:11, 11:3, 11:9)
2) Lee Sangsu 2:3 Jun Mizutani (9:11, 13:11, 3:11, 14:12, 7:11)
3) Jang Woojin 3:1 Kenta Matsudaira (11:9, 9:11, 11:9, 11:7)
4) Jeoung Youngsik 3:0 Jun Mizutani (11:5, 11:8, 11:7)

Sweden 3:0 England
1) Kristian Karlsson 3:0 Paul Drinkhall (11:9, 11:8, 11:8)
2) Mattias Karlsson 3:2 Liam Pitchford (12:14, 11:6, 5:11, 11:7, 11:9)
3) Jon Persson 3:0 Samuel Walker (11:8, 11:3, 14:12)

China 3:0 Austria
1) Ma Long 3:2 Robert Gardos (11:13, 11:5, 9:11, 11:7, 11:3)
2) Xu Xin 3:0 Stefan Fegerl (11:6, 11:5, 11:4)
3) Fan Zhendong 3:0 Daniel Habesohn (11:9, 11:8, 11:4)


Semi-finals:

South Korea 2:3 Germany
1) Lee Sangsu 3:1 Patrick Franziska (5:11, 11:5, 11:8, 11:5)
2) Jeoung Youngsik 1:3 Timo Boll (10:12, 12:10, 4:11, 5:11)
3) Jang Woojin 3:0 Dimitrij Ovtcharov (11:6, 11:5, 11:6)
4) Lee Sangsu 2:3 Timo Boll (11:9, 8:11, 11:3, 11:13, 10:12)
5) Jeoung Youngsik 1:3 Patrick Franziska (6:11, 8:11, 11:4, 9:11)

China 3:0 Sweden
1) Ma Long 3:0 Mattias Karlsson (11:6, 11:5, 13:11)
2) Fan Zhendong 3:1 Kristian Karlsson (13:11, 8:11, 11:3, 11:2)
3) Xu Xin 3:0 Jon Persson (11:6, 13:11, 11:5)


Final:

China 3:0 Germany
1) Ma Long 3:0 Timo Boll (11:4, 11:8, 11:3)
2) Fan Zhendong 3:0 Ruwen Filus (11:4, 11:5, 11:4)
3) Xu Xin 3:1 Patrick Franziska (9:11, 12:10, 11:7, 11:5)


Women's Teams

Round of 16:

Austria 3:2 Germany
1) Sofia Polcanova 3:2 Sabine Winter (11:7, 11:6, 3:11, 7:11, 11:4)
2) Liu Jia 0:3 Petrissa Solja (5:11, 8:11, 3:11)
3) Amelie Solja 2:3 Nina Mittelham (9:11, 11:8, 8:11, 11:7, 11:6)
4) Sofia Polcanova 3:2 Petrissa Solja (5:11, 9:11, 11:9, 11:3, 11:6)
5) Liu Jia 3:2 Sabine Winter (11:5, 11:9, 6:11, 9:11, 11:5)

Chinese Taipei 1:3 Hong Kong
1) Cheng I-Ching 3:2 Minnie Soo Wai Yam (8:11, 7:11, 11:6, 11:4, 11:7)
2) Liu Hsing-Yin 0:3 Doo Hoi Kem (11:13, 8:11, 14:16)
3) Chen Hzu-Yu 0:3 Lee Ho Ching (8:11, 4:11, 8:11)
4) Cheng I-Ching 0:3 Doo Hoi Kem (6:11, 12:14, 9:11)

North Korea 3:0 Russia
1) Kim Song I 3:0 Yana Noskova (11:9, 11:3, 11:5)
2) Kim Nam Hae 3:0 Polina Mikhailova (11:3, 11:3, 11:4)
3) Cha Hyo Sim 3:0 Mariia Tailakova (11:7, 11:3, 11:4)

Singapore 2:3 Ukraine
1) Feng Tianwei 3:0 Tetyana Bilenko (11:7, 11:9, 11:2)
2) Yu Mengyu 2:3 Ganna Gaponova (6:11, 11:5, 9:11, 11:8, 8:11)
3) Lin Ye 1:3 Margaryta Pesotska (9:11, 7:11, 11:9, 6:11)
4) Feng Tianwei 3:0 Ganna Gaponova (11:4, 11:8, 11:3)
5) Yu Mengyu 0:3 Tetyana Bilenko (10:12, 9:11, 8:11)


Quarter-finals:

Austria 0:3 China
1) Sofia Polcanova 0:3 Liu Shiwen (1:11, 3:11, 4:11)
2) Amelie Solja 0:3 Chen Meng (8:11, 8:11, 6:11)
3) Karoline Mischek 0:3 Wang Manyu (1:11, 9:11, 5:11)

Romania 0:3 Hong Kong
1) Elizabeta Samara 1:3 Lee Ho Ching (9:11, 5:11, 12:10, 9:11)
2) Bernadette Szocs 2:3 Doo Hoi Kem (11:3, 4:11, 6:11, 11:9, 9:11)
3) Daniela Monteiro Dodean 0:3 Minnie Soo Wai Yam (10:12, 4:11, 4:11)

South Korea vs North Korea
No contest due to both teams requesting to form a unified Korean Team to compete together in the semi-finals (approved by the ITTF Board of directors)

Ukraine 0:3 Japan
1) Margaryta Pesotska 2:3 Mima Ito (4:11, 11:6, 5:11, 15:13, 11:13)
2) Tetyana Bilenko 0:3 Kasumi Ishikawa (5:11, 5:11, 2:11)
3) Ganna Gaponova 0:3 Miu Hirano (2:11, 5:11, 1:11)


Semi-finals:

China 3:1 Hong Kong
1) Ding Ning 0:3 Minnie Soo Wai Yam (6:11, 7:11, 6:11)
2) Zhu Yuling 3:2 Doo Hoi Kem (11:9, 9:11, 11:5, 7:11, 11:8)
3) Liu Shiwen 3:1 Lee Ho Ching (11:9, 11:6, 9:11, 11:4)
4) Ding Ning 3:1 Doo Hoi Kem (11:8, 9:11, 11:7, 11:8)

Unified Korea 0:3 Japan
1) Jeon Jihee 0:3 Mima Ito (2:11, 8:11, 9:11)
2) Kim Song I 2:3 Kasumi Ishikawa (4:11, 11:6, 8:11, 13:11, 14:16)
3) Yang Haeun 1:3 Miu Hirano (4:11, 5:11, 11:9, 6:11)


Final:

China 3:1 Japan
1) Liu Shiwen 2:3 Mima Ito (9:11, 11:8, 11:5, 8:11, 10:12)
2) Ding Ning 3:0 Miu Hirano (11:6, 12:10, 13:11)
3) Zhu Yuling 3:0 Kasumi Ishikawa (11:4, 11:7, 11:8)
4) Ding Ning 3:0 Miu Hirano (11:6, 11:6, 12:10)

 

[Ilia Minkin]

This is true. I felt that this was also Kristians weakness as he is sometimes too eager to get in and likes to play shots which have a very small margin for error.

That is why I like to watch his game so much and have high hopes for him.

 

[RidTheKid]

Even though Jörgen is definitely highly competent as a color analyst with all his experience, he was dead wrong on saying that ZJK is retired. That comment baffled me and left a somewhat sour taste on the entire commentary. Yes, those mistakes affect the trust you put in an expert.

This is true. I felt that this was also Kristians weakness as he is sometimes too eager to get in and likes to play shots which have a very small margin for error. Jörgen Persson pointed this out too when commentating the swedish matches on tv (brilliant commentator btw).

I thought FZD's match again Ruwen was particularly impressive because as you saw he was patient and waited for the right shots, which he then ripped. Ma Long is a more "clever" player, with more variation etc, as LGL pointed out. ML is impressive in a different way from FZD, to me.

 

[drunix80]

What is the rationale behind FZD given the MVP award of the WTTTC ? I mean why not ML who, IMO, deserved MVP title !!

 

[NextLevel]

Even though Jörgen is definitely highly competent as a color analyst with all his experience, he was dead wrong on saying that ZJK is retired. That comment baffled me and left a somewhat sour taste on the entire commentary. Yes, those mistakes affect the trust you put in an expert.

Didn't hear the commentary but that doesn't sound dead wrong to me. It just sounds factually wrong but could be practically correct. Think Robin Soderling.

 

[RidTheKid]

He might be looking in his crystal ball but ZJK will be playing in the China Open so I don't count him as retired just yet.

Didn't hear the commentary but that doesn't sound dead wrong to me. It just sounds factually wrong but could be practically correct. Think Robin Soderling.

 

[NextLevel]

He might be looking in his crystal ball but ZJK will be playing in the China Open so I don't count him as retired just yet.

Sure. But again, I won't talk too much without having heard the commentary. But ZJK playing in China Open is not the same thing as ZJK playing in the Super League or in the Japan Open.

 

[JST]

He must first start, then win at least one match and then repeat it consistently at least for 6 months. Then we can say there is a chance to see him on tour and league for another few years. I can hardly imagine ZJK playing groups and not getting qualified to the main draw or even qualifying but getting out in R64 or R32 again and again. He would do it twice but not more...

 

[Garrison]

Sounds more like a farewell tour

 

[rainneverever]

He must first start, then win at least one match and then repeat it consistently at least for 6 months. Then we can say there is a chance to see him on tour and league for another few years. I can hardly imagine ZJK playing groups and not getting qualified to the main draw or even qualifying but getting out in R64 or R32 again and again. He would do it twice but not more...

CTTA’s current rule of penalty: If one did get qualified for the main join OR lose to a non-CNT player in R64, one will be BANNED for the next world tour.

 

[yoass]

He must first start, then win at least one match and then repeat it consistently at least for 6 months. Then we can say there is a chance to see him on tour and league for another few years. I can hardly imagine ZJK playing groups and not getting qualified to the main draw or even qualifying but getting out in R64 or R32 again and again. He would do it twice but not more...

I sat there watching between swarms of banshees (so my ears told me) as ZJK got it handed to him on a silver platter by Lee Sangsu (IIRC), last year in Düsseldorf. That didn't show too much unretirement promise, sadly, even though even to see him play at all, even when not dominating, was a pleasure.

 

[ping fun]

He might be looking in his crystal ball but ZJK will be playing in the China Open so I don't count him as retired just yet.

Right man .

Didn't hear the commentary but that doesn't sound dead wrong to me. It just sounds factually wrong but could be practically correct. Think Robin Soderling.

Zhang jike will play in three open ( hong kong , china and japan ) sorry ...... he is still active .

 

[Sali]

Zhang jike will play in three open ( hong kong , china and japan ) sorry ...... he is still active .

How is that supposed to be valid since rainnever wrote about CTTA penalty which is miss next even if you fail to win over foreigner.
Do not take me wrong but ZJK will have to play groups and preliminary stage and if he can win them all without loosing to foreigner still he can be put to some top 10 player in first round. Let's wish him well but it can be very hard for him to escape from all traps.
On the other hand maybe because he is china hero CTTA penalty will not count him...

 

[ping fun]

How is that supposed to be valid since rainnever wrote about CTTA penalty which is miss next even if you fail to win over foreigner.
Do not take me wrong but ZJK will have to play groups and preliminary stage and if he can win them all without loosing to foreigner still he can be put to some top 10 player in first round. Let's wish him well but it can be very hard for him to escape from all traps.
On the other hand maybe because he is china hero CTTA penalty will not count him...

Aside from his single games , he will play in mixed double too . his partner is Wang manyu . It seems it depends in his first open as i read some of the news .yes it will be very hard for him . after six month being away the start will not be easy . also the players have improve a lot . but what is important is that he wants to play and his love to table tennis even with his injuries and some bad performance he wont give up . He is zhang jike .

 

[NextLevel]

In any case, my point is that it's not as if Persson said something that should undermine his credibility with anyone but the most serious ZJK fan. I am sure that without this forum, if someone told me ZJK was retired, I would have believed it and if someone told me ZJK was making a comeback, I would tell them I needed to see more video and that he should probably retire.

 

[Atas Newton]

In any case, my point is that it's not as if Persson said something that should undermine his credibility with anyone but the most serious ZJK fan.

I think it was irresponsible to claim something he obviously had a very vague idea about. Timo looked past it numerous times throughout the years, imagine someone like Liu Guoliang declaring him effectively retired in his commentary in 2015. Just not a nice thing to do imo, especially regarding such prominent TT figures.

 

[NextLevel]

I think it was irresponsible to claim something he obviously had a very vague idea about. Timo looked past it numerous times throughout the years, imagine someone like Liu Guoliang declaring him effectively retired in his commentary in 2015. Just not a nice thing to do imo, especially regarding such prominent TT figures.

Timo was still playing when he looked past it. He won an Olympic bronze team medal when he looked last it, even beating Joo. It might have been because it was an Olympic year but no one ever suggested he was retiring because he was always playing.

So this depends on how well you think Zhang Jike's exploits are discussed by the press. I have not heard what Persson said, so I do not know how irresponsible he was in conveying it, but Zhang Jike's profile is not the kind you would expect from an active former world champion. Maybe it is a bad job in the part of the ITTF in selling its stars. But even when Boll was injured and losing, he was always around the sport in a way that his presence was undeniable.

But maybe it is a continental coverage gap like you suggested. But so far, only the hardest core Zhang Jike fans are still making it sound like it is a crazy statement to suggest he has retired. It's in a sense a PR gap of sorts.

 

[rainneverever]

I think it was irresponsible to claim something he obviously had a very vague idea about. Timo looked past it numerous times throughout the years, imagine someone like Liu Guoliang declaring him effectively retired in his commentary in 2015. Just not a nice thing to do imo, especially regarding such prominent TT figures.

I agree that Persson should not say sth vague or misleading if he does not have reliable sources. But you just made a bad analogy. LGL was head coach of CNT in 2015 and had to prepare the team for major tournaments. Timo Boll has been the biggest rival of CNT since early 2000. If LGL said Timo Boll retired, he might have reliable sources.
On the other hand, Persson is not head coach of Sweden and does not have to know everything about current players. He may just look at the lineup of CNT and make a guess, or he heard some words, maybe true maybe false. Does Persson keep in touch with CNT at all? At least he was in Shanghai in late March/early April when ITTF museum was opened; after the final of WTTTC, he went to some celebration with CNT together.

 

[Atas Newton]

I'm aware of course that LGL was preoccupied with more important tasks in 2015, just picked him as a sort of an analogous figure in present day context, now that he does commentate: one with major insider knowledge that surely knows more than an average table tennis fan. I.e. when he says something, he's probably right.

 

[Sali]

For me he already retired does not matter od he will play some tours or not. He will never compete at top 5 level again. So for me he is retired. The only way he can compete at top level is to change his style the same like timo did. Zjk style is very close to the table and determining on his speed on his feet ( it is enough to see some photos of his feet). Considering his age, long break and some health problems which cannot be cured 100%, he will never come back on top in the same playing style.