1. FCS Tischtennis ready for first highlight of 2024
On Sunday (7 January 2024), 1. FC Saarbrücken Tischtennis have their first table-tennis highlight of the year in the shape of the final four.
In Borussia Düsseldorf, 1. FC Saarbrücken TT, TTF Liebherr Ochsenhausen and ASV Grünwettersbach, four top teams from the Tischtennis Bundesliga (TTBL) will be competing for the German Table Tennis Cup in the Liebherr Cup final four.
In the sold-out ratiopharm arena in Neu-Ulm in front of nearly 5,000 spectators, the Saarland team can expect a fantastic atmosphere in an exhilarating setting. It all begins on Sunday at 11 a.m. with the two semi-finals, which will take place simultaneously across two tables. This will be followed by a short turnaround and then the final title showdown.
FCS TT last won the cup in 2022, and the first title in the club’s history (in 2012) was also a cup victory. The Saarbrücken team have made it down to the last four teams seven times in the last ten years and reached the cup final three times, each time against Borussia Düsseldorf. The big final could see them facing their long-term rivals and record 27-time cup winners once again this year. The Saarland team recently beat Timo Boll and Dang Qiu’s squad 3:2 in a top game for the Tischtennis-Bundesliga autumn championships shortly before the end of the year on 27 December, giving them a powerful self-confidence boost for the finals tournament.
But before this showdown between two big favourites can happen, the two teams need to win their semi-finals. Saarbrücken’s opponent in the semi-final will be TTF Liebherr Ochsenhausen. The Swabians have four past cup wins under their belt, and boast two top international players in Hugo Calderano and Simon Gauzy (who are both currently in the top five in the world).
This will be no easy task for the Saarbrücken team, who will also boast a top lineup including Patrick Franziska and Darko Jorgic. The Saarland team has a wide choice of players for the third spot, including defensive specialist Yuto Muramatsu, Cedric Nuytinck, Cedric Meissner and Eduard Ionescu.
There are some exciting, close decisions to be made. We are crossing our fingers for 1. FC Saarbrücken Tischtennis and wish them much luck and success for their first highlight of the year, and maybe even their first title. Come on, FCS TT!
Photo: Ulrich Höfer / FCS TT