Member Associations | 14 Aug 2024

BOLL, OVTCHAROV & Co: Biggest Stars Gather Once Again in the Bundesliga

Olympic medalists, former world champions, and more—the elite of European table tennis will once again take part in the Table Tennis Bundesliga (TTBL) for the 2024/25 season. With the season just around the corner, let’s take a look at some of the biggest names in the circuit.

Timo BOLL

This season will be a special one not only for Timo BOLL but for the entire TTBL. After ending his international career, the table tennis superstar is now embarking on a farewell tour in the TTBL after nearly 30 years of relentless dedication. In his final season, BOLL aims to compete once more with Borussia Düsseldorf.

After winning both the championship and the cup last season, the record champion's goal is to win titles in all three competitions again.

"I'm really looking forward to the next season—to once again travel to all the halls, to say goodbye everywhere," Boll said at the Liebherr TTBL Final.

The countdown has begun for all fans to see the 43-year-old live in action one last time.

Hugo CALDERANO

TTF Liebherr Ochsenhausen had a disappointing season: With the return of Hugo CALDERANO, the Swabians aimed at least for the playoffs but ended up in sixth place at the end of the regular season. The Brazilian had a 9:3 individual record. In the new season, the goal is to return to the top four, and the TTF's top players recently gained momentum at the Olympics.

CALDERANO narrowly missed out on a medal in the individual competition, finishing fourth after a loss to Felix LEBRUN, while Simon GAUZY won bronze with the French team in the team competition.

Benedikt DUDA

It's hard to imagine TTC Schwalbe Bergneustadt without Benedikt DUDA. The 30-year-old has been playing for the club from Oberbergischer Kreis since his youth and has been in the TTBL since 2014. During this time, DUDA has developed into one of the best players in Germany:

He has won the German singles championship twice (2021, 2024), celebrated the Team European Championship with the national team in 2021, and was the runner-up in the Team World Championship in 2022. He remains the key player for Bergneustadt.

Despite personnel issues, TTC achieved a respectable seventh place last season, and they aim for similar success in the new season.

Mattias FALCK

Mattias FALCK has been playing for SV Werder Bremen for five years and has since become the undisputed top player for the North Germans. FALCK led Bremen to the playoffs twice (2019, 2024), but they lost last spring to 1. FC Saarbrücken TT. Internationally, the Swede has also achieved notable success.

FALCK won World Championship silver in singles (2019), became a world champion in doubles (2021), and European champion in doubles (2022) and team (2023). In the new season, Werder is once again among the contenders for playoff spots, with FALCK joined by Kirill GERASSIMENKO, Marcelo AGUIRRE, and newcomer Andrei PUTUNTICA.

Patrick FRANZISKA

Patrick FRANZISKA has reached the Liebherr TTBL final for the German championship six times in a row with 1. FC Saarbrücken TT, and in the new season, the reigning vice-champion aims for titles again. FRANZISKA has been with FCS since 2016, and together they have won trophies in the TTBL (2020), the German Table Tennis Cup (2022), and the Champions League twice (2023, 2024).

Internationally, the world number 11 recently caused a sensation by reaching the final of the Grand Smash in Jeddah, with a win against FAN Zhendong. In the new season, FRANZISKA will continue to compete for Saarbrücken alongside Darko JORGIC and other top players, with the two-time Olympic silver medalist (singles, team) Truls MÖREGARDH also participating in the Champions League.

Kristian KARLSSON

Kristian KARLSSON is back! In 2022, the Swede left Borussia Düsseldorf and the TTBL after six years. In 2024/25, KARLSSON is returning to Germany, surprisingly joining promoted club TTC OE Bad Homburg.

"I like ambitious clubs with vision and the associated challenge," said the 2021 world doubles champion when announcing his move in February.

KARLSSON aims to help the Hessians stay in the TTBL. His recent success at the Olympics should provide momentum for this mission: KARLSSON and Sweden reached the final, and he, along with fellow Bad Homburg recruit Anton KÄLLBERG (Borussia Düsseldorf) and MÖREGARDH, celebrated their silver medals.

Dimitrij OVTCHAROV

The signing of Dimitrij OVTCHAROV by TTC RhönSprudel Fulda-Maberzell was one of the biggest sensations of the recent transfer window. After finishing 11th and 10th in the past two seasons, the East Hessians aim to climb the table again—ideally even reaching the playoffs.

They also brought in KAO Cheng-Jui, and CHUANG Chih-Yuan remains on the team. But OVTCHAROV will undoubtedly be the main attraction at TTC: Although the 35-year-old recently missed out on a medal in Paris, with two bronze medals in singles (2012, 2021) and two silver (2008, 2021) and bronze (2012, 2016) in team events, he is already the most successful German table tennis Olympian of all time.

Jin UEDA

TSV Bad Königshofen had high hopes for the signing of Jin UEDA, and these were immediately fulfilled. Although the Japanese player could only be used in the second half of the season due to a transfer error, his 7:6 record in the second half was crucial in securing the club's first-ever playoff berth. In addition to his sporting achievements, UEDA has won over the hearts of the Königshofen fans. With the duo of Ueda and Bastian STEGER, TSV is again a strong contender for a top-four spot in the 2024/25 season.