The fourth day of the FINA World Masters Water Polo Championships in Gwangju saw a few thrilling and interesting encounters and some surprises.
One of the surprises was a big winning margin in the derby in the men’s age group 45+. Spandau 04 (Germany) defeated titleholder YBL-Octopus (Hungary) 8:1. After three quarters, the Germans led 7:0, while the Hungarians their only goal netted early in the last period. The key player in Spandau’s win was a 51-years-old goalkeeper Alexander Tchigir, who won the Olympic bronze as a member of a Unified Team (former USSR) in Barcelona 1992. Later, he played for Germany at two Olympic Games (2004 and 2008). Dubrovacki Veterani (Croatia) remains the only unbeaten team in this category.
There were no excitements in the derby of the category 60+. Santa Barbara Surfers (USA) and SV Cannstatt (Germany), which achieved three wins each in the first three days, faced off today. The Surfers convincingly beat the German team. The Surfers’ defense and goalkeeper Stephen Hamann did a good job. The final score was the same as in the match Spandau 04 – YBL-Octopus. The Surfers won 8:1.
The semifinals were played in the category 50+. As expected, The Olympic Club (USA) and St-Petersburg Masters (Russia) advanced to the gold medal match.
FINA World Masters Water Polo Championships, Day 4
Men 30+ (Unique Round)
Politehnica Cluj-Napoca (Romania) – Seoul WP Masters (South Korea) 29:7
Bye: ARON PS (South Korea).
1 Politehnica 3 – 9
2 Seoul WP Masters 3 – 3
3 ARON PS 2 – 0
(the tournament is organized on a double round-robin basis)
Men 35+/40+ (Unique Round)
The Olympic Club (USA) – Oazis Sport Club (Hungary) 14:11
Bye: OLPAK Water Polo (South Korea).
1 The Olympic Club 3 – 7
2 Oazis Sport Club 3 – 4
3 OLPAK Water Polo 2 – 0
(the tournament is organized on a double round-robin basis)
Men 45+ (Unique Round)
Dubrovacki Veterani (Croatia) – V. Veterani Kosice (Slovakia) 13:3
East Bay Masters WP (USA) – AMPA ECP (Brazil) 7:16
Wfr. Spandau 04 (Germany) – YBL-Octopus (Hungary) 8:1
Bye: BT Guam (USA)
1 Dubrovacki Veterani 4 – 12
2 YBL-Octopus 4 – 9
3 Wfr. Spandau 3 – 6
4 V. Veterani Kosice 4 – 6
5 AMPA ECP 3 – 3
6 East Bay Masters WP 5 – 3
7 BT Guam 3 – 0
Men 50+ (Semifinals)
The Olympic Club (USA) – UWA City Beach WPC (Australia) 10:3
St-Petersburg Masters (Russia) – Darkside (USA) 10:7
(the final game The Olympic Club – St-Petersburg Masters and the bronze medal match UWA City Beach – Darkside will be played on Saturday)
Men 55+ (Unique Round)
Real Canoe N.C. (Spain) – Sunday Boys (Hungary) 7:3
Bye: Master Old Fellows (Brazil)
1 Real Canoe 3 – 7
2 Master Old Fellows 2 – 4
3 Sunday Boys 3 – 0
(the tournament is organized on a double round-robin basis)
Men 60+ (Preliminary Round)
Calgary Masters WPC (Canada) – Pampas (Argentina) 6:7
Campo de D. Larraina (Spain) – Perth Cockatoos (Australia) 11:6
S. Barbara Surfers (USA) – SV Cannstatt (Germany) 8:1
1 S. Barbara S. Surfers 4 – 12
2 SV Cannstatt 4 – 9
3 Pampas 4 – 6
4 Campo de D. Larrina 4 – 3
5 Perth Cockatoos 4 – 3
6 Calgary Masters 4 – 3
Men 65+/70+ (Unique Round)
Perth Cockatoos 70+ (Australia) – S. Barbara Masters (USA) 4:14
KVP H2Opolo Piestany (Slovakia) – Perth Cockatoos 65+ (Australia) 7:5
Dusseldorfer SC 1898 (Germany) – BT Ancient Mariners (USA) 16:3
Bye: BT Piestany 70+ (USA)
1 KVP H2Opolo Piestany 4 – 12
2 Dusseldorfer SC 1898 3 – 9
3 S. Barbara Masters 3 – 9
4 Perth Cockatoos 65+ 3 – 6
5 BT Piestany 70+ 3 – 0
6 Perth Cockatoos 70+ 4 – 0
7 BT Ancient Mariners 4 – 0
Women (Preliminary Round)
Klub STEPP Praha (Czech Republic) – Rari N. Bologna 40+ (Italy) 3:5
Pink Pointers Int. (Australia) – San Diego Shores (USA) 1:22
The Olympic Club (USA) – Rari N. Bologna 30+ (Italy) 7:13
1 San Diego Shores 4 – 10
2 Rari N. Bologna 30+ 4 – 10
3 The Olympic Club 4 – 6
4 Rari N. Bologna 40+ 4 – 6
5 Klub STEPP Praha 4 – 3
6 Pink Pointers Int. 4 – 0
