Entering their first big event after the 2016 Olympics in Rio, water polo powers will definitely take this floor to stage a dress rehearsal for the FINA World Championship in Budapest.
The competition format is quite traditional as 8 competitors are divided into 2 groups with Group A a little bit stronger than Group B. The Group A sees Pan-American reigning champion, 2016 WL Super-final runner-up the team of the USA, all-round crown Serbia, Kazakhstan and Italy. Group B, respectively, is presented by the 2017 World League Intercontinental tournament winner Australia, Olympic silver holder Croatia, Japan, and host Russia. So, the first 3 days of the event features a round-robin tournament, after which cross-over match-ups will be held to decide the semi-finalists en route to the medal clashes.
Croatia and Japan have had the honor of raising the curtain on a competition. Then, Serbia and Italy got their first wins, followed by the host Russia, staging a big fight against Australia.
FINA Men’s Water Polo World League Super Final 2017
Results Summary / Day 1 20 June, 2017
Game 1. CRO vs. JPN 13-5 (4-2, 3-0, 1-2, 5-1)
Game 2. SRB vs. KAZ 15-7 (3-0, 6-4, 3-2, 3-1)
Game 4. USA – ITA 7-9 (1-0, 2-0, 2-3, 0-2, penalty shoot-out 2-4)
Game 3. AUS – RUS 5-11 (2-2, 1-2, 1-4, 1-3)
Progress points after Competition Day 1:
Group A: Croatia 3, Russia 3, Australia 0, Japan 0.
Group B: Serbia 3, Italy 2, USA 1, Kazakhstan 0.