Saarbrücken defends table lead

TSV Bad Königshofen has recently been in strong form. With three wins in a row, the team from Lower Franconia climbed up to third place in the table tennis Bundesliga (TTBL). They have now suffered their first defeat of the second half of the season at the hands of 1. FC Saarbrücken-TT.

TSV Bad Königshofen fought back against their first defeat in 2024 - but ultimately without success. They lost 3-0 to the current table-toppers in the German Table Tennis League (TTBL), 1. FC Saarbrücken-TT. However, the team from Saarland had to put in much more effort than the result would suggest.

Both Darko Jorgic and Eduard Ionescu were trailing in their singles matches before they were able to put Saarbrücken in the lead with two wins. Jorgic was already trailing 0:2 against Filip Zeljko and the Slovenian also won the third and fourth sets by the narrowest of margins at 13:11. He then clinched victory with 11:8 in the deciding set. Ionescu also fell 2:1 behind against Jin Ueda despite winning the first set. However, he secured victory with two clear 11:4 victories.

Patrick Franziska with the clearest victory

Patrick Franziska had relatively little trouble after the break. He won 3:0 against Martin Allegro. He won the last point for his team with 11:8, 11:9 and 11:7. With this victory, the Saarland team defended their lead in the table ahead of Borussia Düsseldorf, who were also victorious on Friday evening.

The 15th matchday continues on Saturday with the two matches 1. FSV Mainz 05 against TTC RhönSprudel Fulda-Maberzell and ASV Grünwettersbach against TTC Schwalbe Bergneustadt. TTF Liebherr Ochsenhausen and SV Werder Bremen conclude the matchday on Sunday, before many TTBL players travel to the Team World Championships in Korea.

Overview of the 15th matchday

1.FC Saarbrücken-TT - TSV Bad Königshofen 3:0 
Darko Jorgic - Filip Zeljko 3:2 (7:11, 4:11, 13:11, 13:11, 11:8) 
Eduard Ionescu - Jin Ueda 3:2 (11:9, 8:11, 7:11, 11:4, 11:4)
Patrick Franziska - Martin Allegro 3:0 (11:8, 11:9, 11:7)

Borussia Düsseldorf - Post SV Mühlhausen 3:0
Anton Källberg - Irvin Bertrang 3:1 (11:7, 6:11, 11:7, 11:9)
Kay Stumper - Ovidiu Ionescu 3:1 (11:4, 11:9, 10:12, 11:6)
Timo Boll - Steffen Mengel 3:2 (10:12, 12:10, 9:11, 11:7, 11:6)

Saturday, 10th February 2024
7 p.m.: 1. FSV Mainz 05 - TTC RhönSprudel Fulda-Maberzell
7 p.m.: ASV Grünwettersbach - TTC Schwalbe Bergneustadt

Sunday, 11th February 2024
1 p.m.: TTF Liebherr Ochsenhausen - SV Werder Bremen

All games will be broadcast live on Dyn.

Featured image above: Darko Jorgic (Photo: BeLa Sportfoto)