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
Olympiacos Claims Fourth Consecutive Women’s Title
Olympiacos has once again asserted its dominance in Greek table tennis, claiming the national women’s championship title for the fourth consecutive year and taking a commanding lead in the men’s league following a dramatic derby against Panathinaikos. Olympiacos retained the title in the A1 National Women’s Division, completing an impressive campaign by finishing the regular season undefeated with 14 victories. The team secured the championship from the very first round of the 1–4 playoffs, held on 28 and 29 April at the Peace and Friendship Stadium in Piraeus. With three more wins in the playoffs, the team concluded the season with a perfect record of 17 victories. Olympiacos defeated AEK 4-1, AS Pera Athinon 4-1, and Panathinaikos 4-2, earning 6 points in the playoffs and 34 overall. Remarkably, the club has remained unbeaten in domestic league play since January 2020. Coach Giorgos CHRISTOFORAKIS fielded an experienced international lineup featuring Ukraine’s Margarita PESOTSKA, Sweden’s LI Fen, Hungary’s Georgina POTA, and Evangelia MERAMVELLIOTAKI. Maria CHRISTOFORAKI and Spain’s Galia DVORAK also contributed during the regular season. The final podium in the women’s division was confirmed at the close of the playoffs. AS Pera Athinon took second place with 29 points, followed by Panathinaikos in third with 27 points. In the playoffs, Pera registered one win and two losses, while Panathinaikos had two wins and one loss. AEK Athens finished fourth, also with 27 points, but failed to register a win over the two playoff days. A standout moment came from Panathinaikos’ Katerina TOLIOU, who scored a surprising and convincing 3-0 win over former European champion LI Fen. In the men’s A1 competition, a high-stakes match between Olympiacos and Panathinaikos, postponed from earlier in the season, took place on 28 April at the same venue. Olympiacos emerged victorious in a thrilling 4-3 contest that lasted three hours and 45 minutes. With this victory, Olympiacos completed the regular season with 28 points, securing a significant two-point advantage over Panathinaikos ahead of the upcoming playoffs. The win places Olympiacos in a strong position to defend its title for the fourth consecutive year. The match drew more than 200 spectators to the Peace and Friendship Stadium and attracted hundreds of viewers via the HTTF’s YouTube broadcast. It featured some of the sport’s top names and delivered high-level drama. For the first time in the history of the Greek league, two reigning European champions met in competition: Truls MOREGARD of Olympiacos, part of Sweden’s European championship-winning men’s team in 2023, and Alvaro ROBLES of Panathinaikos, the 2024 European mixed doubles champion. MOREGARD also boasts two Olympic silver medals from the Paris 2024 Games. Olympiacos claimed two singles wins from MOREGARD, who overcame Panagiotis GIONIS and Konstantinos ANGELAKIS. In doubles, MOREGARD and Croatian Tomislav PUCAR secured the decisive point with a 3-1 win over Robles and George KONSTANTINOPOULOS. Earlier in the tie, Georgios STAMATOUROS gave Olympiacos the lead with a 3-1 win against ANGELAKIS. Panathinaikos responded with two wins from ROBLES—defeating both PUCAR (3-2) and STAMATOUROS (3-1)—and a singles victory from GIONIS, who also beat PUCAR 3-1. The playoffs for the men’s positions 1–4 will be held in May, with the Hellenic Table Tennis Federation expected to announce the official dates soon.
Metz TT to Face ttc berlin eastside in Europe’s Ultimate Showdown
In an all-French Champions League Women’s semifinal, Metz TT overcame Saint-Quentin TT in the second leg to book their place in the final. The other finalist is ttc berlin eastside, after the German club defeated reigning champions KTS ENEA SIARKOPOL Tarnobrzeg. Metz TT had lost the opening leg by the narrowest of margins, but tonight they left no chance for Saint-Quentin TT. Adina DIAKONU defeated Camille LUTZ, earning her ninth victory in this season’s Champions League (her only loss came against China’s Zhuojia HE back in October). Charlotte LUTZ avenged her opening-leg defeat against Linda BERGSTRÖM, while Mariia TAILAKOVA prevailed against Polina MIKHAILOVA to complete the sweep. “We did our best today! We know that at home, in Metz, everything can happen. We had a very good line-up, but none of the matches were easy. We had great team spirit and believed in ourselves. I’m very happy that we could turn the result in our favor after losing the first leg in Saint-Quentin 3-2. This is our strength — we fight until the end and never give up. I’m looking forward to the final. Even though we lost against them in the group stage, a final is a new match, and anything can happen. We will take our chance,” said Adina DIACONU. Metz TT – Saint-Quentin TT 3-0 Saint-Quentin TT – Metz TT 3-2
Portugal to Host 2025 ITTF Europe Hopes Week & Camp for Rising U12 Talents
The 2025 ITTF Europe Hopes Week will take place from June 24 to 30 in Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal, bringing together the continent’s most promising Under-12 table tennis players for an intensive week of training and evaluation. The date is set after the general calendar has been updated and the ITTF Continental hopes week has been moved to a week later. Organized by the European Table Tennis Union and empowered by the ITTF, the camp will be held at Portugal’s National Training Center, a modern facility that provides on-site accommodation, training halls, and fitness amenities—all nestled within the scenic Lavandeira Municipal Park near Porto. Each member association that has registered its National Talent Identification Program with ITTF will be eligible to send up to two boys and two girls born in 2013 or later, selected through their national programs. Participation is granted on a first-come, first-served basis, and top performers will earn a place in the prestigious ITTF Hopes Week & Challenge. ETTU will subsidize €30 per day for one boy and one girl per association. For players already selected for the Eurotalents Program, including those from the 2025 selection camp in Havířov, ETTU will cover full accommodation costs. The coaching team includes: Pedro OLIVEIRA (Head Coach), Pedro RUFINO and Diogo SILVA (Assistant Coaches), Alexandre GOMES (Physical Coach). Additional ETTU-appointed coach will be announced. Entries must be submitted by June 2, 2025, to: Mário Pedro COUTO – mario.couto@fptm.pt Ana IVOSEVIC – ana.ivosevic@ettu.org Cancellations are accepted until June 16 without penalty. A coaches’ meeting is scheduled for 8 p.m. on June 24 upon arrival.
Germany’s Postsportverein Mühlhausen and Czech HB Ostrov Reach Europe Cup Men Semi-Finals
Germany’s Postsportverein Mühlhausen 1951 e.V. and Czech Republic’s HB Ostrov z.s. have advanced to the semi-finals of the Europe Cup Men, joining SF SKK El Nino Praha (Czech Republic) and ASC Grünwettersbach (Germany). Spain’s Real Club Cajasur Priego Tenis de Mesa narrowly defeated Postsportverein Mühlhausen 1951 e.V. at home, but failed to replicate that result in Germany. Steffen MENGEL easily overcame Diogo CARVALHO, while Ovidiu IONESCU delivered a straight-games win against Hampus SÖDERLUND. Only Alvaro ROBLES managed to put Irvin BERTRAND under pressure before the French player sealed the match. “We are very happy to win 3-0 and qualify for the semis. We knew it would be hard. They won the first leg 3-2, but at the same time we knew that at home we are the stronger team, and together with our supporters we could win and qualify,” said Ovidiu IONESCU. Meanwhile, with a significantly changed line-up compared to the opening leg, HB Ostrov z.s. recorded another straight-matches victory. Only Pavel SIRUCEK appeared in both legs and won on both occasions, defeating Dawid CHILICKI and Patryk CHOJNOWSKI. For the home match, Vladislav URSU and Andrej GACINA secured wins in the opening two matches against Piotr MICHALSKI and Patryk CHOJNOWSKI. Postsportverein Mühlhausen 1951 e.V. – REAL CLUB CAJASUR PRIEGO TENIS DE MESA 3-0 Opening leg REAL CLUB CAJASUR PRIEGO TENIS DE MESA – Postsportverein Mühlhausen 1951 e.V. 3-2 HB Ostrov z.s. – UKS Dojlidy Białystok 3-0 Opening leg UKS Dojlidy Białystok – HB Ostrov z.s. 0-3
