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| 2011 FIVB Beach Volleyball Swatch World Tour |
| Lausanne, Switzerland, November 7, 2011—The 15th and final women’s event on the 2011 FIVB Beach Volleyball
Swatch World Tour was played this past week at the US $190,000 Phuket Thailand Open powered by PTT at Karon
Beach, Phuket, Thailand. Chinese duo Chen Xue and Xi Zhang won their second event of 2011 and ninth career gold
medal together, defeating Americans Jennifer Kessy and April Ross. Xue and Zhang won all six matches without
dropping a set during the four day event.
After playing 15 women’s and 14 men’s events within the African, Asian, European, North American and South American
confederations, offering US$7.64 million in prize money, the 2011 FIVB Swatch FIVB Beach Volleyball tour has
concluded.>> More |
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| China’s Xue/Zhang defeat USA’s Kessy/Ross Sunday for gold medal at Phuket Thailand Open powered by PTT |
 Phuket, Thailand, November 6, 2011—While one player was challenged with a knee
injury, China’s Chen Xue/Xi Zhang came out strong and got even stronger against USA’s
Jennifer Kessy/April Ross to capture Sunday afternoon’s internationally-televised gold
medal match as the 2011 FIVB Beach Volleyball Swatch World Tour gathered for the
sixth time in Thailand for the women’s season-ending $190,000 FIVB Beach Volleyball
Swatch World Tour Phuket Thailand Open powered by PTT.
In Sunday’s gold medal match on the tropical Karon Beach center court, China’s topseeded
Xue/ Zhang defeated USA’s second-seeded Jennifer Kessy/April Ross, 21-16,
21-14 in the 40-minute title match. Xue/Zhang leave Phuket with a perfect 6-0 record
with each match being won in two sets while Kessy/Ross finished with a 5-1 record.
The FIVB Beach Volleyball Swatch World Tour visited Phuket for the sixth consecutive
year at the purpose-built venue on Karon Beach for this extremely popular event at the
dynamic tourist destination on the southwest side of exotic Phuket province. Many of
the world’s current top and rising stars of women’s beach volleyball tandems were in
Thailand to conclude the 15-event 2011 women’s FIVB Beach Volleyball Swatch World
Tour.>> More |
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| China’s Xue/Zhang and USA’s Kessy/Ross win semifinals to advance to Sunday’s gold medal match at Phuket Thailand Open powered by PTT |
 Phuket, Thailand, November 5, 2011—Basking in the sun, fun and friendly atmosphere
of this gorgeous and exotic tropical destination, teams from China and the United States
grinded out semifinal match victories Saturday to advance to Sunday’s internationallytelevised
gold medal match as the 2011 FIVB Beach Volleyball Swatch World Tour gathered
for the sixth time in Thailand for the women’s season-ending $190,000 FIVB Beach
Volleyball Swatch World Tour Phuket Thailand Open powered by PTT.
Meeting in Sunday’s gold medal match, scheduled to start at 4 p.m. local time on the
tropical Karon Beach center court, will be China’s top-seeded Chen Xue/Xi Zhang and
USA’s second-seeded Jennifer Kessy/April Ross.
The FIVB Beach Volleyball Swatch World Tour is visiting Phuket for the sixth consecutive
year at the purpose-built venue on Karon Beach for this extremely popular event
being held through Sunday at the dynamic tourist destination on the southwest side of
exotic Phuket province. Many of the world’s current top and rising stars of women’s
beach volleyball tandems are in Thailand as the 15-event 2011 women’s FIVB Beach Volleyball
Swatch World Tour season ends.
The bronze medal match will precede the gold medal match, starting at 3 p.m. local time
Sunday. The winning pair shares the $30,000 first-place prize while the silver medal
team will split $21,000, the bronze $15,000 and the fourth place team will divide
$11,200.>> More |
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| China’s Xue/Zhang and USA’s Kessy/Ross capture first semifinal spots at Phuket Thailand Open powered by PTT |
 Phuket, Thailand, November 4, 2011—Savoring the flavor and ambience of the sundrenched,
peaceful Friday with lingering high humidity on ever-tropical Karon Beach,
China’s Chen Xue/Xi Zhang and USA’s Jennifer Kessy/April Ross scorched the sparkling
sand to remain undefeated and become the first two teams to advance to
Saturday’s semifinals as the 2011 FIVB Beach Volleyball Swatch World Tour gathered
for the sixth time in Thailand for the women’s season-ending $190,000 FIVB Beach Volleyball
Swatch World Tour Phuket Thailand Open powered by PTT.
The FIVB Beach Volleyball Swatch World Tour is visiting Phuket for the sixth consecutive
year at the purpose-built venue on Karon Beach for this extremely popular event
being held through Sunday at the dynamic tourist destination on the southwest side of
exotic Phuket province. Many of the world’s current top and rising stars of women’s
beach volleyball tandems are in Thailand as the 15-event 2011 women’s FIVB Beach Volleyball
Swatch World Tour season ends.
The semifinals will conclude play on Saturday afternoon and the medal matches will be
played Sunday afternoon as the winning pair shares the $30,000 first-place prize. The
silver medal team will split $21,000, the bronze $15,000 and the fourth place team will
divide $11,200. >> More |
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U.S. dominance set to be broken in Phuket |
 The Phuket Thailand Open powered by PTT, the final round of the FIVB Beach Volley Swatch World Tour, is set to be held on Karon beach from 1 – 6 November 2011. In recent times the tournament has been dominated by teams from the USA, who have made a clean sweep of the gold medal position on the podium for the last four years. This year with the top U.S. team sidelined, there is a golden opportunity for one of the other leading contenders to stake a claim for the Phuket crown.
Leading the challenge are the top ranked Asian team, the Chinese duo of Xue and Zhang Xi, who are currently sitting in 3rd spot in the world rankings. Also strongly in contention are last year’s runners-up Cicolari and Menegatti from Italy and 3rd place finishers Maria Clara and Carol from Brazil. Other leading teams hoping to make their mark in the Phuket Thailand Open powered by PTT are those from the Czech Republic, Germany, Spain, Belgium and Austria. Former Phuket champions Kessy and Ross will be hoping to continue the winning streak of the teams from the USA.
Thailand as host country is allowed 2 automatic slots in the main draw, which have been given to Kulna and Radarong and Sannok and Tenpaksee. The third Thai team of Udomchavee and Numwong has been granted a wild card into the main draw.
The Phuket Thailand Open powered by PTT will be played over 5 days of competition from 2 – 6 November 2011. Matches start from 09.00 daily, except on the finals day on Sunday 6 November, when the competition begins at 15.00. >> More
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| Former champions lead eight undefeated tandems after first day of Main draw at Phuket Thailand Open powered by PTT |
 Phuket, Thailand, November 3, 2011—As the sun set spectacularly over the tranquil Andaman
Sea at the tropical Karon Beach venue following Thursday’s first day of women’s
main draw competition, eight women’s beach volleyball tandems from six countries
remain undefeated after two rounds as the 2011 FIVB Beach Volleyball Swatch World
Tour has resumed for the sixth time in Thailand with the women’s season-ending
$190,000 FIVB Beach Volleyball Swatch World Tour Phuket Thailand Open powered by
PTT.
The FIVB Beach Volleyball Swatch World Tour is visiting Phuket for the sixth consecutive
year at the purpose-built venue on Karon Beach for the extremely popular event
being held through Sunday at the dynamic tourist destination on the southwest side of
exotic Phuket. Many of the world’s top and rising stars of women’s beach volleyball tandems
are in Thailand as the 15-event 2011 women’s season ends with the sixth consecutive
FIVB Beach Volleyball Swatch World Tour season finale in Thailand.>> More |
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| Eight teams from six countries earn last positions for Thursday’s start of 32-team Main draw at Phuket Thailand Open powered by PTT |
| Phuket, Thailand, November 2, 2011—Seemingly not in the least distracted by the hovering whispering
palms, magnificence of the adjacent Andaman Sea or the glistening sand of the Karon Beach venue, eight
teams from six countries advanced from Wednesday’s two-round qualification tournament to Thursday’s
32-team main draw as the 2011 FIVB Beach Volleyball Swatch World Tour has resumed for the sixth time
in Thailand with the women’s season-ending $190,000 FIVB Beach Volleyball Swatch World Tour Phuket
Thailand Open powered by PTT.
The FIVB Beach Volleyball Swatch World Tour is visiting Phuket for the sixth consecutive year at the
purpose-built venue on Karon Beach for the extremely popular event being held through Sunday at the
dynamic tourist destination on the southwest side of exotic Phuket. Many of the world’s top and up and
coming women’s beach volleyball tandems are in Thailand as the 15-event 2011 women’s season ends
with the sixth consecutive FIVB Beach Volleyball Swatch World Tour season finale in Thailand.
Filling the final eight main draw spots are two teams each from China and Japan along with single duos
from Italy Finland, Latvia and Netherlands.>> More |
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| Showdown of the World’s best in Phuket |
 The best women’s beach volley teams in the world are heading to Phuket in November for the Phuket Thailand Open powered by PTT, the final round of the FIVB Beach Volleyball Swatch World Tour, which will be held on Karon beach from 1 – 6 November 2011.
This year’s season finale has drawn the cream of beach volleyball to the sands on Karon beach, including current World Champions and No 1 ranked players in the world, Julian and Larissa from Brazil. As well as winning the 2011 World Championships in Rome, the team has finished in the gold medal position in 5 other tournaments this year. Their closest rivals are reigning Olympic Champions May-Treanor and Walsh from the USA who are currently occupying the No 2 spot in the world rankings. Asia’s leading beach volley team, the Chinese duo of Xue and Zhang Xi, are holding down 3rd place in the rankings. Notable entries in the tournament are last year’s runners-up Cicolari and Menegatti from Italy and the 3rd place finishers Marie Clara and Carol from Brazil. Both teams feature in the world’s top 10. >> More
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| Thai teams look to make an impact in Phuket |
Thailand beach volley teams have traditionally been the powerhouses of the sport in South-East Asia and have also made an impact at the Asian Games winning the bronze medal at the recently held 2010 Asian Games in Guangzhou and winning gold in the 1998 Asian Games held in Bangkok. They have also been very successful on the Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC) Tour winning events this year in Thailand and Vietnam.
Whilst they have been successful at Asian level, the Thai teams have yet to make an impact on the Swatch Beach Volley World Tour. Apart from competing in Phuket and the occasional foray in China the Thai teams have not been active on the World Tour for almost a decade. Their results in Phuket have been encouraging, although no Thai team to date has managed to achieve a top ten finish at Karon beach.
With the emergence of several new teams in the last couple of years, there is the potential this year for one of the Thai teams to break into the top ten and create the long awaited impact on the World Tour.
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