After a full day of qualification matches, all spots were filled in Montreux, and the draw for the Round of 16 at the CCB Europe Top 16 Cup was held at the Omnisports Montreux. On Friday, the Round of 16 matches will be played for both men and women. Saturday is reserved for the Quarterfinals for both categories, and Sunday for the Semifinals and finals of the men’s and women’s singles.
BRATEYKO, WINTER, DUDA, and HABESOHN Advance to Round of 16
The lineup for the CCB Europe Top 16 Cup Round of 16 is complete. On the opening day of the competition in Montreux, after two wins in the qualification stage, Solomiya BRATEYKO of Ukraine, Sabine WINTER of Germany, her compatriot Benedikt DUDA, and Daniel HABESOHN of Austria secured their places in the main draw. On her debut in Montreux, 20-year-old BRATEYKO reached the main draw after wins over Giorgia PICCOLIN of Italy and Ivana MALOBABIC of Croatia. “I was so nervous before my match. Firstly, when I saw the draw, I thought I had to win the opening match and play well… and then I was mentally prepared for the clash against Xia Lian NI. But then Giorgia won, and my chances rose. Unfortunately, even that didn’t help me; I was so stressed. I wanted to get into the main draw, and now I am so happy,” said BRATEYKO. HABESOHN overcame Joao GERALDO of Portugal in the second round, having previously beaten Tomislav PUCAR of Croatia. Both matches saw the momentum swing back and forth in dramatic turns. “It cost me some years of life, matches like this,” said HABESOHN, laughing. “After the GERALDO match, it was quite strange, especially in the last game. I was up 5-1 and had the game completely under control in the fifth. Then, I started to play a little bit passively, and he seized the opportunity and didn’t miss. I realized my mistake.” Recording eight points in a row or losing it, you can never predict Daniel’s game. “My game is generally very risky. I am very focused on the balls, and I am trying to make sure it will work. In these two matches, I managed to hit more than I missed. Against Joao, I had a good tactic in the decisive game. At 7-7, I switched to my backhand serve, and it was perfect because he misread it twice, so I got direct points.” In 2019, HABESOHN had his best result in Montreux. In the semifinals, he lost to Timo BOLL after prevailing against Simon GAUZY and Marcos FREITAS. Sabine WINTER inflicted pain on the host nation supporters by beating Rachel MORET of Switzerland. “This was my first international match since switching to the anti-topspin rubber, and I was very satisfied with it. Today, you could see how different matches with the anti can be, depending on the opponent,” said WINTER. Runner-up at the European Championships in Linz last year, Benedikt DUDA overcame Liam PITCHFORD to secure his place among the top 16 players tomorrow. “This was a solid performance from me. It was my first international match against him ever—we had only played once in the Bundesliga a few years ago. But I handled him well in the serve-and-return game and am very satisfied with my performance. Now I have reached my first milestone, and from here, we’ll take it one round at a time.” See the pictures here. Match for the place in the Top 16
Rachel MORET Secures Long-Awaited Victory at the CCB Europe Top 16 Cup
After six years, Rachel MORET of Switzerland finally rewarded herself with the long-awaited victory at the CCB Europe Top 16 Cup. There have always been no adversaries who could underestimate Rachel, but when it came to the final step, the Swiss player was often on the wrong side of the result. Today, in the opening stage of the qualifications, MORET, ranked No. 39 in Europe, overcame Hana MATELOVA of Czechia, who is ranked No. 16, after a thrilling five-game match that went back and forth. “Three times I lost 3-4, I had match ball against Sofia POLCANOVA…I was so close so many times,” reflected MORET, who had faced POLCANOVA of Austria four times, had a match ball once, and also lost to Elizabeta SAMARA of Romania and Nina MITTELHAM. However, MORET has never gone down without a great fight, and all players know how competitive she is. “I am so happy. It was important for me to win one match here after so many tries. I was so nervous as we approached the end. The whole duel went up and down. It was 1-2, 2-7 for MATELOVA in the fourth game, then in the decisive game, I was up 9-5 before Hana leveled. It was so stressful,” said MORET. Hana MATELOVA of Czechia – Rachel MORET of Switzerland 2-3 (13-15, 11-8, 11-9, 8-11, 9-11)
Early Exits for Top-Ranked Qualifiers at the CCB Europe Top 16 Cup
The CCB Europe Top 16 Cup commenced today in Montreux, nestled on the shores of the serene Lake Geneva, a picturesque town that captures the essence of Swiss beauty. This year’s edition of the tournament is extended to include qualification rounds, which took place today. Eight players are fighting for the two positions in the main draw, which will begin tomorrow. In the morning session, the highest-ranked players in the qualification rounds, Xia Lian NI of Luxembourg and Tomislav PUCAR of Croatia, faced early exits. In the Women’s event, Giorgia PICCOLIN of Italy triumphed over NI. PICCOLIN played a flawless game and maintained her focus while handling NI’s constant changes in tactics and rhythm. Despite a momentary lapse in focus that cost her the second game, PICCOLIN regained control and secured the win. In the Men’s event, Daniel HABESOHN overcame PUCAR. HABESOHN was down 4-8 but fought back to beat PUCAR 11-9 in the decisive game, once again highlighting his unpredictability. The opening round of the qualifications See the pictures here.
The draw for the 2025 CCB Europe Top 16 Cup
The 2025 CCB Europe Top 16 Cup in Montreux commences tomorrow with an innovative new format. Instead of two days of competition, we will have four days of fierce battles. On Thursday, the qualification rounds for players ranked 15–21 in the ETTU rankings and one Swiss player are introduced for the first time. Players will play two rounds, and the two winners from the second round will advance to the main draw. The draw for the qualification part of the event was held today at the Omnisports Montreux. On Friday, the Round of 16 matches will be played for both men and women. Saturday is reserved for Quarterfinals for both categories, and Sunday for Semifinals and finals for men’s and women’s singles. The winners of the 2024 CCB Europe Top 16 Cup were Jia NanYUAN (France) and DARKO JORGIC (Slovenia). JORGIC achieved a remarkable hat-trick, securing the title for the third consecutive year. YUAN made history as the first Frenchwoman to win the tournament. Bronze medalists in 2024 were Marcos FREITAS (Portugal) and Alexis LEBRUN (France) in the men’s event, while BERNADETTE SZOCS (Romania) and Nina MITTELHAM (Germany) took third place in the women’s category. All last year’s medalists are on duty in Montreux. Top seeds are Felix LEBRUN of France and Bernadette SZOCS of Romania. The novelty is that the two-player limit per nation has been removed, ensuring that Europe’s best players have the chance to compete, regardless of nationality. All matches will be played in a “Best of 5” format, and the competition will take place on a single table over four days. ETTU.TV will cover all matches except in the countries where specific restrictions apply. The results can be followed here.
CTM Mirandela Secures Quarterfinal Spot Despite Defeat in Second Leg
Portugal’s CTM Mirandela lost a long-distance duel in Round 3 of the Europe Cup Women, but thanks to their 3-1 victory at home at the end of last year, they secured a place in the quarterfinals. HB Ostrov z.s. won the second leg at home, but their 3-2 victory was not enough to advance to the next stage. Veronika POLAKOVA claimed both her matches today, defeating Annamaria ERDELYI and Mariana SANTA COMBA, while Tatiana KUKULKOVA overcame Ines MATOS. On the other hand, Zdena BLASKOVA was unable to contribute to the scoreboard, suffering defeats against Annamaria ERDELYI and Mariana SANTA COMBA. HB Ostrov z.s. – CTM Mirandela 3-2 Opening leg CTM Mirandela – HB Ostrov z.s. 3-1
Saarbrücken and Borussia Düsseldorf Secure Spots in the Final 4
Reigning Champions League Men titleholders 1. FC Saarbrücken Tischtennis e.V. and last year’s runners-up Borussia Düsseldorf won their quarterfinal matches today, securing their places in this year’s Final 4. The event, scheduled for May 31 and June 1, 2025, in Saarbrücken, will feature two German clubs alongside two Polish teams, both making their debut in the Final 4: KS GLOBAL PHARMA ORLICZ 1924 SUCHEDNIÓW and KS DARTOM BOGORIA Grodzisk Mazowiecki. Six-time Champions League winners Borussia Düsseldorf defeated Alliance Nîmes/Montpellier, the club of rising stars Felix and Alexis LEBRUN, at the ARAG CenterCourt (ACC) in Düsseldorf. Although Dang QIU, Anton KÄLLBERG, and Timo BOLL secured a 3-0 victory in France, today’s return leg—played in front of a sold-out crowd , including standing-room-only tickets (1.100 spectators) —was anything but lacking in excitement. “Overall, we are really proud and happy to have overcome this tough challenge against Montpellier. They were the strongest possible opponent we could face in the quarterfinals. In the first leg, we were quite lucky, as we were behind in all games but managed to find the right solutions and stay calm. Today, in front of our supporters, we played a really strong match,” explained Timo BOLL, after his last-ever home match in the Champions League. 1. FC Saarbrücken Tischtennis e.V., the hosts of the upcoming Final 4, comfortably overcame GV HENNEBONT TT in both legs, with even less drama in today’s match. Truls MOREGAARD initially struggled against Iulian CHIRITA, but after setting the pace, Patrick FRANZISKA and Darko JORGIC quickly sealed the win against Vladimir SIDORENKO and Lev KATSMAN. “It was a great performance by the whole team today. We had to be at our best because GV HENNEBONT TT is a very strong team. I am really satisfied, especially since this was my first singles match in Saarbrücken. This is such a great club with an amazing atmosphere… only good vibes here,” said MOREGAARD. “I am so happy to reach the Final 4. It was not easy. Although they were defeated in straight matches in the opening leg, they fought fiercely. Luckily, Truls managed to come through a tough match. After that, things were a little easier for me, but SIDORENKO played very well.At 2-0, the pressure was off, and Darko was able to close out the match. I’m thrilled that we will be in the Final 4, defending our title in front of our home spectators. I am really looking forward to the event,” explained Patrick FRANZISKA. Darko JORGIC added: “This was an important victory, with so much at stake, especially since we are hosting the Final 4. From the beginning, we knew it would be tough—CHIRITA is in top form. He beat me recently in Singapore, and today he gave Truls a hard time. Franziska managed to stay in control against SIDORENKO’s aggressive start. In the end, I just had to finish the job. Now, I can’t wait for May and for the Final 4 to start in front of our home supporters,” said JORGIC. Borussia Düsseldorf – Alliance Nîmes/Montpellier 3-1 Opening leg Alliance Nîmes/Montpellier – Borussia Düsseldorf 0-3 1 FC Saarbrücken Tischtennis e.V. – GV HENNEBONT TT 3-0 Opening leg GV HENNEBONT TTF- 1 FC Saarbrücken Tischtennis e.V. 0-3
ASC Grünwettersbach and Postsportverein Mühlhausen Secure Quarterfinal Spots in Europe Cup Men
In the Round of 16 of the Europe Cup Men, ASC Grünwettersbach and Postsportverein Mühlhausen 1951 e.V. justified their opening-leg victories and sealed their places in the next stage. ASC Grünwettersbach overcame SPG Felbermayr Wels in four matches—one fewer than the five required in Austria. Andreas LEVENKO, who had secured both points in the first leg, was absent this time, making the task slightly easier for Leo DE NODREST, Guilherme TEODORO, and Ricardo WALTHER. TEODORO was the only player from the German club to suffer defeat, losing to Felix WETZEL. “We’re happy to reach the quarterfinals of the Europe Cup by winning both matches. The team did a great job, and we hope to keep this momentum going in the next round!” said Leo DE NODREST. Similarly, Postsportverein Mühlhausen 1951 e.V. overcame LILLE MÉTROPOLE T.T. After dropping one point in the opening leg, the German club dominated at home, preventing the French side from winning a single match. Ovidiu IONESCU faced some pressure against Fabio RAKOTOARIMANANA, but Steffen MENGEL and Daniel HABESOHN secured straight-game victories over Romain BRARD and Vincent RASSELET to complete the sweep. “We already had a victory from the first leg, and Lille was not here with their strongest lineup. So, we expected to win the match today. Now, we are looking forward to the quarterfinals, and we will do our best to win that as well,” said Daniel HABESOHN. Round of 16 ASC Grünwettersbach – SPG Felbermayr Wels 3-1 Opening leg SPG Felbermayr Wels – ASC Grünwettersbach 2-3 Postsportverein Mühlhausen 1951 e.V. -LILLE METROPOLE T.T 3-0 Opening leg LILLE METROPOLE T.T – Postsportverein Mühlhausen 1951 e.V. 1-3
SAINT-QUENTIN TT Completes Stunning Comeback to Reach Champions League Semifinals
In the quarterfinals of the Champions League Women, SAINT-QUENTIN TT advanced to the next stage after overcoming a 0-3 defeat in the opening leg. LINZ AG Froschberg, previously unbeaten in Europe this season, suffered their first loss and failed to regain control in the golden match. After securing a convincing win in France, LINZ AG Froschberg was unable to capitalize on their advantage and fell at home. “We didn’t think about the first leg; we were just focused on taking it match by match today,” explained LUTZ, who had defeated Britt EERLAND today. Polina MIKHAILOVA edged out Suthasini SAWETTABUT in a five-game thriller, while Linda BERGSTRÖM overcame Ivana MALOBABIĆ in four games. “We are really happy to reach the semifinals, especially after defeating Linz, because we lost to them last year. We also had a tough week in the French league, which makes this victory even more special. We lost 3-0 to Metz and failed to reach the playoffs, finishing 7th when only the top 6 qualify,” said LUTZ. Reflecting on the golden match, she added: “There was a lot of tension, but I was confident that my teammates could win the next two games, so I didn’t put too much pressure on myself.” Meanwhile, ttc berlin eastside and KTS ENEA SIARKOPOL Tarnobrzeg also secured their spots in the semifinals yesterday. LINZ AG Froschberg – SAINT-QUENTIN TT 0-3 Golden match LINZ AG Froschberg – SAINT-QUENTIN TT 0-2 Opening leg SAINT-QUENTIN TT – Froschberg LINZ AG 0-3
A Stunning Comeback: KS GLOBAL PHARMA ORLICZ 1924 SUCHEDNIÓW Defies the Odds to Reach Final 4
KS GLOBAL PHARMA ORLICZ 1924 SUCHEDNIÓW pulled off a remarkable turnaround to secure a spot in the Champions League Men Final 4. In the quarterfinals, in a thrilling all-Polish duel, they overcame KS Dekorglass Działdowo. Jeongwoo PARK, Deni KOZUL, and Mateusz ZALEWSKI battled back from a massive deficit after suffering a straight-match defeat in the opening leg on home soil. In the return leg, they defeated KKS Dekorglass Działdowo 3-1 before clinching victory in the golden match. “After such a convincing defeat in the first leg, we were written off. That’s why we decided to take a risk. We were ready to fight and play point by point. PARK gave us a dream start by defeating KULCZYCKI in straight games, giving us a glimmer of hope. Overall, it was a strange and incredibly tough match. In the crucial moments, we handled the pressure better,” explained KOZUL. For the first time in their history, KS GLOBAL PHARMA ORLICZ 1924 SUCHEDNIÓW will compete in the Final 4 in Saarbrücken on May 31 and June 1, 2025. “Of course, playing the golden match for the first time was tricky, but once again, PARK gave us a strong start. Unfortunately, Mateusz ZALEWSKI had a 10-7 lead against KULCZYCKI but couldn’t close it out. However, I was very confident going into my match against DYJAS. Also, it was a great pleasure to play tonight—the atmosphere in Działdowo’s venue was fantastic,” added KOZUL. Meanwhile, another Polish representative, KS DARTOM BOGORIA Grodzisk Mazowiecki, has already secured their place in the Final 4. KS Dekorglass Działdowo – KS GLOBAL PHARMA ORLICZ 1924 SUCHEDNIÓW 1-3 Golden match KS Dekorglass Działdowo – KS GLOBAL PHARMA ORLICZ 1924 SUCHEDNIÓW 1-2 Opening leg KS GLOBAL PHARMA ORLICZ 1924 SUCHEDNIÓW – KS Dekorglass Działdowo 0-3
