With Saarlandhalle expected to be almost sold out across both competition days and international interest around the HYLO® Champions League Men Final 4 continuing to grow, attention is once again firmly focused on 1. FC Saarbrücken TT and their pursuit of another European crown on home soil. The German powerhouse enters the decisive weekend as the No. 1 seed, four-time Champions League winner, and reigning champion of both previous Final 4 editions. Backed by one of the strongest squads in European club table tennis, Saarbrücken will once again be among the favourites to lift the trophy in front of their home supporters. Leading the line-up is FAN Zhendong, reigning Olympic champion in men’s singles, the youngest men’s singles World Champion in history, and owner of nine World Championship gold medals. Alongside him stands Truls MOREGARD, Europe’s current No. 1, Olympic Games and World Championship silver medallist, while Darko JORGIC arrives as Europ’s No.5. Another key figure is Patrick FRANZISKA, currently Europe’s No. 8 and part of Germany’s Olympic silver medal-winning team at Tokyo 2020. Saarbrücken arrive at the Final 4 after another composed European campaign. They opened the knockout stage with a difficult away victory over Dojlidy Białystok before sealing qualification comfortably at home. In the quarter-finals, they produced a dominant first-leg performance against GV Hennebont TT and then handled the pressure well in a demanding return leg to secure another Final 4 appearance. Now the focus turns toward another attempt to defend the title and continue the club’s remarkable Final 4 run. “Of course we want to win the fourth title in a row,” FRANZISKA said. “We have a really, really strong team with so many good players.” Still, the German international made it clear that Saarbrücken are approaching the weekend carefully, beginning with the semi-final against KS Orlen Bogoria Grodzisk Mazowiecki. “We take one step at a time. Bogoria are always dangerous and we know them very well,” he explained. “Especially GIONIS, who I played together with for two years in Borussia Düsseldorf. First we focus on the semi-final and hopefully we can make it to the final.” JORGIC also knows exactly what is waiting in Saarbrücken this weekend: pressure, expectations and another opportunity to fight for the biggest club trophy in Europe. “Honestly, this is one of the biggest tournaments we can have with the club,” said JORGIC. “Of course we know that we are among the favourites to win the title, but there are also many very strong teams in the Final 4.” Although Saarbrücken enters the event as defending champion and host club, the Slovenian star expects a difficult challenge already in the semi-final. “Even the first match against Bogoria can become very dangerous if we don’t play our best table tennis,” he explained. JORGIC is also fully aware of the quality waiting on the other side of the draw, where Borussia Düsseldorf and Alliance Nîmes/Montpellier TT will battle for a place in the final. “Both Düsseldorf and Montpellier are extremely strong teams with quality on every position,” he said. “We need to focus on our own game, play the way we know we can and try to win the trophy once again in front of our home fans. That is definitely our goal and our desire.” Fresh from another demanding international campaign with Romania at the ITTF World Team Championships Finals in London, Eduard Ionescu now turns his full attention toward the HYLO® Champions League Men Final 4. “The World Team Championships just finished and I’m happy with our team performance,” said IONESCU. “I’m also happy with my own performances. It was a long and difficult tournament, but in the end I think we did well as Team Romania.” Now the focus quickly shifts back to club competition and another opportunity for Saarbrücken to defend the Champions League title on home soil. “I’m very excited for the Champions League Final 4,” IONESCU continued. “We are all excited to play and to show our best level at the table.” Like the rest of the Saarbrücken squad, IONESCU’s objective for the weekend is clear. “I hope that we will come back home with one more title,” he said with a smile. Before returning to club duties, FRANZISKA was also part of Germany’s campaign at the ITTF World Team Championships Finals in London, where the team finished in the quarter-finals. “We reached our seeding position in the World Championships. We were seeded 5-8, so reaching the quarterfinal was more or less where we were expected to be,” FRANZISKA reflected. Germany had already beaten Japan during the group stage, but the rematch in the knockout rounds proved far more difficult. “For me, Japan was one of the two or three strongest teams in the tournament. They played extremely well against us, especially Harimoto, who was very strong. It was a tough draw, but we keep working and fighting.” JORGIC also reflected honestly on Slovenia’s recent campaign in London, admitting neither he nor the team managed to reach their highest level. “We didn’t play our best tournament with Slovenia, and honestly I also wasn’t in my best form,” he admitted. “Still, we reached the knockout stage and eventually lost against Germany, who were favourites from the beginning.” Now the focus is entirely on the Final 4 and raising the level again for the decisive club weekend. “I really hope my form will be better this weekend and that I will play better than at the World Championships,” JORGIC said. “It’s a very demanding tournament with excellent teams and great players, but we just need to focus on ourselves, play our game and try once again to win the title at home.” With the arena expected to welcome record crowds and Europe’s elite players ready to take centre stage once again, Saarbrücken now prepares for another weekend aiming to further strengthen its position at the top of European club table tennis.

Alliance Nimes/Montpellier TT will arrive in Saarbrücken carrying confidence, momentum and unfinished business. The French champions will face Borussia Dusseldorf in the semi-final of the HYLO® ETTU Champions League Men Final 4 on 15-16 May, in a meeting that already carries extra emotion after last season’s quarter-final defeat to the German powerhouse. This time, however, Alliance Nîmes/Montpellier TT arrive as a more mature and battle-tested side, strengthened by another year of experience and the continued rise of one of the most exciting line-ups in European table tennis. Their journey to the Final 4 started earlier than most. Entering the competition from Stage 1, the French club had to build their campaign match by match. Victories against ASD TT Santa Tecla Nulvi, SF SKK El Nino Praha and Roskilde Bordtennis BTK 61 helped establish rhythm and confidence from the beginning. That momentum continued into the knockout stages. Alliance Nîmes/Montpellier comfortably overcame SolexConsult TTC Wiener Neustadt in the Round of 16 before facing a much tougher challenge against KS Dekorglass Dzialdowo in the quarter-finals. Once again, the French side delivered under pressure, winning 3-1 at home before confirming qualification with another strong away performance. At the centre of the project stand brothers Felix LEBRUN and Alexis LEBRUN, currently ranked No. 2 and No. 3 in Europe. Alongside them, Indian international Manav THAKKAR adds further quality, while experienced players such as Esteban DORR and Brian AFANADOR provide valuable depth. The club also arrives in Saarbrücken as reigning French champions, having completed an almost flawless domestic campaign last season. Their title confirmed the remarkable rise of the club, which only two years earlier had celebrated promotion from Pro B. Felix LEBRUN also arrives in Saarbrücken full of confidence after a remarkable World Championships campaign in London, where he lost only two matches and produced one of the standout performances of the tournament by defeating LIN Shidong in the semi-final against China. “It was a great tournament for us that unfortunately ended in the semi-finals,” said Felix. “I’m proud of our team and the way we played. We all showed our best level so far. This match against China will motivate us more than ever to take the next step in the future.” The younger LEBRUN brother believes his current form gives him extra belief ahead of the Final 4. “My level over the last six or seven months has been really good. I enjoy playing every match and I feel confident, so this World Championships will keep me going in that direction.” For Felix, Montpellier’s greatest strength this season has been the unity within the team. “Our team spirit was the key point of our qualification to the Final 4 this year. We had tough moments, but we always stayed together and pushed each other to give our best.” Asked about the rematch against Düsseldorf, Felix insisted the motivation comes from the occasion itself rather than revenge alone. “It’s not extra motivation because it’s against them, but because it’s a semi-final and nobody wants to lose in the semi-final. They have experience as a team, expertise inside the club and regularity at the highest level.” Like Alexis, Felix values the opportunity to experience these moments together with his brother. “It feels so nice to share moments like this with him. I’m glad we can be on the same team and share these emotions together.” And with Saarbrücken expected to deliver another packed arena and electric atmosphere, the French star cannot wait for the event to begin. “Everyone is looking forward to the event. With Saarbrücken being the favourites this year, I think the atmosphere will be amazing. I cannot wait to be there.” Fresh from winning bronze with France at the ITTF World Team Championships Finals in London, Alexis Lebrun admits the recent success has only strengthened his confidence ahead of the Final 4. “It gave me a lot of confidence. We played a great tournament in London and finished with a beautiful medal, so I come to the Final 4 with a lot of confidence,” said Alexis LEBRUN. The French star also reflected on the dramatic semi-final against China, where France came extremely close to reaching the final. “For sure it’s not easy to lose such a big match. I was also very close to winning my individual match and had two match points, but that’s table tennis. I will keep working hard to have more chances to win these kinds of matches.” The quick transition from the World Championships to the Champions League Final 4 will not be easy. “It’s very difficult to play the week after a World Championships. I will try to rest as much as possible to be ready and do my best in the Final 4.” There is also no hiding the additional motivation created by last season’s defeat to Düsseldorf. “For sure we want to take our revenge. But the real goal is to reach the final.” Despite the pressure of the occasion, Alexis believes one of the team’s greatest strengths is the atmosphere inside the squad. “We like to play together as a team. It’s always a pleasure to share the court with my teammates. We are very happy about our journey in this competition and we want to continue like this.” Still, the French club knows exactly how difficult the challenge will be against one of the most decorated clubs in Europe. “They have a lot of experience and very strong players, so we will need to play our best table tennis if we want to have a chance to reach the final,” concluded LEBRUN.

Few clubs in world table tennis can match the history, prestige and expectations carried by Borussia Düsseldorf. As the most successful club in European table tennis history, the German giants arrive at the HYLO® Champions League Men Final 4 (to be played on 15th and 16th May) in Saarbrücken once again among the main contenders for the title. The club’s legacy on the continental stage is unmatched. Borussia Düsseldorf have won the Champions League six times – in 1999/00, 2008/09, 2009/10, 2010/11, 2017/18 and 2020/21. Before the introduction of the Champions League era, they also lifted the Cup of European Champions six times – in 1988/89, 1990/91, 1991/92, 1992/93, 1996/97 and 1997/98. In addition, Düsseldorf claimed four ETTU Cup titles in 1986/87, 1994/95, 2006/07 and 2011/12, confirming their status as the most successful club in the history of European table tennis. Since then, Borussia Düsseldorf have also collected 34 German team championship titles and 28 German Cup trophies, further underlining decades of domestic and international dominance. Now, with a new generation leading the way after the retirement of club icon Timo BOLL, Düsseldorf are determined to add another chapter to their remarkable story. Their route to the Final 4 was highly convincing. Düsseldorf swept past Real Club Cajasur Priego TM in the Round of 16, opening with a 3-0 away victory before completing the job at home. They maintained the same level in the quarter-finals against Post SV Mühlhausen 1951 e.V., once again producing a dominant away performance before confirming qualification in front of their supporters. The squad combines proven quality with international experience. European champion Dang QIU leads the lineup as European No. 6, alongside European No. 10 Anton KALLBERG and American star Kanak JHA, currently ranked No. 29 in the World. The team is further strengthened by Borgar HAUG and Yongyin LI, while coach Danny HEISTER continues to guide the transition into a new era. For Dang QIU, the HYLO® Champions League Men Final 4 in Germany carries extra significance. “I’m looking forward to the Champions League Final 4,” said QIU. “It’s a tough tournament, but it’s always nice to play in front of a German crowd. I think this year is even more special because FAN Zhendong is taking part for the first time. We’ve obviously got a very tough task ahead of us against Montpellier in the semi-finals, but I’m still really looking forward to it.” The semi-final against Alliance Nîmes/Montpellier TT promises to be one of the highlights of the weekend, especially with the rapid rise of the LEBRUN brothers on the European and world stage. Coach Danny HEISTER knows his team will need to deliver its very best performance. “We’ll start preparing on Monday. The players have just returned from the World Championships,” said HEISTER. “Anton and Dang obviously need to come to terms with their bitter defeats first, but we’re working on that together. We really need to come up with something special for our semi-final against Montpellier and play our best table tennis.” Both Sweden and Germany lost in the quarterfinal of the ITTF World Team Table Tennis Championships Finals London 2026. HEISTER also acknowledged how much stronger the French side has become since Düsseldorf bat them in the quarterfinals last season. “We won last year, but the LEBRUN brothers have got even stronger. We’ll take it one match at a time. In any case, we’re all really keen to play in the Final 4 again.” PHOTO BY Jörg FUHRMANN

KS Orlen Bogoria Grodzisk Mazowiecki will arrive in Saarbrücken at HYLO® Champions League Men Final 4 (to be played on 16th and 17th May) with growing confidence and the ambition to continue one of the most successful periods in the club’s history. Over the past two decades, Bogoria have established themselves as a dominant force in Polish table tennis, collecting 10 national team championship titles and building a strong reputation on the European stage. The Polish side have been regular contenders in both the Champions League and the Europe Cup, formerly the ETTU Cup. One of their biggest European achievements came in the 2012/2013 season, when they reached the ETTU Cup final. More recently, last year, the club reached a historic breakthrough by advancing to the Champions League Final 4 for the first time, confirming their place among Europe’s elite clubs. Their route to this year’s HYLO® Champions League Men Final 4 once again highlighted both quality and consistency. Bogoria opened the knockout stage with a dominant Round of 16 display against SF SKK El Niño Praha, recording back-to-back 3-0 victories to underline their authority. The quarter-finals against domestic rivals KS Bank Spółdzielczy Orlicz 1924 Suchedniów proved far more demanding. Bogoria edged the first leg 3-2 away from home before securing qualification with another tense 3-2 victory, showing composure and resilience in the decisive moments. One of the club’s greatest strengths is the balance between experience and emerging talent. Milosz REDZIMSKI continues to establish himself as one of the brightest young players in Europe, while the experienced Panagiotis GIONIS brings calmness, tactical intelligence and leadership to the squad. Alongside them, Takuya JIN and Marek BADOWSKI provide further depth, supported by promising young Polish players including Wojciech SZYMCZAK and Michal GAWLAS. For Gionis, reaching the Final 4 once again is already a major achievement for the club. “Reaching the Final Four of the Champions League in back-to-back seasons is something very special for us,” said GIONIS. “From the beginning of the season, this was one of our main goals, so we are very happy we managed to do it again. Now we want to see if we can make something even more special.” The experienced Greek knows the challenge awaiting Bogoria in Saarbrücken will be enormous. “We know it will be extremely difficult against 1. FC Saarbrücken TT. They are an unbelievable team, especially at home, with fantastic fans and world-class players like FAN Zhendong, Truls MOREGARD, Patrick FRANZISKA and Darko JORGIC. But we will try our best.” GIONIS also highlighted the importance of the younger generation inside the team, especially REDZIMSKI’S rapid development. “Milosz is becoming our superstar. He is an incredible young talent and I’m very impressed with how quickly he is improving. At 46 years old, of course I no longer have the same speed or power as before, but I believe my experience helps the younger players deal with pressure, feel more confident and enjoy these moments. “It’s a great combination – experience and young talent together. Marek is also improving year after year and he is still very young. It works both ways. Their energy gives me extra motivation as well.” REDZIMSKI believes the experience gained from last season’s Final 4 appearance could be important for Bogoria this weekend. “I think our previous experience gives us a lot of confidence because we know what to expect at this level,” said REDZIMSKI. “Playing in the Final 4 is always something special, and having players in the team who already experienced these matches helps us stay calm and focused. At the same time, we know every season is different, so we need to prove ourselves again at the table.” Despite his young age, the Polish international has already become one of the key figures in the squad. “Of course there is always some pressure in important matches, but I try to see it as motivation rather than something negative,” he explained. “I focus on my preparation, trust my work and try to enjoy the opportunity to play at this level. Being trusted by the team gives me extra confidence. We expect a very difficult match because Saarbrücken are one of the strongest teams in Europe and they have a lot of experience in these competitions. Every match will be tough and details can decide everything. But we also believe in our qualities and we will fight for every point.” The young Pole also stressed the importance of the balance between youth and experience inside the team. “Experienced players like Panos bring calmness, knowledge and leadership, especially in difficult moments. Younger players bring energy and ambition. Together it creates a very good atmosphere and helps the whole team develop.” REDZIMSKI recently competed at the ITTF World Team Table Tennis Championships Finals, where Poland suffered a disappointing Round of 32 defeat against Romania, but he insists the focus has now fully shifted back to the club season. “It was definitely a difficult moment emotionally because we had bigger expectations for the tournament. Losing a match like that is never easy, but in professional sport you have to recover quickly. After a short time, my focus was already back on the club season and preparing for the Final 4.” He also believes the World Championships experience can help him ahead of the decisive weekend in Saarbrücken. “Every international event gives you valuable experience and extra motivation. Competing against strong players always helps you improve and prepares you mentally for the biggest matches.” Asked what could make the difference if Bogoria are to reach the final, REDZIMSKI pointed to mentality and teamwork. “The key will be staying mentally strong and fighting for every single point. In matches at this level, small details are very important. We need to play with confidence, support each other as a team and take our chances when they come.”