Europe Top 16 (2019)

[TableTennisDaily]

The 2019 Europe Top 16 Cup is fast approaching and begins on the 2nd February and concludes on the 3rd February. This 2 day event will take place in Montreux, Switzerland. Germany's Timo Boll the leads the men's singles standings.


Main Draw

Coming soon...


Men's Singles Seeds

Germany's Timo Boll enters the Europe Top 16 as the #1 seed - Photo by: ITTF

01) Timo Boll
02) Dimitrij Ovtcharov
03) Mattias Falck
04) Liam Pitchford
05) Vladimir Samsonov
06) Jonathon Groth
07) Simon Gauzy
08) Kristian Karlsson
09) Marcos Freitas
10) Emmanuel Lebesson
11) Daniel Habesohn
12) Tiago Apolonia
13) Kou Lei
14) Ovidiu Ionescu
15) Gionis Panagiotis
16) Lionel Weber


Women Singles Seeds

Sofia Polcanova enters the Europe Top 16 as the #1 seed - Photo by: ITTF Flickr

01) Sofia Polcanova
02) Bernadette Szocs
03) Elizabeta Samara
04) Li Jie
05) Petrissa Solja
06) Matilda Ekholm
07) Li Qian
08) Georgina Pota
09) Britt Eerland
10) Polina Mikhailova
11) Ni Xia Lian
12) Nina Mittelham
13) Natalia Partyka
14) Hana Matelova
15) Barbora Balazova
16) Rachel Moret


For confirmed player entries click here.

What a great start to the year with the Hungarian Open last week, and now this week we will see the top European players take part in the Europe Top 16! Number 1, 2, 3 and 4 seeds Dimitrij Ovtcharov, Timo Boll,Mattias Falck and Liam Pitchford will all be looking to take the title. Samsonov and Groth will definitely look to go all the way as well as number 7 seed Simon Gauzy. Kristian Karlsson and Marcos Freitas follow closely as the 7th and 8th seed. A fantastic event to follow, be sure to get involved in the TTD discussions!

We can use this thread as a means to display all the latest results, videos and news from this spectacular Top 16 event! What are your predictions?

 

[yoass]

It's amazing to see Ni Xialian still up there. A unique player, and a long-time nemesis for multiple TT generations

On the other side of the arbitrary gender gap — GO VLADI!

That being said, good to see where Pitch and Kristian K stand these days. And will the French squad manifest itself this time?

 

[v100ev]

Vladi played so well at the Hungarian Open(although he lost his only match) that I hope he can win the Top 16.. If somebody beats Timo before that of course

 

[BlipBlop575]

Rooting for Pitchford for this one, but would be totally fine with Timo, Dima or Vladi taking it as well.

 

[v100ev]

Name	Age
Timo Boll	37
Dimitrij Ovtcharov	30
Mattias Falck	27
Liam Pitchford	25
Vladimir Samsonov	42
Jonathon Groth	26
Simon Gauzy	24
Kristian Karlsson	27
Marcos Freitas	30
Emmanuel Lebesson	30
Daniel Habesohn	32
Tiago Apolonia	32
Kou Lei	31
Ovidiu Ionescu	29
Gionis Panagiotis	39
Lionel Weber	22

Average age: 30.5 years.

 

[FruitLoop]

That's with Weber who is way way outclassed bringing the age down.

 

[beeray1]

No Paul Drinkhall?

 

[GusShnaps]

I think that Timo and Bernadette Szocs will win this year

 

[GusShnaps]

I hope Liam plays well also

 

[Takkyu_wa_inochi]

Gauzy played decently at the Hungarian Open. I hope he will do well in this competition

 

[lukyancheg]

Guys, does anyone know why Franziska isn't seeded? Is it cause Germany quotas? Currently I think he is close to number 1 in EU

 

[Takkyu_wa_inochi]

maybe only 2 players max per nation ?

 

[Michal_Z]

Name	Age
Timo Boll	37
Dimitrij Ovtcharov	30
Mattias Falck	27
Liam Pitchford	25
Vladimir Samsonov	42
Jonathon Groth	26
Simon Gauzy	24
Kristian Karlsson	27
Marcos Freitas	30
Emmanuel Lebesson	30
Daniel Habesohn	32
Tiago Apolonia	32
Kou Lei	31
Ovidiu Ionescu	29
Gionis Panagiotis	39
Lionel Weber	22

Average age: 30.5 years.

That .. is .. trully SAD ..

 

[Lula]

That .. is .. trully SAD ..

I Do not think it is so sad, But more logical. It takes longer for the europeans to become good and reach their peak because they start to train alot in a much later age compared to the chinese. They need to get a certain amount of practice before they can become really good. So many europeans are almost at their best between the age of 30 to 40.

But i can still understand What you are saying. It would be much better for european tabletennis if the middle age was much lower. It Will be interesting to see how long Boll can be the best or one of the best in europe when he really is closing in on the age of 40 and even over that. I can agree that, it is sad that the best Guy in europé is almost 40.

 

[lukyancheg]

maybe only 2 players max per nation ?

seems like that. but it's not actually euro top-16 without Franziska and Filus )

 

[FruitLoop]

Also a bit unfair when world cup places are based on it. I don't like these sorts of rules outside Olympics.

 

[Takkyu_wa_inochi]

another reason why ITTF rankings are stupid

 

[v100ev]

I Do not think it is so sad, But more logical. It takes longer for the europeans to become good and reach their peak because they start to train alot in a much later age compared to the chinese. They need to get a certain amount of practice before they can become really good. So many europeans are almost at their best between the age of 30 to 40.

But i can still understand What you are saying. It would be much better for european tabletennis if the middle age was much lower. It Will be interesting to see how long Boll can be the best or one of the best in europe when he really is closing in on the age of 40 and even over that. I can agree that, it is sad that the best Guy in europé is almost 40.

Well I also think it's sad cause Europe hasn't had any new talents for the past 10-20 years. Boll won the World Cup in 2002 when he was only 21, Vladi was #1 at the age of 21 or 22 I think, Maze(not long career because of traumas) won the Europe top 12 when he was 23(or 24) and the next year finished third in the World Champs..
In my opinion real talents reveal themselves early too. Not in the age of 30. In that age they still maintain their class and status and should be challenged by the next generation. I can't see such talents in Europe for now and the fact that the average age in the top 16 is above 30 years just confirms the situation.

 

[DonnOlsen]

Name	Age
Timo Boll	37
Dimitrij Ovtcharov	30
Mattias Falck	27
Liam Pitchford	25
Vladimir Samsonov	42
Jonathon Groth	26
Simon Gauzy	24
Kristian Karlsson	27
Marcos Freitas	30
Emmanuel Lebesson	30
Daniel Habesohn	32
Tiago Apolonia	32
Kou Lei	31
Ovidiu Ionescu	29
Gionis Panagiotis	39
Lionel Weber	22

Average age: 30.5 years.

Hi,

Thank you for the list.

So, where are the teenagers like you see in Asia?

Thanks,

 

[TTHopeful]

Timo all the way