Reigning champions 1. FC Saarbrücken TT will play for the HYLO ETTU Champions League Men title once again after defeating KS Orlen Bogoria Grodzisk Mazowiecki 3-0 in front of a packed Saarlandhalle. Led by Olympic champion Zhendong FAN and backed by the passionate home crowd, the German club secured another place in the final and will now fight for the trophy on Sunday. See the pictures here. Reigning champions 1. FC Saarbrücken TT opened the HYLO ETTU Champions League Men Final 4 in dominant fashion, taking the lead against KS Orlen Bogoria Grodzisk Mazowiecki in the opening semi-final. Olympic champion and nine-time World champion Zhendong FAN showed his class from the very first point against Europe’s highest-ranked Polish player, Milosz REDZIMSKI. The Chinese superstar left no space for surprises and controlled the match throughout, securing a convincing straight-games victory. “It is a tremendous thing that we have FAN with us. It relieves a lot of pressure from aiming for another title,” said IONESCU before the encounter. Focused and determined, Patrick FRANZISKA played like a man on a mission against Marek BADOWSKI to give reigning champions a commanding 2-0 lead. The European no. 8 controlled the encounter from the start, never allowing BADOWSKI to settle into rhythm. FRANZISKA dictated the pace with aggressive opening play and consistent pressure, closing the match in straight games. “I played against him before in the Champions League and it was a very close match,” said FRANZISKA. “I knew that I had to put him under pressure early and push myself into the game immediately to prevent him from exploding into the match. I played very safely and tried to avoid easy mistakes.” The third match brought drama and suspense to Saarlandhalle, as Europe’s no. 1 Truls MOREGARD needed all his patience and fighting spirit to overcome Panagiotis GIONIS and secure the place in the final for 1. FC Saarbrücken TT. The 3,300 spectators were rewarded with a thrilling clash, as the experienced Greek defender, currently ranked no. 39 in Europe, once again demonstrated why his unique defensive style remains one of the most difficult challenges in world table tennis. GIONIS earned the first game for the Polish side in the tie and constantly pushed MOREGARD to the limit. The third game turned into a dramatic battle point by point, with the Swedish star calling a timeout at 10-10 before eventually taking the game 14-12. GIONIS responded again in the fourth game to force a decider and immediately moved 3-0 ahead in the fifth before MOREGARD produced a strong comeback to close the match. “It was so exhausting. It felt like I was 45 and Panagiotis 25,” joked MOREGARD afterwards. “He played so well and pushed me to the limits. In the last game my first three points were terrible, but then I raised my level to finish the match.” At the end of the match, the Man of the Match award was presented by ETTU President Pedro Moura to Zhendong FAN. “I am happy with my performance and happy that we reached the final, since this is my first ever Final 4,” said FAN. “I already received the Man of the Match award, and hopefully tomorrow I can lift the big trophy.” Semi-finals – Saturday Final – Sunday at 14:00

The countdown is almost over. On 16 and 17 May, the Saarlandhalle in Saarbrücken hosts once again the HYLO ETTU Champions League Men Final 4, where four of Europe’s strongest clubs will battle for the biggest title in European club table tennis. Host club 1. FC Saarbrücken TT will once again enjoy home support in what promises to be another unforgettable weekend of elite table tennis. Alongside world-class action on the table, spectators can expect a full entertainment program, fan activities, music, and a vibrant Final 4 atmosphere inside the Saarlandhalle, which will welcome around 3,300 spectators. DJ PIROCCO and event host Alexander MEHL will lead the entertainment program, while fans will also be able to participate in match predictions and quizzes powered by proWIN Winter GmbH. Venue opening times For spectators attending the event, access to the venue opens: VIP access to the venue Visitors are advised to have either printed tickets or QR codes ready upon arrival in order to speed up entry procedures. Important travel and parking information for Saturday Due to the football match taking place at the same time, parking directly at the Saarlandhalle will unfortunately not be possible on Saturday. We therefore kindly ask all VIP guests to travel by public transport wherever possible and to allow sufficient extra time for their journey. We recommend that all guests arrive at the Saarlandhalle by 10:30 a.m. at the latest in order to avoid waiting times at the entrance. Please note that Camphauser Straße is expected to be fully closed in both directions from approximately 10:30 a.m., and no later than 11:00 a.m. This closure will also affect arrival and departure traffic on Camphauser Straße above the road “An der Saarlandhalle”. Parking in the upper section of Camphauser Straße will not be possible. According to the latest information available, pedestrian access will also be affected. Access to the Saarlandhalle will therefore only be possible via the residential area at Rodenhof. From “An der Saarlandhalle”, visitors will continue on foot to the Saarlandhalle. A section of Ziegelstraße is accessible by car; the remaining route must be continued on foot. Ottweilerstraße is accessible by car up to the transition at “An der Saarlandhalle”. Street parking is available along Ottweilerstraße, Ziegelstraße, and Jägersfreuder Straße, subject to availability. When parking in the Rodenhof area, however, please proceed with caution, as the residents’ parking protection concept (“Anwohnerschutzkonzept”) applies there. In certain areas, parking is only permitted with a residents’ parking permit. These areas are clearly indicated by traffic signs. In addition, short-term road closures in the area of Ludwigskreisel cannot be ruled out. This may lead to delays, so please take this into account when planning your arrival. Furthermore, we strongly recommend putting on any fan merchandise or FCS fan clothing only after entering the venue, as encounters with away fans in the vicinity of the football match could potentially lead to unpleasant situations. These police measures are necessary to ensure the safest and smoothest possible running of the events. We sincerely regret any inconvenience caused and thank you for your understanding. Directions & parking 17.05.2026 Shuttle service organised for spectators In cooperation with 1. FC Saarbrücken TT and Saarbahn GmbH, a shuttle service has been arranged for spectators travelling to the HYLO ETTU Champions League Men Final 4 in Saarbrücken. The shuttle buses will start operating from approximately 10:25, running every 20–30 minutes from the long-distance bus station in Saarbrücken (Dudweilerstrasse 96), with an additional stop at Saarbrücken Central Station. The final stop will be Camphauser Str./Ludwigspark, close to the Saarlandhalle. Please note that the shuttle service is organised only for arrivals to the venue. Return journeys must be made using public transport. Food, entertainment and Final 4 experience Fans attending the Final 4 will not only enjoy top-level table tennis, but also a variety of food and catering options throughout the weekend. Food trucks and snack stations will be available at the venue, while VIP guests will have access to dedicated catering menus during both semifinal and final days. The ETTU and 1. FC Saarbrücken Tischtennis e.V. welcomed all spectators ahead of the event and expressed confidence that Saarbrücken will once again deliver a spectacular celebration of European club table tennis.

Four clubs. Two days. One trophy. And this year’s HYLO® ETTU Champions League Men Final 4 in Saarbrücken has everything needed for a spectacular showdown. Olympic champions, World Championship medallists, Europe’s biggest stars and some of the most ambitious clubs on the continent will take over Saarlandhalle this weekend, with thousands of fans expected to create another unforgettable atmosphere. Defending champions 1. FC Saarbrücken TT return to their home arena chasing a third consecutive Final 4 title and a fourth straight Champions League crown overall. But standing in their way are three clubs arriving with their own momentum, belief and major ambitions: Borussia Düsseldorf, Alliance Nîmes/Montpellier TT and KS Orlen Bogoria Grodzisk Mazowiecki. The spotlight naturally falls first on Saarbrücken. The German club once again arrives with a line-up that almost looks unreal on paper. At the centre stands FAN Zhendong, reigning Olympic champion, former World’s No. 1 and owner of nine World Championship gold medals. Alongside him are Truls MOREGARD, Europe’s current No. 1 and Olympic silver medallist, Darko JORGIC Europe’s No. 5, and Patrick Franziska NO.8, one of Germany’s key players for years on both club and international level. “Of course we want to win the fourth title in a row,” said FRANZISKA. “We have a really, really strong team with so many good players.” Still, Saarbrücken know there will be no easy matches at this level, especially against a dangerous KS Orlen Bogoria Grodzisk Mazowiecki side that continues to grow year after year. Bogoria reached the Final 4 for the second consecutive season after another impressive European campaign. One of the key figures remains veteran Panagiotis GIONIS, whose experience perfectly complements the rise of young Polish star Milosz REDZIMSKI. “We know it will be extremely difficult against Saarbrücken,” admitted GIONIS. “They are an unbelievable team, especially at home, with fantastic fans and world-class players. But we will try our best.” REDZIMSKI also believes last season’s Final 4 experience could help the team remain calmer in decisive moments. “Playing in the Final 4 is always something special, and having players in the team who already experienced these matches helps us stay calm and focused,” he explained. The second semi-final brings together two clubs with enormous quality and completely different stories. On one side stands Borussia Düsseldorf, the most successful club in European table tennis history. Six Champions League titles, six Cup of European Champions trophies and four ETTU Cup victories tell only part of the story of a club that has dominated European table tennis for decades. Now entering a new chapter after the retirement of legendary Timo BOLL, Düsseldorf still arrives with huge ambitions. European champion Qiu DANG Europe’s No. 6, leads the team alongside Swede Anton KALLBERG currently occupying position No. 10, and American star Kanak JHA. “We really need to come up with something special for our semi-final against Montpellier and play our best table tennis,” admitted coach Danny HEISTER. Because waiting on the other side is probably the hottest team in European table tennis right now Alliance Nîmes/Montpellier TT. The French champions started their campaign all the way back in Stage 1 and kept building confidence with every round. At the heart of the project are brothers Felix LEBRUN and Alexis LEBRUN Europe’s No. 2 and 3, now firmly established among the world’s elite after another outstanding performance with France at the ITTF World Team Championships Finals in London. Felix arrives in Saarbrücken after one of the best tournaments of his career, including a sensational victory over LIN Shidong. “It was a great tournament for us that unfortunately ended in the semi-finals,” Felix said after France’s bronze-medal run. “I’m proud of our team and the way we played.” Alexis also admits the confidence inside the French squad is growing fast. “We played a great tournament in London and finished with a beautiful medal, so I come to the Final 4 with a lot of confidence,” said Alexis. And yes, last season’s defeat to Düsseldorf is still somewhere in the back of their minds. “For sure we want to take our revenge,” Alexis smiled. “But the real goal is to reach the final.” With packed stands expected, emotions already building and four clubs believing they can lift the trophy, Saarbrücken is once again ready to become the centre of European club table tennis.

The countdown is almost over. This weekend, Saarlandhalle will once again become the centre of European club table tennis as Saarbrücken hosts the HYLO® ETTU Champions League Men Final 4 for the third consecutive year. What started as a new chapter for the competition in 2024 has quickly grown into one of the sport’s most successful club events, both on and off the table. With nearly sold-out crowds expected across both days, increasing international attention, and another world-class player line-up ready to compete, organisers believe the 2026 edition could become the biggest yet. The European Table Tennis Union Executive Board has already confirmed Saarbrücken as the host city for the next two editions as well, underlining the confidence in an organisational model that has delivered strong crowds, excellent conditions, and a unique atmosphere since the Final 4 format was introduced. “It is always a great pleasure to host the HYLO® Champions League Final 4 once again in Saarbrücken. At the same time, it is a big honour for us that the event will remain here for the next two years as well, and we are all really looking forward to it,” said Nicolas BARROIS, General Manager of 1. FC Saarbrücken TT and Head of Organisation. “Even though we have already organised the event twice before, every edition brings new challenges. This year, the preparations are particularly demanding because of a football match taking place on Saturday, which requires additional security measures and coordination. “For the first time, we are also expecting the arena to be almost sold out on both days, meaning we will welcome even more spectators than in previous years. Together with the incredibly strong line-up of players, everything is set for a fantastic weekend of table tennis in Saarbrücken.” The growing popularity of the event has been evident from the very first Final 4 edition. More than 5,000 spectators attended the 2025 tournament across two days, while the final itself was sold out in advance. The atmosphere created by local supporters together with travelling fans from across Europe has become one of the defining characteristics of the competition. The organisers now face the challenge of building on that momentum while managing growing interest surrounding this season’s event. Much of the attention naturally centres around home side 1. FC Saarbrücken TT, the No. 1 seeds and winners of both previous Final 4 editions. Saarbrücken once again arrive with one of the strongest squads ever assembled in European club table tennis. Leading the line-up is Olympic champion and former World No. 1 FAN Zhendong, the youngest men’s singles World Champion in history and owner of nine World Championship gold medals. Alongside him stands Europe’s current No. 1 Truls MOREGARD, Olympic and World Championship silver medallist. The depth of the German club is equally impressive, with Darko JORGIC, currently No. 5 in Europe, as well as Patrick FRANZISKA, ranked No. 8 in Europe and Olympic silver medalist with Germany at Tokyo 2020 and more recently quarterfinalist at he World Championships in London. Further strength comes from Eduard IONESCU, Samuel ARPAS, Yuto MURAMATSU and Cedric MEISSNER, giving Saarbrücken both quality and depth as they target a third consecutive Final 4 title on home soil. Now, with the stands expected to be fuller than ever and Europe’s biggest stars ready to take centre stage, Saarbrücken prepares for another weekend that promises to confirm the HYLO® Champions League Men Final 4 as one of the highlights of the European sporting calendar.

With Saarlandhalle expected to be almost sold out across both competition days and international interest around the HYLO® Champions League Men Final 4 continuing to grow, attention is once again firmly focused on 1. FC Saarbrücken TT and their pursuit of another European crown on home soil. The German powerhouse enters the decisive weekend as the No. 1 seed, four-time Champions League winner, and reigning champion of both previous Final 4 editions. Backed by one of the strongest squads in European club table tennis, Saarbrücken will once again be among the favourites to lift the trophy in front of their home supporters. Leading the line-up is FAN Zhendong, reigning Olympic champion in men’s singles, the youngest men’s singles World Champion in history, and owner of nine World Championship gold medals. Alongside him stands Truls MOREGARD, Europe’s current No. 1, Olympic Games and World Championship silver medallist, while Darko JORGIC arrives as Europ’s No.5. Another key figure is Patrick FRANZISKA, currently Europe’s No. 8 and part of Germany’s Olympic silver medal-winning team at Tokyo 2020. Saarbrücken arrive at the Final 4 after another composed European campaign. They opened the knockout stage with a difficult away victory over Dojlidy Białystok before sealing qualification comfortably at home. In the quarter-finals, they produced a dominant first-leg performance against GV Hennebont TT and then handled the pressure well in a demanding return leg to secure another Final 4 appearance. Now the focus turns toward another attempt to defend the title and continue the club’s remarkable Final 4 run. “Of course we want to win the fourth title in a row,” FRANZISKA said. “We have a really, really strong team with so many good players.” Still, the German international made it clear that Saarbrücken are approaching the weekend carefully, beginning with the semi-final against KS Orlen Bogoria Grodzisk Mazowiecki. “We take one step at a time. Bogoria are always dangerous and we know them very well,” he explained. “Especially GIONIS, who I played together with for two years in Borussia Düsseldorf. First we focus on the semi-final and hopefully we can make it to the final.” JORGIC also knows exactly what is waiting in Saarbrücken this weekend: pressure, expectations and another opportunity to fight for the biggest club trophy in Europe. “Honestly, this is one of the biggest tournaments we can have with the club,” said JORGIC. “Of course we know that we are among the favourites to win the title, but there are also many very strong teams in the Final 4.” Although Saarbrücken enters the event as defending champion and host club, the Slovenian star expects a difficult challenge already in the semi-final. “Even the first match against Bogoria can become very dangerous if we don’t play our best table tennis,” he explained. JORGIC is also fully aware of the quality waiting on the other side of the draw, where Borussia Düsseldorf and Alliance Nîmes/Montpellier TT will battle for a place in the final. “Both Düsseldorf and Montpellier are extremely strong teams with quality on every position,” he said. “We need to focus on our own game, play the way we know we can and try to win the trophy once again in front of our home fans. That is definitely our goal and our desire.” Fresh from another demanding international campaign with Romania at the ITTF World Team Championships Finals in London, Eduard Ionescu now turns his full attention toward the HYLO® Champions League Men Final 4. “The World Team Championships just finished and I’m happy with our team performance,” said IONESCU. “I’m also happy with my own performances. It was a long and difficult tournament, but in the end I think we did well as Team Romania.” Now the focus quickly shifts back to club competition and another opportunity for Saarbrücken to defend the Champions League title on home soil. “I’m very excited for the Champions League Final 4,” IONESCU continued. “We are all excited to play and to show our best level at the table.” Like the rest of the Saarbrücken squad, IONESCU’s objective for the weekend is clear. “I hope that we will come back home with one more title,” he said with a smile. Before returning to club duties, FRANZISKA was also part of Germany’s campaign at the ITTF World Team Championships Finals in London, where the team finished in the quarter-finals. “We reached our seeding position in the World Championships. We were seeded 5-8, so reaching the quarterfinal was more or less where we were expected to be,” FRANZISKA reflected. Germany had already beaten Japan during the group stage, but the rematch in the knockout rounds proved far more difficult. “For me, Japan was one of the two or three strongest teams in the tournament. They played extremely well against us, especially Harimoto, who was very strong. It was a tough draw, but we keep working and fighting.” JORGIC also reflected honestly on Slovenia’s recent campaign in London, admitting neither he nor the team managed to reach their highest level. “We didn’t play our best tournament with Slovenia, and honestly I also wasn’t in my best form,” he admitted. “Still, we reached the knockout stage and eventually lost against Germany, who were favourites from the beginning.” Now the focus is entirely on the Final 4 and raising the level again for the decisive club weekend. “I really hope my form will be better this weekend and that I will play better than at the World Championships,” JORGIC said. “It’s a very demanding tournament with excellent teams and great players, but we just need to focus on ourselves, play our game and try once again to win the title at home.” With the arena expected to welcome record crowds and Europe’s elite players ready to take centre stage once again, Saarbrücken now prepares for another weekend aiming to further strengthen its position at the top of European club table tennis.