Borussia Düsseldorf has successfully defended their title as the German champions, defeating 1. FC Saarbrücken TT 3:1 in a dramatic Liebherr TTBL final held at the Süwag Energie ARENA Frankfurt. This victory marks the club's first double of the league and cup titles in three years, underscoring their continued dominance in the Tischtennis Bundesliga (TTBL).
In front of 3,000 enthusiastic fans, Borussia Düsseldorf secured their 34th German Championship, extending their unbeaten streak to four consecutive years in the TTBL finals. Despite a challenging season, Düsseldorf showcased their resilience and skill in a high-stakes match against their perennial rivals.
Danny Heister, Borussia Düsseldorf’s coach, captured the essence of their achievement shortly after the match: “You never get used to this,” he said, referring to the team’s ongoing success. The final was fiercely contested, with the teams delivering a world-class performance.
Düsseldorf’s Dang Qiu played a pivotal role in the victory. Qiu won his opening match against Patrick Franziska 3:1 (6:11, 11:7, 11:4, 11:4) and clinched the decisive match against Darko Jorgic with a 3:2 (9:11, 11:0, 11:8, 10:12, 11:4) win. Qiu's exceptional performance was crucial, especially after Franziska struggled with a thigh injury, which impacted his game.
The match featured a dramatic moment in the second game when Timo Boll faced Darko Jorgic in an epic five-set battle. Jorgic, trailing 0-2, staged a remarkable comeback, saving seven match points before winning 3:2 (11:6, 11:9, 4:11, 9:11, 13:15). Anton Källberg added to Düsseldorf’s tally with a 3:0 (11:8, 11:9, 11:8) victory over Cedric Meissner.
Timo Boll reflected on the intense final, saying, “Losing despite having multiple match points would have been very bitter, but fortunately, it wasn’t a complete disaster this time. Darko played some outstanding shots, even under pressure.”
Heister highlighted the unpredictable nature of the final, noting, “Between these two teams, it could have gone either way. Every match is almost 50:50 – anything is possible. I’m very proud of my team.”
The final also garnered significant attention from fans and media alike. The ZDF broadcasted a multi-minute summary of the event, with additional coverage from Saarländischer Rundfunk (SR) and Hessischer Rundfunk (HR). A comprehensive hour-long recap will air on Sport1 on Monday, July 1, at 8 PM. The full match is available for replay and in various highlight formats on TTBL media partner Dyn.
Liebherr TTBL Final Results:
Borussia Düsseldorf – 1. FC Saarbrücken TT 3:1
Dang Qiu – Patrick Franziska 3:1 (6:11, 11:7, 11:4, 11:4)
Timo Boll – Darko Jorgic 2:3 (6:11, 9:11, 11:4, 11:8, 13:15)
Anton Källberg – Cedric Meissner 3:0 (11:8, 11:9, 11:8)
Dang Qiu – Darko Jorgic 3:2 (9:11, 11:0, 11:8, 10:12, 11:4)