The first title of the season goes to Swabia: TTF Liebherr Ochsenhausen triumphed at the LIEBHERR Cup Final Four and won the German Table Tennis Cup for the fifth time. On Saturday, in front of 4,500 enthusiastic fans at the ratiopharm arena in Ulm/Neu-Ulm, TTF secured the final with a 3-1 victory over 1. FC Saarbrücken TT. Hugo CALDERANO, the world No. 6 smiled broadly, danced around the court, and repeatedly celebrated with a clenched fist. CALDERANO played four matches throughout the LIEBHERR Cup Final Four, winning all of them and dropping just one game in total. In the final against 1. FC Saarbrücken TT, Calderano and his teammates lifted the trophy after a 3-1 victory, marking their first title since the 2019 double win. “It’s very special for us to win this title,” said CALDERANO afterward. “I’m very happy it worked out. Playing here is always a special experience because of the proximity to Ochsenhausen and the many fans in the arena.” The decisive victory came from Calderano in his match against Patrick FRANZISKA. CALDERANO won 3-0, displaying clever play at key moments, stealing points from his opponent, and benefiting from some luck. A spectacular rally gave him the first set 11-10, and a defensive edge shot secured a 10-7 lead in the second set. “Hugo played flawlessly, very versatile, and extremely confidently,” acknowledged FRANZISKA. “When he plays like that, he can beat any player in the world.” With five cup victories (2002, 2003, 2004, 2019, 2025), Ochsenhausen is now the second most successful team in the tournament’s history, behind record-holder Borussia Düsseldorf (28 titles). “Incredible, truly incredible,” said Simon GAUZY. “Our big goal was to participate and win the title. We faced two incredibly strong opponents today, so we’re even happier with our success.” Saarbrücken and Ochsenhausen last met in a final in 2020, when Saarbrücken won the German Championship 3-1. However, Saarbrücken missed out on their third cup victory (after 2012 and 2022) on Saturday. They still have two more title opportunities in the Table Tennis Bundesliga (TTBL) and the Champions League. In the TTBL, both Saarbrücken and Ochsenhausen are fighting for playoff spots, and Saarbrücken has reached the Champions League quarterfinals. Before beating FRANZISKA, CALDERANO had already defeated Saarbrücken’s Darko JORGIC (3-1) and, in the semifinals, Yuma TSUBOI and Kristian KARLSSON (both 3-0) from TTC OE Bad Homburg. GAUZY also contributed a point against Bad Homburg with a 3-1 win over KARLSSON, while Shunsuke TOGAMI secured a crucial point against Saarbrücken. The Japanese player saved three match points from Eduard IONESCU and fought back to win the fifth set 3-2, celebrating on his knees with clenched fists. In the other semifinal, Saarbrücken defeated SV Werder Bremen 3-1. “Of course we’re disappointed, and it’s not a good feeling to be second for what feels like the tenth time,” admitted FRANZISKA. Last year, FCS also lost the cup final, that time 0-3 to Borussia Düsseldorf. “But it is what it is,” FRANZISKA added. “Congratulations to Ochsenhausen; they played strongly and deserved to win.” Final 1. FC Saarbrücken TT – TTF Liebherr Ochsenhausen 1:3 Semi final TTF Liebherr Ochsenhausen – TTC OE Bad Homburg 3:1 SV Werder Bremen – 1. FC Saarbrücken TT 1:3 FOTO: BeLa Sportfoto
LIEBHERR Cup Final Four 2025: Who Will Claim the First Title of the Year in Germany
Four teams, three matches, one goal: On January 4, 2025, the top four teams of the cup season will face off at the LIEBHERR Cup Final Four. 1. FC Saarbrücken TT, TTF Liebherr Ochsenhausen, SV Werder Bremen, and TTC OE Bad Homburg will battle it out at the ratiopharm arena Ulm/Neu-Ulm for the first title of the year, with a compact and thrilling schedule featuring semifinals and the final on the same day. This year marks the 10th consecutive LIEBHERR Cup Final Four hosted at the ratiopharm arena Ulm/Neu-Ulm, promising a spectacular event. The Table Tennis Bundesliga (TTBL) expects around 5,000 fans to attend, ensuring a vibrant atmosphere. The audience can anticipate world-class sports, as top stars have confirmed their participation on January 4. Representing 1. FC Saarbrücken TT will be Patrick FRANZISKA and Darko JORGIC, while TTF Liebherr Ochsenhausen brings Hugo CALDERANO and Simon GAUZY. Mattias FALCK and Kirill GERASSIMENKO play for SV Werder Bremen, and Kristian KARLSSON leads TTC OE Bad Homburg. The semifinals kick off at 11 AM, played simultaneously on two tables. Following a brief transition, the grand final showdown will take place on the center court. TTF Liebherr Ochsenhausen, located just 35 kilometers from the arena, aims to secure their fifth title, making them the second most successful team in the cup’s history, behind record-holder Düsseldorf (28 titles). Ochsenhausen’s last victory came on January 5, 2019, when they defeated SV Werder Bremen in the final—a matchup that could be repeated this year. Ochsenhausen faces Bad Homburg in the semifinal, while Saarbrücken plays Bremen on the adjacent table. For TTC OE Bad Homburg, January 4 will be a historic day as they make their debut at the LIEBHERR Cup Final Four. After previous seasons saw them advance only as far as the quarterfinals, they now aim to both enjoy the atmosphere and compete strongly. If Bad Homburg reaches the final, KARLSSON could face his brother-in-law, Patrick FRANZISKA. FRANZISKA, who married KARLSSON’S sister Frida in 2021, will lead 1. FC Saarbrücken TT in their pursuit of another title. Having won the Champions League in the past two seasons, Saarbrücken aims to add to their collection. “We’ll try to create another great memory,” says world-ranked No. 13 Darko JORGIC. While acknowledging Ochsenhausen’s strong lineup, JORGIC remains determined: “It’s our clear goal to win the cup this year.” SV Werder Bremen, who eliminated TTC RhönSprudel Fulda-Maberzell in a dramatic 3-2 quarterfinal, returns to the Final Four for the first time since 2019. Although they have yet to win the title, Bremen has reached the final three times. “This is a big opportunity for us to fight for the trophy,” says team leader Mattias FALCK. “We know we’re a strong team when we play our best table tennis, and we aim to deliver at this spectacular event.” Schedule for the LIEBHERR Cup Final Four 2025 11:00 AM: Semifinals (simultaneous) Semifinal 1: TTF Liebherr Ochsenhausen vs. TTC OE Bad Homburg Semifinal 2: SV Werder Bremen vs. 1. FC Saarbrücken TT After a short break: Final
Season’s Greetings from the ETTU President!
Dear European Table Tennis Friends, As we celebrate the close of 2024, I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to all our member associations, players, coaches, officials, and fans for your incredible contribution to European table tennis.This year has been a momentous one, filled with achievements, growth, and unforgettable moments. It was also a personal milestone for me as I had the honour of being elected your ETTU President. I am truly grateful for your trust as we continue to shape the future of our sport together.We are delighted to share some of our highlights of ETTU’s 2024 activities. You can watch it here.May this holiday season bring you joy, peace, and cherished time with your loved ones. Let’s look forward to a dynamic and successful 2025 filled with unity and progress for European table tennis!Happy Holidays and Best Wishes for the New Year! Pedro Moura ETTU President
The draw for the Women’s Champions League
Stage 2 of the Women’s Champions League has concluded, and the draw for the quarterfinals took place today in Luxembourg.The first leg of the quarterfinal matches will be played in mid-January.
In Nail-Biting Finish, KS Dekorglass Działdowo Advance to Quarterfinals
The Champions League Men is proving to be stronger than ever, with some of the world’s top players competing. Alliance Nîmes/Montpellier boasts World No. 4 Felix LEBRUN and No. 5 Alexis LEBRUN, 1 FC Saarbrücken Tischtennis e.V. features World No. 9 Truls MÖREGÅRDH, and Postsportverein Mühlhausen 1951 e.V. has strengthened its lineup with Gaoyuan LIN, a three-time World Champion as part of Team China. In a dramatic Round of 16 second-leg clash, KS Dekorglass Działdowo edged out Postsportverein Mühlhausen 1951 e.V. to secure their place in the quarterfinals. The German side brought in their Chinese star Gaoyuan LIN for the return leg in Poland, following a 1-3 defeat at home. Overcoming such a deficit was a monumental task, even with a player of LIN’s caliber. Jonathan GROTH gave a strong start against Mühlhausen, defeating Ovidiu IONESCU but narrowly losing to Gaoyuan LIN in a nail-biting fifth game. KS Dekorglass Działdowo nearly leveled the match after LIN and Irvin BERTRAND defeated Samuel KULCZYCKI and Jakub DYJAS, putting the visitors ahead 2-1. LIN sealed the regular match, bringing the overall score to a tie. For the first time in this year’s Champions League, the Golden Match rule was applied. LIN triumphed over KULCZYCKI to give Mühlhausen the initial lead, but GROTH leveled it again with a victory over BERTRAND. In the decisive game, Jakub DYJAS overcame Ovidiu IONESCU, launching the Polish club into the quarterfinals. KS Dekorglass Działdowo – Postsportverein Mühlhausen 1951 e.V. 1-3 Golden match KS Dekorglass Działdowo – Postsportverein Mühlhausen 1951 e.V. 2-1 Opening leg Postsportverein Mühlhausen 1951 e.V. – KS Dekorglass Działdowo 1-3
Alliance Nîmes/Montpellier triumphed over Austria’s SPG Felbermayr Wels
Alliance Nîmes/Montpellier, featuring two of the most prominent names in European table tennis, Felix and Alexis LEBRUN, successfully concluded the Round of 16 in the Champions League Men. The French team triumphed over Austria’s SPG Felbermayr Wels in both legs, showing their dominance and securing their place in the quarterfinals. In today’s match in Austria, Alliance Nîmes/Montpellier sealed victory in four matches. Felix LEBRUN, the Olympic bronze medalist in singles from Paris 2024, demonstrated his exceptional skill by defeating both Andreas LEVENKO and Maciej KOLODZIEJCZYK. Esteban DORR also contributed significantly by defeating LEVENKO in the opening duel of the match. The Austrian side managed one victory, with Felix WETZEL overcoming Alexis LEBRUN, Felix’s older brother, in a closely contested five-game battle. The LEBRUN brothers continue to impress on the international stage. Felix and Alexis are not only Olympic medalists, winning bronze in the team event in Paris 2024 as a members of the team France, but also runners-up in the team event at the World Championships. Felix added to his accolades by claiming the singles title at the European Games, while Alexis struck gold at the European Championships in Linz in the singles category. The duo further solidified their dominance in doubles, capturing gold together at the same European Championships. Their success has been instrumental in Alliance Nîmes/Montpellier’s progress in the Champions League. As they head into the quarterfinals, all eyes will be on the LEBRUN brothers on their journey to their first Final 4. “I am very happy to be playing in the Champions League this year with my team, and it brings me great joy that we have reached the quarterfinals. Additionally, we will face Borussia Düsseldorf, the biggest team in Europe, on our way to the Final 4 in January, and I am really looking forward to that duel,” said Felix LEBRUN. Alliance Nîmes/Montpellier coach Vincent AVRIL expressed his satisfaction with the team’s overall performance, from their success in Stage 1 matches to the impressive conclusion of the Round of 16 challenge. “I am very happy with my entire team. Last time in Poland, without Alexis and Félix, we succeeded in winning the group. Now, after two very strong matches, we won 5-0 with only two games lost. I am very proud of my team. We are going to take some rest and prepare to be ready for Düsseldorf,” said coach AVRIL. SPG Felbermayr Wels – Alliance Nîmes/Montpellier 1-3 Opening leg Alliance Nîmes/Montpellier – SPG Felbermayr Wels 3-0
Stage 2 of the Women’s Champions League Concludes
Stage 2 of the Women’s Champions League has concluded. The final match took place in Berlin, where SKST Plus Hodonín faced ttc berlin eastside. The match did not affect the standings, as the five-time Champions League winners had already secured a quarterfinal spot with three victories prior to this encounter. METZ TT also advanced to the quarterfinals, finishing with two wins and two losses. The Czech team remained at the bottom of the standings, winless in the group stage. ttc berlin eastside rested their top stars Nina MITTELHAM, Xiaona SHAN, and Sabina SURJAN, giving the responsibility to Mia GRIESEL, Mingyang SUN, and Josephina NEUMANN. On the other side, SKST Plus Hodonín was represented by Karin GROFOVA, Sakura MORI, and Solomiya BRATEYKO. In Group A, reigning champions and four-time winners KTS ENEA SIARKOPOL TARNOBRZEG finished Stage 2 with a flawless record, winning all four matches. SAINT-QUENTIN TT advanced to the quarterfinals as the group’s runners-up. In Group C, LINZ AG Froschberg topped the group, also remaining unbeaten throughout Stage 2, while ASD QUATTRO MORI secured second place to move into the quarterfinals. In Group D, French club Etival ASR TT advanced as the group winners, with UCAM Cartagena TM taking the second spot to also progress to the quarterfinals. ttc berlin eastside – SKST Plus Hodonín 3-2
KS Global Pharma Orlicz 1924 Suchedniów Defies the Odds
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
