Montenegro emerged as the winner of Day 1 at the World Men’s Championships in Singapore.
The Montenegrins defeated Greece 10:9 in the most significant match of the opening day. This game was one of three major European derbies in Group D, referred to as the “Group of Death,” which also includes the reigning champion Croatia and China, as the only underdog.
In the other matches played, the narrowest victory margin was eight goals.
Group B is considered one of the most balanced, but the European favorites, Hungary and Spain, opened the competition with convincing wins. Hungary trashed Australia. It was expected that the Hungarians would secure three points, but no one could have predicted that 12 goals would separate the rivals. Hungary achieved an 18:6 victory. European champion Spain conceded even 16 goals, but collected three points with a comfortable 8-goal victory over Japan (22:6).
Olympic champion Serbia and world champion Croatia achieved the most convincing wins of the day (against South Africa, 27:3, and China, 25:6, respectively). The USA completely outplayed neighboring Canada (19:8).
2025 World Men’s Water Polo Championships, Day 1
A Group A
Serbia – South Africa 27:3 (7:0, 7:3, 4:0, 9:0)
Serbia: Mandic 6, Murisic 5, N.Jaksic 4, Martinovic 3, Cuk 3, Vico 2, V.Rasovic 2, Vapenski 1, P.Jaksic 1.
South Africa: Bungane 1, Kuperus 1, Sneddon 1.
The men’s tournament, like the women’s competition, began with a match featuring the Olympic champion against South Africa.
Yesterday, the Spanish women’s team dominated the South African team with a score of 23:4. Today, the Serbian men’s recorded an easy and convincing victory.
Dusan Mandic scored the first goal in the men’s tournament in Singapore after 90 seconds of the match against South Africa Photo: MTB-Photo
Led by Dusan Mandic and debutant Nikola Murisic, the Serbs established a 9:0 lead early in the second period. The South Africans managed to score three goals in that quarter, but the Serbs maintained a strong defense in the second half, allowing no goals. As for the attack, they converted all their extra player shots (5 for 5) and penalty shots (4 for 4).
Romania – Italy 5:17 (2:1, 0:5, 2:6, 1:5)
Romania: Neamtu 3, Georgescu 1, Vancsik 1.
Italy: Condemi 4, Bruni 3, Di Fulvio 2, Di Somma 2, Cassia 2, Fererro 1, Gianazza 1, Presciutti 1, Del Basso 1.
Despite a slow start, Italy achieved a convincing win over Romania.
Francesco Cassia, a debutant in Italy’ team, scored the first goal, but Romania had a 2:1 advantage at the first break. Marius Tic caused trouble to the Italians with several saves.
Italy Photo by Albert ten Hove/MTB-Photo
The “Settebello” regrouped during the first break and started rolling. In the 10th minute, Del Basso (another debutant) leveled from a penalty shootout. By the end of the first half, the Italians added four unanswered goals. Di Fulvio made it 7:2 in the 17th minute, shortly after Condemi scored from a counterattack to conclude Italy’s 7:0 series.Neamtu then ended Romania’s goalless phase, which had lasted for more than 11 minutes. However, there was no way back for the Romanians.
Since the Italians didn’t intend to stop, only a winning margin was in question. In the end, separated the rivals.
B Group B
Hungary – Australia 18:6 (5:1, 4:0, 3:2, 6:3)
Hungary: Vamos 3, Angyal 2, Fekete 2,Burian 2, Kovacs 2, Vi. Vigvari 2,Manhercz 1, Molnar 1, Ad. Nagy 1, Ven. Vigvari 1, Jansik 1.
Australia: Grgurevic 3, Maksimovic 1, Power 1, Berehulak
The game, which was one of the highlights of Day 1, quickly became a one-sided contest. Hungary entered the match as the favorite, but it was anticipated that Australia would put up a stronger fight. Last year, the “Aussies” defeated Hungary at the Paris Olympics (9:8).
Vendel Vigvari (Hungary) Photo by Albert ten Hove/MTB-Photo
Although the “Sharks” have five debutants on their roster (and Luke Pavillard did not play today), they still have experienced and good players. Hungary is also without some of its best players for various reasons and has fielded a few debutants. One of them is goalkeeper Kristof Csoma, who was one of the key players today and helped his team play almost flawlessly in defense.
The game started with a quick exchange of goals. Angyal gave Hungary a 1:0 lead, and Power leveled immediately. From that point on, Hungary started dominating, building an 8:1 lead by the middle of the second period. For the rest of the first half, both defenses performed well. Manhercz prolonged Hungary’s series to 8:0 with a goal from a penalty shot 14 seconds before the middle break.
The second half was a formality. Hungary continued playing at a high level and increased the margin to 12.
Spain – Japan 22:16 (5:3, 6:2, 5:4, 6:7)
Spain: Granados 5,Sanahuja 4, Biel 4, Valera 2, Tahull 2, Cabanas 1,Munarriz 1, Larumbe 1, J.Bustos 1, Gomla 1.
Japan: Inaba 5, Watanabe 4, Ogihara 3, Adachi 1,Meada 1, Takata 1, Araki 1.
Japan demonstrated its potential, but it wasn’t enough to surprise Spain. Nevertheless, scoring 16 goals in a match against one of the best teams is a commendable achievement, regardless of the circumstances.
Japan leveled the score only once in the early stages of the match (1:1). Spain, playing without Felipe Perrone, responded with four goals and led 5:1 by the fifth minute. The Japanese started coming back. Their goalkeeper, Sasano, made save after save (he finished the match with 12 saves, despite conceding 22 goals). In the 11th minute, the Asians came very close to the European champion (5:6). It was a wake-up call for the Spaniards, who strengthened their defense. From that moment until the end of the first half, many of the Japanese possessions ended without a shot on goal. The Spaniards used a deep defensive strategy, preventing their opponents from getting close to their goal. Meanwhile, at the opposite end of the pool, the Spaniards were scoring from all positions. At halftime, Spain led 11:5. At the beginning of the third period, Sanahuja made it 12:5 from a penalty shot. That 6:0 series was crucial for the outcome.
Bernat Sanahuja (Spain) and Yusuke Inaba (Japan) Photo by Albert ten Hove/MTB-Photo
Spain’s defense “disappeared” in the second half, and the persistent and speedy Japanese imposed their rhythm and style of play, characterized by a lot of movement, and scored 11 goals in the second half. However, Spain responded well and controlled the match.
C Group C
Canada – USA 9:18 (0:3, 2:4, 2:5, 5:6)
Canada: Oussadou 3, Lapins 2, Gardijan 2, D’Souza 2.
USA: Irving 4, Saveljic 3, Daube 2, R. Dodd 2, Larsen 1, Liechty 1, Woodhead 1,Ch.Dodd 1, Ohl 1, Brown 1.
The Americans were too strong for Canada, despite the team’s significant rejuvenation.
Team USA didn’t start so strong in terms of the attack, but their defense was up to the task. Max Irving scored an opener from a counterattack in the 2nd minute. There were no goals in the following almost six minutes. The Americans earned a 3:0 lead with two goals in the last 48 seconds of the first quarter and opened the second with a penalty shot from debutant Saveljic – 4:0.
Max Irving of USA Photo by Albert ten Hove/MTB-Photo
Canada finally got on the scoreboard in the 11th minute. At halftime, the Canadians trailed 2:7. Lapins reduced the gap to four in the 18th minute (3:7). Then, their southern neighbors produced a new 4:0 rush in just 2:11 minutes and jumped to 11:3, securing the victory.
Brazil – Singapore 19:8 (4:0, 5:1, 6:3, 4:4)
Brazil: Coutinho 3, Guimaraes 3, Pedroso 3, Real 2, Silva 2, Andrade 2, Carbal 1, Da Silva 1, Farias 1, Oliveira 1.
Singapore: Rajandra 3, See 2, Goh 1, Fong 1, Loh 1.
Brazil doesn’t belong to the circle of the world’s best teams, but it easily beat Singapore, which tells us everything about the hosts’ capabilities.
The South Americans, clearly more experienced and physically prepared, opened the match with an 8:0 lead. Singapore scored its first goal only in the 15th minute. In the middle of the third period, the South Americans reached a double-digit margin (12:2). Singapore did everything to avoid a humiliating defeat.
Joao Pedro Fernandes, who has played in European clubs for years, has returned in front of Brazil’s goal after a long absence Photo by MTB-Photo
In the end, both teams could take satisfaction from the match. Brazil launched the tournament with a solid victory, while Singapore showed determination and fought until the final whistle.
D Group D
Montenegro – Greece 10:9 (5:3, 2:3, 1:1, 2:2)
Montenegro: Dj.Radovic 3, Gardasevic 3, Vujovic 1, Cetkovic 1, V. Radovic 1, Vuckovic 1,
Greece: Gkillas 3, SKoumpakis 2, Gkiouvetsis 1, Argyropoulos 1, Genidounias 1, Pouros 1.
The Montenegrins led for most of the match, but everything was open until the final buzzer. Left-handed players Filip Gardasevic and Djuro Radovic were Montenegro’s power engines today.
Gardasevic opened the scoring in Montenegro’s first possession. A few minutes later, Gkillas equalized. Djuro Radovic responded with two goals in just 41 seconds. In between these two goals, Petar Tesanovic saved a penalty shot from Argyropoulos. Montenegro maintained a 2-goal lead until the end of the first period, ending the quarter at 5:3. In the 16th minute of the second period, Greece caught up with the rival when Skoumpakis converted a man-up opportunity (6:6), after Montenegro lost Strahinja Gojkovic (an exclusion with substitution). Jovan Vujovic closed out the first half, and Montenegro went into the middle break leading 7:6.
Djuro Radovic shots over Stylianos Argyropoulos Photo by Albert ten Hove/MTB-Photo
In the third period, Argyropoulos leveled at 7:7, while Gardasevic put Montenegro ahead again after an assist from Djuro Radovic.
Four and a half minutes before the end, Gardasevic found the net from the deep right to double his team’s advantage (9:7). Immediately after, Genidounias made it 8:9 from a penalty, but a response came quickly, as Vasilije Radovic scored in the next possession from a distance.
Gkiouvetsis scored from a 6 on 5 to make it 9:10 with 02:05 minutes remaining on the clock. The drama was reaching its culmination. Montenegro wasted a man-up and then Greece earned an extra player, but Petar Tesanovic made a crucial save by blocking a close-range shot from Kalogeropoulos with 48 seconds to go. Montenegro didn’t score in its final possession, and Greece got one more chance to equalize and prolong the match to a shootout. It was another man-up attack, but it was a 7 on 6 (goalkeeper Tzortzatos arrived at the center-forward position). The Greeks lost the ball, and the Montenegrins started celebrating a big victory.
China – Croatia 6:25 (1:7, 0:5, 4:7,1:6)
China: Xie 2, Peng 1, Cai 1, R. Chen 1, Wang 1.
Croatia: Bukic 6, Zuvela 4, Butic 3, Buric 3, Kharkov 3, Fatovic 2, Brubnjak 2, Lazic 1, Vrlic 1
Shen Dingsong of China and Luka Loncar of Croatia Photo by Albert ten Hove/MTB-Photo
The reigning champions faced an easy task on the opening day, but they approached the match with a serious attitude and secured three points in the first half. China scored its first goal in the 4th minute, making it 1:2. Soon after, Croatia began to showcase its strength. By the end of the first half, the Europeans had scored 10 unanswered goals, and they added one more early in the third period, leading 13:1. In the third period, the favorite’s defense weakened somewhat, but their attack remained strong.
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