Saarbrücken wins top match against Bremen

The 1st FC Saarbrücken TT has repelled the attack of SV Werder Bremen in the top match of the 8th matchday of the Table Tennis Bundesliga (TTBL). With the 3:2 victory, the runner-up improves to second place in the table for the time being.

The 1. FC Saarbrücken TT started with a victory into the top match weeks at the end of the year. With the 3:2 against SV Werder Bremen, the FCS recorded its sixth win of the season on Friday evening and is now second in the table of the Tischtennis Bundesliga (TTBL). On the next matchday, Saarbrücken will face Borussia Düsseldorf (December 11), and in the following week, TTF Liebherr Ochsenhausen (December 16).

For Bremen, on the other hand, it was the second double defeat in a top match within seven days. Last Saturday Werder had lost against Ochsenhausen also with 2:3. With 8:8 points, Bremen remain in fifth place in the table, but could be four points behind the top four after the matchday.

Darko Jorgic now with 7:0 singles record

Two factors were decisive for the Saarbrücken victory: On the one hand, the strength of Darko Jorgic's form. The world number ten not only won the opening singles against Marcelo Aguirre 3:0 (11:7, 11:3, 11:5), but also the top singles against Mattias Falck 3:1 (11:6, 3:11, 11:3, 11:8). With the win against the doubles world champion, Jorgic evened the score at 2-2 and consequently led his team into doubles in the first place. "I played well and aggressively and put Mattias under pressure, which he doesn't like. If you give him time, he doesn't give you a chance," Jorgic said afterwards on Spontent's livestream on Twitch. With a 7-0 singles record, the 24-year-old is now the most successful player in the TTBL.

The other two singles, however, went to the guests. Falck showed a strong performance against Patrick Franziska and won 3:1 (11:8, 2:11, 11:9, 11:6), then Kirill Gerassimenko won 3:0 (11:5, 11:6, 13:11) against Cedric Nuytinck. In the doubles, however, the two from Saarbrücken then struck back and became the second success factor for the hosts. Franziska/Nuytinck dominated the match against Gerassimenko/Cristian Pletea and finally pulled the teeth of the Bremen team in the third set by turning around a deficit - in the end they won 3:1 (11:6, 11:9, 7:11, 11:2) to give FCS a 3:2 victory.

The 8th matchday in overview

1. FC Saarbrücken TT – SV Werder Bremen 3:2
Darko Jorgic – Marcelo Aguirre 3:0 (11:7, 11:3, 11:5)
Patrick Franziska – Mattias Falck 1:3 (8:11, 11:2, 9:11, 6:11)
Cedric Nuytinck – Kirill Gerassimenko 0:3 (5:11, 6:11, 11:13)
Darko Jorgic – Mattias Falck 3:1 (11:6, 3:11, 11:3, 11:8)
Patrick Franziska/Cedric Nuytinck – Kirill Gerassimenko/Cristian Pletea 3:1 (11:6, 11:9, 7:11, 11:2)

TTC Zugbrücke Grenzau – Post SV Mühlhausen 1:3
Patrick Baum – Daniel Habesohn 3:0 (11:8, 12:10, 11:7)
Maciej Kubik – Steffen Mengel 2:3 (11:8, 4:11, 7:11, 11:7, 9:11)
Feng Yi-Hsin – Ovidiu Ionescu 1:3 (5:11, 5:11, 11:4, 7:11)
Patrick Baum – Steffen Mengel 0:3 (6:11, 1:11, 6:11)

Saturday, December 3
2 p.m.: TTC Neu-Ulm – 1. FSV Mainz 05

Sunday, December 4
1 p.m.: Borussia Düsseldorf – TTC RhönSprudel Fulda-Maberzell
3 p.m.: ASV Grünwettersbach – TTF Liebherr Ochsenhausen
5 p.m.: TSV Bad Königshofen – TTC Schwalbe Bergneustadt