The men’s semifinalists for the final day of the 2026 CCB Europe Top 16 Cup have been decided in Montreux. Darko JORGIC will take on Benedikt DUDA, while Félix LEBRUN meets Alexis LEBRUN in an all-French showdown for a place in the final.The fight for the top four positions in the men’s draw at the 2026 CCB Europe Top 16 Cup takes center stage on day three of action at the Omnisports venue in Montreux.
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.
Felix LEBRUN – Anders LIND 3-0 (11-8, 11-7, 11-5)
Félix LEBRUN of France defeated Denmark’s Anders LIND in an almost exhibition-style performance, delighting the packed crowd in Montreux.
“It was a very tense match. I expected a really difficult encounter, but I managed to control it from start to finish. I played a very strong game tactically, technically and physically, so I’m extremely happy. It gives me a lot of confidence for the rest of the competition. It always feels great to win convincingly against a player of that level,” said LEBRUN.
The lower half of the draw will also feature an all-French clash between Simon GAUZY and Alexis LEBRUN, ensuring France a place in the final.
“Reaching a potential all-French final would clearly be something special. Unfortunately, we were all placed in the same half of the draw, but the goal is to have as many French players as possible fighting all the way to the final. Hopefully it turns out that way.”
Darko JORGIC – Tomislav PUCAR 3–0 (11–4, 11–8, 11–7)
Three-time champion Darko JORGIC of Slovenia powered into the semifinals with a straight-games victory over Croatia’s Tomislav PUCAR.
“It’s always very difficult to play against a close friend, someone you know so well. We train together almost every other day. It’s hard to find a real rhythm in a match like that because it’s mostly decided by serve, receive and the first ball,” explained JORGIC.
Darko added:
“I’m very happy with today’s win. I think I was dominant from start to finish and more aggressive in the key moments. I knew what to expect from PUCAR, and of course he knew what to expect from me as well, but maybe I made slightly fewer mistakes. I also had a bit of luck, especially in the second game, if it had gone to 1–1, you never know what could have happened.”
The three-time winner, who has reached the final in each of the last four editions, did not hide his ambitions:
“I’m looking ahead very positively and I feel I’m improving from match to match. For me, the Top 16 is one of the most beautiful tournaments. I have great memories here and I always enjoy coming back. My first goal was to return and at least reach the semifinals, knowing how strong the competition is. Of course, the ultimate goal is to win a fourth title. ”
Marcos FREITAS – Benedikt DUDA 1-3 (14-12, 15-17, 7-11, 7-11)
Benedikt DUDA of Germany overcame Portugal’s Marcos FREITAS after two fiercely contested opening games that went down to the wire. From the third game onward, however, the momentum shifted clearly in DUDA’s favor.
“Marcos was a very tough opponent today. He has excellent serves and is playing much stronger than he has in recent months. Winning the second game was obviously important and also a bit of compensation for the unnecessarily lost first one. In games three and four I then had him under fairly good control,” explained DUDA.
Tomorrow, DUDA will face Darko JORGIC in the semifinals.
“The semifinal against Darko will be difficult. This venue is almost like his living room, he has won the tournament three times already and has looked very solid both yesterday and today. I won our most recent encounter, but he will certainly be eager for revenge.”
Today’s victories meant more than just a place in the semifinals. The 2026 CCB Europe Top 16 Cup also serves as a qualification event for the ITTF Singles World Cup. By reaching the semifinals, the top four players in both the men’s and women’s events have secured direct qualification for the prestigious global tournament.
Simon GAUZY – Alexis LEBRUN 2-3 (11-7, 11-13, 12-10, 2-11, 12-14)
In one of the most entertaining matches of the day, Alexis LEBRUN defeated Simon GAUZY in an all-French showdown. GAUZY answered the sharp speed of LEBRUN’s attacking game with power and precision, keeping control of the opening game and maintaining the pressure through the next two. From the fourth game onward, however, LEBRUN tightened his grip on the match to force a decider. GAUZY held one match point, but LEBRUN converted his third opportunity to seal the victory.
“It was a real battle — I had to dig very deep into my reserves, so honestly it was a great match. Simon was very solid today as well, and I think we both produced a high level of play. He managed to trouble me in the short game, which slowed me down and made it harder for me to express myself, so to still come through is an immense source of pride,” said LEBRUN.
Speaking about his preparation, he added:
“I had reviewed the match we played recently in the club and discussed it with my coach afterwards, so I had a few tactical ideas going in. But he also arrived with some adjustments, and I wasn’t playing quite as well as I did in Toulouse, which made things more complicated. Still, I managed to rise to the challenge and I’m really happy. It’s never easy to play another French player, there’s always extra tension. Simon and I haven’t faced each other that often in competition, even though we know each other well from training. He has a very tricky game with lots of variation and is capable of producing some incredible shots. It was a big match, full of tension and adrenaline. If it ends the same way next time, I’ll gladly take it.”
