The third edition of the German Table Tennis Finals promises to deliver the strongest German National Championships for Women and Men in many years. Hosted at the Messe Erfurt exhibition halls, the LOTTO Thüringen TT-Finals 2026 will bring together Germany’s leading players for a weekend of world-class table tennis, while a historic mixed doubles debut will add a new chapter to the rich history of the championships.
The 94th German Championships feature virtually every major name in German men’s table tennis. Dang QIU, Benedikt DUDA, Patrick FRANZISKA, Dimitrij OVTCHAROV and Andre BERTELSMEIER – the entire German squad that represented the country at the recent World Championships in London – will compete in Erfurt.
QIU arrives as the 2022 European Champion, while DUDA was runner-up at the 2024 European Championships. FRANZISKA, winner of the Europe Top 16 Cup in 2021, remains one of Germany’s most accomplished players, while OVTCHAROV, a two-time Olympic singles bronze medallist, continues to rank among the nation’s greatest players of the modern era.
Several former champions will be chasing another title. QIU (2022, 2023), DUDA (2021), OVTCHAROV (2014) and Ricardo WALTHER (2020) have all lifted the trophy before. The field also includes defending champion Kay STUMPER and 2013 winner Steffen MENGEL, both representing Bundesliga club Post SV Mühlhausen. Former German international Torben WOSIK, now 52, returns to the championships after his triumphs in 1999 and 2008.
Among the leading contenders, only FRANZISKA is still waiting to win the national singles title.
“I’ll take my next shot in Erfurt and would love to bring the title home,” said FRANZISKA with a smile. “Everyone else has already won it.”
One of the players hoping to challenge the established stars is 21-year-old Wim VERDONSCHOT. The young German has climbed into the world’s top 75 over the past seven months thanks to two WTT Feeder titles and another semi-final appearance.
Fans can also look forward to watching Florian BLUHM, whose spectacular defensive style has made him a crowd favourite. The Cologne-based defender regularly produces some of the most entertaining rallies in German table tennis and has often troubled higher-ranked opponents.
In the women’s event, Sabine WINTER enters as one of the favourites. Following a remarkable rise into the world’s top ten after changing her playing system, the Bavarian is aiming for a third national singles title after victories in 2022 and 2023.
However, the competition is expected to be fierce.
Leading the challenge is 19-year-old Annett KAUFMANN. The 2024 World Under-19 Champion has captured the last two national titles and is aiming to complete a hat-trick in Erfurt.
“Winning for a third consecutive year won’t be easy,” admitted KAUFMANN. “It would be great, but Sabine is the favourite.”
Together with Nina MITTELHAM, they form a formidable trio of contenders. The European Championships bronze medallist has successfully returned from long-term back problems and recently celebrated her marriage. German champion from 2019 to 2021, MITTELHAM is now targeting a fourth national title.
Former champion Xiaona SHAN remains a dangerous outsider. The winner of the 2013 and 2014 editions continues to be one of the most experienced and respected players in German table tennis.
Team European champions Yuan WAN and Mia GRIESEL are also expected to challenge for the latter stages, while Under-15 World Champion Koharu ITAGAKI will be one of the most closely watched young players in the draw.
The women’s doubles competition will also produce new champions. WINTER, who partnered Katrin MÜHLBACH to the title last year, will team up with Yuan WAN. The pair reached the quarter-finals of the 2025 World Championships and previously won the German title together in 2022.
WINTER already holds the all-time record with eight national women’s doubles titles, achieved with six different partners.
A landmark moment in German table tennis history will take place in Erfurt when Paralympic champion Valentin BAUS and former European doubles champion Kristin LANG compete together in the mixed doubles event.
For the first time since the inaugural German Championships in 1931, an inclusive mixed doubles pair will take part in the senior competition.
The historic participation follows a decision by the German Table Tennis Association (DTTB), whose Congress approved the inclusion of inclusive competitions at the federation’s premier national event in December 2025.
By competing together, BAUS and LANG will send a powerful message in support of inclusion in elite sport while creating a memorable milestone in the history of the German Championships.
