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In the finals of European Table Tennis Super-Cup, which completed in the Moscow region town of Vidnoye, the German table-tennis player Timo Ball outplayed Werner Schlager, Austria with score 4:1 and became the Supercup absolute winner, having yielded only 2 sets in 5 matches. This was Ball.s second victory in sequence at the European Supercup, preceded by absolute victory a the competition in Kazan last year.

Competitors at these finals have already played with each other at the group stage and Schlager didn.t score a point, but the decisive match started with Schlager.s positive victory in the first set; 11:7. However, this turned to be the only success of the Austrian in finals. When obstinate score-by-score game of the second set was in progress, Ball performed a spectacular transfer of the tennis-ball and was greeted with applause of the viewers and with Schlager.s sign implying .OK.. Subsequently the German athlete won the second set not to let the advantage by the end of the match.

The match followed the same scenario: two-three strikes with following drawing completion most often in favor of the German. The spectators greeted each interesting strike with applause, while the tennis-players, encouraged by the sport fans. support, didn.t forget to barnstorm with a long .fire exchange..

The German didn.t withdraw at a long distance from the table and if the Austrian performed in .dap- pause -a strike of a ball. manner, the German sometimes didn.t allow such a .pause. occur. Ball.s strikes were so swirled, that there were almost no daps on the opponent.s part of the table, who had nothing to do but to beat off from the floor. From time to time, the Austrian performed really circus-like tricks, reaching .stuck. balls in defense, however, the German implacably brought the combination to its logical aftermath, striking the ball to the spot, even Batman would be unable to reach it from. Schlager couldn.t reveal his potential he had demonstrated in semi-finals with Samsonov due to Ball.s virtuoso game.

Subsequently, there was a pleasant and solemn award-giving ceremony (above, photo from ETTU website), not only the prize-winners, but the remaining participants of the tournament honored with their portion of .gold rain. out of thinly cut foil paper, which covered both the court of the main arena of the Palace of sport and the athletes with thick layer.

The second European Table tennis Super-cup is over but we are looking forward to Super-cup - 2009 because ETTU empowered Russia to .start up. this promising tournament during 3 years in succession.

Liebherr European Super Cup-2008. Vidnoye, the Moscow region, the Palace of Sport Vidnoye, November 12

The second stage

Final

Timo Ball (Germany) - Wener Schlager (Austria) 4:1 (7:11, 11:9, 11:6, 11:4, 11:9)

Prize-winners

1. Timo Ball

2. Werner Schlager

3. Vladimir Samsonov

Alexander Anenko