Greece’s table tennis star Kalinikos Kreanga narrowly missed out on a spot in the semi finals at the Liebherr Men’s World Cup in Moscow, after dropping a two game lead to Korean Oh Sang Eun.
Kreanga made a typically uninhibited start but after weathering the initial storm, Eun took control.
History recounted the previous close matches between the pair. With the scores level at 9-9, Kreanga in typical extravagant style seized the next two points to take first blood.
Similarly, next game saw the two level at 10-all after Kreanga had saved one game point, a feat he repeated before winning the game 13-11 to move into a two games to nil lead.
The third game was as close as the two that had gone before but there was a difference; the verdict went in favour of the Korean.
Win a close game and confidence can grow; certainly that applied to Eun. In the fourth game he played with an increased level of self-belief; his control as fluent as ever.
He secured the fourth game by a six point margin to level the scores at two sets apiece.
Eun established a rhythm to his play, while Kreanga made multiple errors. The Korean dominated the fifth game, surrendering just one point.
In the sixth game Eun asserted his authority early in the proceedings. He won the first three points. Kreanga called took a break, which had an effect, as the Greek recovered to trail 7-4.
Kreanga exploded mind blowing attacking strokes but Eun maintained steadfast progressing through to the semi-finals where to meet Chen Qi.
Quarter-Final
Oh Sang Eun (KOR) bt Kalinikos Kreanga (GRE) 9-11, 11-13, 11-9, 11-5, 11-1, 11-8