Highlights Ultimate Table Tennis (UTT) 2017, Day 15, scores and updates: Shazé Challengers beat RP-SG Mavericks

Shaze win 15-12 against Maverics. Yoddhas are out and so are Maverics!

What a way to end the night! Polcanova wins a long rally to pull one back and make it 1-2 with a 11-10 win over Han Ying!

It’s 10-10. We are into the golden point!

Both the players making some silly errors. Han Ying leads 9-7!

Cracking rally! Finally it’s Polcanova’s backhand that earns her the point. Good defens amidst a barrage of Han Ying forehands!

We are into the final game of the evening.

Maverics haven’t been able to restrict their decline. Polcanova loses the second game 8-11 against Han Ying. Shaze Challengers now lead 15-11.

Highlights: Stefan Fegerl won @RPSGMavericks their 4th Match in the final Tie of the League Stage!#UpTheGame #CHAvMAV pic.twitter.com/ug28onEdzb

— Ultimate Table Tennis (@UltTableTennis) July 27, 2017

Han Ying has taken the first game 11-3 against Polcanova. Shaze Challengers have now won the tie and lead 14-11!

Li Ping sweeps it 3-0 with a 11-10 win in the third game. What a comeback this from the Challengers. They now lead 13-11.

Some breathtaking rallies in this game. Apolonia seems to be winning these long ones. It’s 9-9!

Another cracking rally. Li Ping depended on just lobs and erred on one. He still has a three point lead at 8-5!

.@TiagoApolonia doesn't obey the laws of physics!#UpTheGame #CHAvMAV https://t.co/9HAYBkV9Fy pic.twitter.com/56yMQgIwXk

— Ultimate Table Tennis (@UltTableTennis) July 27, 2017

Li ping takes the second game 11-9. Some cracking rallies in that game. Apolonia trails 0-2 in the match.

What a sensational rally. Sharath Kamal is in awe of that point. Apolonia covers considerable ground on his backhand returns and keeps his balance to win the point.

It’s neck and neck in the second game at 7-7. Apolonia has recovered well after being comprehensively beaten in the first game.

Apolonia covers good ground and unleashes a thumping forehand topspin to make it 5-3 in his favour.

So that’s it then, RPSG miss out on qualifying for the semis!

A dominant performance from Li Ping to take the first game 11-4 against Apolonia.

Another backhand goes wide. Li Ping has 6 game points!

Li Ping just too strong for Apolonia. He has taken a 5 point lead at 7-2.

Li Ping has a 5-2 lead in the first gam against Apolonia.

Match eight of the tie – Li Ping will take on Tiago Apolonia. 6 points on offer. Maverics need all six of them! They lead 11-10.

Han Ying breezes through a 3-0 sweep over Archana Kamath. There was very little that Kamath could do with Han Ying mixing attack and defense really well. This 3-0 loss could hurt Maverics.

Han Ying leads 5-2. A cracking rally where Kamath was on the back foot but still did well to counter them. She looks a bit down in confidence.

Han Ying easing through the second game with a 11-6 win over Kamath. She leads 2-0. Archana sparkled in bits but a lot of unforced errors hampered her.

Ying wins 6 points on the bounce, taking 6-game points. Kamath saves a point but that was that as Challengers seal their spot in the knockouts with Ying’s 11-5 win over Kamath.

Han Ying on the attack now. She leads 6-0 in the second game. You could see clear gulf in the play between the experienced and inexperienced player.

The 17-year old has shown a lot of heart it was 4-4 until the ball was battered for 21-shots before it took the top of the net handing Han Ying the lead. Tough on Kamath.

Archana Kamath to face the undefeated Han Ying

Soumyajit hits a killer smash and then thumps his chest as he wins the 3rd game 11-8 and takes the match 2-1.  What a game. Soumyajit finally letting out some emotions. He had an intense practice session ahead of this game and has stolen a crucial point from Maverics.

Soumyajit leads 8-6 in the third game. This is getting tense. Sharath constantly motivating Fegerl.

Fegerl hanging in there. A couple of powerful forehand top spins cuts the lead down to one. It’s 8-9!

Sharath Kamal was so disappointed with the loss that he went down to Fegerl and had a word of advise for him. The emotions are flying out!

Fegerl’s stunning down the line stroke takes him up by two match points, but then Ghosh brings out his A game. First a stunning angular shot and then Ghosh creates room on the recieve to smash it down the line to take into the golden point. And he even manages to win the golden point to take 2nd game. He raises his hand not in celebration but in apology as the final point came of the edge of the racquet. Tie: 11-6 in Maverick’s favour.

Rapid exchange of counter and several blocks is ensuring the game will go down the wire. 8-9 in Fegerl favour.

Ghosh unleashes an unplayable smash down the line and another flat hit on the shorter side of the table, to save two match points, but the last point was a unusual as Ghosh missed to smash a high ball as he ended up smashing it straight into the net. Tie: 11-5 in Mavericks’ favour. Fun fact: Challengers need 2 points to qualify for the knockout round, while Mavericks need 6 more.

Fegerl has comeback into the game as he sights 1st win in the match with 3 game points.

Those were some fine lobs but Solja was at it till the very end

Petrissa Solja never lost control! #UpTheGame #CHAvMAV https://t.co/9HAYBlcL48 pic.twitter.com/ECgXOgKUQN

— Ultimate Table Tennis (@UltTableTennis) July 27, 2017

Ghosh has been strong with quality loops and counters, he leads 5-2.

Stefan Fegerl v Soumyajit Ghosh

Solja hits it wide and Winter takes the final game (11-6) and with that 2 points of Match 5. Tie score reads 10-5

Winter kept lobbing the ball from way far off the table, though it was a long rally but Sojla wins it with flat shot down the line.

Winter has raced away to 9 points, Solja trails by 4 points.

Solja takes the second game and now the final game will be the decider. Both the Germans have displayed some skill! Tie score: Mavericks 9 – Challengers 5

Solja has come back strong in game 2. She has ran away with a 6-game points lead.

That 20-shot rally! Simply spectacular!

Stunning, absolutely stunning!#UpTheGame #CHAvMAV https://t.co/9HAYBlcL48 pic.twitter.com/YUY1QA3eld

— Ultimate Table Tennis (@UltTableTennis) July 27, 2017

Winter pips Solja 11-10. Wow! The game had everything!  Mavericks get a 5-point lead in the tie. Their dream of qualifying is realising with every passing game.

Short touches, 20-shot rallies, break points, counters, fishing shots, inside out forehands and after spinning shots. It is 10-10. Golden point.

Hardly to chose between them, both the paddlers have had a rub of the green with break of the net and edge points. It is 6-6.

Match 5 – Petrissa Solja vs Sabine Winter

Two Germans pitted against each other. Both know eachother’s game very well and are a part of the same national team. Sabine Winter is coming into this match with a win under her belt.

Fegerl takes the game 11-8 and the match 2-1 against Gacina. A good mix of attack, defense and counterattack from Fegerl in that last game.

A thumping forehand and then a super backhand defense gives Fegerl 2 game points.

A couple of misjudged shots from Gacina gives Fegerl a 8-6 lead in the 3rd game.

Fegerl with a fortunate point with the ball brushing the edge of the table makes it 5-3 in the third game.

WOW! WOW! WOW! WOW! WOW! WOW!#UpTheGame #CHAvMAV https://t.co/9HAYBlcL48 pic.twitter.com/g7sAvUmeLZ

— Ultimate Table Tennis (@UltTableTennis) July 27, 2017

A super backhand on the receive gives Fegerl a 11-7 win and helps him draw level 1-1 against Gacina.

Stunning! What a marvelous rally. Gacina started off with backhand defense, then went on the attack and then probably the switch to forehand cost him the game. It’s 7-7 at the moment. Some scintillating TT on display.

Fegerl has three game points now.

Fegerl has a 5-3 lead in the second game.

Gacina with an authoritative 11-2 win in the first game. Fegerl looked a tad rusty with a lot of unforced errors.

Woah! What a forehand to backhand rally.in the end it was Gacina’s powerful forehand down the line which earned him the point. Gacina leads 7-2 in the first game.

A thumping forehand down the line gives Gacina a 2-1 lead in the first game.

Next up is Gacina vs Fegerl

Sharath misses his forehand topspin from underneath the table. He probably lost his balance. A crucial point lost as Challengers pull one back to take the game 11-9 and make it 1-2.

A forehand flick from close to the net from Li Ping gives Challengers 3 game points.

A couple of Smacking backhands from Like Ping makes it 7-7 for Challengers.

Challengers fighting back, it’s 4-4.

Sharath with a counter attacking forehand topspin and then another one makes it 2-1 for Maverics.

Maverics are on a roll. They take the second game 11-5. They are leading 6-2 in the tie.

Sharath & Polcanova take the first game 11-7 against Li Ping & Mouma Das. Polcanova was the star with her accurate and disguised placements.

LovEly placement from Polcanova from her forehand and then a backhand sidespinning shot gives Maverics a 7-4 lead!

Sharath and Polcanova playing some brilliant counter attacking table tennis to lead 5-4 in the first game. They are complementing each other really well!

Time for mixed doubles – Sharath Kamal & Polcanova vs Li Ping & Mouma Das

Brilliant reflexes by both players 👏#UpTheGame #CHAvMAV https://t.co/9HAYBkV9Fy pic.twitter.com/mD9GgobjFc

— Ultimate Table Tennis (@UltTableTennis) July 27, 2017

Mouma pulls one back to make is 1-2 with a 11-8 win in the third game against Winter. Mouma really upped her aggression in that game and was accurate with her forehands. She countered Winter’s backhand well too.

A reminder. Maverics need 17 points or more to qualify for the semis!

Mouma with a crunching forehand topspin makes it 9-5!

Mouma is relentless with her forehand smashes. She has three game points now.

Winter struggling in the third game. A lot of unforced errors. Sharath is standing and encouraging her!

Mouma leads 5-3 in the third game. Sharath urging and motivating her to fight back from the dug-out!

Winter takes the second game 11-9 to make it 2-0. These are crucial points for Maverics.

Mouma hits her backhand long. Winter has a game point.

What a match it is turning out to be, it’s 9-9!

Winter fighting back to take two points and make it 8-8!

Mouma with a really well placed backhand. Keeping it low and down the line. She has come back from behind to take a 8-6 lead!

Winter gets a delicious ball on her right hand side and she murders it with her powerful forehand.  Leads 5-3 in the second game.

Mouma Das getting aggressive, a couple of powerful forehand top spins followed by a super serve draws her close.

Winter stuttered a bit in the end but did well to recover and take the first game 11-8 against Mouma.

Three points on a trot for Winter. She leads 5-3 against Mouma Das!

Gotcha, says Gacina!#UpTheGame #CHAvMAV https://t.co/9HAYBkV9Fy pic.twitter.com/DPBCY1Jq7o

— Ultimate Table Tennis (@UltTableTennis) July 27, 2017

Mouma Das with cracking forehand and a backhand draws level 2-2 in the first game.

Next up – Mouma Das vs Sabine Winter!

Sharath ups his ante at the right time to take the game 11-7 and match 2-1 against Gacina. Maverics lead 2-1 against Challengers. It was Sharath’s forehand that won him the match. He used his backhand well to keep the ball in play and then hit some killer forehand topspins!

Sharath leads 9-7! His forehand is doing the trick now. He is winning the long rallies!

There you go, that thumping smash from Sharath. It’s 7-7!

What a recovery from Sharath, covering tremendous ground to achieve that point. He has taken the lead at 6-5 now!

A fast side spinning serve from Sharath cuts the lead down to just a single point. It’s 4-5!

Bet @therealkapildev added a bit of swing to that spin 😎#UpTheGame #CHAvMAV pic.twitter.com/EA3GCMD539

— Ultimate Table Tennis (@UltTableTennis) July 27, 2017

A cracking forehand rally, Gacina gets the point, Sharath went for too much angle and fluffed. Gacina leads 5-2 in the third game.

Gacina powers his way to a 11-1 win against Sharath Kamal to make it 1-1. Gacina started off well and maintained the momentum throughout.

Gacina has 9 game points! What a performance in the second game!

You give a little bit of height to Sharath and you know you are in for some trouble. A scorching forehand gives Sharath the first point of the game. It’s -1-6!

Gacina has come out fighting in blistering fashion. He’s taken a 5-0 lead in the second game!

Some fun on the court as Sharath Kama’s video is being played on the big screen where he talks about his likes and dislikes. Gacina too has a little lauch. The crowd enjoyed it and so did the Maverics camp!

Sharath Kamal takes the first game 11-7 against Gacina. That powerful forehand topspin earns him the point that wins him the game.

Sharath has  3 game points. That special serve from Sharath doing the trick!

Gacina hits his backhand long. Sharath has a 9-7 lead. A crucial point.

Sharath Kamal’s weak side is his backhand and Gacina is rightly targetting that side. It’s neck and neck at 7-7!

Sharath has taken a 4-2 lead in the first game.  He seems to be in the mood tonight. Maverics need a 3-0 sweep from him tonight.

Sharath Kamal starts off with s super serve. Gacina totally misses it.

First match of the tie – It’s Sharath Kamal vs Andrej Gacina! Sharath got a warm welcome in Mumbai!

Bollywood star Juhi Chawla will help toss the coin! Sharath Kamal and Andrej Gacina the two captains out in the middle.

The Shaze Challengers are out in the huddle!

One legend vs another as Kamlesh Mehta and Kapil Dev battle it out in the middle.

Kapil Dev is in the house. Yesterday it was Sachin Tendulkar, today it’s another legendary cricketer. Mr. Dev is trying his hand at Table Tennis!

So, here’s the line-up for tonight.

Crunch time! Which teams will make their way to the final two semi-final spots?#UpTheGame #CHAvMAV pic.twitter.com/qa1bgTeufu

— Ultimate Table Tennis (@UltTableTennis) July 27, 2017

The Mavericks have only one win and sit at the bottom of the table while Shazé Challengers sit have 3 wins and 58 points. Can they stage a comeback and book a place in the semis?

We’re less than half an hour away from live action. Hope you’re excited!

Stay tuned for more updates.

It's the final League Stage Tie, and there's two semi-final spots there for the taking! Tune-in to see who succeeds.#UpTheGame #CHAvMAV pic.twitter.com/2IjluwlQVB

— Ultimate Table Tennis (@UltTableTennis) July 27, 2017

Shaze Challengers sweating it out in the middle. Soumyajit Ghosh and Gacina having an intense practice session.

Mumbai is gearing up for the final tie of the group stage – It’s RP-SG Maverics vs Shaze Challengers! Firstpost is st the NSCI arena!

While Shazé Challengers need only seven points to make it to the knockout stage, RP-SG Mavericks need 17 points to displace 4th placed DHFL Maharashtra United.

Here’s how the points table looks like as of now.

Two teams make their way to the semi-final, two more remain. Who'll make it?#UpTheGame #FALvMU pic.twitter.com/ZISDVYg2Yh

— Ultimate Table Tennis (@UltTableTennis) July 26, 2017

Hello and welcome to _Firstpost’_s live coverage of Day 15 of Ultimate Table Tennis 2017 at the NSCI Stadium in Mumbai. 

RP-SG Mavericks take on the in-form Shazé Challengers in the final day of the league stage of Ultimate Table Tennis 2017. While Falcons TTC and Dabang Smashers have already booked their places in the last four, tonight’s tie will decide the other two semi-finalists.