Heroes Austrian Open: Tsukue Wins Second Title Of Season

Japan’s Ryunosuke Tsukue secured his second victory of the campaign, with a win at the Heroes Austrian Open in Graz this week.

The Japanese No.1 came into the Challenger 10 level tournament as the No.6 seed, and received a bye through the opening day’s action. He then started his campaign in Graz with a comfortable straight games win over the Czech Republic’s Daniel Mekbib.

That was followed by a five-game win over No.3 seed Abhay Singh. He led 2-1 against the Indian, before seeing Singh fight back to win the fourth game. The Japanese No.1 was able to battle through the deciding game, winning it 11-7 to secure his spot in the semis of the event.

Israel’s Daniel Poleshchuk was Tsukue’s semi-final opponent, having knocked out two of the top five seeds on his way to the last four. The Japanese won in straight games, 11-6, 11-9, 11-9 to make his way into the final in Graz.

The final was also comfortable for Tsukue. He won the opening game of his match with the Czech Republic’s Viktor Byrtus 11-2, before keeping hold of the momentum with a 12-10 win in the second. That allowed him to cruise to the victory in the third game, securing his second title of the season.

Results: Heroes Austrian Open
Final 
[6] Ryunosuke Tsukue (JPN) bt Viktor Byrtus (CZE) 3-0: 11-2, 12-10, 11-4 (26m)

Semi-Finals
Viktor Byrtus (CZE) bt James Peach (ENG) 3-1: 14-12, 11-8, 9-11, 11-6 (52m)
[6] Ryunosuke Tsukue (JPN) bt Daniel Poleshchuk (ISR) 3-0: 11-6, 11-9, 11-9 (38m)

Quarter Finals
Viktor Byrtus (CZE) bt [1] Mazen Gamal (EGY) 3-2: 7-11, 11-8, 7-11, 11-9, 11-9 (65m)
James Peach (ENG) bt [4] Martin Svec (CZE) 3-1: 11-7, 8-11, 11-7, 11-3 (48m)
[6] Ryunosuke Tsukue (JPN) bt [3] Abhay Singh (IND) 3-2: 5-11, 11-3, 11-9, 8-11, 11-7 (54m)
Daniel Poleshchuk (ISR) bt [5] Simon Herbert (ENG) 3-1: 11-7, 11-9, 7-11, 11-8 (36m)

Second Round
[1] Mazen Gamal (EGY) bt Emyr Evans (WAL) 3-2: 11-6, 8-11, 8-11, 11-7, 11-5 (71m)
Viktor Byrtus (CZE) bt [7] Ben Smith (ENG) 3-1: 8-11, 12-10, 11-3, 11-2 (37m)
James Peach (ENG) bt [8] Ivan Perez (ESP) 3-2: 11-6, 11-9, 7-11, 8-11, 11-1 (60m)
[4] Martin Svec (CZE) bt Finnlay Withington (ENG) 3-2: 4-11, 11-8, 11-9, 14-16, 11-7 (56m)
[3] Abhay Singh (IND) bt Dewald van Niekerk (RSA) 3-1: 10-12, 11-5, 11-6, 11-6 (40m)
[6] Ryunosuke Tsukue (JPN) bt Daniel Mekbib (CZE) 3-0: 11-5, 11-5, 11-7 (32m)
[5] Simon Herbert (ENG) bt Owain Taylor (WAL) 3-0: 15-13, 12-10, 11-6 (38m)
Daniel Poleshchuk (ISR) bt [2] Bernat Jaume (ESP) 3-0: 11-9, 11-7 rtd (22m)

First Round
Emyr Evans (WAL) bt [WC] Lukas Windischberger (AUT) 3-0: 11-7, 11-4, 11-7 (28m)
Viktor Byrtus (CZE) bt Aqeel Rehman (AUT) 3-2: 11-6, 8-11, 11-7, 12-14, 11-8 (65m)
James Peach (ENG) bt Robert Downer (ENG) 3-0: 11-4, 11-7, 11-6 (29m)
Finnlay Withington (ENG) bt Velavan Senthilkumar (IND) 3-2: 11-9, 12-10, 9-11, 4-11, 11-3 (50m)
Dewald van Niekerk (RSA) bt [WC] Daniel Lutz (AUT) 3-0: 12-10, 11-4, 11-6 (44m)
Daniel Mekbib (CZE) bt Miko Aijanen (FIN) 3-0: 11-8, 11-6, 11-3 (29m)
Owain Taylor (WAL) bt [WC] Jakob Dirnberger (AUT) 3-1: 11-3, 8-11, 11-8, 11-2 (36m)
Daniel Poleshchuk (ISR) bt Jakub Solnicky (CZE) 3-1: 6-11, 13-11, 11-9, 12-10 (47m)