Home News Bundesliga Cup The TTBL Move Your Sport

News

Bundesliga Pokal Transfer Miscellaneous International

Home

News

Bundesliga

Four teams, one title: Who will lift the trophy at the 2026 Liebherr TTBL Final4?

Bundesliga

Four teams, one title: Who will lift the trophy at the 2026 Liebherr TTBL Final4?

The Frankfurt metropolitan area and the entire table tennis world are ready for a weekend that will go down in history. This weekend, the Liebherr TTBL Final4 at the Süwag Energie ARENA in Frankfurt will decide the German Table Tennis Bundesliga (TTBL) championship. On Saturday, Borussia Düsseldorf, SV Werder Bremen, TTC Schwalbe Bergneustadt and 1. FC Saarbrücken TT will battle it out for a place in the final, where the title will ultimately be decided on Sunday. The entire event will be broadcast live on Dyn.

Patrick Franziska sums it up shortly before the Liebherr TTBL Final4: “Of course we’re keen to secure the first treble in the club’s history,” says the captain of 1. FC Saarbrücken TT. Having already won the cup and the Champions League this season, FCS have two titles to their name – now the third and most coveted is set to follow in Frankfurt. But Saarbrücken is not alone in its championship dream this weekend: Borussia Düsseldorf, SV Werder Bremen and TTC Schwalbe Bergneustadt are also going for the trophy this weekend and each want to write their very own success story.

The Table Tennis Bundesliga has already enjoyed a record-breaking season. More than 70,000 fans watched the main round matches in the venues – a record figure that impressively underscores the TTBL’s growing appeal. This enthusiasm is now giving rise to a new event format: for the first time, the German Team Championship will be held in a compact Final Four format. Four teams, three matches, one champion: the Liebherr TTBL Final4 is breaking new ground, and the Süwag Energie ARENA is the perfect venue for it. Anyone wishing to be there in person at short notice and share in the excitement can secure their ticket from the official ticket shop; tickets are available for Saturday (semi-finals), Sunday (final) or as a combined ticket for the entire weekend.

Record champions under pressure: Düsseldorf vs Bergneustadt

The first semi-final kicks off on Saturday at 1 pm between Borussia Düsseldorf and TTC Schwalbe Bergneustadt. Düsseldorf go into the tournament as the group stage winners and record champions – and with the realisation that the Liebherr TTBL Final4 is their last chance to win a title this season. Following their exit in the cup quarter-finals and missing out on the Champions League final, the championship is now the main objective. Borussia have already celebrated the TTBL title 34 times, most recently in a run from 2021 to 2024. Last year, the Düsseldorf side had to give way to TTF Liebherr Ochsenhausen. This time, they are aiming to return to the very top: “We will definitely give it our all once again to win the title,” says Dang Qiu. As winners of the main round, Düsseldorf were allowed to choose their semi-final opponents, and the choice fell on Bergneustadt. However, the record champions are not expecting a walk in the park: “Bergneustadt are a very dangerous team,” warns Qiu, “our two victories in the main round were by the skin of our teeth. That’s why we definitely have to give 100 per cent again.”

After all, TTC Schwalbe has undoubtedly earned its place in the Liebherr TTBL Final4. For the second time since 2019, Bergneustadt is among the top four, making this a historic weekend for the club. “For Bergneustadt, this is of course an absolute highlight. We’ve been working towards results like this for a long time,” says Benedikt Duda, who travels to Frankfurt with the best singles record in the main round (25:8). “As the leader, I’ve set the bar a bit higher and established certain standards to build a better team,” says Duda, explaining the basis for this year’s success. “And the lads have really done a great job. That’s why we’ve got this far this season.” With third place in the main round, Bergneustadt has already secured the best result in the club’s history. But this is by no means the end of the road: “We’re not done yet; naturally, we want a bit more,” says Duda, issuing a challenge to the competition.

Fans’ last dance: Saarbrücken vs Bremen

No sooner has the first semi-final been decided on Saturday than the second follows at 5 pm – and it is the clash that is attracting the most attention in the world of table tennis. On one side is 1. FC Saarbrücken TT, who already have two trophies in their cabinet – the Cup and the Champions League – and are now aiming for the treble. It would also be the second league title in the club’s history. Naturally, there is a special focus on Fan Zhendong this weekend: the Chinese Olympic champion has been electrifying the crowds since the start of the season and will be making his final appearance in the Saarbrücken jersey in Frankfurt. FCS captain Franziska is fully aware of the significance of this farewell: “You can really see how much fun he’s having in Germany and with his new role. He wants to gain new experiences – and I’m sure he’ll be on top form again in Frankfurt.” The objective is clear: “When you play with Fan Zhendong, the aim must be to at least try to win every title.”

On the other hand, SV Werder Bremen are an opponent who have already shown they can pose a threat to the Saarland side. In October, the Hanseatic side managed to beat a Saarbrücken team fielding their strongest line-up, ultimately securing a sensational second place in the table. “For me, SV Werder has always been a top-class team,” says Kirill Gerassimenko of his team’s winning streak. Now the 29-year-old, who is reaching the TTBL semi-finals with Werder for the third time, is even looking forward to a possible clash with Fan Zhendong: “I’m actually hoping we’ll face each other. I’ll try to play my best game.” Another factor is giving him a boost: “Marcelo Aguirre managed to beat Fan Zhendong in our home match, and as the tables in Frankfurt will be the same as in our home matches, I think we’ll all be well prepared for a clash with Fan.”

Who will win the 2026 German Championship?

Whichever teams make it through Saturday’s semi-finals, the final awaits them on Sunday at 1 pm – the moment all four teams have been working towards for months. Around 5,000 spectators will be at the Süwag Energie ARENA to witness live who secures the most coveted trophy in German table tennis. Those who aren’t in Frankfurt in person can of course still follow the action: the entire event will be broadcast by TTBL media partner Dyn.

Many experts see the final between Saarbrücken and Düsseldorf, which fans have been eagerly awaiting, as the most likely scenario – especially as Fan Zhendong’s involvement adds a special touch. The superstar is set to move to Düsseldorf after the Liebherr TTBL Final4. Patrick Franziska isn’t letting that rattle him, though: “He’s still playing for us, and we’re all very happy about that. We’ll see what happens after that – for now, we’re focusing on Frankfurt.”