2012 EUROPE TOP-12

benfb wrote: Is it just me or did Samsonov seem kind of out of it for all of his matches for this tournament? He made some great shots as usual but a lot of the time he just didn't seem to have that super-intensity he usually exhibits.

Samsonov has reached the inevitable point of decline.  He should have beaten Skachov, but these are the signs of decline...

benfb wrote: NextLevel wrote: benfb wrote: Is it just me or did Samsonov seem kind of out of it for all of his matches for this tournament? He made some great shots as usual but a lot of the time he just didn't seem to have that super-intensity he usually exhibits. Samsonov has reached the inevitable point of decline.  He should have beaten Skachov, but these are the signs of decline...   Maybe.  I mean, it's obvious the Samsonov is no longer at the top of his game but this looked more like he just didn't have full focus.  When Jike lost to Joo at the Hungarian people said that he looked out of it but no one said he was on the decline.

Jike is 22, Samsonov is 34... if you're on the decline at 22, then you are really old for 22....

I am sorry to say that I was dissapointed with conclusion to this tournament.  The higher ranked players seemed to lack enthusiasm for it, the lower just played that way.

i dont get why many people hate otcharov. its not like he has a bad personality....

NextLevel wrote: mrdoodzki wrote: i dont get why many people hate otcharov. its not like he has a bad personality....   It's not like he has to screech "Cho!" after every point he wins in a manner designed to annoy his opponent either.  And I say this is as someone who likes and copies his game to the degree my limited physicality permits.

whos going to stop him from choing during every point? he's a great player and i see him as the next chinese threat. hope he wins more major championships

riker71 wrote: Where was Kreanga?

He wasn't qualified.

benfb wrote: NextLevel wrote: benfb wrote: Is it just me or did Samsonov seem kind of out of it for all of his matches for this tournament? He made some great shots as usual but a lot of the time he just didn't seem to have that super-intensity he usually exhibits. Samsonov has reached the inevitable point of decline.  He should have beaten Skachov, but these are the signs of decline...   Maybe.  I mean, it's obvious the Samsonov is no longer at the top of his game but this looked more like he just didn't have full focus.  When Jike lost to Joo at the Hungarian people said that he looked out of it but no one said he was on the decline.

I only watched his game against tokic and he looked really good.

An even shallower reason would be his haircut ..or his face or those two things combined with his unorthodox serve.  Lots of negative comments on youtube about Baum and Seuss as well but never one with Timo.

gnome wrote: An even shallower reason would be his haircut ..or his face or those two things combined with his unorthodox serve.  Lots of negative comments on youtube about Baum and Seuss as well but never one with Timo.

lol you can tell Ovtcharov is an annoying neat freak,  from his appearance and always perfectly folding his towel after each use,  annoying!   Would be a really boring guy to hang out with

Timo on the other hand has a pleasant boyish face and his hair is sometimes messy and does not always shave.

mrdoodzki wrote: sa01 wrote: mrdoodzki wrote: NextLevel wrote: mrdoodzki wrote: i dont get why many people hate otcharov. its not like he has a bad personality....   It's not like he has to screech "Cho!" after every point he wins in a manner designed to annoy his opponent either.  And I say this is as someone who likes and copies his game to the degree my limited physicality permits. whos going to stop him from choing during every point? he's a great player and i see him as the next chinese threat. hope he wins more major championships nobody is gonna stop him but you asked why so many hate him and got your answer I don't hate him but I generally don't watch his matches, I don't know why....I guess I don't find his style attractive or fun to watch as a spectator, but this is absolutely subjective. i was wondering before why people hate him. i think making his cho the reason to hate him is quite shallow. players cho all the time. check out lin gaoyuan

I don't know, I guess it's just the stiff serious image he projects....
I don't hate it, I just don't find him entertaining to watch.

Watching Dima against a defender (CW, JSH, ...), I have the feeling his forehand against underspin has a lot more power than most players out there.  Either he misses or makes it pass a defender after a few FH shots.  Compare to like ZJK, the ball keeps coming back.

chu_bun wrote: Watching Dima against a defender (CW, JSH, ...), I have the feeling his forehand against underspin has a lot more power than most players out there.  Either he misses or makes it pass a defender after a few FH shots.  Compare to like ZJK, the ball keeps coming back.

Yes, but for ZJK, it is a difference in strategy.  The control strategy was also used by Waldner - ZJK continually change the angles until he finds the right point to attack.  I guess I will reserve judgment on Otcharov until I see a game against Wang Xi or Hyuk.  IT's a pity that modern defenders aren't going to be on that level anymore with these new balls.

He can blast through, but the problem with blasting through is that if the point does not end, it takes its toll on the body. I do admit that the speed was impressive, but I would have loved to be Otcharov's next opponent.


Edited by NextLevel - 02/09/2012 at 12:54am