Hungary and Germany emerged successful in their first round encounters in the women’s event at the Liebherr World Team Championships in Moscow on Thursday 27th May 2010.

Both in the lower half of the draw, both recorded three-one victories against spirited opposition.

Represented by Kristin Silbereisen, Wu Jiaduo and Sabine Winter, Germany defeated the Hungarian trio of Elizabeta Samara, Daniela Dodean and Bernadette Szocs; whilst with Krisztina Toth, Petra Lovas and Georgina Pota in action, Hungary overcame the Chinese Taipei team of Cheng I-Ching, Huang Yi-Hua and hsiung Nai-I.

At the quarter-final stage Germany meets Hong Kong whilst Hungary confronts Singapore.

In the Hungary versus Chinese Taipei duel, Krisztina Toth made the better start in the duel against the younger Cheng I-Ching, she won the first two games before the 18 year old recovered to win the next two.

Covering some 40% of the table with her backhand, to cope with the angles gained from the backhand of the left handed Hungarian, Cheng I-Ching moved into a 5-2 lead in the fifth game.

Hungarian coach, Peter Teglas, sitting courtside called “Time Out”; Cheng I-Ching forced Krisztina Toth back from the table time and again but when the Hungarian stayed close to the table she gained success

At 8-all it was parity, the next two points went to Cheng I-Ching, the next three to Krisztina Toth; the Chinese Taipei, Yang Meng-Hsing, called “Time Out”.

Krisztina Toth served; a controlled forehand top spin to the backhand of Cheng I-Ching brought an error, Krisztina Toth and Peter Teglas rejoiced.

Against Japan in the group stage Cheng I-Ching had lost three match points against Sayaka Hirano, against Krisztina Toth she surrendered two more.

First blood to Hungary but then Chinese Taipei immediately responded with Huang Yi-Hua, one of the most improved players on the ITTF Pro Tour in the past 12 months, levelling matters.

She beat Petra Lovas in three straight games but the Hungary responded immediately. The extra international experience of Georgina Pota told, she responded to her country’s call and in three straight games restored Hungarian advantage to set the scene for Krisztina Toth to face Huang Yi-Hua.

The contest was somewhat similar to the duel between Cheng I-Ching and Krisztina Toth earlier in the proceedings.

Krisztina Toth succeeded by staying close to the table, creating angles from the backhand and using her forehand top spin to good advantage; conversely, Huang Yi-Hua succeeded by forcing the Hungarian star back from the table.

The difference between Cheng I-Ching and Huang Yi-Hua is that the latter is the more powerful player; at 10-9 in the fourth game, Huang Yi-Hua held match point. Krisztina Toth saved the match point, then won the next two points, a fifth and deciding game beckoned.

Once again Krisztina Toth had responded when on the brink of defeat as she had done against Cheng I-Ching and she capitalised on the opportunity.

At 10-7 in the fifth game, she held her first match point, she converted the opportunity, as in 2008 in Guangzhou at the Evergrande Real Estate World Team Championships; Hungary had reserved a place in the quarter-finals.

A place in the last eight for Hungary and also for Germany but it was Romania who made the better start.

Elizabeta Samara overcame the in form Kristin Silbereisen in a close five games duel.

The left hander with exquisite wrists and control over a table tennis ball used those skills to good effect to beat the hard working Silbereisen and give Romania the lead.

Next into the arena came Daniela Dodean for Romania and Wu Jiaduo for Germany; it was a battle between the powerful top spin skills of the former and the close-to-the-table fast attacking skills of the latter.

The duel went the full five games distance with Wu Jiaduo holding the advantage at 5-3 when the players changed ends. She extended that advantage to 6-3, forcing Romanian National Coach, Viorel Filimon to call “Time Out”.

Alas for Romania, Daniela Dodean was never able to close the gap, Wu Jiaduo emerged successful, it was parity.

The score in the fixture level, the pressure fell on young shoulder to determine who would assume the advantage.

Sabine Winter remained quiet and calm, Bernadette Szocs squealed louder and louder as she recovered from a two games to one deficit to force a decider.

You just have to admire the spirit of Bernadette Szocs who gave all for the cause; she revels in the fight. I just hope high pitched decibels don’t crack the video screen at the end of the hall!

However, it was the calm Sabine Winter who prevailed, a third consecutive match had gone the full distance, two to Germany, one to Romania.

The advantage was now with Germany and that advantage was converted into victory by Wu Jiaduo.

Currently, the European Women’s Singles champion, she held a two games to one lead against Elizabeta Samara and was ahead 10-8 in the fourth game.

Elizabeta Samara saved the first match point but she could not save the second.

It was victory for Germany and a place in the quarter-finals.