Road to Düsseldorf: Last fights for position and sweepstakes
On the "Road to Düsseldorf" to the Liebherr TTBL final on July 9, the main round final of the Table Tennis Bundesliga (TTBL) naturally forms a landmark. Despite the already determined qualification of all four play-off participants and the prematurely ended fight for the class preservation, two matches on Sunday still have significance for the composition of the semi-final duels.
While the 22nd and last matchday in the German elite class is an opportunity for all final round starters after the WTT tournaments in Asia to test their form for the matches in the knockout phase starting in the first half of May, most teams want to say goodbye to the summer break with a good impression from their supporters at the season's finale or even step off the biggest national stage for good.
In a long-distance duel, the rivals TTF Liebherr Ochsenhausen and Post SV Mulhouse, who are tied on points, will play for third and fourth place. Former champion Ochsenhausen has the advantage of a home match, but at the same time Champions League winner 1. FC Saarbrücken TT is the more difficult opponent, at least on paper. Mühlhausen, on the other hand, has to play its months-long play-off rival TSV Bad Königshofen. The fourth-placed team in the table will face main round winner and defending champion Borussia Düsseldorf in the semifinals, while the number three team in the final table will face Saarbrücken. Record champion Düsseldorf wants to warm up for the play-offs at TTC RhönSprudel Fulda-Maberzell.
However, the Hessians want to put a successful end to a bumpy season against the guests from the NRW capital. The teams in the matches Werder Bremen - ASV Grünwettersbach and 1. FSV Mainz 05 - TTC Schwalbe Bergneustadt are also hoping for a pleasing conclusion before the preparation for the coming season, which is already becoming apparent again. This also applies to TTC Zugbrücke Grenzau against TTC Neu-Ulm, for whom the chapter of the Bundesliga is already - and presumably irrevocably - coming to an end after only four years, following their decision not to apply for a new license.
Fans without a ticket can of course watch the last six matches of the 2022/23 season in a live stream. The TTBL media partner Spontent will also report the main round conclusion on the platform Twitch in detail and in the usual high quality from the action at the tables. The link to all streams can be found here.
Advance sale for final tickets underway
The next milestone before the new champion is determined is the play-off semifinals after the end of the season. Saarbrücken has already scheduled its home appearance in the first leg for May 5 (Friday, 7 p.m.), while Düsseldorf's performance in front of its own crowd is scheduled for May 11 (Thursday, 7 p.m.) as the second leg. The remaining two dates will be set once the semi-final pairings have been determined.
However, preparations are also in full swing for the Liebherr TTBL final. After an interruption of one year, the TTBL final will again be part of the multi-sport event "The Finals", which will once again take place in the Rhine-Ruhr region. ARD and ZDF will be providing extensive coverage of the crowning of the new title holder on July 9 in the Castello event arena in Düsseldorf with their media coverage.
Advance sales have already begun for the live experience on site in the Rhine metropolis. Tickets for the Liebherr TTBL final are already available from € 25 (reduced € 22.50). Orders can be placed in the ticket store at www.ttbl.de, by calling the free Reservix ticket hotline at 0761 - 888499 99 and at all known advance booking offices.