Fan Zhendong celebrated his first title in Germany as 1. FC Saarbrücken TT lifted the LIEBHERR German Cup after a 3–1 victory over TTC RhönSprudel Fulda-Maberzell at the Pokal Final Four in Ulm/Neu-Ulm.
In front of a record crowd of 5,200 spectators at the ratiopharm arena, Saarbrücken secured the Cup for the third time in club history, following previous triumphs in 2012 and 2022. The event was also watched live by a large television audience in Germany and internationally.
Olympic champion Zhendong played a decisive role in the final, defeating Dimitrij OVTCHAROV and later Ruwen FILUS, both in straight games, setting the tone for Saarbrücken’s success. The Cup victory marks the first step in the club’s ambitious “triple mission”, with further title opportunities still ahead in the Table Tennis Bundesliga and the ETTU Champions League Men, where Saarbrücken will face GV Hennebont TT in the quarterfinals.
“I am very happy to win this title,” said Zhendong. “It was my first Cup Final Four, and it was a special moment in my career. I hope to return to this event in the future.”
Saarbrücken had earlier defeated TTF Liebherr Ochsenhausen in the semifinals, while Fulda reached the final after a narrow win over TTC OE Clarity-Telefonie Systeme Bad Homburg.
Final
- FC Saarbrücken TT – TTC RhönSprudel Fulda-Maberzell 3–1
- Fan ZHENDONG – Dimitrij OVTCHAROV 3–0 (11–9, 11–9, 11–8)
- Patrick FRANZISKA – Ruwen FILUS 2–3 (10–12, 11–8, 11–9, 7–11, 12–14)
- Darko JORGIC – Fanbo MENG 3–0 (11–6, 11–9, 11–8)
- Fan ZHENDONG – Ruwen FILUS 3–0 (11–8, 11–3, 11–6)
Semifinals
- TTF Liebherr Ochsenhausen – 1. FC Saarbrücken TT 1–3
- TTC OE Clarity-Telefonie Systeme Bad Homburg – TTC RhönSprudel Fulda-Maberzell 2–3
