The first title of the season goes to Swabia: TTF Liebherr Ochsenhausen triumphed at the LIEBHERR Cup Final Four and won the German Table Tennis Cup for the fifth time. On Saturday, in front of 4,500 enthusiastic fans at the ratiopharm arena in Ulm/Neu-Ulm, TTF secured the final with a 3-1 victory over 1. FC Saarbrücken TT. Hugo CALDERANO, the world No. 6 smiled broadly, danced around the court, and repeatedly celebrated with a clenched fist. CALDERANO played four matches throughout the LIEBHERR Cup Final Four, winning all of them and dropping just one game in total. In the final against 1. FC Saarbrücken TT, Calderano and his teammates lifted the trophy after a 3-1 victory, marking their first title since the 2019 double win. “It’s very special for us to win this title,” said CALDERANO afterward. “I’m very happy it worked out. Playing here is always a special experience because of the proximity to Ochsenhausen and the many fans in the arena.” The decisive victory came from Calderano in his match against Patrick FRANZISKA. CALDERANO won 3-0, displaying clever play at key moments, stealing points from his opponent, and benefiting from some luck. A spectacular rally gave him the first set 11-10, and a defensive edge shot secured a 10-7 lead in the second set. “Hugo played flawlessly, very versatile, and extremely confidently,” acknowledged FRANZISKA. “When he plays like that, he can beat any player in the world.” With five cup victories (2002, 2003, 2004, 2019, 2025), Ochsenhausen is now the second most successful team in the tournament’s history, behind record-holder Borussia Düsseldorf (28 titles). “Incredible, truly incredible,” said Simon GAUZY. “Our big goal was to participate and win the title. We faced two incredibly strong opponents today, so we’re even happier with our success.” Saarbrücken and Ochsenhausen last met in a final in 2020, when Saarbrücken won the German Championship 3-1. However, Saarbrücken missed out on their third cup victory (after 2012 and 2022) on Saturday. They still have two more title opportunities in the Table Tennis Bundesliga (TTBL) and the Champions League. In the TTBL, both Saarbrücken and Ochsenhausen are fighting for playoff spots, and Saarbrücken has reached the Champions League quarterfinals. Before beating FRANZISKA, CALDERANO had already defeated Saarbrücken’s Darko JORGIC (3-1) and, in the semifinals, Yuma TSUBOI and Kristian KARLSSON (both 3-0) from TTC OE Bad Homburg. GAUZY also contributed a point against Bad Homburg with a 3-1 win over KARLSSON, while Shunsuke TOGAMI secured a crucial point against Saarbrücken. The Japanese player saved three match points from Eduard IONESCU and fought back to win the fifth set 3-2, celebrating on his knees with clenched fists. In the other semifinal, Saarbrücken defeated SV Werder Bremen 3-1. “Of course we’re disappointed, and it’s not a good feeling to be second for what feels like the tenth time,” admitted FRANZISKA. Last year, FCS also lost the cup final, that time 0-3 to Borussia Düsseldorf. “But it is what it is,” FRANZISKA added. “Congratulations to Ochsenhausen; they played strongly and deserved to win.” 1. FC Saarbrücken TT – TTF Liebherr Ochsenhausen 1:3 TTF Liebherr Ochsenhausen – TTC OE Bad Homburg 3:1 SV Werder Bremen – 1. FC Saarbrücken TT 1:3 The European Table Tennis Union (ETTU) is the governing body of the sport of table tennis in Europe, and is the only authority recognized for this purpose by the International Table Tennis Federation. The ETTU deals with all matters relating to table tennis at a European level, including the development and promotion of the sport in the territories controlled by its 58 member associations, and the organization of continental table tennis competitions, including the European Championships. President Kristijan Pejinovic on the signing: “I'm looking forward to working with Andreas. He fits in well with us and will complement the team well and take us another step forward. I know that he is a good player and can get even better - and we want to help him do that.” “Basically, the TTF are known for working with their players for several years and creating a daily professional structure while still maintaining a family atmosphere. These are exactly the points that are very important to me and that I have always wanted. In addition, Bogdan Pugna is a coach I think a lot of,” said Andreas Levenko about his move. Source: Press release TTF Liebherr OchsenhausenFeatured image above: Coach Bogdan Pugna and new signing Andreas Levenko from left to right (Photo: TTF Liebherr Ochsenhausen) Four teams, three matches, one goal: On January 4, 2025, the top four teams of the cup season will face off at the LIEBHERR Cup Final Four. 1. FC Saarbrücken TT, TTF Liebherr Ochsenhausen, SV Werder Bremen, and TTC OE Bad Homburg will battle it out at the ratiopharm arena Ulm/Neu-Ulm for the first title of the year, with a compact and thrilling schedule featuring semifinals and the final on the same day. This year marks the 10th consecutive LIEBHERR Cup Final Four hosted at the ratiopharm arena Ulm/Neu-Ulm, promising a spectacular event. The Table Tennis Bundesliga (TTBL) expects around 5,000 fans to attend, ensuring a vibrant atmosphere. The audience can anticipate world-class sports, as top stars have confirmed their participation on January 4. Representing 1. FC Saarbrücken TT will be Patrick FRANZISKA and Darko JORGIC, while TTF Liebherr Ochsenhausen brings Hugo CALDERANO and Simon GAUZY. Mattias FALCK and Kirill GERASSIMENKO play for SV Werder Bremen, and Kristian KARLSSON leads TTC OE Bad Homburg. The semifinals kick off at 11 AM, played simultaneously on two tables. Following a brief transition, the grand final showdown will take place on the center court. TTF Liebherr Ochsenhausen, located just 35 kilometers from the arena, aims to secure their fifth title, making them the second most successful team in the cup’s history, behind record-holder Düsseldorf (28 titles). Ochsenhausen’s last victory came on January 5, 2019, when they defeated SV Werder Bremen in the final—a matchup that could be repeated this year. Ochsenhausen faces Bad Homburg in the semifinal, while Saarbrücken plays Bremen on the adjacent table. For TTC OE Bad Homburg, January 4 will be a historic day as they make their debut at the LIEBHERR Cup Final Four. After previous seasons saw them advance only as far as the quarterfinals, they now aim to both enjoy the atmosphere and compete strongly. If Bad Homburg reaches the final, KARLSSON could face his brother-in-law, Patrick FRANZISKA. FRANZISKA, who married KARLSSON’S sister Frida in 2021, will lead 1. FC Saarbrücken TT in their pursuit of another title. Having won the Champions League in the past two seasons, Saarbrücken aims to add to their collection. “We’ll try to create another great memory,” says world-ranked No. 13 Darko JORGIC. While acknowledging Ochsenhausen’s strong lineup, JORGIC remains determined: “It’s our clear goal to win the cup this year.” SV Werder Bremen, who eliminated TTC RhönSprudel Fulda-Maberzell in a dramatic 3-2 quarterfinal, returns to the Final Four for the first time since 2019. Although they have yet to win the title, Bremen has reached the final three times. “This is a big opportunity for us to fight for the trophy,” says team leader Mattias FALCK. “We know we’re a strong team when we play our best table tennis, and we aim to deliver at this spectacular event.” Schedule for the LIEBHERR Cup Final Four 2025 Semifinal 1: TTF Liebherr Ochsenhausen vs. TTC OE Bad Homburg Semifinal 2: SV Werder Bremen vs. 1. FC Saarbrücken TT it's not just the “Timo Boll era” that is coming to an end at the end of the season: French team runner-up Simon Gauzy is leaving cup winners TTF Liebherr Ochsenhausen in the summer after twelve years who climbed to eighth place in the world rankings in 2018 will return to his home country for the new season with an as yet unknown destination Gauzy won the league and cup double in the Ochsenhausen jersey in 2019 and the German Cup again at the start of the year the right-hander won Olympic bronze with France's national team in front of his home crowd at the Summer Games in Paris after winning silver at the World Championships Source: SIDFeatured image above: Simon Gauzy (Photo: BeLa Sportfoto) School of Filmmaking Third-Year Films May 7 School of Filmmaking Fourth-Year Films May 16 By Hannah Callaway Get the best news, performance and alumni stories from UNCSA.SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTERS(OPENS IN NEW TAB)(OPENS IN NEW TAB)(OPENS IN NEW TAB)(OPENS IN NEW TAB)(OPENS IN NEW TAB)(OPENS IN NEW TAB)(OPENS IN NEW TAB)(OPENS IN NEW TAB)(OPENS IN NEW TAB)(OPENS IN NEW TAB)(OPENS IN NEW TAB) We encourage you to enable Javascript to enhance your enjoyment of our website Metrics details carbonate-cemented sandstone bodies of variable size widely interpreted as sedimentary concretions have been enigmatic for nearly two centuries We here present a high-energy mechanism for their formation Two classic sand spike occurrences are found in the North Alpine Foreland Basin of Central Europe and at Mount Signal in southern California A distinct seismite horizon in Mid-Miocene Molasse sediments of southern Germany genetically linked with the Ries impact event exhibits dewatering structures and contains numerous sand spikes with tails systematically orientated away from the Ries crater strikingly similar in shape to those found in Germany have tails that point away from the nearby San Andreas Fault Based on their structural and stratigraphic context we interpret sand spikes as a new type of seismite and a promising tool to identify strong impact-induced or tectonic palaeo-earthquakes and their source regions in the geologic record In the present study, we propose a high-energy, event-related formation mechanism for sand spikes in Germany and California (as well as potential sand spikes elsewhere, see Supplementary Table 1) sand spikes seem to occur preferably in geologic settings that offer the potential of major seismic shaking: while the sand spikes found at multiple locations across the NAFB appear to be genetically linked to the 24 km-diameter Nördlinger Ries impact crater sand spikes from California occur in sediments only a few tens of km west of the San Andreas fault system one of the most tectonically active and earthquake-prone geologic regions on our planet which are known form the NAFB of southern Germany and Mount Signal in southern California represent a new type of seismite produced in volumes of water-saturated unconsolidated sand during major earthquakes triggered by asteroid impact events (such as the Ries impact) or strong tectonic activity (e.g. sand spikes help constrain the location of (paleo-)seismic sources and may be a useful tool to assess the seismic hazard potential of tectonically active regions on Earth Outcrops with seismites and/or sand spikes linked to the Ries impact are situated within a distance of 40 to 205 km from the center of the impact structure The orientation of sand spike tail apices (orange arrows and small rose diagrams) is indicated where measured It is noteworthy that the orientation does not align with the general drainage direction in the Foreland Basin at the time of the Upper Freshwater Molasse Indicated are known localities with significant occurrences of sand spikes in the Upper Freshwater Molasse of the western and the central North Alpine Foreland Basin region and the stratigraphic position of the sand spike-bearing deposits (Local Formation names) with respect to the European Land Mammal Zones (ELMZ) and the Ries impact event a Typical sand spike aggregate with roundish to cauliflower-like heads and uniformly orientated tails c Sand spike aggregates with roundish (b) and cauliflower-textured (c) heads and uniformly orientated tails The tail of the left individual in b is slightly deformed by the sand spike to the right d Sand spike individuals seemingly formed during a protracted The sand spike to the left speared and deformed the sand spike to the right f A typical nail-like sand spike showing the surface (e) of the cut specimen and the interior side of the same sand spike cut in half It is noteworthy that the sand spike head is more densely cemented than the spike tail that contains some visible open pore space The interior of the sand spikes does not show any structural features or concretionary cores Sand spikes in a and d are shown with approval by the Braith-Mali-Museum in Biberach a unconsolidated sediments that predate the Ries impact c Simplified geological situation in the Imperial Valley with the sand spike occurrence at Mount Signal and the most prominent faults of the San Andreas transform fault system indicated Apices of the sand spikes are orientated away from the San Andreas fault system and perpendicular (or even opposite) to the general drainage system in the Imperial Valley the sand spike occurrence seems to be exhausted the subhorizontal arrangement of sand spikes in continental wide range of sizes (a few centimeters to over a meter in spike length) and systematic orientation argue against a biogenic origin where the local fluid concentration and fluid pressure may have been higher compared to the surrounding sediment be expected that the formation of sand spikes requires specific sediment and fluid properties within loose sands that are affected by seismic events assuming the formation of sand spikes is a rapid process (as opposed to the slow growth of carbonate concretions) one would have to take into account that disequilibrium conditions between fluids and the carbonate cement as well as the possible precipitation of primary (skeletal) vs may affect isotope results and their interpretation be performed following detailed sediment petrologic analysis on a (sub-)microscopic scale represent an important seismic event marker horizon within the NAFB and proves that it must have been produced by an extraordinary earthquake that surpassed the intensity of other endogenic tectonic events in this part of Central Europe which underlines how condition-sensitive the formation of sand spikes may be in nature As only one locality with sand spikes is known in the vicinity of the San Andreas fault one can assume that only the strongest earthquakes may be capable of producing sand spikes the identification of sand spikes near active fault systems can help reconstruct strong palaeoseismicity and allows to pinpoint the direction of the palaeoseismic source This also helps assess the maximum seismic and related natural hazard potential of specific regions surrounding autochthonous sand spike occurrences at distances several tens to over a 100 km away from the sand spikes Sand spike specimens in particular from Ochsenhausen were cut and processed to polished thin sections for supporting optical and electron beam analysis Standard petrographic analyses were carried out using an optical polarization microscope and a CamScan SC44 scanning electron microscope coupled to a semiquantitative EDAX PV 9723/10 energy-dispersive X-ray system at the Universität of Stuttgart (operating conditions 15–20 kV accelerating voltage) All data generated or analyzed during this study are included in this published article and its Supplementary Information file Oddities of the Mineral World (Van Nostrand Reinhold Vorkommen des Braunkohlensandsteins in Oberschwaben Beschreibung einiger Lokalitäten in der Molasse von Oberschwaben Beiträge zur Kenntnis der tertiären und quartären Ablagerungen in Bayerisch-Schwaben Beobachtungen über Sandrosen und Zapfensande aus der Süsswassermolasse Südwürttembergs Earth impact effects program: a web-based computer program for calculating the regional environmental consequences of a meteoroid impact on Earth End-Permian impactogenic earthquake and tsunami deposits in the intracratonic Paraná Basin of Brazil Remote faulting triggered by strong seismic waves from the Cretaceous-Paleogene asteroid impact A seismically induced onshore surge deposit at the K-Pg boundary Enigmatic earthquake-generated large-scale clastic dyke in the Biberach area (SW Germany) New discovery of two seismite horizons challenges the Ries–Steinheim double‑impact theory In Encyclopedia of Planetary Landforms (eds Hargitai Schmieder, M., Sach, V. J. & Buchner, E. The Chöpfi pinnacles near Winterthur, Switzerland: long-distance effects of the Ries impact-earthquake? Int. J. Earth Sci. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00531-021-02082-0 (2021) A high-precision 40Ar/39Ar age for the Nördlinger Ries impact crater and implications for the accurate dating of terrestrial impact events Response to comment on “A high-precision 40Ar/39Ar age for the Nördlinger Ries impact crater and implications for the accurate dating of terrestrial impact events” by Schmieder et al Mammalia) guild structure across the Middle/Upper Miocene boundary in Germany Modeling the Ries-Steinheim impact event and the formation of the moldavite strewn field Neue Vorkommen von Brockhorizonten in der Oberen Süsswassermolasse von Baden-Württemberg (Deutschland) – Zeugnisse der Rieskatastrophe im Mittelmiozän Litho- und biostratigraphische Untersuchungen in der Oberen Süsswassermolasse des Landkreises Biberach an der Riß (Oberschwaben) Simulation of trajectories and maximum reach of distal impact ejecta under terrestrial conditions: consequences for the Ries crater Strahlenkalke (Shatter-Cones) aus dem Brockhorizont der Oberen Süsswassermolasse in Oberschwaben (Südwestdeutschland) – Fernauswürflinge des Nördlinger-Ries-Impaktes (Pfeil Diamictites and soft sediment deformation related to the Ries (ca 14.9 Ma) meteorite impact: the “Blockhorizont” of Bernhardzell (Eastern Switzerland) Shocked quartz in distal ejecta from the Ries impact event (Germany) found at ~ 180 km distance Ein Beitrag zur Kenntnis der oberschwäbischen Tertiärschichten Rekonstruktion fluvialer Systeme der Oberen Süsswassermolasse im Nordalpinen Vorlandbecken SW-Deutschlands Riß im Rahmen des süddeutschen Jungtertiärs Biostratigraphy and sedimentology of the Fluviatile Untere Serie (Early and Middle Miocene) in the central part of the North Alpine Foreland Basin: implications for palaeoenvironment and climate Die Gliederung des Tertiärs im süddeutschen Molassebecken The antiquity of the Rhine River: atratigraphic coverage of the Dinotheriensande (Eppelsheim Formation) of the Mainz Basin (Germany) Mechanisms and controls on the formation of sand intrusions Seismites: an attempt at critical analysis and classification Palaeoseismology: historical and prehistorical records of earthquake ground effects for seismic hazard assessment Fossilienkatalog der Miozän-Molasse in Südwestdeutschland Calcite-cemented concretions in Cretaceous Sandstone Generalized conditions of spherical carbonate concretion formation around decaying organic matter in early diagenesis Die Obere Süsswassermolasse zwischen Inn und Donau Morphologic clues to the origins of iron oxide–cemented spheroids Mise en évidence de plusieurs séismes majeurs dans le Stampien supérieur continental au sud de Paris; enregistrements sédimentaires de la tectonique Oligocène Thomas, P. Les flute casts des “molasses” miocènes de la région lyonnaise (Rhône), https://planet-terre.ens-lyon.fr/image-de-la-semaine/Img691-2020-11-09.xml (2020) Italy: evidence of groundwater flow direction Fault-related fluid flow history in shallow marine sediments from carbonate concretions Oriented carbonate concretions in a paleoaquifer: Insights into geologic controls on fluid flow Zvirtes, G., Hurst, A., Philipp, R. P., Palladino G. & Grippa, A. The Tumey Giant Injection Complex, Tumey Hill, California (USA). Geol. Soc. Lond. Spec Publ. 493, https://doi.org/10.1144/SP493-2019-3 (2019) Century-long average time intervals between earthquake ruptures of the San Andreas fault in the Carrizo Plain Reproducibility of San Andreas fault slip rate measurements at Wallace Creek in the Carrizo Plain Vaporization of fault water during seismic slip Flash vaporization during earthquakes evidenced by gold deposits Silica nanoparticles produced by explosive flash vaporization during earthquakes Clumped isotope paleothermometry: principles New evidence of the impact origin of the Ries basin Facies of molasse based on a section across the central part of the Swiss plateau Rutschfalten und Sandsteingänge in Molassesedimenten–Hinweise auf seismische Unruhe im Oligozän und Miozän des Alpenvorlandes In The Geology of Central Europe: Mesozoic and Cenozoic 2 (ed The Geology of Germany – A Process-Oriented Approach p Wetland paradise lost: Miocene community dynamics in large herbivorous mammals from the German Molasse Basin Middle Miocene long-term continental temperature change in and out of pace with marine climate records Download references We are grateful to Moritz Schmelz (University of Stuttgart) and Christoph Wimmer-Pfeil (Museum of Natural Sciences Director of the Braith-Mali-Museum in Biberach an der Riss for permission to take photographs of sand spikes from Ochsenhausen on display in the museum; Katleen Otte (Collection Supervisor at the museum) for her support; and Mila Zinkova for providing an image of a sand spike in natural outcrop at Mount Signal and for further information on these features and the current situation in the field This study was funded through a grant (project 11050) by the Stifterverband für die Deutsche Wissenschaft (Dieter Schwarz Stiftung) (E.B.) Open Access funding enabled and organized by Projekt DEAL HNU - Neu-Ulm University of Applied Sciences co-designed the study and interpreted the results Discovery and photo documentation of the Ries seismite and sand spikes in the field was done by V.J.S. who also provided rock samples for supporting analyses and biostratigraphical interpretations of field data were carried out by E.B. All authors contributed to the writing and editing of the paper The authors declare no competing interests Peer review information Nature Communications thanks Alvaro Crósta Peter Haines and the anonymous reviewer(s) for their contribution to the peer review of this work Publisher’s note Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations Reprints and permissions Download citation DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-021-27061-6 Anyone you share the following link with will be able to read this content: Sorry, a shareable link is not currently available for this article. Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily. the Swabians put themselves in a brilliant starting position for the second leg in two weeks' time And they did so at a moment that is of particular significance for two of their stars: Hugo Calderano and Simon Gauzy played in front of their home crowd for possibly the last time in a TTF jersey - and delivered a performance that more than lived up to the occasion Hugo Calderano opened the match with a strong performance against Yuto Muramatsu The Brazilian controlled the match from the outset and gave the defensive specialist from Japan no chance which was noticeably carried by the enthusiasm of the spectators Shunsuke Togami faced Saarbrücken's top player Darko Jorgic - and after losing the first set who recently extended his contract in Ochsenhausen until 2026 11:7 and 11:9 and extended the lead to 2:0 - another sign of the new generation at the TTF The final point was finally scored by Simon Gauzy who defeated Patrick Franziska 3:1 in a high-class match the Frenchman in the service of the TTF steadily improved Three close sets - each with the better end for Gauzy (11:6 11:9) - ensured the surprisingly clear final score Ochsenhausen's coach Bogdan Pugna was satisfied and down to earth after the confident performance: "That's a great moment We've reached the play-offs with fantastic players in a fantastic team but in sport you should also enjoy the moment - and that's what we're doing now." Wang Zhi acknowledged his opponent's performance but was combative: "The three guys from Ochsenhausen play very well and it's difficult for us to win against them But of course we won't give up and will try to force the third and deciding game in Ochsenhausen." Ochsenhausen have put themselves in a great starting position The pressure is now clearly on the Saarland side who must win in front of their own fans on April 27 in order to force a third game FC Saarbrücken TT has proven often enough in recent years that it can handle pressure situations very well FC Saarbrücken TT 3:0Hugo Calderano - Yuto Muramatsu 3:0 (11:8 11:8)Shunsuke Togami - Darko Jorgic 3:1 (8:11 11:9)Simon Gauzy - Patrick Franziska 3:1 (7:11 7 p.m.: TSV Bad Königshofen vs Borussia Düsseldorf 1 p.m.: Borussia Düsseldorf - TSV Bad KönigshofenSunday FC Saarbrücken TT - TTF Liebherr Ochsenhausen 3 p.m.: Borussia Düsseldorf - TSV Bad Königshofen All TTBL matches will be broadcast live and on demand on Dyn. Tickets for the Liebherr TTBL final on 15 June in Frankfurt are still available in all categories in our ticket shop. “He has improved,” Franziska described his impressions of Calderano at the cup final round, ”in the serve/return area, plays with a lot of confidence. His game is even more difficult to read and predict than before.” With these strengths, Hugo Marinho Borges Calderano, as his full name is, wants to celebrate even more often with Ochsenhausen's team - preferably in the current season. The cup win seems to be a parallel to the successful 2018/19 season: Six years ago, the cup win also formed the basis for the subsequent double. The 28-year-old does not want to conceal the corresponding objective: “It's still very early days, but of course we will try to win another title.” Standing ovations before even a single ball was played. Great emotions before the match, and in the end, goosebumps and even a few tears. Everything revolved around Timo BOLL and his last regular-season home match at the ARAG CenterCourt (ACC). In between, the Bundesliga match between Borussia Düsseldorf and TTF LIEBHERR Ochsenhausen almost became secondary—almost, perhaps also because the record champions lost this top match 2-3, yet still had reason to celebrate. It was his big night: Timo BOLL was able to fully enjoy his farewell performance for Borussia. His entrance alone was already a victory lap through the entire hall. Step by step, he absorbed the atmosphere and cherished the loud and heartfelt gratitude from the audience for 18 unforgettable years at Staufenplatz. Right after 1,100 fans in the sold-out ACC sang him a birthday song for his 44th birthday, BOLL had to step right up to the table. And once again, he delivered brilliant table tennis, showing exactly what everyone loves about him. Seventeen-year-old Tiago ABIODUN was unimpressed by the legend standing across from him. He challenged the former world number one, leading to a match filled with exciting, long rallies. But BOLL still has his incredible touch, never giving up on a single point, and played with well-thought-out tactics. He fired up the crowd and put his club ahead 1-0. Just like against Werder Bremen, Kay STUMPER once again delivered great table tennis. Facing Simon GAUZY, he dominated the first set, leaving the Frenchman no chance. But GAUZY, with his experience and class, turned the game around. He took the next two sets, but STUMPER fought back to force a decisive fifth set. It was closely contested, and perhaps only a bit of luck was missing, but Ochsenhausen managed to equalize. With Dang QIU (Borussia Düsseldorf) and Hugo CALDERANO (Ochsenhausen) already on their way to China for the next WTT Champions event, Anton KÄLLBERG took the stage next. Facing Leonardo IIZUKA, he played solidly, but the match couldn’t quite match the intensity of the previous games. The Swede controlled the match and won comfortably 3-0. The fans got one last chance to see Timo BOLL in action. In the climactic match, he faced Simon GAUZY and the Frenchman’s powerful backhand. BOLL immediately felt the intensity, scoring just one point in the first set. The second set was more balanced, but still went to GAUZY. In the third set, Boll took a 5-0 lead but couldn’t hold on, allowing Ochsenhausen to level the score at 2-2. For the second time in four days, an ARAG CenterCourt match came down to a deciding doubles match. Borussia Düsseldorf sent Anton KÄLLBERG and Borgar HAUG to the table. The two Scandinavians have been unbeaten this season as a duo, but IIZUKA and ABIODUN, despite their youth, are a well-established pair, having finished third at the last Youth World Championships. They started strong, preventing the Borussia duo from getting into the match. But in the second set, Källberg and Haug turned things around, leveling the score. However, it wasn’t enough. Ochsenhausen took the final set and claimed the victory in Düsseldorf. In the standings, both Borussia Düsseldorf and Ochsenhausen now have 30:10 points, but Düsseldorf remains in first place thanks to a better game ratio. However, the fans in the hall had little concern for the standings. They were only interested in celebrating their hero. The “Timo, Timo” chants didn’t stop—especially after he took the microphone from manager Andreas PREUß and shared heartfelt words with his fans and supporters: “No matter where I played in the world, I was always welcomed with open arms and received so much support, respect, and appreciation from you fans. It has been a great honor to be your table tennis entertainer. I will miss all of this so much. Thank you for these unforgettable moments that I was able to experience thanks to you.” Danny HEISTER, Head Coach of Borussia Düsseldorf “It’s a shame that we lost today. We always want to win, but on this evening, I especially wanted Timo to have a victory. However, we are safely in the playoffs, so I don’t want to overanalyze the defeat. You can lose to Ochsenhausen. GAUZY was strong, winning two key points, which you always have to factor in. Unfortunately, our doubles weren’t as sharp as they have been recently.” Borussia Düsseldorf – TTF Liebherr Ochsenhausen tickets: all the info on the TTBL play-offsBundesligaDates tickets: all the info on the TTBL play-offsIn an eventful main round showdown the last two participants in this year's Table Tennis Bundesliga (TTBL) play-offs have been determined Borussia Düsseldorf and TSV Bad Königshofen as well as TTF Liebherr Ochsenhausen and 1 FC Saarbrücken TT will battle it out for a place in the Liebherr TTBL final The dates of the semi-final matches have now also been set The last matchday of the German Table Tennis League (TTBL) was a dramatic one: Three teams fought for two tickets for the play-offs FC Saarbrücken TT and TSV Bad Königshofen were allowed to cheer the team from Lower Franconia finished the main round in fourth place as TTC RhönSprudel Fulda-Maberzell suffered a 2:3 defeat at Post SV Mühlhausen in the parallel match This is the second time that Bad Königshofen has reached the semi-finals and but lost the subsequent duels in Düsseldorf 0:3 - in the end Borussia secured the title in the Liebherr TTBL final The first match this year will once again take place in Bad Königshofen on April 11 at 7 pm Match number two will take place on April 27 at 1 p.m the third duel will take place on May 1 at 3 p.m. The other participant in the Liebherr TTBL final will be determined between TTF Liebherr Ochsenhausen and 1 FC Saarbrücken TT The two opponents already faced each other in the Liebherr Cup final in January The TTF narrowly missed out on first place on the last main round matchday while FCS made it to the semi-finals at the last minute The two teams had already duelled for a place in the final in 2023 with the Saarland side coming out on top 3:1 The first clash between Ochsenhausen and Saarbrücken will take place on April 10 at 6 p.m The second match will continue on April 27 at 4 p.m The possible third match would again take place in Ochsenhausen on April 30 at 7 pm Tickets for all play-off matches can be purchased from the respective home club Match 110.04.2025 (6 p.m.): TTF Liebherr Ochsenhausen - 1. FC Saarbrücken11.04.2025 (7 p.m.): TSV Bad Königshofen - Borussia Düsseldorf Match 227.04.2025 (1 p.m.): Borussia Düsseldorf - TSV Bad Königshofen27.04.2025 (4 p.m.): 1. FC Saarbrücken - TTF Liebherr Ochsenhausen Match 330.04.2025 (7 p.m.): TTF Liebherr Ochsenhausen - 1. FC Saarbrücken01.05.2025 (3 p.m.): Borussia Düsseldorf - TSV Bad Königshofen Japanese extended his contract with German club until the end of 2017/18 season The 20-year-old Japanese Yuto MURAMATSU actual World No. 22 on the ITTF World ranking list has extended his contract with German club TTF LIEBHERR Ochsenhausen until the end of 2017/18 season. This young but well known defensive player had 10-5 individual score in his debuting season in Bundesliga while he has 4-2 in the Table Tennis Champions League Men. Ochsenhausen`s President Kristijan PEJINOVIC stressed for the club`s website next: Yuto MURAMATSU explains why he decided to stay one more year in the 2009 TTCLM runner-up: “I feel very well here and have a lot of support from the club. I’ve noticed in the first year that it’s good for me to play here. I am gaining important experience and it is a challenge in the Bundesliga and the Champions League because you have to face very strong opponents against whom you have to give everything and also play tactically well. I am proud to be part of the Ochsenhausen team and hope that our team will be successful next season and get the title”. Waldi and more: the special features of the TTBL locationsNewsCoaching legend Waldi and more: the special features of the TTBL locationsTraditional teams and newcomers table tennis legends and much more: the clubs in the German Table Tennis League (TTBL) each have their own unique identity We have put together some of the special features of the twelve TTBL locations The heart of German table tennis beats at Borussia Düsseldorf: the German Table Tennis Center has been located here since 2006 serving as a national base for the men's and women's national teams as well as a full-time boarding school for the German Table Tennis Association and has already produced numerous Bundesliga players The initiator and driving force was Hans Wilhelm Gäb who has since been appointed Honorary President of the DTTB From department to independence: Until 2011 whose footballers currently play in the 3rd division and was one of the founding members of the Bundesliga in 1966 Becoming independent finally marked the beginning of an era of success that continues to this day: FCS was promoted to the TTBL in 2010 finished fifth in its first year and has since established itself among the top teams and been rewarded with titles Saarbrücken has won the German Table Tennis Cup twice (2012 2022) and the Champions League twice (2023 One of the most important addresses in European junior table tennis can be found in Ochsenhausen: TTF Liebherr Ochsenhausen established a world-class talent factory in 2012 with the Liebherr Masters College Top talents from all over the world are trained here and further developed at partner clubs - always with the aim of bringing them into the TTF TTBL team And with considerable success: today's TTBL players Hugo Calderano Yuto Muramatsu and numerous others were formed at the LMC explosive: Post SV Mühlhausen's Post-Halle on the historic Kristanplatz is probably the most atmospheric arena in the German table tennis league It has been extensively renovated since 1998 and has developed into a gem with space for a maximum of 426 fans - so it's no wonder that home and visiting players regularly speak reverently of the “Hexenkessel” And the hall is also regularly full to bursting outside the Bundesliga: Erik Schreyer and the Post coaching team are on site almost every day training with players of all ages in both popular and competitive sports Everything has been different in Grünwettersbach since last fall: the merger of ASV Grünwettersbach which has been playing in the TTBL since 2016 and SC Wettersbach became official on October 23 In addition to pooling resources and offering a wide range of sports - ASC also plays soccer among others - the Grünwettersbachers are relying on a strong community as usual “ASC Grünwettersbach is not just a merger of two sports clubs diverse and vibrant community that gives hope for many successful years to come,” the club writes on its homepage world-class players from Japan are drawn to Bad Königshofen a town of 6,000 inhabitants in the district of Rhön-Grabfeld in Lower Franconia this is made possible by the excellent relationship with partner Shakehands which has been offering online table tennis courses since 2014 Japanese coaching legend Koji Itagaki joined the club in 2016 and has been an integral part of it ever since Itagaki's children Koharu and Akito also play table tennis successfully: Akito has already made his debut in the TTBL Koharu became the youngest German champion of all time in June (in mixed doubles with Daniel Rinderer 14 years and 141 days) and is playing in the women's Bundesliga for TSV Dachau in the new season More than just soccer: SV Werder Bremen not only has a successful soccer team but is also extremely successful in other departments The table tennis team has been a permanent fixture in the Bundesliga since being promoted again in 2007 and celebrated the German championship in 2013 with Chuang Chih-Yuan Paul Drinkhall and Constantin Cioti; last season eSports and athletics departments can also look back on various DM titles and/or cup wins Werder's women's handball team will also be competing in the Bundesliga 2 in 2024/25 TTC Schwalbe Bergneustadt would hardly be conceivable in its current form: Home-grown Benedikt Duda has been with the club since 2003 has been in the TTBL since 2014 and is also the great hope for a single-digit place in the table in the new season father Heinz Duda is the team's sports manager and numerous other family members actively help out at the club and on match days Grenzau occupies a very special position on the German table tennis map The six-time German champion is closely intertwined with the Wellnesshotel Zugbrücke - both were founded by the current TTC Honorary President Manfred Gstettner - which has been offering a unique program in Germany for almost five decades Several professional coaches look after players of all abilities on site TTC RhönSprudel Fulda-Maberzell can look back on a rich history and numerous top players but one stands out in particular: Olympic champion (1992) and two-time world champion (1989 1997) Jan-Ove Waldner played for the East Hessians for a total of seven years and led the team to the first play-off appearance in the club's history (2008) the team from Fulda have been waiting in vain for the big win so far: they have finished runners-up three times (2014 runners-up in the German Table Tennis Cup four times (2013 2016) and runners-up in the ETTU Cup once (2010) The TTBL adventure kicks off on August 23: The opening match at SV Werder Bremen will also be Borussia Dortmund's Bundesliga debut The first home match will take place on September 8 against ASC Grünwettersbach on match day 3 And the second division champions have not only given their all in sporting terms Instead of playing in the small Brügmann-Halle BVB will in future be playing in the large Brügmann-Halle The technology has been upgraded so that all fans can also tune in from afar meaning that all Dortmund matches can of course be watched live on Dyn a former world champion (2021 in doubles) and Olympic silver medal winner is in the TTC OE Bad Homburg squad - and yet the most prominent name is not in the box Helmut Hampl once discovered and supported players such as Timo Boll and Patrick Franziska is considered a German coaching legend and has been involved with TTC OE Bad Homburg for three years now Hampl is the sports director for the TTC's TTBL team and is also involved in the club's youth development work “We want to build a performance center in the long term,” Hampl said at the start of his involvement in 2021 The return to the TTBL is now an important step on the way to shaping Bad Homburg into a top German team in the long term Featured image above: (Photo: BeLa Sportfoto) “GAUZY and CALDERANO are two players I do not really like to play against. I really have to fight against both even if I am very fit” stated Borussia`s player. Second legs to be held this Friday April 6th Borussia Dusseldorf and TTF Liebherr Ochsenhausen will meet in another Table Tennis Champions League Men classic after many great clashes in the past. This time they are going to fight in the second leg of the 2017/18 TTCLM this Friday (April 6th 19:00) in Dusseldorf after 3:2 win of Ochsenhausen in the first game held three weeks ago. Host side is determined to repeat last year`s score (Borussia lost 3:2 in the first quarter-final leg but won 3:1 at home) while Ochsenhausen promises big fight aiming its first TTCLM final after 2009 (Borussia won the title). Borussia`s Manager Andreas PREUSS puts pressure on the opposite side giving them role of favorite: “Of course it would be much better to have a victory on the back. Ochsenhausen is the favourite because of the first leg. I think our chance to progress at 30 percent. On the other side we already turned much different results. Everybody in the team knows his job and we are able to win this game as high as we have to. Especially in front of our own fans it is not easy to win against us. The ARAG CenterCourt will be on fire on Friday.” Coach Danny HEISTER believes that Timo BOLL is ready to collect two points in spite of having 1-1 score in the first leg (lost to Simon GAUZY and was extended to full distance by CALDERANO): “We already said that we saved Kristian (KARLSSON) on last Thursday in TTBL. He practiced the whole week and worked with our physiotherapist on his injury too. He is as fit as the others. Of course a lot depends on Timo (BOLL). If he is fit enough to get two points we would have good chances. But we also have to be prepared in case he´s losing one of these matches as in Ochsenhausen. If this happens the others have to be on top top level.” Timo BOLL is aware what he must do in order to provide his team`s place in the TTCLM final: “GAUZY and CALDERANO are two players I do not really like to play against. I really have to fight against both even if I am very fit. I hope I will get two points on Friday so we move into the final.” Ochsenhausen`s Sport Manager Daniel ZWICKL looks forward to two important games in the last three days of this week (other match is Bundesliga`s semi-final against Fulda-Maberzell April 8th). “We’re just happy to have the opportunity to play two semi-finals in spite of having hard week with injured and sick players. It`s obvious that we`re facing two interesting and exciting games.The others might feel pressure but we just look forward to it. There is a positive mood in the team and attitude of all five players is great. “ Ochsenhausen`s President Kristijan PEJINOVIC stressed that his side enters the second leg “with optimal conditions”: “What will happen we will see.  The guys are in a good mood and want to enjoy the upcoming games. Both teams know each other very well. Last time it was not enough because we lost return leg in Dusseldorf 1:3. This time we`ll see if the team is mature enough to master such a big challenge.” Fakel Gazprom Orenburg – Sporting Clube De Portugal (April 6 14:00) 1st leg 3:0 Borussia Dusseldorf – TTF Liebherr Ochsenhausen (April 6 19:00) 1st leg 2:3 With an impressive 3:0 victory over TTC Zugbrücke Grenzau TTF Liebherr Ochsenhausen secured the last place in the final four FC Saarbrücken and ASV Grünwettersbach had already secured their tickets for the final four The clash began with a surprising personnel matter: the hosts' number one is currently at a qualifying tournament for the national team in Taiwan and was not available for the Westerwald team He was replaced by Australian Xavier Dixon Maciej Kubik (Grenzau) and Simon Gauzy (Ochsenhausen) faced each other in the first singles match Gauzy dominated the action right from the start with precise attacks and an impressive overview of the game Kubik visibly struggled to get into the match Gauzy laid the foundation for Ochsenhausen's success Australian Xavier Dixon entered the box to take on Hugo Calderano Calderano put in a strong performance right from the start and gave Dixon little room to develop 5:11) gave the visitors from Ochsenhausen a 2:0 lead Samuel Walker and Alvaro Robles contested the third singles match Robles proved too strong for the 28-year-old Englishman on this evening the Spaniard set the final point and secured Ochsenhausen a well-deserved place in the final four Gauzy was visibly relieved to reach the final four: "We were very focused today because we knew that we had already lost to Grenzau once last year A thrilling evening in the Zugbrückenhalle in Grenzau ended with a commanding 3:0 victory for the guests from TTF Liebherr Ochsenhausen who were the last team to advance to the final four of the table tennis cup competition Experience the stars of the table tennis scene on January 7, 2024 in the ratiopharm Arena inUlm/Neu-Ulm up close and secure a ticket now in the official ticket store: https://ttbl-tickets.reservix.de TTC Zugbrücke Grenzau – TTF Liebherr Ochsenhausen 0:3 Maciej Kubik – Simon Gauzy 0:3(8:11, 7:11, 7:11)Xavier Dixon – Hugo Calderano 03: (5:11, 9:11, 5:11)Samuel Walker – Alvaro Robles 0:3 (1:11, 6:11, 4:11)Borussia Düsseldorf – TSV Bad Königshofen 3:0Anton Källberg – Martin Allegro 3:0 (11:6, 11:7, 11:9)Timo Boll – Bastian Steger 3:0 (11:7, 11:7, 11:6)Dang Qiu – Filip Zeljko 3:1 (11:9, 2:11, 11:5, 11:2) ASV Grünwettersbach – Post SV Mühlhausen 3:0Tiago Apolonia – Daniel Habesohn 3:1 (12:10, 11:8, 10:12, 11:6)Ricardo Walter – Steffen Mengel 3:1 (11:8, 11:4, 8:11, 12:10)Dani Kozul – Ovidiu Ionescu 3:2 (11:9, 6:11, 8:11, 11:6, 11:9) 1. FC Saarbrücken TT – SV Werder Bremen 3:0 Darko Jorgic - Marcelo Aguirre 3:1 (11:9, 4:11, 11:8, 11:5)Patrick Franziska - Mattias Falck 3:1 (15:13, 11:4, 8:11, 11:6)Yuto Muramatsu - Kirill Gerassimenko 3:1 (5:11, 11:9, 11:6, 11:3) All TTBL matches will be broadcast live and on demand on Dyn. Featured image above: Simon Gauzy (TTF Liebherr Ochsenhausen) (Photo: Nicolai Schaal) also had a lot to make up for and were determined to return home with points in their luggage The duel began with an intense exchange of blows between Ruwen Filus and Alvaro Robles Robles won the first two sets 9:11 and 10:12 before Filus managed to close the gap in the third set 13:11 Filus was also able to pull away right at the start of set four it was finally Alvaro Robles who raised his arms in jubilation After a spectacular rally to make the score 14:12 the Spaniard put his TTF from Ochsenhausen ahead In the direct duel between the two Frenchmen Thibault Poret and Can Akkuzu Akkuzu ultimately retained the upper hand and extended the lead in the visitors' favor with a 3:1 victory over Poret (11:4 Fanbo Meng fought back in a spectacular match against Simon Gauzy and secured the first point for Fulda with his victory.Meng put in an impressive performance and was not discouraged by losing the first set and falling behind (5:11 Filus held his nerve and secured the equalizer for Fulda-Maberzell After having to go the full distance in all sets of the first game the first three sets of the match also only ended two points apart Only the fourth set was a relatively clear 11:8 for Filus (11:9 The fate of the match was now hanging by a thread as Fanbo Meng and Thibault Poret took on Simon Gauzy and Alvaro Robles in the doubles The first two sets ended narrowly 11:9 in favor of the visitors before things became dramatic at 11:11 in the third When the Ochsenhausen side won the point at 12:11 stumbled and shortly afterwards lay on the floor with his face contorted in pain The match continued without an injury break Meng's serve was followed by a backhand topspin from Robles who scored the direct point to make the final score 3:2 for TTF Liebherr Ochsenhausen who kept his team's hopes alive with his victory can be pleased to have taken two points from Hesse to Baden-Württemberg Fanbo Meng (TTC Rhönsprudel Fulda-Maberzell): "Of course this defeat hurts just as much as any other defeat Ruwen had chances against Alvaro in the first game so his defeat in the opening singles match is a real shame My game was really good today and I also felt very good Our final doubles match was of course very annoying Alvaro Robles (TTF Liebherr Ochsenhausen): "It was a tough fight today with the better end for us It's not easy to win against any opponent in the Bundesliga I'm very happy that we were finally able to win a doubles match and now head home with two points in our luggage Now we have to focus fully on our last game of the season." Click here for the current table: https://www.ttbl.de/bundesliga/table TTC Rhönsprudel Fulda-Maberzell – TTF Liebherr Ochsenhausen 2:3Ruwen Filus – Alvaro Robles 1:3 (9:11 12:14)Thibault Poret – Can Akkuzu 1:3 (11:4 11:8) Fanbo Meng/Thibault Poret - Simon Gauzy/Alvaro Robles 0:3 (9:11 SV Werder Bremen – ASV Grünwettersbach 3:1 Mattias Falck – Tiago Apolonia 3:2 (11:3 12:10)Marcelo Aguirre – Rafael Turrini 3:2 (4:11 11:6)Kirill Gerassimenko – Ricardo Walther 0:3 (4:11 9:11)Mattias Falck – Rafael Turrini 3:2 (7:11 TTC Zugbrücke Grenzau – TTC Schwalbe Bergneustadt 0:3 Feng Yi-Hsin – Kanak Jha 1:3 (7:11 11:13)Maciej Kubik – Romain Ruiz 1:3 (11:4 7:11)Samuel Walker – Benedikt Duda 0:3 (8:11 FSV Mainz 05 3:2 Steffen Mengel – Carlo Rossi 3:0 (11:6 11:9)Irvin Bertrand – Yongyin Li 3:1 (7:11 11:5)Ovidiu Ionescu – Luka Mladenovic 0:3 (9:11 8:11)Steffen Mengel – Yongyin Li 1:3 (9:11 12:14)Irvin Bertrand/Ovidiu Ionescu – Luka Mladenovic/Carlo Rosse 3:0 (11:9 All matches in the Table Tennis Bundesliga (TTBL) are broadcast live and on demand on Dyn. Featured image above: Alvaro Robles (Photo: Nicolai Schaal) every win feels like the championship”NewsInterview with Kristian Karlsson (TTC OE Bad Homburg): “For us every win feels like the championship”TTC OE Bad Homburg is celebrating its premiere in the final round of the Liebherr Cup Final Four on January 4 in Neu-Ulm Kristian Karlsson talks about the anticipation and possible tactics of the team from Hesse special cup experiences and the differences in objectives your club TTC OE Bad Homburg is one of the four participants in the final round of the Liebherr Cup Final Four for the first time Can you already sense in your club and team that this historic milestone is imminent we've been looking forward to it since our quarter-final win and are super happy that we'll be there for the first time with an extraordinary atmosphere and a fantastic atmosphere It's a highlight every year for every player who is able to take part The tournament will help the younger players in their careers you and your team will face TTF Liebherr Ochsenhausen The TTBL match between your teams only took place on the third weekend of Advent because it's better for Ochsenhausen because they've had an additional opportunity to get to know us better and assess us what are your general chances in the cup semi-final against Ochsenhausen That's why we're looking for the right tactics to reach the doubles in the end your opponents could be Champions League winners 1 FC Saarbrücken TT with your brother-in-law Patrick Franziska Would you be happy about that or would your enthusiasm be limited Shortly before the Liebherr Cup Final Four Patrick Franziska and you will be celebrating Christmas together with your families Are table tennis and the cup finals a taboo subject we try not to talk so much about these topics but it's still very difficult because table tennis is such a big part of our lives What do you think makes the tournament so special it's about a very important title at a very high level in a very short time you are not only the oldest participant in Neu-Ulm but also the most successful player at the tournament to date thanks to your three cup wins with Borussia Düsseldorf together with your brother-in-law It was my first season in Germany and the cup was my first major title with Borussia It was something very special for me and made me very proud Let's broaden the topic a little: If you could choose between winning the cup and staying in the league with Bad Homburg this season A title is bigger for a club and the athletes How do you rate your team's prospects in the fight against relegation in this TTBL season The fact that we are in the Liebherr Cup Final Four is great and also shows our quality We will try to ensure that we stay in the league on our own rather than waiting for other teams to give up on promotion you can say that we still need to improve a bit won gold at the European Championships both in doubles and with the team and most recently also won Olympic silver with the team but against relegation and to stay in the league This is a new experience and has made me understand that a real goal alone is ultimately more important for the necessary motivation for a professional than the type of goal every win feels like winning the championship in the past Featured images in the text: Kristian Karlsson (Photo: Wolfgang Bauer) from 11 a.m.Semi-finals 1: TTF Liebherr Ochsenhausen – TTC OE Bad HomburgSemi-finals 2: SV Werder Bremen – 1 followingWinner Semi-finals 1 – Winner Semi-finals 2 Tickets for specific seats can be ordered in the TTBL ticket store, by telephone on 0761 888499 99 and at all known advance booking offices. “My memories of Timo and encounters with him go back to when I started working in Ochsenhausen - that was 23 years ago. Curiously, the experiences I had then are still very similar to those I have now. Because just like in his long time with Borussia Düsseldorf, Timo was a tough opponent for us in the race for a play-off place or title with TTV Gönnern and coach Helmut Hampl. Back then, as well as later in many years with Düsseldorf, Timo annoyed us time and time again at the table and made us lose countless semi-finals and finals - in quotation marks. I see the end of Timo's great career with one laughing and one crying eye. On the one hand, I'm really pleased that he was obviously able to find the right moment to retire, but on the other hand, I naturally regret that an era has come to an irrevocable end: for table tennis in Germany, in Europe and even in China, where everything possible was done for a long time and indeed had to be done in order to have any chance at all against Timo. For the TTBL, as a member of the Supervisory Board, I can, no, must first of all state that Timo's retirement at the end of the season will leave a gap that cannot be filled. Without question, Timo was a figurehead who was the envy of leagues in other sports. But the time after the Timo Boll era is also an opportunity for the league. Because without this dominant player personality in the opposing team, the prospects of success and titles for several clubs are significantly better. This can lead to an increase in quality for and in the TTBL, because now the chances of signing high-quality players have increased. I can well imagine more variety and more competition in the TTBL in the future. The fact that so many top-class players are playing for clubs in the TTBL is already part of Timo's legacy. His charisma often drew serious attention from other professionals to the Bundesliga. Timo will be a seal of quality for the TTBL for a long time to come. In a nutshell: From my point of view, Germany can be proud of such a super athlete and at the same time a fantastic person like Timo.” tickets: the TTBL main round in figuresBundesligaPoints tickets: the TTBL main round in figuresAn eventful season in the German Table Tennis League (TTBL) is approaching its showdown: the play-offs start on April 10 and the Liebherr TTBL final on June 15 will finally determine the German Team Champion 2025 We take a look back and present some remarkable figures from the past few months as an eventful season in the German Table Tennis League (TTBL) draws to a close: the play-offs start on April 10 and the Liebherr TTBL final on June 15 will finally determine the German Team Champion 2025 We take a look back and present some remarkable figures from the past few months 2 - TSV Bad Königshofen has done it again: For the second time in a row and for the second time in the club's history coach Koji Itagaki's team has reached the play-offs of the German Table Tennis League (TTBL) They had to tremble until the very end: On the last matchday the team from Lower Franconia lost against 1 FC Saarbrücken TT and were therefore dependent on the performance of TTC RhönSprudel Fulda-Maberzell at Post SV Mühlhausen there was jubilation in Bad Königshofen: TSV finished the main round in fourth place as a result of the 3:2 defeat by Fulda and will now face Borussia Düsseldorf again in the semi-finals 5 - Two teams made it particularly clear over the course of the season: both Borussia Düsseldorf and TTC RhönSprudel Fulda-Maberzell won five times with 3:0 and lost twice with 0:3 No team celebrated more clear victories than these two this result was also achieved in the two head-to-head matches between these clubs: Fulda won the first leg 3-0 while Düsseldorf won the second leg by the same score FC Saarbrücken TT achieved four 3-0 victories while TTC OE Clarity Telefonie-Systeme Bad Homburg did not manage a single one 7 - No team can look back on a longer finals series than 1 FC Saarbrücken TT: Should the main round winners qualify for the Liebherr TTBL finals again in the play-offs against TTF Liebherr Ochsenhausen it would be their seventh appearance in a row FCS had lost to Borussia Düsseldorf in each of the past four years (1:3 it won the first German championship in the club's history against Ochsenhausen (3:1) and in 2019 11 - There were some particularly exciting matches over the course of the season when 1 FC Saarbrücken TT or TSV Bad Königshofen were involved These two teams each went into the doubles eleven times with the Saarlanders achieving a 7:4 record and the Lower Franconians even a 9:2 - for both clubs doubles strength was a decisive success factor on the way to the play-offs TTC OE Clarity Telefonie-Systeme Bad Homburg (2:8) took the doubles ten times ASC Grünwettersbach (8:1) and SV Werder Bremen (3:6) nine times each Featured image above: Hugo Calderano from TTF Liebherr Ochsenhausen (Photo: BeLa Sportfoto) Rainer IHLE died suddenly on 9 of July 2013 at the age of 57.  IHLE dedicated his life to table tennis. Long-time President of the TTF Liebherr Ochsenhausen was the greatest creative power of the club and his contribution to the European table tennis was , Rainer IHLE died suddenly on 9 of July 2013 at the age of 57.  IHLE dedicated his life to table tennis. Long-time President of the TTF Liebherr Ochsenhausen was the greatest creative power of the club and his contribution to the European table tennis was enormous. His name is closely related to the TTF Liebherr Ochsenhausen success. IHLE brought the club to the European highs. He was one of the most prominent table tennis managers in Europe. In past three decades his vision helped Ochsenhausen to win two European Cups, three national cup titles and three German championships. He knew the national and international table tennis sport like no other. IHLE’s attitude was clear, open and sincere and he always brought things to the point. He was an outstanding person, a visionary who brought things forward with determination. Table tennis was his life. His commitment to the professionalism of our sport at all levels was always successful. The sudden death of long-time president of the TTF Liebherr Ochsenhausen, IHLE, left his friends and colleagues in great sadness. “His death leaves us deeply saddened,” said Kristijan PEJINOVIC.” Ochsenhausen was a small village but thanks to Rainer it gets to the sport’s map with the great international cities like Vienna or Paris. He has made the TTF one of Europe’s best clubs. “Ihle” had its rough edges, but he always acted within the meaning of the club and the sport” “I was completely surprised by the message that Rainer Ihle has died. He was a very dedicated table tennis official, short time, my manager, for decades the maker at TTF Ochsenhausen. My condolences to his family “, said Germany’s best tennis players, Timo BOLL from China via Facebook. “I am very, very sad that he is no longer there,” says Adrian CRISAN, who played for ten years, the TTF in the Bundesliga before moving to Bremen in 2010. Crisan was 18 years old when he came to Germany in 2000. IHLE had discovered the Romanian. the new season in the German Table Tennis League (TTBL) is already in the starting blocks The 2024/25 season kicks off on August 23 with the match between SV Werder Bremen and newly promoted Borussia Dortmund Here are five highlights from the new season The 2024/25 season kicks off with a historic match: Borussia Dortmund will celebrate its debut in the German Table Tennis League (TTBL) on Friday The newly promoted team will kick off the new season with an away match at SV Werder Bremen BVB's first home match will be against ASC Grünwettersbach on match day 3 with a packed day of table tennis: runners-up 1 FC Saarbrücken TT start at TTC OE Bad Homburg (2 p.m.); last year's semi-finalists TSV Bad Königshofen welcome Post SV Mühlhausen (3.30 p.m.); defending champions Borussia Düsseldorf start against ASC Grünwettersbach (5 p.m.) The top match of match day 1 will take place on Monday TTF Liebherr Ochsenhausen and TTC RhönSprudel Fulda-Maberzell with new signing Dimitrij Ovtcharov The season opener between TTC Schwalbe Bergneustadt and TTC Zugbrücke Grenzau (7 p.m.) will conclude the season Fans can look forward to two new teams in the new season Not only debutant Borussia Dortmund is a newcomer The team from Hesse was relegated from the TTBL in 2022 after two years and is now celebrating its return TTC RhönSprudel Fulda-Maberzell only finished in tenth place last season but with the additions of Ovtcharov and Kao Cheng-Jui as well as Chuang Chih-Yuan they are now aiming to return to the play-offs TTF Liebherr Ochsenhausen also want to return to the top four after finishing sixth in the previous season There is likely to be tough competition from last year's semi-finalists TSV Bad Königshofen and SV Werder Bremen as well as Post SV Mühlhausen - and of course from the title favorites Borussia Düsseldorf and 1 ASC Grünwettersbach and TTC Zugbrücke Grenzau are hoping to at least stay in the same division Timo Boll is the focus of special attention After ending his international career following the Olympic Games the table tennis legend is entering his final season in the TTBL "I'm really looking forward to next season - going to the halls everywhere again saying goodbye everywhere," Boll had already said at the Liebherr TTBL final A total of 17 of the 50 best players in the world rankings play in the TTBL including Olympic fourth-placed Hugo Calderano (TTF Liebherr Ochsenhausen) the German national players Patrick Franziska (1 FC Saarbrücken TT) and Dang Qiu (Borussia Düsseldorf) the 2021 doubles world champion Mattias Falck (SV Werder Bremen) all TTBL and German Table Tennis Cup matches can once again be seen live and exclusively on Dyn the sports channel also broadcasts numerous other sports including the national leagues of basketball field hockey and volleyball as well as numerous top international events the next stage of growth will be to make the content outside of live broadcasts even bigger more interactive and more social," said Dyn CEO Andreas Heyden in our recent interview we will also pursue 'Move your sport' more intensively and show what we are doing for our mission described at the beginning to bring the positive values of sport to society." The Dyn annual subscription costs 12.50 euros per month while the monthly cancelable subscription costs 14.50 euros By the way: 10% of the net subscription revenue is distributed to the national partner leagues as part of the 'Move your sport' program where it is used specifically to promote young talent the title decisions - and therefore the top events The cup final is expected to be held again in January as a final four event so fans can look forward to a thrilling day of table tennis with semi-finals and the grand final The crowning finale of the season will be the TTBL final in the summer when the German championship will be decided - possibly one last time with Timo Boll August 237 p.m.: SV Werder Bremen – Borussia Dortmund FC Saarbrücken TT3.30 p.m.: TSV Bad Königshofen – Post SV Mühlhausen5 p.m.: Borussia Düsseldorf – ASC Grünwettersbach August 266 p.m.: TTF Liebherr Ochsenhausen – TTC RhönSprudel Fulda-Maberzell7 p.m.: TTC Schwalbe Bergneustadt – TTC Zugbrücke Grenzau          Featured images: (Photos: BeLa Sportfoto) the Süwag Energie ARENA in Frankfurt will be transformed into the center of the table tennis world The Liebherr TTBL Final 2025 is just around the corner and promises to be a thrilling duel for the German championship between the two best teams in the Bundesliga table tennis season Borussia Düsseldorf has already taken a huge step towards the Liebherr TTBL final with its away win in the first play-off match at TSV Bad Königshofen and can secure its place in the Liebherr TTBL final with a win in front of a home crowd on April 27 (1 p.m./live on Dyn) the reigning cup winners TTF Liebherr Ochsenhausen have already made their mark with a clear win against the current Champions League winners 1 The second leg in Saarbrücken on April 27 (4 p.m./live on Dyn) will decide whether the Upper Swabians from Ochsenhausen make it directly to the final or whether there will be a decisive third game Nothing is yet decided in either match and excitement is guaranteed right up to the last rally It remains to be seen whether Timo Boll and Borussia Düsseldorf will make it to the Liebherr TTBL final and whether the table tennis icon will play in Frankfurt for the last time - but one thing is certain: the anticipation for this event is huge Now is the perfect opportunity to be part of the once-in-a-lifetime Liebherr TTBL Final Get your tickets and experience the season finale in a setting you will never forget 2025 (11:59 pm) and you will automatically be entered into a prize draw for a VIP upgrade for two people ·       Access to the VIP area with first-class catering·       Parking lot directly at the arena·       Goosebump moments - with the very best view of the grand final You're not 100% sure yet whether you can make it on June 15 You don't know yet whether your favorite club or player will be there you can resell your ticket easily and securely via the official secondary market This way you don't take any risks when buying tickets - and still secure your place at this historic event Seat-specific orders can be placed in the ticket store, by telephone on 0761 888499 99 and at all known advance booking offices. Final, at 1 pmWinner Play-off semi-final 1 – Winner Play-off semi-final 2 Shortly after New Year's Eve, the Liebherr Cup Final Four will be the first highlight of the new table tennis year for your team, 1. FC Saarbrücken TT. Will you be in good form at this point? As the reigning Champions League winners, Saarbrücken will play TTF Liebherr Ochsenhausen for a place in the final. How do you rate your semi-final opponent? Ochsenhausen is of course very strong, especially with the return of Hugo Calderano. With Hugo, Simon Gauzy and anyone they can field as a dangerous number three, Ochsenhausen is a very strong team and therefore also a candidate for the title. But when we set ourselves the goal of reaching the Final Four, we were of course aware that we would be up against such good teams. Nevertheless, we naturally want to reach the final. Many fans are predicting a repeat of the long-running final between Borussia Düsseldorf and Saarbrücken. Which pairing are you predicting for the final - and why? The trophy has a very special fascination in many sports. What makes it so special in table tennis? In soccer, the cup final has a mythical status, the fan chant "Berlin, Berlin - we're going to Berlin" is legendary. In table tennis, the cup winner will now be determined in Ulm/Neu-Ulm for the ninth time in a row. Can the tradition and atmosphere now be compared to soccer? In soccer, the tradition with Berlin since 1985 is even longer. But in table tennis, I also like the fact that there is some consistency. I really like the familiar and familiar processes - you know the hall and the hotel or where to eat beforehand, for example. This also applies to the fans, who often make a note of the date in Ulm. This consistency in many areas also makes the Final Four a real highlight every year. You yourself are a regular at cup finals and also experienced the two years in the Liebherr Cup Final Four without spectators during the pandemic. What makes the difference for a player in the box between such a ghostly backdrop as back then and games with spectators in front of full stands? You've already won the cup with Düsseldorf and Saarbrücken. What are your best cup memories? Thank you very much for the interview, Patrick Franziska. Can you inherit creativity? This has been the subject of much scientific research with findings suggesting that artistic skills might be as heritable as one’s eye colour. One of Alexia Coppini’s seascapes, on display at the exhibition. Some studies have concluded that while the environment might influence a personality prone to creativity, it’s more heavily linked to the blood that runs through the veins. This definitely seems to be the case with descendants of Anton Schranz, a prolific painter of Mediterranean landscapes and seascapes who was born in Ochsenhausen, a small town in the south of Germany. He lived most of his life in Menorca and Malta, where he found patronage among British naval officers who bought his works as topographical souvenirs. He had six artist sons and daughters Antonio, Giovanni, Giuseppe, Marianna, Margherita and Francesca. Two of his granddaughters were also artists as were a great-granddaughter and two grandsons. Over the years, more descendants in Germany and Malta turned out to be artists. Some works by this family are now on display in an exhibition in Ochsenhausen commemorating Anton Schranz’s  250th birth anniversary. Alexia Coppini loves to paint lighthouses. Besides paintings by Anton Schranz himself, there are those of his sons Giovanni, Antonio and Giuseppe, and of John J. Schranz, Joan Consiglio, Alexia Coppini and Ian Schranz. German and Maltese descendants of Anton Schranz were invited to the opening of the exhibition in Ochsenhausen. One also finds a number of documents, including the deed of Anton Schranz’s house in Ochsenhausen, signed by Austrian Chancellor Klemens von Metternich, who owned the territory, and a photograph of two of his great-granddaughters in circa 1855 by Antonio Schranz, who was also one of the world’s earliest photographers. Malta-based Alexia Coppini, a fifth generation direct descendant, is surely following in Anton Schranz’s footsteps. Her love of art emerged at a young age. She trained in figure drawing before turning to seascapes in 2007 when she was commissioned to paint three such works. I have been drawing ever since I could hold a pencil “I have been drawing ever since I could hold a pencil,” Ms Coppini said. “But although my artistic training had little to do with seascape painting, the sea captivated my soul and I have never looked back.” Alexia Coppini standing next to the Schranz family tree at the German exhibition. Twelve years later, she is still in love with this theme, having held 22 solo exhibitions, and painted several commissions in Malta, Europe, the US and the Caribbean. Anton Schranz’s works have been a great source of inspiration for her and she is constantly searching antique paintings, seascapes, naval history and all that has to do with the sea. She also has a fascination for lighthouses and has painted these structures in all seasons and situations: daylight, moonlight and storms. Ms Coppini’s style is contemporary and watercolours are her favourite medium. She also likes to paint on large canvases. “Such canvases give me a sense of freedom and ability to express the strength of a storm and the forces of nature, letting me capture a moving picture on a small canvas,” Ms Coppini said. She was invited to take part in the German exhibition by Prof. John J. Schranz, another direct descendant of Anton Schranz and an expert in the field of research. A board selected five of her works, all of which feature the sea. A photo of Anton Schranz owned by Alexia Coppini’s mother, Louise Coppini. “Meeting German family members with a common family lineage and, of course, a great interest in art was a unique experience and has inspired me to continue my quest for all things marine,” the artist enthused. She has just completed a new collection of 40 seascape paintings which she will exhibit next month, in Malta, as part of further commemorations of Anton Schranz’s birth anniversary. Meanwhile, if you plan to visit Germany, Anton Schranz (1769-1839) – A Seascape Painter From Ochsenhausen will be on display until October 29 at the German town’s imposing monastery, a baroque Benedictine abbey founded in the late 11th century. A painting by Anton Schranz (right) facing works by Alexia Coppini. To view comments, please register for free or log in to your account. The TTBL's internal round of 16 matches have already been scheduled the 2024/25 season is picking up speed again and the table tennis stars can be seen in halls all over Germany In addition to the new season in the German Table Tennis Bundesliga (TTBL) the German Table Tennis Cup is already casting its shadow the 16 teams want to take the first step towards the Liebherr Cup Final Four where the first title decision of the season will be made in January 2025 Borussia Düsseldorf faces a particularly tough opponent: The defending champions and record cup winners must play TTC RhönSprudel Fulda-Maberzell on Saturday The East Hessians have strengthened their squad for the new season with Dimitrij Ovtcharov so fans can look forward to seeing the German Olympic trio of Ovtcharov Another team from the German Table Tennis Bundesliga (TTBL) will also play Düsseldorf's long-standing rivals: 1 which lost to Borussia in the Liebherr Cup final last season will host newly promoted Borussia Dortmund on Wednesday TTF Liebherr Ochsenhausen and ASC Grünwettersbach who both reached the semi-finals last season are once again hoping to make it to the Liebherr Cup Final Four Ochsenhausen will face TTC Schwalbe Bergneustadt in the round of 16 on Wednesday while Grünwettersbach will travel to TTC Zugbrücke Grenzau on Monday Another TTBL-internal duel will take place between TSV Bad Königshofen and Post SV Mühlhausen (September 4 Two winners of the preliminary round groups can look forward to highlight matches against SV Werder Bremen and TTBL promoted team TTC OE Bad Homburg There will also be a clash between the preliminary round winners of Groups 2 and 4 meaning that at least one team from the second or third Bundesliga will reach the quarter-finals and will then be just one step away from advancing to the Liebherr Cup Final Four These round of 16 matches will not be scheduled until after August 25 when the preliminary round has been played TTC Zugbrücke Grenzau – ASC Grünwettersbach TTF Liebherr Ochsenhausen – TTC Schwalbe Bergneustadt TTC RhönSprudel Fulda-Maberzell – Borussia Düsseldorf Scheduling after 25.08.Winner preliminary round group 1 – TTC OE Bad HomburgWinner preliminary round group 2* – Winner preliminary round group 4*Winner preliminary round group 3 – SV Werder Bremen The ten teams from the 2nd Bundesliga and six clubs from the 3rd Bundesliga will determine the respective winners in four groups in the cup preliminary round on August 25 which will be played by September 25 at the latest The twelve TTBL clubs will then enter the competition The winners of the round of 16 will qualify for the quarter-finals which will ultimately decide which four teams advance to the Liebherr Cup Final Four which will be held in January 2025 with two semi-finals and a final on one day Group 2 (in Schwarzenbek): SV Union Velbert Deutsche BankPremiumLuxembourg bank CEO outlines optimistic growth plansDeutsche Bank Luxembourg faces economic “headwinds” but is counting on European “tailwinds” to expand its business Green transitionOver 8,600 solar panel subsidy requests pending in LuxembourgEnvironment administration hiring staff and training workers to cut down delays HealthcareLuxembourg to offer new homegrown midwifery qualificationUniversity of Luxembourg is launching four-year degree to train more midwives State financesLuxembourg recorded budget surplus in Q1Gilles Roth presented state of national economy report to parliament’s finance committees on Tuesday PoliticsHow much do Luxembourg ministers really earn?In addition to basic salary, ministers are entitled to monthly allowances of up to €8,000 and end-of-year bonuses EvacuationWeapon used in Kirchberg scare was fakeMan armed with fake gun caused commotion at bank branch on Monday Schengen AreaLuxembourg hopes for dialogue with Germany over border checksTens of thousands of people commute to work in Luxembourg every day Job searchBeen job-hunting unsuccessfully for more than six months? If you’ve had several months of rejection letters or never made it beyond first interviews, here’s what you might be doing wrong Advertiser contentTreat yourself to a stress-free holidayDreaming of a worry-free trip What if the secret to a smooth getaway was simply good preparation and the right protection Advertiser contentReal estate: Why should you take advantage of the start of 2025 to begin your real estate project?The main things we remember about the housing sector over the past 12 months are the rise in interest rates and the fall in property prices Advertiser contentProperty: I've decided to invest!The various forms of government support for investment Advertiser contentThe Luxembourg Times BusinessRun is happening again on 18th September!On Thursday 18th September with the starting gun of the 11th Luxembourg Times BusinessRun fired at the Coque at 7 pm Share this with instagramShare this with facebookShare this with linkedinSections An exhibition – Anton Schranz (1769-1839) – A seascape painter from Ochsenhausen – is running till October 27 in the monastery museum in Ochsenhausen The exhibition commemorates 250 years of the artist born in Ochsenhausen who is one of its most famous historic personalities there will also be paintings by his sons and further descendants in addition to documents such as the original register of births with the entry of Schranz’s birth fifth generation direct descendant of this great artist where she exhibited five of her seascapes together with the works of Anton a fifth generation direct descendant of Anton through his first-born son For details, e-mail alexiacoppini@gmail.com please register for free or log in to your account German exhibition marking his 250th birth anniversary an exhibition showcasing works by Anton Schranz celebrating the 250th anniversary of Anton’s birth on May 14 The exhibition’s title – Anton Schranz: Ein Marinemaler aus Ochsenhausen – A Maritime Artist From Ochsenhausen – highlights the surprise of the citizens of this landlocked town they came to know that one of Ochsenhausen’s sons Anton Schranz was much more than a maritime artist His opus includes portrait commissions (King George III and Menorca’s newly-appointed bishop) rich landscapes and townscapes he was commissioned to stucco and gild cathedrals and churches gild and decorate a beautiful case for an organ newly-installed in the cathedral of Cuitadella with Pietà and Valletta in the distance; probably from Strada Santa Venera where the residence of Anton’s daughter was View of the garden of the residence of Count Saverio Marchese though seascapes monopolise his later opus extensive backgrounds of townscapes and beautifully lit fortifications dominate each work rocky shores throb with masses of figures working busily or relaxing by the sea in sketches,  powerful ink strokes dominate capturing humans and animals on splendid rock formations; but then Unknown for 192 years – between 1791 (when he reached Menorca) and 1983 (when John Paul Schranz visited Ochsenhausen seeking German relatives) Anton’s artistic achievements surprised the town immediately acquired for the town hall an Anton Schranz work which proudly adorns the mayor’s office Anton’s formative Ochsenhausen years are unknown – except for his probable childhood education in the Benedictine abbey now a music conservatory and exhibition space Oil on canvas – one of a pair identical in size held in the princely building where Prince Metternich had held court the focal theme of John Schranz’s inaugural talk stressed that this lacuna Discussing pointers his research discoveries provide he encouraged Ochsenhausen’s citizens to undertake local research to illumine those blank formative years – Anton could then become the Ochsenhauser he once was Mayor Andreas Denzel’s speech emphasised how crucial Schranz’s appeal was while underlining the importance Ochsenhausen attributes to Anton’s citizenship by naming a street after him Denzel subsequently discussed Kloster Ochsenhausen’s glorious days: first documented in 1093 the vast imperial abbey was among the wealthiest in southern Germany artistic and scientific centre of the entire region With the 1803 secularisation programme and Metternich’s takeover Sold by Metternich to the Fürst Metternich Herzog von Württemberg in 1825 it now belongs to the State of Baden-Württemberg View of Grand Harbour from the Upper Barrakka The mayor expressed his gratitude to all who made the exhibition possible: to Schranz for his constant dedicated commitment and support for the exhibition his provocative inaugural talk and his ground-breaking research findings; to owners who lent their precious artworks; to the dedicated town hall staff who handled all contacts; to former Ochsenhauser Rosemarie Fink enthusiastic dedication to the exhibition; to the family Schranz members who travelled from Malta to attend the exhibition opening and to the Ochsenhausen School of Music for performing in the opening ceremony Denzel finally thanked the sponsors who made the exhibition financially possible: Kreissparkasse Biberach the State of Baden-Württemberg and the Honorary Consul of Malta in Baden-Württemberg on representations made to him by Malta’s Ambassador to Germany Albert Friggieri The exhibition also presents works by four present-day Schranz family members two still carrying the surname: Ian Schranz This resulted from the German organisers wondering whether any family members intended marking the anniversary by exhibitions of their work Frank Heckelsmüller is a teacher and author in Ochsenhausen Woodland landscape with figures in foreground and Lago Albano and Castelgandolfo in the background Collection of Palazzo Falson Historic Museum View of the Grand Harbour from Fort St Elmo The female figures wearing traditional Menorcan straw hats with black ribbons suggest this is a family portrait Anton made shortly after his wife arrived with all their sons and daughters Margerita (holding young Manuel sitting on a cannon and young Giuseppe playing with a dog) one of a pair identical in size and in identical period frames the other painting being of the same scene at night Sketch of human figures for one of the two oil paintings Anton Schranz presented to King William IV pen and ink execution of the figures contrasts sharply with the hardly discernible The finished painting is part of the Royal Collection Trust The sketch is part of a private collection please register for free or log in to your account.