A.S Pontoise-Cergy TT secured a 3-2 victory over KS Global Pharma Orlicz 1924 Suchedniów at home, but the result was insufficient for the French team to secure a spot in the Champions League Men quarterfinals. In the first leg, the Polish club had recorded a 3-1 victory, giving them the edge on aggregate. Marcos FREITAS, absent from the French lineup last week, delivered an impressive performance, winning both his matches against Robert FLORAS and Deni KOZUL. Izaac QUEK YONG also claimed a victory over FLORAS. However, it was the nail-biting wins by KOZUL over QUEK YONG and Mateusz ZALEWSKI over Liam PITCHFORD that sealed Suchedniów’s advancement to the round of 8. “It was a great match. We managed to win two points even without Kazuhiro YOSHIMURA, who led us to victory last time with two wins. We came mentally prepared, knowing everything depended on us. I’m thrilled to have avenged my 2-3 loss last week with a 3-2 win over Izaac QUEK YONG. In the decisive game, I had a 4-0 lead, which gave me the advantage I needed. Robert also played very well against Marcos in the opening match—it was close until the fifth game. But the most important win was Mateusz’s victory over Liam PITCHFORD—Liam was a clear favorite. This is a great Christmas gift. We’ll give our best to continue and aim for the Final 4,” said Deni KOZUL. Previously, Polish team had to go through the group stage to earn their spot in the competition. A.S PONTOISE-CERGY TT – KS GLOBAL PHARMA ORLICZ 1924 SUCHEDNIÓW 3-2 First leg KS GLOBAL PHARMA ORLICZ 1924 SUCHEDNIÓW – A.S PONTOISE-CERGY TT 3-1
Saint-Denis 93 TT Won, but ASD Quattro Mori Moved to the Quarters
The duels in Group C of the Champions League Women Stage 2 have concluded. In the final match of the group, Saint-Denis 93 TT defeated ASD Quattro Mori 3-1, but it was insufficient for the French team to secure the second position in the group, which leads to the quarterfinals. By the narrowest of margins, the Italian side progressed to the knockout stage. Austria’s LINZ AG Froschberg had already secured their place in the Champions League Women quarterfinals by remaining unbeaten in Stage 2. They triumphed over both Saint-Denis 93 TT and ASD Quattro Mori with scores of 3-2 and 3-1 against the French team and 3-1 and 3-2 against the Italian team. Saint-Denis 93 TT – ASD QUATTRO MORI 3-1
Last Year’s Final 4 Winners, Runners up and semifinalists Advance to the Quarterfinals
Last year’s Final 4 winners, 1. FC Saarbrücken Tischtennis e.V., runners-up Borussia Düsseldorf, and semifinalists SolexConsult TTC Wiener Neustadt have all advanced to the quarterfinals of the Champions League Men. In addition, KS DARTOM BOGORIA Grodzisk Mazowiecki also repeated their success from last week to secure their spot. 1. FC Saarbrücken Tischtennis e.V. overcame HB Ostrov z.s. once again. This time, Patrick FRANZISKA was absent, while Darko JORGIC returned to the team. However, after two easy game wins against Pavel SIRUCEK, the Slovenian star seemed to run out of steam, losing 2-3 in the end. Nevertheless, after a 3-0 victory in Czechia, Eduardo IONESCU’s two wins over Jiri VRABLIK and SIRUCEK, combined with Cedric MEISSNER’s win against Tomas TREGLER, ensured the defending champions concluded the duel convincingly to reach the quarterfinals. “It is a very good and important victory for us. Now we are one step closer to the Final 4 and to defending our title,” said MEISSNER. “Edi IONESCU played a very good match tonight. JORGIC was also excellent until the third game, but then it became much harder for him. My win was not as easy as the result suggests. Each game was very close and could have gone either way quickly.” In the fourth of five matches within twelve days, Borussia Düsseldorf beat SKST Havirov in straight matches. Timo BOLL, who missed the match in Czechia due to a cold, joined Dang QIU and Kay STUMPER at ARAG CenterCourt. Germany’s trio defeated Adam STALZER, Tomas POLANSKY, and Michal BLINKA. Borussia Düsseldorf now awaits either Alliance Nîmes/Montpellier or SPG Felbermayr Wels in the quarterfinals, with the decision to be made this Sunday. “It’s never easy to play against seemingly weaker opponents. You have to maintain the same intensity as you would against top players, and I managed that well today. We were clear favorites, and we made that evident tonight,” said Dang QIU. Timo BOLL added: “I think we performed quite confidently today. Kay’s match was crucial, especially winning that first game. For me, staying focused was the key. Dang’s match was never in doubt. Overall, it was a deserved victory.” Danny HEISTER, Head Coach, commented: “Congratulations to my team. They performed well, and we achieved our goal with a convincing win. Now we’ll watch Montpellier on Sunday to see who our next opponent will be. Tomorrow, we head to Lübbecke to face Dortmund on Sunday, aiming for a win before our short Christmas break.” SolexConsult TTC Wiener Neustadt replicated their success from the Czech Republic, beating TTC Ostrava 2016 in the return leg at home. Amirezza ABBASI MONJEZI was the key player, securing two wins over Jakub KLEPRLIK and Piotr CYRNEK. Frane KOJIC overcame Adam KLAJBER, while CYRNEK avenged his narrow 2-3 defeat from last week by beating Ivor BAN. “We had the same match line-ups as in the opening leg in Ostrava, which suited us well. When we saw the line-ups, we were satisfied because we were already well-prepared tactically and knew what to expect. However, even with that, the Polish player Piotr CYRNEK created a big upset. He played much better against Ivor BAN than he did last week. On the other hand, we have the very dangerous ABBASI, who plays with a ‘grass’ rubber on his backhand side. His specific style of table tennis is difficult for many players to adjust to, as they rarely encounter it. That makes it uncomfortable for anyone to play against us, especially with ABBASI in such good shape,” said KOJIC. Last season, SolexConsult TTC Wiener Neustadt were surprising semifinalists in the Champions League Men. “We will be ready for the quarterfinals, no matter who is on the other side—BOGORIA or EL NINO PRAHA. Again, we will play two legs, and we look forward to the opportunity to play in front of our home crowd. We already have great experience playing in Europe. We are a small club compared to the giants in this competition, but we will give our best to reach the Final 4 again,” stated KOJIC. The last match of the day was played in Poland between KS DARTOM BOGORIA Grodzisk Mazowiecki and SF SKK EL NINO PRAHA. The hosts defeated the Czech side 3-1 to secure their place in the quarterfinals, although the match did not initially seem headed in that direction. Tomas KONECNY beat Marek BADOWSKI in straight games before Panagiotis GIONIS found himself down 0-2 against David REITSPIES. The Greek player managed to recover and win the duel, changing the course of the match. Takuya JIN overcame Martin SIP, and BADOWSKI prevailed against REITSPIES to seal the victory. “Match was very close. I think Marek was under pressure in the opening match, and he did not play very well. Speaking of my duel, I knew that David REITSPIES plays very well against defense, but I did not expect him to perform at such a high level for the second time in a row. He surprised me a lot. After going down 0-2, I found a better rhythm and improved my psychology. When I won, it created momentum for Bogoria. Takuya seized the opportunity. It was a great game for the spectators, and we will fight for the Final 4,” said GIONIS. Foto: Jörg FUHRMANN 1 FC Saarbrücken Tischtennis e.V. – HB Ostrov z.s. 3-1 First leg HB Ostrov z.s.- 1 FC Saarbrücken Tischtennis e.V. 0-3 Borussia Düsseldorf- SKST Havirov 3-0 First Leg SKST Havirov – Borussia Düsseldorf 1-3 SolexConsult TTC Wiener Neustadt – TTC Ostrava 2016 3-1 First Leg TTC Ostrava 2016 – SolexConsult TTC Wiener Neustadt 0-3 KS DARTOM BOGORIA Grodzisk Mazowiecki – SF SKK EL NINO PRAHA 3-1 First Leg SF SKK EL NINO PRAHA – KS DARTOM BOGORIA Grodzisk Mazowiecki 1-3 Foto: Jörg FUHRMANN
GV HENNEBONT TT Secures Spot in Champions League Men Quarterfinals
French club GV HENNEBONT TT became the first team to advance to the quarterfinals of the Champions League Men after a dominant performance in both legs against Polish side UKS Dojlidy Białystok. Following a 3-1 victory in Poland last week, HENNEBONT needed just three matches at home to secure their spot in the next stage. Tonight, Vladimir SIDORENKO, Lev KATSMAN, and Iulian CHIRITA left no room for doubt, delivering straight-game wins over Piotr MICHALSKI, Machi ASUKA, and Patryk CHOJNOWSKI. “This was much easier for us compared to the opening leg. With the home crowd and fantastic supporters, we had an advantage. It worked in our favor, and they were also very tired after the trip and their Polish league match on the 17th. We’re just happy that we could play at the same level at home,” said SIDORENKO, who also defeated Machi ASUKA and Patryk CHOJNOWSKI in the first leg. In the quarterfinals, GV HENNEBONT TT will face the winners of the clash between HB Ostrov z.s. and 1. FC Saarbrücken Tischtennis e.V. Reigning champions Saarbrücken lead the tie after a 3-0 win in the opening leg. “We are currently in very good shape. Right now, table tennis is very close, and there’s a 50/50 chance for everyone,” SIDORENKO added. Round of 16 GV HENNEBONT TT – UKS Dojlidy Białystok 3-0 First leg UKS Dojlidy Białystok – GV HENNEBONT TT 1-3
OLÁH and BETZ Named Finland’s Best Players of 2024
The Finnish table tennis season for 2024 concluded over the weekend in Helsinki, marked by a blend of competition and celebration. Over three days, more than 200 players, ranging from amateurs to the nation’s elite athletes, showed their skills at the Ruskeasuo Sports Hall. On Saturday evening, the inaugural Table Tennis Gala honoured the year’s standout players in a grand ceremony. Men’s Player of the Year: Benedek OLÁH (Club: Seinäjoen Sisu) Benedek OLÁH once again solidified his position as Finland’s top player. In a remarkable year, he secured double gold at the Finnish Championships, achieved a triple crown at the NETU Championships, and advanced to the top 32 at the European Championships. Notably, OLÁH was the only player to win two sets against the eventual European gold medalist, Alexis LEBRUN of France. He also earned a silver medal at the Slovenian WTT Feeder tournament. Professionally, OLÁH competes in leagues across Poland, Spain, and the United States. Women’s Player of the Year: Ramona BETZ (Club: Linnan Pingis, Savonlinna) Ramona BETZ achieved a historic milestone as the first Finnish female player in 26 years to reach the main draw (top 64) of the European Championships. She also reached the top 32 in the U21 European Championships and claimed a silver medal in singles at the Finnish Championships. In addition to her table tennis career, Ramona studies and competes in Germany. PHOTO: Hannu TOLVANEN
The draw for the Europe Cup Women Stage 3
The draw for the Europe Cup Women Stage 3 was held today. The Round 3 winners will secure spots in the quarterfinals, where they will face third-placed teams relegated from the Champions League (Champions League Round 2).
Champions League Women Stage 2: Quarterfinalists Decided
The action in Groups A and D of the Champions League Women Stage 2 is complete, with the remaining matches in Groups B and C set to conclude by the end of the week. The knockout phase is scheduled to begin in January 2025. Group A: SAINT-QUENTIN TT and KTS ENEA SIARKOPOL TARNOBRZEG Secure Quarterfinal Spots SAINT-QUENTIN TT secured their progress to the quarterfinals with a second victory over Novi Sad. Camille LUTZ, Linda BERGSTRÖM, and Polina MIKHAILOVA delivered strong performances, defeating Tijana JOKIC, Aneta MAKSUTI, and Sara RADAK. While MAKSUTI managed to push BERGSTRÖM to a decisive game, the latter ultimately emerged victorious by death point. “We are very happy to reach the quarterfinal. It was our goal in the group. It has been a tough couple of weeks, so we are happy to finish our last match of the year with a victory,” said LUTZ. Meanwhile, reigning champions and four-time winners KTS ENEA SIARKOPOL TARNOBRZEG completed Stage 2 with a perfect record, winning all four matches in the group. Group B: ttc berlin eastside and METZ TT Advance In Group B, ttc berlin eastside will face SKST Plus Hodonín on Sunday. However, with three wins already, the German club has secured a quarterfinal spot, as has METZ TT, with two wins and two losses. Group C: LINZ AG Froschberg Makes History Austria’s LINZ AG Froschberg topped Group C, remaining unbeaten in Stage 2. They secured their final victory against ASD QUATTRO MORI, though not without challenges. Liemei HU delivered two victories for the Italian team, defeating Ivana MALOBABIC and Britt EERLAND. However, Suthasini SAWETTABUT, Ivana, and Britt all scored points to maintain their clean record. “It is the first time in the history of the club that we pass this stage undefeated. I am so proud of the girls,” said Manager Günther RENNER. Britt EERLAND reflected on the team’s performance: “We did not expect to pass through this way. The clubs are very strong, and we had tough encounters and very close duels. But we showed a high level of play, great team spirit, and good communication with the coach. We felt like a team, supported each other, and constantly discussed tactics and improvements. Even when we were down, we knew we could come back with support. Today, our coach changed our positions to help us win, which added extra pressure on me and SAWETTABUT. But as professionals, we must handle that. At the end, I’m happy we withstood the challenge. It’s nice to finish the stage with good feelings and thoughts about the quarterfinals and Christmas.” In Group C, one match remains. Saint-Denis 93 TT will host ASD QUATTRO MORI on Friday. In the opening leg, the Italian team won 3-0. Group D: UCAM Cartagena TM Dominates to Secure Second Place UCAM Cartagena TM delivered a dominant performance to defeat Hungary’s Budaörsi Sport Club and secure their quarterfinal spot. Fei QI, Maria XIAO, and Sofia-Xuan ZHANG swept past Dora MADARASZ, Helga DARI, and Maria FAZEKAS without dropping a game. “Overall, with the team we had for each match, I think it has been a positive competition so far. Against Etival, we didn’t have our number one player, so it was even harder to beat them. We were lucky she could play both matches against Budaörs and bring us to the next stage,” commented Maria XIAO. Last year’s runners-up, French Etival ASR TT, had already secured first place in the group with a perfect four-win record. They will progress to the quarterfinals from the top position. Group A Novi Sad – SAINT-QUENTIN TT Group C Group D UCAM Cartagena TM – Budaörsi Sport Club 3-0
Panagiotis TZOVOLOS Elected President of the Hellenic Table Tennis Federation
Panagiotis TZOVOLOS has been elected the new president of the Hellenic Table Tennis Federation (HTTF). The elections for the new Board of Directors took place electronically during the General Assembly with TZOVOLOS securing the majority with 34 votes. Among the other presidential candidates, former president Kostas PAPAGEORGIOU received 20 votes and retained a seat on the Board, while Diana ZERDILA garnered 13 votes. TZOVOLOS becomes the eighth president in the 68-year history of the HTTF. Additionally, Manolis KOLIMPADIS was re-elected as the federation’s representative in the Hellenic Olympic Committee (HOC) with 45 votes, while TZOVOLOS was elected as an alternate representative to the HOC. All 67 eligible clubs participated in the election, a promising sign for the beginning of the federation’s new four-year cycle. In his first statement as President, TZOVOLOS expressed gratitude and optimism: “I want to thank all the clubs for their strong participation in our Federation’s General Assembly and elections. My colleagues and I are ready to take on the responsibility of leading the federation with a forward-looking and creative approach.” Panagiotis TZOVOLOS brings a wealth of experience to his new role, having served the table tennis community in various capacities over the years. A former table tennis athlete for EA Patras, TZOVOLOS transitioned to refereeing, becoming an international umpire. His officiating career includes notable events such as the Athens Paralympic Games, European Championships across various age groups, the Mediterranean Games, and Balkan Championships. TZOVOLOS has also contributed significantly to event organization, including roles in the 2004 Athens Olympics and as an assistant referee at the 1999 Pre-Olympic Tournament in Patras. First elected to the HTTF Board in September 2012, Tzovolos has been a continuous presence in the federation’s administration. From December 2013 to November 2021, he served as chairman of the Technical Committee. He has also chaired the Local Committee of Western Greece and the Peloponnese since the 2010s, with his involvement in local administration tracing back even further. ELECTION RESULTS FOR THE HTTF ADMINISTRATION The following members were elected to the HTTF Board: Newly elected Board
1 FC Saarbrücken Tischtennis e. V. Start Strong as KS GLOBAL PHARMA ORLICZ 1924 Stuns Favorites
The reigning champions, 1 FC Saarbrücken Tischtennis e.V, began their Champions League Men campaign with a commanding straight-match victory in the opening leg of the Round of 16. The German team defeated HB Ostrov z.s. in the Czech Republic. Alongside them, other favorites, including Polish teams KS DARTOM BOGORIA Grodzisk Mazowiecki and KS Dekorglass Działdowo, as well as French side GV HENNEBONT TT, secured crucial away wins. Meanwhile, KS GLOBAL PHARMA ORLICZ 1924 SUCHEDNIÓW caused a significant upset by overcoming A.S PONTOISE-CERGY TT at home. Despite missing Darko JORGIC due to illness, Saarbrücken delivered a solid performance with Patrick FRANZISKA, Yuto MURAMATSU, and Eduard IONESCU securing the win. “We are very happy to have won here in straight matches. It was a tough game with fantastic atmosphere—the venue was packed with loud and supportive fans, which we love. But this is just the first step. Starting with a win is great, but the goal remains the Final 4. First, we need to win at home next week. So far, it’s been a tough season for us,” said FRANZISKA. The return leg is set for Friday in Saarbrücken. In Prague, KS DARTOM BOGORIA overcame SF SKK EL NINO PRAHA. Marek BADOWSKI and Takuya JIN delivered key wins, while Panagiotis GIONIS has to come back to table twice; he lost to David REITSPIES but overcame Tomas KONECNY. “It wasn’t easy. The venue was small, and we’ve had many matches in the Superliga recently, so fatigue played a role. REITSPIES was excellent against defensive players, and I was well aware of it, since we played against each other a lot. However BADOWSKI and JIN performed brilliantly. After they produced 2-1 advantage it was much easier for me to seal the match. There’s still one game ahead, and we need to justify this win at home,” said GIONIS. The second leg is scheduled for Friday. KS GLOBAL PHARMA ORLICZ 1924 SUCHEDNIÓW posted a stunning home victory. The Polish side defeated A.S PONTOISE-CERGY TT with stellar performances by Kazuhiro YOSHIMURA, who beat Mehdi BOULOUSSA and Izaac QUEK YONG, and Mateusz ZALEWSKI, who overcame Flavio MOURIER. QUEK YONG managed a win against Dani KOZUL after a close five-game battle. “I’m disappointed with my match; I led in four games but couldn’t close the match. Still, the team win matters most. YOSHIMURA played amazingly, and ZALEWSKI stayed calm at 1-1. Our supporters were fantastic and pushed us throughout. We now need to prepare well for the match in France to secure the next round,” said KOZUL. Mateusz ZALEWSKI expressed his satisfaction with the team’s performance: “We are very happy that we managed to win the first match in the quarterfinal of the Champions League against a very strong team. It was a very tough match; three out of the four games were very close, which shows our mental power as well. Each of us played at a high level.” Looking ahead, ZALEWSKI highlighted the team’s busy schedule:“Now we will play the last match of the Polish league on Tuesday, and after that, we will give our best in the rematch in France.” The team’s mental strength and consistency will be critical as they aim to secure their place in the next stage of the competition.” GV HENNEBONT TT triumphed over UKS Dojlidy Białystok, led by Vladimir SIDORENKO with two critical wins. SIDORENKO defeated Patryk CHOJNOWSKI and Machi ASUKA, while Iulian CHIRITA overcame Piotr MICHALSKI. ASUKA managed a single win against Lev KATSMAN. “The match was far from easy, with a lively crowd cheering for the hosts. The atmosphere was intense, and playing with DONIC balls added a new challenge for me. It was our first time facing these opponents, making every match unpredictable. I’m happy I managed small comebacks in both my matches. Now, we focus on preparing for the home leg,” said SIDORENKO. The return match in HENNEBONT is scheduled for Thursday. “It’s great that we won the match; it was very important. Away matches are always challenging, and UKS Dojlidy Białystok is a very strong team. I didn’t start well and couldn’t secure a win for my team in the opening match. Each game I lost was decided by the narrowest of margins—I was more than unlucky. I hope we can win again in the return leg at home,” said Lev KATSMAN. “Our goal this season is also to reach the playoffs in the French league, which is a very difficult task. We have a strong team, and I’m honored to play for a club with such a rich history. I’m grateful for the opportunity to represent GV Hennebont. The team spirit here is fantastic. Vladi SIDORENKO and I have known each other since our youth. We played together at the European and World Championships in the cadet and junior national teams of Russia, and later we were teammates in Germany’s Neu-Ulm. We’ve been playing together for a very long time. Also, CHIRITA is an excellent player who adds a lot to the team.” KS Dekorglass Działdowo 1-3 prevailed against Postsportverein Mühlhausen 1951 e.V. Jonathan GROTH was the backbone of the team’s success with wins over Ovidiu IONESCU and Daniel HABESOHN. Samuel KULCZYCKI prevailed against Steffen MENGEL, while the only point for the hosts was scored by Irvin BERTRAND, who defeated Jakub DYJAS. HB Ostrov z.s.- 1 FC Saarbrücken Tischtennis e.V. 0-3 SF SKK EL NINO PRAHA – KS DARTOM BOGORIA Grodzisk Mazowiecki 1-3 KS GLOBAL PHARMA ORLICZ 1924 SUCHEDNIÓW – A.S PONTOISE-CERGY TT 3-1 Postsportverein Mühlhausen 1951 e.V. – KS Dekorglass Działdowo 1-3 UKS Dojlidy Białystok – GV HENNEBONT TT 1-3
Europe Cup Men Stage 2: Eight Clubs Advance to Round of 16
After two days of intense competition in the Europe Cup Men Stage 2, eight clubs secured their spots in the Round of 16. The top teams from each of the four groups, along with the runners-up, will now face the eight Champions League Round of 16 losers in the knockout stage. In Group A, held in Linz, Austria, Spanish side UNIVERSIDAD DE BURGOS – TPF remained unbeaten. Daniel BERZOSA, Aitor COLINA, and Cai SHUNHANG overcame Romania’s CSS SZAK Odorheiu Secuiesc in a hard-fought five-match duel. Despite going the full distance in all three of their matches, the Romanian team managed only one win, defeating TTC SOKAH HOBOKEN. Hosts SPG Linz, represented by Zhenlong LIU, Tobias TISCHBERGER, and Mohamed EL-BEIALI, secured second place, losing only to Burgos. In Group B, played in Roskilde, Denmark, the home team Roskilde Bordtennis dominated with three consecutive victories. Jens LUNDQVIST, Tobias RASMUSSEN, Allan BENTSEN, and Dominykas SAMUOLIS led their team to the top of the group. Spain’s REAL CLUB CAJASUR PRIEGO TENIS DE MESA, with Carlos MACHADO, Alberto LILLO, and Alejandro CALVO, claimed the second spot. In Group C, hosted in Lille, France, LILLE METROPOLE T.T. showcased their strength with three wins. Tom CLOSSET, Romain BRARD, Fabio RAKOTOARIMANANA, and Amir Hossein HODAEI secured the top position, pushing Slovakia’s STK Vyhne, featuring Boguslaw KOSZYK, Filip SZYMANSKI, and Miroslav HOREJSI, into second place. In Group D, also played in Lille, Poland’s KTS GLIWICE emerged victorious with a flawless record. Jaroslaw TOMICKI, Grzegorz FELKEL, and Dariusz STEUER claimed all three wins. Germany’s ASC Grünwettersbach, represented by TEODORO Guilherme, Leo DE NODREST, and Ricardo WALTHER, finished second, advancing to the next round. Notably, Grünwettersbach had topped their group in Round 1 last month. Europe Cup Men Group A SPG Linz – TTC SOKAH HOBOKEN 3-1 CSS SZAK Odorheiu Secuiesc – UNIVERSIDAD DE BURGOS – TPF 2-3 Group B KS VILLA VERDE OLESNO – TJ Geológ Rožňava 1-3 Roskilde Bordtennis – REAL CLUB CAJASUR PRIEGO TENIS DE MESA 3-1 Group C STK Vyhne – SK Vydrany 3-0 STK LIBERTAS MARINKOLOR – LILLE METROPOLE T.T 1-3 SK Vydrany – STK LIBERTAS MARINKOLOR 2-3 STK Vyhne – LILLE METROPOLE T.T 0-3 Group D STK STARR – KTS GLIWICE 0-3 ASC Grünwettersbach – ENOLI BORGES VALL 3-0
