Long-distance duel for last TTBL play-off place
A long-distance duel for the fourth and final play-off place will take center stage in the final round of the German Table Tennis League (TTBL) on Sunday. TSV Bad Königshofen and Post SV Mühlhausen will battle it out for a place in the semi-finals.
Only if the TSV team led by former national player Bastian Steger loses against bottom of the table and relegated FSV Mainz 05 will Mühlhausen still have any chance at all with a two-point deficit to the Franconians. At the same time, however, the Thuringians must at least win their visit to the penultimate team in the table, TTC RhönSprudel Fulda-Maberzell (both 4 p.m./Dyn). In the extreme case of possible ties on the points account and in the game difference, it could be necessary to count sets or even individual points.
Bad Königshofen are hoping to make their first play-off appearance after seven years in the top flight. However, despite their pole position and what on paper appears to be an easier task, the club from Franconia, who recently missed their first opportunity to make it to the championship round, are shying away from exaggerated claims of strength. “There is no fear,” the club announced ahead of the day of the decision, “but neither is there unconditional certainty of victory”.
Mühlhausen is banking on another slip-up from Steger and Co. in the home straight in the race for its third play-off qualification in a row. Former champion Steffen Mengel is still mourning “a few games left at home”, but “we're happy that we still have a chance to reach the semi-finals”.
Werder Bremen have already seized their chance to qualify for the semi-finals for the first time since 2019. “It's been far too long since the last time. This year, we finally got our reward,” said Bremen's former runner-up Mattias Falck, commenting on the former champions' decisive 3:1 win at TTC Schwalbe Bergneustadt last Wednesday.
Champions League winners and main round winners 1. FC Saarbrücken and defending champions Borussia Düsseldorf have already been confirmed as semi-finalists for some time. The pairings for the preliminary round will be determined by the final table on Sunday. The final will take place on June 30 (Sunday) in Frankfurt.
Liebherr TTBL Final 2024 - tickets still available in all categories
Advance ticket sales for the Liebherr TTBL Final 2024 have already started and are in high demand. So if you don't want to miss out on this sporting highlight, you should be quick.
Tickets for the Liebherr TTBL-Finale 2024 are on sale now and are still available in all categories. Seat-specific orders can be placed in the ticket store at www.ttbl.de, by telephone on 0761 888499 99 and at all known advance booking offices.
Source: SID/TTBL