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[729 fx]

With the conclusion of the Women World Cup in Guangzhou, the Men's World Cup will be next. The newly crowned European champion, Michael Maze(Denmark) is about to test his limits with the likes of Timo Boll (Germany) and China’s Ma Long and Chen Qi in Moscow. The ultimate test for the top male players from all continents will be broadcast live on itTV from 17th October, 15.00 GMT and on demand from the start.

With RTR, Russia as the Host broadcaster for the forthcoming Men's World Cup, the television distribution is outstanding and shows the importance of the World Cups. Live pictures to 57 European countries by Eurosport, live pictures to China (CCTV5) and HK (HK Cable) indicates that the broadcasters take it seriously. ZDF / ARD will follow up if Timo Boll is succcessful and news picutures will be distributed by EBU throughout the entire continent of Europe.

Ma Long (China) is the no.1 seed for 2009 event which commences in the Russian capital city of Moscow on Friday 16th October, concluding with the final on Sunday 20th October 2009. He was beaten by Timo Boll (Germany), seeded no. 2 for 2009, in the semi-finals of the Liebherr Men’s World Cup in the Belgian city of Liège in 2008. Next in the pecking order of ranking is Vladimir Samsonov (Belarus) and Michael Maze(Denmark), to complete the top four names on duty.

There will be eight newcomers in the Men's World Cup as the tournament assumes a new formula.
Fifteen players enter the event directly with the one further place being allocated to the winner of the Intercontinental Cup, a tournament which involves the champions of Africa, Latin America, North America and Oceania. It is the Intercontinental Cup that starts proceedings and all four players are making their debuts; for Aruna Quadri (Nigeria), Cazuo Matsumoto (Brazil), Xavier Therien (Canada) and Robbie Frank (Australia) it is their first appearance in the Liebherr Men’s World Cup.
Similarly it is the same scenario for Chen Qi (China), Cheung Yuk (Hong Kong) and the Japanese duo of Jun Mizutani and Kenta Matsudaira.

The other players in the line-up are Alexei Smirnov(Russia), who is making his second appearance in the annual event as is Dimitrij Ovtcharov(Germany), Werner Schlager (Austria), Kalinikos Kreanga (Greece), Chuang Chih-Yuan (Chinese Taipei) plus the Korean duo of Joo Se Hyuk and Oh Sang Eun complete the line up.

However, if experience is to be a key to success, then Timo Boll and Vladimir Samsonov are the names to note as both have won the title on two occasions. Timo Boll won in Jinan in 2002 and in Liège in 2005, whilst Vladimir Samsonov succeeded in Xiaolan in 1999 and Courmayeur in 2001.

(Note : Excerpts from ITTF News)

[729 fx]

My prediction for the Men's World Cup:
Quarters-Final : SCHLAGER Werner, MIZUTANI Jun, JOO Se Hyuk, CHEN Qi, MAZE Michael, SAMSONOV Vladimir, BOLL Timo, MA Long

Semi-Final : BOLL Timo, MA Long, MAZE Michael, CHEN Qi

Winner:
MA Long

Seeding list : http://www.ittf.com/ittf_tournaments/it ... &Singles=1

[ejunkie]

So the top Chinese are not there except for the youngsters. It's about time to give them some chances. They will eventually dominate the men's scene again.

[729 fx]

Yes, the current heavyweights from China, namely Wang Hao, Ma Lin & Wang Liqin, are taking a break after their China National games. It will give the younger Chinese players a chance to prove themselves in the international scne.

[729 fx]

Both Ma Long and Chen Qi, from China, suffered defeats on the opening day of play. Seeded no.1, Ma Long was beaten by Korea’s Oh Sang Eun whilst Chen Qi, seeded no.5 suffered at the hands of Vladimir Samsonov of Belarus, the no.3 seed. However, with two players from each of four groups progressing to the quarter-final stage, their hopes of gaining a last eight place remain alive.

In their opening encounters both succeeded; Ma Long beat Austria’s Werner Schlager whilst Chen Qi accounted for Cazuo Matsumoto, the player who earlier in the day had won the Intercontinental Cup and in so doing qualified for the Liebherr Men’s World Cup.

However, neither are certain to progress with Oh Sang Eun having lost to Japan’s Kenta Matsudaira who then promptly experienced defeat against Werner Schlager; thus for Ma Long, Oh Sang Eun, Werner Schlager and Kenta Matsudaira all have one win each.

In fact, only three players completed the day unbeaten, all European. Prior to overcoming Chen Qi, Vladimir Samsonov overcame Hong Kong’s Cheung Yuk, who has still to face Chen Qi and Cazuo Matsumoto, whilst the German duo of Timo Boll and Dimitrij Ovtcharov both secured a brace of wins.

Timo Boll accounted for Kalinikos Kreanga of Greece and Korea’s Joo Se Hyuk whilst Dimitrj Ovtcharov accounted for Denmark’s Michael Maze, the newly crowned European champion and Chinese Taipei’s Chuang Chih-Yuan.

Results -
Intercontinental Cup
Quadri Aruna (NGR) bt Xavier Therien (CAN) 11-6, 11-13, 11-5, 7-11, 11-6, 12-10
Cazuo Matsumoto (BRA) bt Robbie Frank (AUS) 11-7, 15-13, 11-8, 9-11, 11-5
Quadri Aruna (NGR) bt Robbie Frank (AUS) 11-7, 11-7, 11-6, 11-7
Cazuo Matsumoto (BRA) bt Xavier Therien (CAN) 11-6, 11-3, 11-5, 8-11,11-7
Cazuo Matsumoto (BRA) bt Quadri Aruna (NGR) 12-10, 11-8, 6-11, 11-6, 10-12, 13-11
Xavier Therien (CAN) bt Robbie Frank (AUS) 17-15, 11-8, 11-1, 13-15, 11-13, 6-11, 11-7

Final Placings: 1. Cazuo Matsumoto (BRA) 2. Quadri Aruna (NGR) 3. Xavier Therien (CAN) 4. Robbie Frank (AUS)

Group A
Ma Long (CHN) bt Werner Schlager (AUT) 11-8, 11-3, 12-10, 11-3
Kenta Matsudaira (JPN) bt Oh Sang Eun (KOR) 12-14, 9-11, 11-8, 11-4, 5-11, 11-9, 11-7
Oh Sang Eun (KOR) bt Ma Long (CHN) 11-6, 7-11, 15-13, 11-8, 10-12, 9-11, 12-10
Werner Schlager (AUT) bt Kenta Matsudaira (JPN) 10-12, 11-8, 11-6, 11-7, 11-4

Group B
Timo Boll (GER) bt Kalinikos Kreanga (GRE) 10-12, 11-3, 11-8, 11-5, 10-12, 11-7
Alexei Smirnov (RUS) bt Joo Se Hyuk (KOR) 11-6, 13-11, 4-11, 10-12, 12-10, 5-11, 12-10
Timo Boll (GER) bt Joo Se Hyuk (KOR) 11-2, 9-11, 11-1, 5-11, 11-3, 11-9
Kalinikos Kreanga (GRE) bt Alexei Smirnov (RUS) 11-7, 11-9, 11-6, 4-11, 14-12

Group C
Vladimir Samsonov (BLR) bt Cheung Yuk (HKG) 11-8, 13-11, 12-10, 7-11, 11-8
Chen Qi (CHN) bt Cazuo Matsumoto (BRA) 11-5, 11-6, 11-6, 11-5
Vladimir Samsonov (BLR) bt Chen Qi (CHN) 12-10, 9-11, 12-10, 11-9, 13-15, 12-14, 11-3

Group D
Dimitrij Ovtcharov (GER) bt Michael Maze (DEN) 9-11, 11-3, 8-11, 11-9, 11-7, 11-9
Jun Mizutani (JPN) bt Chuang Chih-Yuan (TPE) 11-7, 11-6, 11-5, 10-12, 9-11, 3-11, 11-5
Michael Maze (DEN) bt Jun Mizutani (JPN) 13-11, 10-12, 11-8, 11-8, 11-7
Dimitrij Ovtcharov (GER) bt Chuang Chih-Yuan (TPE) 11-8, 6-11, 11-4, 7-11, 7-11, 11-8, 11-8

(Note : Sourced from ITTF News)

[729 fx]

China’s Ma Long and Chen Qi did better than the first day at the Liebherr Men’s World Cup in Moscow by advancing to the semi-final stage.Ma Long, seeded no.1, concluded his group matches by overcoming Japan’s Kenta Matsudaira, before defeating Germany’s Timo Boll, seeded no.2.

Meanwhile, Chen Qi defeated Hong Kong’s Cheung Yuk to secure his place in the quarter-finals, where he emerged successful in a titanic struggle against Denmark’s Michael Maze. The Dane held one match point in the seventh game before the Chinese star won three points in a row to secure victory.

The semi-final was a titanic battle among Chen Qi, Samsonov, Ma Long and Oh SE. In the end, Vladimir Samsonov of Belarus, the no.3 seed, won the Liebherr Men’s World Cup title and it was the third time in eleven appearances in the prestigious annual tournament that Vladimir Samsonov has won the title. Previously he won in 1999 and 2001.

At the final hurdle, Vladimir Samsonov defeated China’s Chen Qi, the no.5 seed, after overcoming Chen Qi’s compatriot, Ma Long, the no.1 seed, at the semi-final stage.

It was Chen Qi’s first appearance in the competition, whilst for Ma Long it was his second and he finished in exactly the same place a one year ago in Liège, Belgium. He secured third place beating Korea’s Oh Sang Eun in the bronze medal contest, Oh Sang Eun having lost to Chen Qi in the semi-finals.

Results -
Quarter-Finals
Oh Sang Eun (KOR) bt Kalinikos Kreanga (GRE) 9-11, 11-13, 11-9, 11-5, 11-1, 11-8
Chen Qi (CHN) bt Michael Maze (DEN) 11-9, 12-10, 1-11, 11-13, 13-11, 10-12, 12-10
Vladimir Samsonov (BLR) bt Dimitrij Ovtcharov (GER) 11-8, 11-5, 11-8, 8-11, 11-8
Ma Long (CHN) bt Timo Boll (GER) 11-6, 11-6, 7-11, 8-11, 11-8, 11-3

Semi-Final
Chen Qi (CHN) bt Oh Sang Eun (KOR) 11-7, 4-11, 9-11, 11-4, 11-3, 8-11, 11-5
Vladimir Samsonov bt Ma Long (CHN) 7-11, 11-5, 8-11, 11-4, 14-12, 8-11, 11-8

Third Place Match
Ma Long (CHN) bt Oh Sang Eun (KOR) 9-11, 11-3, 11-6, 11-5, 11-9

Final
Vladimir Samsonov (BLR) bt Chen Qi (CHN) 11-4, 5-11, 11-7, 11-5, 13-11

(Note: Source from ITTF News)

[ejunkie]

Ma Long did OK, losing and then beating OSE later. Maze is not in good form. It's always the case that the winner has to go thru the Chinese, but Samsonov would have no chance against Ma Lin and company.