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
Europe Cup Women: Eight Teams Confirmed for Round 3 After Thrilling Stage 2 Matches
The lineup of eight clubs advancing to Round 3 of the Europe Cup Women has been finalized. Stage 2, held in France and Portugal, identified four group winners and four runners-up who will now proceed to the next phase, featuring a home-and-away (double round-robin) format. The Round 3 winners will secure spots in the quarterfinals, where they will face third-placed teams relegated from the Champions League (CL Round 2). In Group A, hosted in Montpellier, France, HB Ostrov z.s. topped the standings with three wins. Tatiana KUKULKOVA, Zdena BLASKOVA, and Veronika POLAKOVA led the Czech side to victory. Spanish team SON CLADERA TTC – MALLORCA, represented by Honoka KAWAKITA, Pauline CHASSELIN, and Ainhoa CRISTOBAL, secured the runners-up position. In Group B, held in Mirandela, Portugal, FIBRAIN KU AZS POLITECHNIKA RZESZOW claimed the top spot with an unbeaten record. The Polish trio of Yami NARUMOTO, Zuzanna WIELGOS, and Katarzyna GRZYBOWSKA-FRANC displayed dominance throughout. They were followed by Spain’s Museo de la Almendra Francisco Morales, represented by Marija ZOLOTIC GALONJA, Margarita FETUKHINA, and Patricia SANTOS. In Group C, Spanish team MIRÓ GANXETS REUS, featuring Margaryta PESOTSKA, Takara MURAKAMI, and Elvira Fiona RAD, emerged as the group winners. They defeated the host team, CTM Mirandela, led by Ines MATOS, Annamaria ERDELYI, and Mariana SANTA COMBA, who finished in second place. In Group D, UNIVERSIDAD DE BURGOS – RM TERAN secured the top position. Gabriela FEHER, Maria BERZOSA, and Candela MOLERO completed their matches with two wins. CP LYSSOIS LILLE METROPOLE, represented by Shouhan MAN, Filippa BERGAND, Margo DEGRAEF, and Lilou MASSART, overcame Gibrau VIV TT today to claim the second spot in this group of three. Group A União Sebastianense FC – HB Ostrov z.s. 0-3 Alliance Nîmes Montpellier TT – HB Ostrov z.s. 2-3 União Sebastianense FC – SON CLADERA TTC – MALLORCA 0-3 Group B FIBRAIN KU AZS POLITECHNIKA RZESZOW – Museo de la Almendra Francisco Morales 3-1 Group C MIRÓ GANXETS REUS – CTM Mirandela 3-1 BEBETTO AZS UJD CZESTOCHOWA – TT Moravský Krumlov 3-0 w/o Group D Girbau-Vic TT – CP LYSSOIS LILLE METROPOLE 0-3
Dominant Performance by Alliance Nîmes/Montpellier in the CL Round of 16
The team with the most impressive lineup in this season’s European club competition made a commanding statement in the Round of 16. After advancing through the Group Stage, Alliance Nîmes/Montpellier showed their full strength in front of an electrified home crowd at the Palais des Sports Pierre de Coubertin in Montpellier. This match marked the Champions League debut for Europe’s No. 1 player, Felix LEBRUN, and No. 3, Alexis LEBRUN, and they did not disappoint. Their stellar performances propelled the French team to a dominant win over Austria’s SPG Felbermayr Wels in straight matches. Felix LEBRUN faced a brief challenge in the opening game against Maciej KOLODZIEJCZYK but quickly turned the tide, dictating the pace from the second game onwards in a one-sided display. Alexis LEBRUN entered the arena fully prepared and dispatched Andreas LEVENKO in straight games with clinical precision. Esteban DORR, the only player from the team who also participated in Stage 1 last month in Suchedniow, completed the triumph with a composed 3-1 victory over Felix WETZEL. The fantastic atmosphere in Montpellier, coupled with the outstanding performances of its players, solidifies Alliance Nîmes/Montpellier as a top contender in this season’s Champions League Men. Alliance Nîmes/Montpellier – SPG Felbermayr Wels 3-0
Stage 2 Europe Cup Women: Intense Battles in France and Portugal
This weekend, the Stage 2 matches of the Europe Cup Women are underway, hosted across four groups in France and Portugal. The competition sees favorites delivering on expectations and fierce contests among strong contenders. The winners and runners-up from all four groups progress to Round 3, which will follow a home-and-away format (double round robin). The Round 3 winners will then advance to the quarterfinals, where they will face teams relegated from the Champions League (CL Round 2 3rd-placed teams). Group A: Montpellier, France At the Palais des Sports Pierre de Coubertin in Montpellier, the top-seeded Alliance Nîmes Montpellier TT justified their status, defeating Portugal’s União Sebastianense in straight matches. Similarly impressive, Czech team HB Ostrov z.s. prevailed over Spanish side SON CLADERA TTC – MALLORCA, maintaining the group’s competitive spirit. Group B: Mirandela, Portugal FIBRAIN KU AZS POLITECHNIKA RZESZOW and Spain’s Museo de la Almendra Francisco Morales remain unbeaten after two rounds. Both clubs were awarded walkovers due to the absence of TT Moravský Krumlov. In their played matches, they secured wins against BEBETTO AZS UJD CZESTOCHOWA from Poland, asserting their dominance in the group. Group C: Mirandela, Portugal Spanish team MIRÓ GANXETS REUS secured a hard-earned win over Hungary’s Győri AC. Bernadett BALINT claimed victory over Japan’s Takara MURAKAMI, but Margaryta PESOTSKA proved unstoppable, recording two straight-game wins against BALINT and Alexa SZVITACS. The hosts, CTM Mirandela, featuring Ines MATOS, Annamaria ERDELYI, and Mariana SANTA COMBA, also swept aside the Hungarian club with a dominant straight-match victory. Group D: Mirandela, Portugal In a three-team group, UNIVERSIDAD DE BURGOS – RM TERAN finished on top after a series of grueling matches. In the morning, Gabriela FEHER, Maria BERZOSA, and Candela MOLERO triumphed over CP LYSSOIS LILLE METROPOLE’s Shouhan MAN, Filippa BERGAND, and Lilou MASSART after a five-game thriller. The afternoon match saw them pushed to the limit once again before prevailing against Girbau-Vic TT. Notably, Charlotte CAREY delivered standout performances, defeating both FEHER and BERZOSA. Europe Cup Women Stage 2 Group A Alliance Nîmes Montpellier TT – União Sebastianense FC 3-0 SON CLADERA TTC – MALLORCA – HB Ostrov z.s. 0-3 Group B Museo de la Almendra Francisco Morales – BEBETTO AZS UJD CZESTOCHOWA 3-2 FIBRAIN KU AZS POLITECHNIKA RZESZOW – TT Moravský Krumlov 3-0 w/o TT Moravský Krumlov – Museo de la Almendra Francisco Morales 0-3 w/o FIBRAIN KU AZS POLITECHNIKA RZESZOW – BEBETTO AZS UJD CZESTOCHOWA 3-0 Group C Győri AC- MIRÓ GANXETS REUS 2-3 Győri AC – CTM Mirandela 0-3 Group D UNIVERSIDAD DE BURGOS RM TERAN – CP LYSSOIS LILLE METROPOLE 3-2 Girbau-Vic TT – UNIVERSIDAD DE BURGOS – RM TERAN 2-3
