The stage is set for a thrilling showdown in German table tennis. The Liebherr Cup Final Four, featuring the league’s top four teams, is scheduled for , at the ratiopharm arena in Ulm/Neu-Ulm. The competition will determine the first titleholder of the season, promising a high-stakes event for fans and players alike.
Quarterfinals Set the Scene
The road to the Final Four was anything but straightforward. According to reports, all four quarterfinal matches went the distance, extending to a decisive doubles match. This intense competition underscores the parity within the league and suggests the Final Four will be fiercely contested. The teams battling for the championship will be 1. FC Saarbrücken TT, TTF Liebherr Ochsenhausen, TTC RhönSprudel Fulda-Maberzell, and TTC OE Clarity-Telefonie Systeme Bad Homburg.
Star Power on Display
The Liebherr Cup Final Four will showcase some of the biggest names in international table tennis. Olympic champion Fan Zhendong and world champion Shunsuke Togami have confirmed their participation, alongside German national players Dimitrij Ovtcharov and Patrick Franziska. Fan and Franziska will be representing 1. FC Saarbrücken TT, a team that has openly declared its ambition to add to its trophy cabinet. The Saarland team has already secured two German Table Tennis Cup titles, in and , and boasts a total of seven trophies.
A Familiar Venue
The ratiopharm arena in Ulm/Neu-Ulm has become a traditional home for the Liebherr Cup Final Four, hosting the event for the eleventh consecutive year. Nico Stehle, managing director of Tischtennis Bundesliga GmbH, emphasized the strong connection between the event and the region, stating, “The region lives and breathes this event and creates a unique atmosphere year after year. We are very pleased to be guests at the ratiopharm arena again in .”
Tournament Format
The Final Four will follow a compact, one-day format. The semi-finals are scheduled to begin at on , with matches played simultaneously on two tables. Immediately following the semi-finals, the grand final will determine the cup winner for the season.
Ticket Information and Early Bird Promotion
Tickets for the Liebherr Cup Final Four are currently available, with an early bird promotion in effect. Prices start at €14, offering fans an affordable opportunity to witness world-class table tennis firsthand. The event organizers anticipate a large turnout, building on the success of previous years that have seen thousands of fans fill the ratiopharm arena.
Team Previews
TTF Liebherr Ochsenhausen enters the Final Four with recent success still fresh in their minds, having won the title last year. Their key players include Shunsuke Togami, Iulian Chirita, and Andreas Levenko. They advanced to the Final Four after a 3-2 quarterfinal victory over Post SV Mühlhausen and a 3-1 win in the round of 16 against SV Werder Bremen.
Ochsenhausen will face a strong challenge from 1. FC Saarbrücken – TT, boasting a record of 8-3 and a point differential of 29:14. The presence of Fan Zhendong and Patrick Franziska makes them a formidable opponent.
Looking Ahead
The Liebherr Cup Final Four represents more than just a competition for a title; it’s a chance for these teams to establish themselves as dominant forces in German table tennis. For some, it’s an opportunity to add to their legacy, while for others, it’s a chance to make history. The event promises a day of intense competition, thrilling rallies, and a vibrant atmosphere for fans in Ulm/Neu-Ulm and beyond. The stakes are high, and all four teams will be vying for the coveted Liebherr Cup.
