The opening match this morning for the Mens Team was against Luxembourg in the Liebherr 2010 World Table Tennis Championships, Moscow.

Everything started fine as Andrew Baggaley took a deserved 2 game lead but Traian Ciociu, the world number 270, and Luxembourg No 1, turned it round in the next three games, all really close, for a totally unexpected victory. The second game saw Paul Drinkhall come out on top of a tight 4 game match with Gilles Michely. The match was poised at 1-1.

After that all went the way of the England team. Liam Pitchford really looked in top form as he disposed of Mike Bast in three straight games.

Fourth Match, Paul Drinkhall against the Luxembourg No 1 Ciociu. Both of the first two games went to Paul on deuce and he finished the match off in style with an 11-8 third game victory.

The Mens Team next plays tomorrow afternoon at, in the UK, 16:30 against Slovenia.

Results

Luxembourg 1 England 3

CIOCIU Traian beat  BAGGALEY Andrew   5-11, 8-11, 11-8, 11-8, 11-9
MICHELY Gilles  lost to  DRINKHALL Paul    9-11, 10-12, 11-8, 10-12
BAST Mike lost to PITCHFORD Liam     8-11, 10-12, 6-11
CIOCIU Traian lost to DRINKHALL Paul   11-13, 11-13, 8-11

Photo: Paul Drinkhall, the England number one provided the backbone of the result with two wins