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
