Only 16 years old, Damian FLORO made a strong start on home soil at the 2025 European Under 21 Championships in Bratislava. Playing at Tipos Arena, the Slovakian, seeded 53rd, defied expectations by defeating croatia’s Ivan HENCL, the 29th seed. “I felt a little pressure before the start because it’s not easy playing at home. It also takes time to adjust to the venue and its conditions. However, once the game started, I felt the ball well, found my rhythm, and that boosted my confidence,” said FLORO. FLORO previously made his mark by finishing second at the Europe Youth Top 10 two years ago in the Under 15 category in Bucharest. Last year, he was part of the Slovakian Under 19 team that secured bronze at the European Youth Championships in Sweden after a semi-final loss to Germany. In the quarterfinals, Slovakia beat Croatia, with FLORO winning his match against HENCL. “That win was very important to me today. Despite the ranking difference, I felt confident,” added FLORO. When asked about his ambitions for the tournament, FLORO was optimistic: “Now I think I have a good chance to get through the group stage, and hopefully the next round too. I know reaching the knockout phase is very ambitious—but why not?” he said with a smile. The opening stage of the tournament features 48 players divided into 12 groups (Groups 1–12). The top two players from each group will advance to Stage 2, producing 24 qualifiers. Tomorrow, the eight top-seeded players will join them in the main draw. Top seeds in the men’s event: Eduard ONESCU (Romania), Andre BERTELSMEIER (Germany), Flavien COTON (France), Iulian CHIRITA (Romania), Tiago ABIODUN (Portugal), Balazs LEI (Hungary), Andrei ISTRATE (Romania), Kas VAN OOST (Netherlands). See the pictures by T. SEREDA here. Follow the results here.
Surprises Mark Opening Day of 2025 European Under 21 Championships
The 2025 European Under 21 Championships opened in Bratislava, Slovakia, with early surprises setting the tone for what promises to be a competitive tournament. Even in the morning hours of Day 1, several unexpected results gave a glimpse of the excitement likely to follow in the coming days. The first notable upset came in Group 3, where Poland’s Anna BRZYSKA, seeded 11th, was defeated by Denmark’s Emma Vendelbo CLEMENT, ranked 34th. CLEMENT secured the victory in four games (5–11, 11–6, 12–10, 11–5). Emma Vendelbo CLEMENT expressed her delight after the match, calling it the best win of her career. “I played against BRZYSKA once before and lost by the same margin. It was a close match, so when I saw the draw, I thought I had a chance. I looked at it as an opportunity to avenge my previous defeat,” said CLEMENT. Tactically, CLEMENT outplayed BRZYSKA, who has won gold and silver in doubles at previous European Youth Championships, by successfully neutralizing her opponent’s speed-based attacks. “She is so dangerous with her forehand, so I focused on attacking immediately after my serve. On the return, I stayed patient and made her wait, forcing her to think about what I might do,” added CLEMENT. Another surprise came from Sweden’s Leah TVEIT MUSKANTOR, seeded 39th, who overcame Portugal’s Ines MATOS, ranked 13th. In Group 1, Germany’s Mia GRIESEL defeated England’s Mari BALDWIN in straight games. In Group 2, Spain’s Maria BERZOSA needed four games to overcome Poland’s Katarzyna RAJKOWSKA. Meanwhile, Romania’s Bianca MEI ROSU justified her status with a win over Spain’s Ainhoa CRISTOBAL. The opening stage features 48 players divided into 12 groups (Groups 1–12). The top two players from each group will advance to Stage 2, making a total of 24 qualifiers. From tomorrow, the eight top-seeded players will join the 24 Stage 1 qualifiers in the main draw. Top seeds in the women’s event: Hana ARAPOVIC (Croatia), Veronika MATIUNINA (Ukraine), Anna HURSEY (Wales), Elena ZAHARIA (Romania), Ioana SINGEORZAN (Romania), Nicole ARLIA (Italy), Matilde PINTO (Portugal), and Zuzanna WIELGOS (Poland). See the pictures by T. SEREDA here. Follow the results here. See the matches at table 1 Matches at table 2
PT 75 Clinches Championship League Title in Finland
PT 75 successfully defended their top spot on Saturday in the four-team final tournament of the Finnish Table Tennis Championship League, held at Ruskeasuo in Helsinki. The team from Tampere defeated OPT-86 of Oulu convincingly, 4–0, in the semi-finals and went on to overcome Turun Kaiku 4–2 in the final. The bronze medals were secured by PT Espoo, who edged out OPT-86 in a narrow 4–3 contest. “The deciding match was a real battle. At one point, it felt like it might slip away from us, but I managed to get into the game and focus on my own performance. Retaining the title feels fantastic,” said PT 75’s Riku AUTIO after the long day of matches. The standout player of the season was PT 75’s Otto TENNILÄ, who posted an impressive record of 26 wins and 5 losses. This marks the ninth Championship League title for PT 75. “Our overall performance was excellent. Everyone gave their all and managed to secure key victories,” said TENNILÄ, also known as “Sensei-Otto from Pongfinity.” In terms of league placement, Helsinki-based MBF retained its position in the top division directly. Kosken Kaiku and TIP-70 also held their league spots via the qualification rounds. OPT Ratamo will be relegated to Division 1 next season, with Smash Helsinki earning promotion in their place. Match Results Semi-finals: PT Espoo – Turun Kaiku 1–4 PT 75 – OPT-86 4–0 Bronze Medal Match: PT Espoo – OPT-86 4–3 Final: PT 75 – Turun Kaiku 4–2 2025 Finnish Table Tennis Championship League Medalists PT 75 (Tampere): Otto TENNILÄ, Riku AUTIO, Aki KONTALA, Sami HATTUNEN Turun Kaiku: Mart LUUK, Markkos PUKK, Ari HOLM, Lester LEE, Janne KONTALA PT Espoo: Aleksi RÄSÄNEN, Toni SOINE, Arttu PIHKALA, Lauri HAKASTE, Mika RÄSÄNEN
Europe’s Rising Stars Set to Shine at 2025 Under 21 Championships in Slovakia
The 2025 European Under 21 Championships will take place in Bratislava, with the Slovak Table Tennis Association hosting one of the most prestigious youth events on the ETTU calendar. This year’s edition carries added historical significance as it forms part of the celebrations marking 100 years of organized table tennis in Slovakia and Czechia. Among the returning stars is Ukraine’s Veronika MATIUNINA, the reigning Women’s Singles Champion, who will look to defend her crown. Entering the competition as the second seed, MATIUNINA aims to replicate her impressive run from the 2024 edition in Skopje, where she triumphed over Romania’s Elena ZAHARIA in a gripping final. Bronze medals in that event went to Hana ARAPOVIC (Croatia) and Anna BRZYSKA (Poland). Top seeded ARAPOVIC previously claimed the title in 2023 in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, while ZAHARIA captured gold a year earlier in Cluj Napoca, Romania. A multiple-time European youth champion, ZAHARIA remains one of the key contenders in the women’s draw. In the men’s singles competition, Eduard IONESCU (Romania) enters as the top seed. A back-to-back European Youth Champion in 2022 and 2023, and now a regular face on the senior tour, IONESCU is considered a strong favorite for the title. Romania’s player will face tough challenge from last year’s bronze medalists Andre BERTELSMEIER (Germany), Flavien COTON (France) who clinched singles gold at EYC 2022 and silver last year in Malmo, Iulian CHIRITA (Romania) and Under 15 singles champion at 2023 EYC Tiago ABIODUN (Portugal). The event will be held at TIPOS Arena in Slovakia. The official draw for all events will take place on Tuesday, 6 May 2025. Doubles Events Format All doubles events – Men’s, Women’s, and Mixed Doubles – will be played in a direct knockout format, starting from the first round. Singles Events Format The men’s and women’s singles competitions are structured in three stages, leading up to the final phase of direct elimination. Stage 1 – Qualification Groups A total of 48 players will compete in 12 groups (Groups 1–12). The top 2 players (winner and runner-up) from each group will advance to Stage 2 – totaling 24 qualifiers. Stage 2 – Second Group Stage 24 qualifiers from Stage 1 will be joined by the 8 top-seeded players, who are directly placed into Stage 2. These 32 players will be divided into 8 groups (Groups 13–20), with 4 players in each group. The top 2 players (winner and runner-up) from each Stage 2 group will advance to the final stage. Stage 3 – Final Knockout Stage, the 16 qualifiers (8 group winners + 8 runners-up from Stage 2) will enter a direct knockout draw.
Tennistavolo Sassari Crowned Italian Champions in Debut Season
Tennistavolo Sassari wrote history by clinching their first Italian Men’s Team Championship in their rookie season in the top division. In a thrilling playoff series, the Sardinian club overcame seasoned rivals to lift the coveted trophy—marking an extraordinary debut on the national stage. After eliminating Marcozzi Cagliari in the semifinals, Sassari faced Top Spin Messina WatchesTogether in the finals. The latter had ousted the reigning champions Apuania Carrara, setting up an intense final showdown. In the first leg played in Messina, the hosts prevailed 4-2. But Sassari, cheered on by a passionate home crowd, responded with a 4-2 win of their own in the return leg. The decisive tie, also held in Sardinia, saw Sassari edge a dramatic 3-2 victory to seal the title. The trophy was presented by federal councilor Raffaele CURCIO. “This first Italian title in our debut season is an immense satisfaction,” said club president Marcello CILLOCO. “We built a competitive team around young Andrea PUPPO and experienced players like Sadi ISMAILOV, Lubomir PISTEJ, and Alessandro BACIOCCHI. Our goal was to avoid relegation, so this title is beyond our dreams.” CILLOCO emphasized the unity and heart shown by the team throughout the season: “We created a great group. Everyone gave their all for every single point. Even after losing the first leg in Messina, we never gave up. We knew it would be tough, especially with MANHANI returning for Top Spin, but we believed—and we deserved this victory.” Playoff Finals – Match Results First leg: TOP SPIN MESSINA WATCHESTOGETHER – TENNISTAVOLO SASSARI 4-2 Second leg: TENNISTAVOLO SASSARI – TOP SPIN MESSINA WATCHESTOGETHER 4-2 Decisive leg: TENNISTAVOLO SASSARI – TOP SPIN MESSINA WATCHESTOGETHER 3-2
Eurotalents Selection Camp I Concludes in Havířov: Talents for 2026 Program Announced
The international Eurotalents Selection Camp I, for boys and girls born in 2013 or later, successfully concluded at the National Training Center in Havířov, held from April 24 to May 2, 2025. The camp welcomed a total of twenty-three boys and fourteen girls from fourteen European countries, with sixty-three participants including players and coaches. The camp’s primary aim was to identify the most promising talents to be included in the EUROTALENTS PROGRAM for 2026, with five boys and five girls selected for further development opportunities. These selected players are also invited to attend the ITTF Europe Hopes Week, scheduled for 24–30 June 2025 in Vilanova de Gaia, Portugal, with all accommodation costs covered. The camp was led by Renáta ŠTRBÍKOVÁ as head coach, assisted by Marek ČIHÁK and Radek KOŠŤÁL. Fitness sessions were conducted by Patrik KAIZAR, while Croatian coach Zvonimir KORENIC represented the ETTU. Nearly twenty national coaches were also present, contributing to the intensive evaluation and development process. Selected Players GirlsThe following five girls were selected based on their performance and potential: BoysThe following five boys have been selected: More pictures here.
Record-breaking media growth for CCB Europe Top 16 Cup
The 2025 edition of the CCB Europe Top 16 Cup in Montreux marked a new high for European Table Tennis, with exceptional growth in media reach across TV, OTT and social media, with the event reaching over 91.4 million on all platforms – a 136% increase from 2024. Television coverage played a major role, with broadcasting time rising by 554% and the number of hours aired expanding notably, proving the increased interest in European table tennis from major broadcasters. Powerhouse channels such as Eurosport and other top-tier European broadcasters led the rankings and captured new audiences across the continent. OTT platforms continued to drive global accessibility to European table tennis. One example of this is the agreement between ETTU and All Women’s Sports Network (ASWN), which amplified visibility for women’s matches and reinforced the commitment to gender equality in the sport. This agreement was an important step towards increasing ETTU’s international exposure, as was the collaboration with one of China’s leading social media platforms, Douyin, which streamed the tournament live. This resulted in a remarkable 400,000 live viewers and 4 million views throughout the event, establishing European Table Tennis as a truly international phenomenon. On the social media front, overall reach doubled compared to the previous year, reaching 70.99 million. As part of the enhanced digital strategy, YouTube was introduced as a new addition to ETTU’s digital presence, already generating 7.5 million impressions, 886.7K views, and 51.4K hours of watch time. With rising numbers across all metrics, strategic partnerships across the globe, and a strong focus on inclusivity, the 2025 CCB Europe Top 16 Cup didn’t just break records; it also redefined the strength of European table tennis on the world stage.
TalTech Spordiklubi Triumphs in Both Men’s and Women’s Categories at Estonia
TalTech Spordiklubi achieved remarkable success in both the men’s and women’s categories at the Estonian Team Championships. The 2024/2025 Estonian Team Championships League concluded with an exhilarating final held at the TalTech University Sports Center on May 3. In the men’s competition, TalTech Spordiklubi clinched the national title with a convincing 4-1 victory over Viimsi PINX in the final. Representing TalTech Spordiklubi throughout the season were Vallot VAINULA, Madis MOOS, Stanislav STROGOV, Andrei MALTIZOV, Samuli SOINE, and Tomasz LEWANDOWSKI. In the bronze medal match, Viimsi LTK/EM-SERV edged out Tartu SS Kalev with a narrow 4-3 win. Other strong contenders in this year’s championship included FORUS Maardu LTK, Sakala LTK, SPINMASTER, and Kalev/Radiaatorikeskus. In the Women’s Gold League, TalTech Spordiklubi also emerged as champions, overcoming the TalTech II women’s team 4-2 in the final. The bronze medal went to the Maardu women’s team, who delivered a dominant 4-0 performance against the Kalev LTK representative team. The TalTech Spordiklubi women’s squad was represented during the season by Airi AVAMERI, Reelica HANSON, Annigrete SUIMETS, Sirli Roosve, Raili NURGA, and Agata ZAKRZEWSKA.
Wels Wins Championship Title No. 4 in Austria
The fourth Austrian Bundesliga crown run for Felbermayr Wels is complete. PARK Ganghyeon sealed the title with a 2:0 win over Stockerau’s Khalid ASSAR, bringing the score to 3:1 and paving the way for a 4:1 final in the Bundesliga. The superstar, specially flown in from South Korea, had already won the opening singles against David SERDAROGLU and the doubles match alongside Maciej KOLODZIEJCZYK. Then the celebration began — championship T-shirts were out! PARK Ganghyeon was the undisputed hero of the final: he opened the tie with a 3:1 win over David SERDAROGLU, later won the doubles with KOLODZIEJCZYK, and finally clinched the decisive match against Khalid ASSAR, taking the first game 11:0. “He played outstandingly. We want to keep him in Wels for the long term,” said Wels team manager Bernhard HUMER. Photo by: Hubweber The fourth point for Wels came from Maciej KOLODZIEJCZYK, who staged two impressive comebacks against Aidos KENZHIGULOV. He turned around the first game from 4:9 and the second from 2:6, eventually converting his second match point with a spectacular counterattack for a 3:1 win. “I often struggle with slow starts, but the crowd lifted me. I knew AIDOS was known for retrieving everything,” said KOLODZIEJCZYK. “Maciej played some unbelievable balls — it was a treat to watch,” praised Bundesliga director Günther RENNER. Khalid ASSAR secured the only point for Stockerau by defeating Andreas LEVENKO in the deciding fifth game with a 6:0 shutout. “Such a short decider might be entertaining for spectators, but it feels like a coin toss and has no place in professional sport,” said LEVENKO, who now leaves Wels to join Ochsenhausen in the German Bundesliga. Wels team manager Bernhard Humer was elated: “We made history by winning both the upper and lower playoffs — for the first time ever. I’m extremely proud.” Looking ahead, Julian RZIHAUSCHEK will transfer to Sparkasse Salzburg this summer, while David SERDAROGLU is stepping back and will voluntarily play in the lower playoff next season. Men’s Bundesliga Final Felbermayr Wels – Panaceo Stockerau 4:1
Europe’s Brightest Young Talents Gather in Havířov for Eurotalents Selection Camp I
The international Eurotalents Selection Camp I for boys and girls born in 2013 or later is currently underway at the National Training Center in Havířov, running from April 24 to May 2. A total of twenty-three boys and fourteen girls from fourteen European countries are participating. Including coaches, the camp brings together sixty-three participants. The primary objective of the camp is to identify five of the most talented boys and five girls who will be invited to the upcoming Development Camp. The head coach of the camp is Renáta ŠTRBÍKOVÁ, supported by Marek ČIHÁK and Radek KOŠŤÁL as assistant coaches. Patrik KAIZAR oversees fitness training, while Croatian coach Zvonimir KORENIC is attending on behalf of ETTU. In addition, national coaches from the participating delegations are also present, meaning nearly twenty coaches are fully engaged in developing and evaluating Europe’s young table tennis talents. According to assistant coach Marek ČIHÁK, the level of play is traditionally strong: “It’s true that some top players, such as Hungary’s Lizet FAZEKAS or the Czech Republic’s top player in this category, Adéla BRHELOVÁ, are not here—similar situations apply on the boys’ side—but we still have a lot of work ahead of us to select the very best,” said ČIHÁK. The camp continues in full swing, providing young athletes with valuable experience, high-level coaching, and the opportunity to advance to the next stage of ETTU’s talent development pathway. Photo by: Jaroslav ODSTRCILIK
