Orleans Masters 2018, Semifinal: Sameer Verma vs Mark Caljouw, Live Match Updates

Caljouw def Verma 18-21, 21-13, 21-12 in 57 minutes to enter the final.

Updated: 31 March 2018 23:40 IST - Published: 31 March 2018 22:38 IST

With Verma's loss, the Indian campaign comes to an end at the Orleans Masters.

That also brings us to the end of our live coverage.

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That also ends an eight-match winning streak for Verma. He won the Swiss Open just last month and has been playing some terrific badminton for the last few weeks.

Unfortunately, he could not sustain the momentum after winning the first game as Caljouw raised his level.

Final score: Caljouw def Verma 18-21, 21-13, 21-12 in 57 minutes to enter the final.

Caljouw takes the win, dashing Verma's hopes!

Eight match points for Caljouw!

Caljouw is now within sniffing distance of a win!

19-12

Verma takes one vital point to make it 12-17

Things are not looking rosy at the moment for Verma

Caljouw goes ahead to 17-11

Can he come back?

Sameer looks to be slowly fading away as he now trails behind 11-15

Now Caljouw takes 2 points on the trot as he jumps ahead to 13-11

We are back to all level after the break!

11-11

Verma inches ahead to 11-10 heading into the mid-game interval.

HE HAS LEVELLED!

10-10

And it's a one-point gap!

9-10

Verma has reduced the deficit to two points!
8-10

The fourth seed makes his mark and leaps to 10-7

And suddenly, we have a battle in hand!

7-7

Caljouw shows his immense talent as he fights back to 6-6

Verma extends his lead to three points!

6-3

And he maintains the two-point gap!

4-2

GAME 3

Sameer asserts his supremacy early on in Game 3

2-0

Caljouw makes it count and wins the second game 21-13

We are into a decider!

EIGHT GAME POINTS FOR CALJOUW

20-12

Sameer gets a point but is it too late?

12-19

The fourth seed looks determined to set up a decider.

Caljouw has now extended his lead to 18-11

The Frenchman has wrested control after that and now leads 14-10

And he makes it 9-11

The Indian then adds a couple of very quick points to lessen the gap to 8-11

The defence of both the players is being tested currently.

Sameer pulls back one point and is now 6-11

Caljouw has raced ahead to 11-5 heading into the mid-game interval.

Sameer gets two points and now trails 4-9

Verma has suddenly lost his touch and is struggling at the moment.
The fourth seed leads 8-2

Caljouw has once again been the front-runner in the initial stages.

He is ahead 4-2

It is 1-1

Can Verma produce the same form in Game 2?

Let's find out.

A brilliant Sameer staved off the late challenge from his opponent and grabbed three points on the trot to take the first game 21-18

And it continues to be totally even.

18-18

Caljouw even took the lead but Verma was quick to erase that.

It's 17-17

And the Frenchman's persistence has paid off!

He levels it at 16-16

Sameer needs to be careful here and cannot afford to relax. Caljouw has made it 14-16

Mark is now making his mark as well and trails 13-15

Sameer shows the confidence that helped him win the Swiss Open last month. He is now up 14-10

Caljouw is fighting back after the break and has reduced the deficit to 10-12

Verma takes THREE QUICK POINTS TO GO UP TO 11-8 AT THE MID-GAME INTERVAL.

And the fourth seed, buoyed by the crowd support, comes roaring back!

8-8

Once more Verma inches ahead to 8-6 through his sheer attacking game

A lot of good quality rallies going on presently.

Caljouw still slightly ahead at 6-5