(by Steve Hopkins)

TTF Liebherr Ochsenhausen logged a 3-1 win over TSV Bad Konigshofen on Friday to keep their slim playoff hopes alive in the TTBL (German League).  With one match left to play, Ochsenhausen is 12-9 and in fifth position – where only the top four will participate in the playoffs.

In Friday’s match, Can Akkuzu was the hero, logging two wins.  He defeated Akito Itagaki 3-0, and two matches later topped Bastian Steger 3-1.  The third win for Ochsenhausen was Simon Gauzy over Filip Zeljko 3-1.  Kanak Jha also played, but fell to Bastian Steger in three close games.

The top two spots are already secured in the playoffs, Borussia Dusseldorf is 19-1 with one match to play, and Saarbrucken is 15-4 with two matches remaining.  The third and fourth positions are not yet set, but Fulda has already secured a place in the top four – they are 13-7 with one match remaining so they will finish either third or fourth.

The advantage for the fourth position is Muhlhausen who are 12-7 (Ochsenhausen is 12-9).  In order for Ochsenhausen to overtake them, due to the likely tie breakers, Ochsenhausen must win their last match and Muhlhausen must lose all three of their remaining matches.  For a team that has been in the top four for most of the season, it seems unlikely that they could lose three in a row, however two of Muhlhausen’s remaining matches are against Saarbrucken and Fulda (so they will be underdogs in both matches).  If all falls by seed, that could mean that Ochsenhausen and Muhlhausen would enter the final match day tied – with Ochsenhausen facing a 6-14 Grenzau squad, and Muhlhausen facing Bad Konigshofen.

More TTBL action is set for Sunday with Dusseldorf, Saarbrucken, Muhlhausen, and Fulda all in action.

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