For the past three days, the European club scene was under the spotlight as Stage 1 of the ETTU Champions League took place in Novi Sad. The 2025/2026 season kick-off brought together 32 clubs in both the Men’s and Women’s Events. In the Men’s Event, eight clubs, winners and runners-up from four groups, qualified for the Round of 16, where the top eight seeds will join them in the knockout stage. The clubs that did not qualify will move on to Stage 2 of the Europe Cup. In the Women’s Event, four clubs—winners and runners-up from two groups, advanced to Stage 2, where they will be joined by the top eight seeds to form four new groups of three clubs each. Those who failed to qualify will also proceed to Stage 2 of the Europe Cup. All four group winners iof the Men’s groups, France’s Alliance Nîmes/Montpellier, Germany’s Post SV Mühlhausen 1951 e.V. and ASC Grünwettersbach, and Belgium’s TTC Sokah Hoboken, finished the opening stage undefeated. In the Women’s Event, STK Novi Sad concluded the tournament at the top of the group despite a defeat in the last round against Poland’s PGE Fibrain Ku AZS Politechnika Rzeszów. France’s representatives Saint-Denis TT 93 lived up to expectations, winning their group with three straight victories. You can find the photos here. QUALIFIED FOR THE ROUND OF 16 MEN Group winners Group runner ups QUALIFIED FOR STAGE 2 WOMEN Group winners Group runner ups