The beginning of day 3 of the Teqball World Series Quy Nhon was exceptional as the schedule started with two men’s singles matches that were postponed due to heavy rain on Friday.

Thai Boonkoom Tipwong took advantage of this pause as he was 1:0 behind against Szabolcs Ilyes (ROU) when the thunder struck the beach, and Saturday morning he was able to complete the comeback after saving a match point at the end of the second set. Four-time world champion Adam Blazsovics (HUN) dropped the second set against Lionel Beyer (FRA), but successfully held him off in the third, thus advancing to the semis where he will face Tipwong on Sunday.

All four players were involved in the men’s doubles competition, too, so they had little to no time to rest, reset and refocus for their upcoming challenges. However, all of them advanced to the elimination phase with their respective partners: Blazsovics and Apor Gyorgydeak (ROU) won their group, just like Ilyes with Marek Pokwap (POL) and Tipwong alongside fellow Thai Phakpong Dejaroen. Beyer teamed up with Rui Leitao (POR) and finished second behind the Thais in Group G.

Other contenders like defending world champions Csaba Banyik/Balazs Katz (HUN), Leonardo Lindoso de Almeida/Leonardo Santana (BRA), Adam Bako/Matyas Odnoga (HUN), Sorrasak Thaosiri/Jirati Chianliang (THA) and Bartlomiej Franczuk/Julian Grondin (POL/FRA) made no mistake in the group stage and proceeded to the Round of 16.

Yesterday, we promised fireworks in the elimination phase, and thankfully, the teams delivered. The group winners moved on to the quarterfinals without any trouble, and in the top 8, the party got started.

Bako/Odnoga was one of the two units that were able to defeat Banyik/Katz in 2023, but the world champs crushed them two weeks ago in Madrid to get their revenge. Their next rendezvous occurred in Vietnam, which will be remembered for a long time. The challengers started strong with a 12-10 win in the opening set and possessed a minimal lead throughout the second. Banyik/Katz rallied back and went on to have two set points, but Bako/Odnoga saved both, and then the drama came. Banyik, one of the best servers in the game committed a double fault and it brought dark horses the victory and a ticket to the semifinals.

"I like it when we are challenged and Banyik/Katz are the best ones, so it was a huge one, but with Odnoga it seems like we are their Kryptonite” - said Adam Bako after the victory.

They are going to meet Tipwong/Dejaroen there after the Thai duo won in a somewhat similar fashion against Pokwap/Ilyes (12-11, 12-10). That means Tipwong handed Ilyes two incredibly close losses on the same day.

In the other two QF-s, Blazsovics/Gyorgydeak gave no chance to Franczuk/Grondin, but the fourth one lasted a “bit” longer as Thaosiri/Chianliang went to 3 sets against the Leonardos. After two tight periods, the Thais took a commanding lead in the third and managed to close out the Brazilians after their attempt for a comeback fell short.

Day 4 is going to be the grand finale of the first-ever Teqball World Series event in Asia. We already mentioned the schedule of the men’s doubles, and the singles will not be different in terms of excitement: on the upper bracket, Pokwap will play against 2022 world champ and current FITEQ World Ranking nr. 1 Gyorgydeak, on the lower, it is going to be Blazsovics versus Tipwong. In the mixed doubles, a Hungarian-Thai final is guaranteed, because Krisztina Acs/Banyik will go up against Gabriella Kota/Katz, while Jutatip Kuntatong/Chianliang will try to challenge 2023 world champions Suphawadi Wongkhamchan/Dejaroen.

You can follow the actions on Teq TV on YouTube, and you will not regret it if you do so.