The second day of play at the CCB Europe Top 16 Cup in the Omnisports venue in Montreux brings together the continent’s elite 16 players in the women’s event. With the main draw underway, Europe’s top stars are set to clash in a series of high-level encounters as they battle for a place in the next stage of one of the most prestigious tournaments on the calendar. All matches of the CCB Europe Top 16 Cup will be available live worldwide on ETTU.tv and YouTube ETTU official, except in the following countries and territories, where specific broadcast agreements apply and access is restricted (geo-blocked). In these regions, fans should follow the tournament exclusively on the official local broadcasters listed here. See the pictures by Remi GROS here. Maria XIAO – Elizabeta SAMARA 3-2 (8-11, 11-7, 24-22, 9-11, 11-6) The opening two games betwen Maria XIAOof Spain and Elizabeta SAMARAof Romania were shared, and the turning point of the match came in a dramatic third game. XIAO showed nerves of steel in a tense, high-quality battle. She raced to a 9–3 lead before SAMARA fought back to come back. XIAO reached game point at 10–7, triggering a nerve-wracking finish in which opportunities shifted from one side to the other. SAMARA had several chances to close it out, but XIAO seized her moment at 23–22 and finally secured the game 24–22. Competing in Montreux for the 16th time, SAMARA had reached the final last year, and her experience was evident. She responded in the fourth game, edging a tight contest to force a deciding set. XIAO, however, did not lose focus. Playing with control and patience, she managed the decider well to seal the victory. On her third appearance in Montreux, the Spaniard improved on her previous results, having finished ninth on both earlier occasions. “In the third game I think I had more than five set points. I was leading 10–7, if I remember correctly, and at that moment I felt a bit stressed because I really wanted to close the game. In the end we were both a little lucky, but I think I was slightly luckier in those final points. The key change was that I focused on relaxing my arm and simply playing my game, without thinking about the score. I just reacted to the ball and stayed in the rally. That mindset made the difference. After that, the fourth set went quite smoothly in SAMARA’s favor, and in the fifth my main priority was to keep the ball on the table, extend the rallies and avoid easy mistakes. I think that was important because Elizabeta became a bit tense and missed a few simple shots, which gave me extra confidence to finish the match,” said XIAO. Sabine WINTER – Xiaona SHAN 3-0 (11-8, 11-8, 11-8) The all-German clash between last year’s semifinalists, top seed Sabine WINTER and No. 14 seed Xiaona SHAN, was a close contest, but WINTER never truly lost control. She justified her status by securing victory in straight games. “The first match of a tournament is always very difficult, especially against a teammate. Nana is a very strong player, and it was extremely important that I was able to win the second game after trailing 4–8. Otherwise, it would have been an even tougher battle to come through. I didn’t feel any of the muscular problems I’ve had in recent weeks during today’s match, I was pain-free,” explained WINTER. Jia Nan YUAN – Nina MITTELHAM 3-1 (11-6, 11-6, 5-11, 13-11) The clash between 2024 champion Jia Nan YUAN of France and 2021 winner Nina MITTELHAM of Germany highlighted the dominance of the more recent titleholder. After the opening exchanges, the pendulum swung decisively in YUAN’s favor from the third game onward. MITTELHAM maintained constant pressure, but YUAN responded with composure and sealed the victory in the fourth game. “I’m very happy because I had already played against her two or three times before and this time I finally won. In our previous matches, I think twice, I was leading 2–0 or 3–1, but I ended up losing 4–3. Even in the last game today it was very close. In my head I kept telling myself not to repeat what happened the last time. I stayed calm and focused on every single point,” said YUAN. Sofia POLCANOVA – Jieni SHAO 3-0 (11-5, 11-7, 11-8) After the the superb start in opening two games Austria’s Sofia POLCANOVA faced more challenging third part of the game. SHAO rose her play but Sofia whitstood the pressure. “ We’ve played each other many times, and I feel that against me she sometimes needs a little time to settle into the match. I’ve often had big leads before, even 2–0 or 3–1 and she has still managed to come back and play incredibly well. So I knew that even if the first two games seemed easy, the match was far from over. In the third set, she raised her level again and we had some amazing rallies. At 6–5 I was a bit lucky with a net ball, so today luck was on my side,” saod POLCANOVA. Austrian explained: “Tactically, I tried to step around more with my forehand. I had already done that in the first two games, but it became even more important in the third. I felt her backhand was very strong today and that I couldn’t break it with mine, so changing the rhythm and the placement of my shots was key.” Annett KAUFMANN – Ying HAN 2-3 (9-11, 6-11, 11-9, 12-10, 6-11) In the second all-German duel, 19-year-old qualifier Annett KAUFMANN quickly found herself two games down against reigning champion, three-time winner and fourth seed Ying HAN. KAUFMANN reduced the deficit by taking the third game and maintained her patience to break through HAN’s defensive play, forcing the match into a deciding set. In the end, experience proved decisive in the fifth game. “Annett didn’t start the match very well, but then played much

On the second day of play at the 2026 CCB Europe Top 16 Cup in the Omnisports venue in Montreux, the tournament’s biggest names entered the arena as the Round of 16 in the men’s event got underway. All matches of the CCB Europe Top 16 Cup will be available live worldwide on ETTU.tv and YouTube ETTU official, except in the following countries and territories, where specific broadcast agreements apply and access is restricted (geo-blocked). In these regions, fans should follow the tournament exclusively on the official local broadcasters listed here. See the pictures by Remi GROS here. Jonathan GROTH – Darko JORGIC 1–3 (14–12, 3–11, 8–11, 8–11) Last year’s runner-up and three-time champion Darko JORGIC opened his campaign with a win over Denmark’s Jonathan GROTH. After a neck-and-neck battle in the opening game, JORGIC shifted into a higher gear and tightened his control of the match. In the fourth game, the Slovenian led 9–5, but GROTH forced a timeout at 9–8. The short break worked in JORGIC’s favor, as he regrouped and sealed the victory. “I may have started the first game a bit too passively, waiting for Jonathan’s mistakes, and in a few rallies I was overly aggressive, going for full power. The opening round is always tough and very important, and that adds extra pressure. After that, I found my rhythm. In the second game I began to dominate with my serve, my returns improved, and my overall game became more stable. I avoided the quick mistakes I made at the beginning of the match. I’m happy with this first win. As I said, the opening rounds are always the hardest, the ice is broken and now we move forward,” said JORGIC. Anders LIND – Dimitrij OVCHAROV 3-0 (11-7, 11-8, 11-9) On his third appearance in Montreux, Denmark’s Anders LIND defeated Dimitrij OVTCHAROV, one of the most successful players in the history of the event, who has competed 16 times at the Top 16 and lifted the trophy on five occasions. “The opening round is always difficult. It never feels comfortable with new tables and new balls. Today I don’t think I played my best, but I performed as well as I could under these circumstances and got the most out of my game,” said LIND. LIND had previously faced OVTCHAROV twice, beating him most recently in league competition, but this time he introduced a new weapon. “I believe my serve made the difference today. I experimented with a few new variations and, for the first time in a match, I used some serves I had never tried before. They worked quite well. Sometimes trying new things can backfire, but today it helped me. I’m glad I took the risk and I plan to keep developing that part of my game.” Reflecting on the closing stages of the third game, LIND added: “I always get a bit nervous when I lead 2–0. I don’t really know why, but I rarely lose from that position, so it’s fine.” Anton KALLBERG – Benedikt DUDA 2-3 (6-11, 11-6, 11-5, 12-14, 13-15) European Championship runner-up and No. 5 seed in Montreux Benedikt DUDA recovered from a 1–2 deficit to defeat No. 9 seed Anton KALLBERG of Sweden. KALLBERG even held a match point in the fourth game before losing the duel by the narrowest of margins. DUDA claimed the opening game, but the momentum quickly shifted. KALLBERG’s powerful play dictated the pace and control of the match. The swing continued until 3–4 in the third game, when DUDA created his first real advantage and moved to three game points. Out of nowhere, KALLBERG erased them and surged forward to earn a match ball. Power and precision kept DUDA alive on the brink of defeat and forced the contest into a deciding game. The final exchanges were played neck and neck, with both players battling on a knife’s edge. “Anton played incredibly well today, much better than in my last clear win over him in the Bundesliga. He played the short game extremely well and produced some excellent forehand flips. It’s good to have won such a tight match in the first round. If it’s Möregårdh in the quarterfinals, I have nothing to lose, I’ve clearly lost the last matches against him.” Surviving match point in the fourth game proved to be a turning moment. “The most important thing was that I stayed in the match the whole time. After losing the first game, Anton started playing incredibly well, very aggressive and almost without mistakes, especially over the table. His forehand flick was so strong, like a Chinese penhold player. I don’t think I won more than a point or two against it. He was playing at a very high level, but mentally I kept myself in the game. Even when he had a match point in the fourth game, I believed I could still win and just focused on trusting myself,” added DUDA. The suspense carried into the fifth game. “Another key moment was at 6–6 in the fifth set. I lost two points on my serve and he had a big chance to finish the rally, but when he didn’t, I told myself to stay in the match because another opportunity would come. Staying that focused comes from a lot of mental training and experience. Matches are rarely easy — you don’t often step on court and win 3–0. Most of the time it’s a tough battle, especially in Europe where the level is so high. You have to accept that both players will win and lose points. In the end, it’s about making brave decisions, trusting yourself and taking your chances when they appear.” Felix LEBRUN -Alvaro ROBLES 3-0 (11-4, 11-8, 11-7) There were no chinks in Felix LEBRUN’s armour in his duel against Alvaro ROBLES, who had come through the qualification stage a day earlier in Montreux. “It was a great opening round, a solid 3–0 win. There were a few tense moments in the middle of

The list of players for the Round of 16 of the CCB Europe Top 16 Cup was completed after the opening day matches at the Omnisports venue in Montreux. Eight players in each category battled for the two remaining places that secured qualification among the top 16. In the women’s event, the successful qualifiers were Annett KAUFMANN of Germany and Charlotte LUTZ of France. In the men’s competition, Tomislav PUCAR of Croatia and Alvaro ROBLES of Spain claimed the available spots. Anna HURSEY of Wales put Annett KAUFMANN under heavy pressure in the deciding match today. HURSEY dominated the opening game and disrupted KAUFMANN’s rhythm, but on her debut the German player kept her composure and secured her first qualification for the CCB Europe Top 16 Cup main draw. KAUFMANN approached the round of 16 calmly after reaching her interim goal: “For me, everything from now on is a bonus. RAKOVAC and HURSEY were strong adversaries today; those were not easy matches. That’s why I’m especially pleased that, in my Europe Top 16 debut, I managed to reach the main draw with a good performance. Let’s see how the draw turns out tomorrow. I just hope I won’t have to play against one of my four national team teammates.” Tomislav PUCAR advanced to the main draw after overcoming Daniel HABESOHN of Austria and Iulian CHIRITA of Romania. After a very tight opening game against CHIRITA, the Croatian found his breakthrough. “The first game was probably the most important part of the match. The opening exchanges are always difficult, but I managed to take control early. When it reached 9–9, it felt like a crucial moment, and winning that first game gave me a mental advantage. The second game was also very close, but I stayed focused and managed to close it out. After going 2–0 up, it became harder for CHIRITA to come back. I had a strong start and finished the match well. It has been another long day here,” said PUCAR. Speaking about his duel with HABESOHN, PUCAR added: “The first match was excellent. I lost to HABESOHN here last year, so it’s never easy to play against him. If you give him a little time, he knows how to use it and win points, so it was important to be precise and aggressive, which I managed to do today. I closed the opening two games before he managed to swing the momentum back his way. That’s table tennis — at the end of a game it often comes down to courage and a bit of luck. I handled the closing moments well. In the third game I didn’t have a big lead, he caught up with me, but I managed to turn it around. It was 9–7, and thankfully I was able to close it.” Playing in her CCB Europe Top 16 Cup debut, Charlotte LUTZ of France defeated Izabela LUPULESKU of Serbia and Rachel MORET of Switzerland to secure her place among the top 16 players. “I was a little stressed this morning because it was my first match at the Top 16 and I really wanted to qualify for the main draw. Despite the nerves, I managed to play very well. Even though I lost the first game, I gained confidence as the match went on and came back to win 3–1. I’m very happy with how I performed and I hope tomorrow will be even better and that I can go further in the competition,” said LUTZ. Reflecting on her match against LUPULESKU, which also went to four games, LUTZ added: “I had some problems at the beginning of the match and struggled with my receive. I tried to adjust immediately in the second game to regain control, and it worked well. I also focused on putting more balls on the table because my opponent plays very early, which sometimes causes me difficulties. I changed my approach and it proved effective.” Alvaro ROBLES defeated João GERALDO of Portugal and Pedro OSIRO of Switzerland to book his place among the top 16 players at the CCB Europe Top 16 Cup. “This morning’s match was very difficult. First of all, it’s never easy to come through qualification and reach the top 16. I had a tough match against Pedro OSIRO, it was 1–1 and very close. He was playing really well and very relaxed, but I stayed focused on turning the match in my favor. After that victory my main priority was to recover and refocus for the next match two hours later,” said ROBLES. He added: “I didn’t have the best feeling after the first match and needed to reset my game. I went for a walk and cleared my mind, enjoying the beautiful surroundings, and that helped me prepare again. I’m very satisfied with the result because João is a great player and I lost to him not long ago. That makes this win even more important for me, and I’m pleased to have progressed.” Qualification round Opening round All matches of the CCB Europe Top 16 Cup will be available live worldwide on ETTU.tv and YouTube ETTU official, except in the following countries and territories, where specific broadcast agreements apply and access is restricted (geo-blocked). In these regions, fans should follow the tournament exclusively on the official local broadcasters listed here. See the pictures by Remi GROS here.

The qualification stage of the CCB Europe Top 16 Cup got underway today at the Omnisports venue in Montreux. On Thursday, eight players in both the Men’s and Women’s events are competing for the final two places in the Round of 16. The qualification is played over two rounds, with the winners of the second round securing their spots in the main draw. All matches of the CCB Europe Top 16 Cup will be available live worldwide on ETTU.tv and YouTube ETTU official, except in the following countries and territories, where specific broadcast agreements apply and access is restricted (geo-blocked). In these regions, fans should follow the tournament exclusively on the official local broadcasters listed here. See the pictures by Remi GROS here. In the opening round, top seed Anna HURSEY of Wales recorded a swift straight-games victory over Georgina POTA of Hungary 11-6, 11-4, 11-8 . Annett KAUFMANN came under early pressure in her match against Lea RAKOVAC of Croatia. After narrowly losing the opening game, the German player quickly imposed her dominance and took control of the contest. In a closely contested encounter, Tomislav PUCAR of Croatia secured a straight-games victory over Daniel HABESOHN of Austria, despite the narrow margins in each game. PUCAR held his composure in the key moments to seal a 3-0 win and move forward in the competition. Iulian CHIRITA of Romania and Andrej GACINA of Croatia delivered the closest match in the morning program. Following a dominant start by CHIRITA, GACINA mounted a strong comeback, taking control with precise placement and sharp angles from corner to corner to force a decider. The Croatian led 9-4 in the final game, but CHIRITA responded with an impressive late surge, leveling the score and closing out the match to prevail 3-1 (11-8, 11-7, 5-11, 11-9). Izabela LUPULESKU became the first Serbian woman in this century to compete at the CCB Europe Top 16 Cup and marked her appearance in style. On her debut, she defeated Andreea DRAGOMAN of Romania in four games to secure a memorable victory. Last time someone from Serbia was on the list was in 1992, when Gordana PERKUCIN represented Yugoslavia. Charlotte LUTZ of France disappointed the home supporters by overcoming Switzerland’s Rachel MORET in straight games, delivering a confident performance to advance. Kristian KARLSSON of Sweden fought back from a two-game deficit to force a decider against João GERALDO of Portugal in one of the closest and most entertaining matches of the day, highlighted by a series of powerful rallies. The deciding game remained level until 6-6, when GERALDO held his nerve in the closing stages to secure victory. Álvaro ROBLES of Spain completed the opening round with a victory over Pedro OSIRO of Switzerland. The host nation representative gave the crowd reason to cheer by taking the opening game, but ROBLES quickly leveled the score. The final two games were closely contested, with the Spaniard holding firm to secure the win. Opening round Georgina POTA of Hungary – Anna HURSEY of Wales 0-3 (6-11, 4-11, 8-11) Annett KAUFMANN of Germany – Lea RAKOVAC of Croatia 3-1 (9-11, 11-6, 11-5, 11-6) Daniel HABESOHN of Austria – Tomislav PUCAR of Croatia 0-3 (8-11, 11-13, 9-11) Andrej GACINA of Croatia – Iulian CHIRITA of Romania 1-3 (8-11, 7-11, 11-5, 9-11) Andreea DRAGOMAN of Romania – Izabela LUPULESKU of Serbia 1-3 (9-11, 11-6, 5-11, 8-11) Rachel MORET of Switzerland – Charlotte LUTZ of France 0-3( 5-11, 4-11, 5-11) Joao GERALDO of Portugal – Kristian KARLSSON of Sweden 3-2 (11-5, 13-11, 5-11, 5-11, 11-8) Alvaro ROBLES of Spain – Pedro OSIRO of Switzerland 3-1 (9-11, 11-5, 12-10, 11-8)

One year after ending one of the most dominant recent reigns in the history of the CCB Europe Top 16 Cup, defending champion Alexis LEBRUN of France returns to Montreux with renewed confidence, greater experience, and the same hunger to compete at the very top. With the main draw commencing tomorrow, Europe’s elite once again gather for one of the season’s most prestigious stages. After reaching the semi-finals in 2024, the French star produced a breakthrough performance in 2025, defeating Darko JORGIC in the final to stop the Slovenian’s run of three consecutive titles and claim his first CCB Europe Top 16 Cup crown. Now, ahead of his third appearance at the iconic event from 5 to 8 February, he embraces the challenge of coming back as the player everyone wants to beat. “It always feels very nice to come back after winning a title. I am very happy to play again in Montreux and I hope I will have a great tournament this year,” said LEBRUN. The past twelve months have been a period of steady success. European champion in singles and doubles in 2024, he also added the team crown to his growing list of achievements. “A lot of things have happened, but I think I learned a lot during the last year. I tried to improve some aspects of my game, so I hope it will work.” That growth has been reflected in his recent results, but he remains cautious, aware that form can shift quickly at an event as intense as the CCB Europe Top 16 Cup. “I feel good, but every tournament is different, so I will try my best to make a good tournament.” Few events in European table tennis offer the same atmosphere as Montreux. The unique format, the full stands, and the proximity of the crowd create a pressure cooker that leaves no room for mistakes. “It’s always perfect conditions in a beautiful place with a full crowd, so it’s always a pleasure to play this tournament.” With only Europe’s elite invited, every round feels like a final. “It’s just the top European players, so of course it’s very strong. It’s very exciting to fight with so many strong players for the title and I will take a lot of pleasure.” Despite the growing expectations that follow him, the reigning champion remains focused on his own path, refusing to be distracted by labels or predictions. “I am just focused on myself and I want to continue my way.” That mindset also extends to his approach to the season ahead. “This tournament is one of the important ones in my season, so I will prepare and practice a lot to be able to play my best. It’s a special place for table tennis and for the Top 16, so I am very happy to play here.” As the CCB Europe Top 16 Cup returns, the story comes full circle. The champion is back, no longer the challenger, but the reference point. And once again, Europe will be watching. Men’s event In the Men’s event will play Truls MOREGARD of Sweden, Alexis LEBRUN of France, Felix LEBRUN of France, Darko JORGIC of Slovenia, Benedikt DUDA of Germany, Patrick FRANZISKA of Germany, Dang QIU of Germany, Dimitrij OVTCHAROV of Germany, Anton KALLBERG of Sweden, Anders LIND of Denmark, Simon GAUZY of France, Jonathan GROTH of Denmark, Marcos FREITAS of Portugal, Eduard IONESCU of Romania. Qualification Stage – Men Alvaro ROBLES of Spain, Andrej GACINA of Croatia, Milosz REDZIMSKI of Poland, Tomislav PUCAR of Croatia, Kristian KARLSSON of Sweden, Daniel HABESOHN of Austria, Joao GERALDO of Portugal and Pedro OSIRO of Switzerland. Reserve players Iulian CHIRITA of Romania, Thibault PORET of France, Andre BERTELSMEIER of Germany, Martin ALLEGRO of Belgium, Adrien RASSENFOSSE of Belgium, Luka MLADENOVIC of Luxembourg, and Ovidiu IONESCU of Romania. Women’s event In the Women’s event will play Sabine WINTER of Germany, Sofia POLCANOVA of Austria, Bernadette SZOCS of Romania, Ying HAN of Germany, Jia Nan YUAN of France, Elizabeta SAMARA of Romania, Prithika PAVADE of France, Jieni SHAO of Portugal, Nina MITTELHAM of Germany, Linda BERGSTROM of Sweden, Fu YU of Portugal, Maria XIAO of Spain, Natalia BAJOR of Poland, Xiaona SHAN of Germany. Qualification Stage Anna HURSEY of Wales, Annett KAUFMANN of Germany, CharlotteLUTZ of France, Andreea DRAGOMAN of Romania, Izabela LUPULESKU of Serbia, Lea RAKOVAC of Croatia, Georgina POTA of Hungary, Rachel MORET of Switzerland. Reserve players Christina KALLBERG of Sweden, Giorgia PICCOLIN of Italy, Britt EERLAND of the Netherlands, Yuan WAN of Germany, Gaia MONFARDINI of Italy, Adina DIACONU of Romania, and Ivana MALOBABIC of Croatia.

The draw for the qualification stage of the CCB Europe Top 16 Cup was held today at the Omnisports venue in Montreux. On Thursday, eight players in both the Men’s and Women’s events will compete for the final two places available in the Round of 16. The qualification stage will be played over two rounds, with the winners of the second round securing their spots in the main draw.

The wait is over as Europe’s table tennis elite take to the tables from tomorrow, 5 to 8 February, at the prestigious CCB Europe Top 16 Cup in Montreux, where the continent’s best athletes will battle for a total prize money of 125,000 euros. Ahead of the main draws, which begin on Friday with 16 women and 16 men, a qualification tournament will be held on Thursday, where the final two places in each field will be decided. The draw for the qualification takes place tonight at 19:00, while the Round of 16 pairings will be determined on Thursday at 20:00. The men’s event will see the return of Alexis LEBRUN, the reigning champion, who ended Darko JORGIC’s three-year reign last season. The French star arrives in Montreux full of confidence, joined by his brother Félix LEBRUN, who enters the tournament as the third seed and continues his steady rise among Europe’s elite. They will be challenged by a powerful German squad, led by Benedikt DUDA, Patrick FRANZISKA, Dang QIU and five-time winner Dimitrij OVTCHAROV, as well as by no. one seed Truls MÖREGÅRDH of Sweden, the Olympic silver medallist. In the women’s event, the spotlight is once again on Germany. Ying HAN, the reigning champion and three-time winner of the event, returns after her remarkable comeback season, while Sabine WINTER, seeded number one, arrives as one of the main favourites for the title. They are joined by Nina MITTELHAM, the 2021 champion, and Xiaona SHAN, bronze medallist in 2025. Among their toughest challengers are Jia Nan YUAN, 2024 winner, Bernadette SZÖCS, European Games champion and 2018 Top 16 winer, Sofia POLCANOVA, two-time European champion, and Elizabeta SAMARA, finalist of the previous edition. With only Europe’s best players invited and every match played in a knockout format, the CCB Europe Top 16 Cup remains one of the most demanding and prestigious individual events on the European calendar. In addition to prize money and ranking points, the stakes are even higher, as the semi-finalists will also secure direct qualification for the World Cup in Macau, to be held from 30 March to 5 April.