European Champions League (table tennis)

Last updated
European Champions League
Logo ettu ecl.jpg
Sport Table tennis
Founded1998
No. of teams16 (Men's)
6 (Women's)
Country ETTU members
Continent Europe
Most recent
champion(s)
Flag of Germany.svg FC Saarbrücken (Men)
Flag of Poland.svg KTS Tarnobrzeg (Women)
Most titles
TV partner(s) Laola1
Official website http://www.ettu.org/en/events/table-tennis-champions-league-men/general-information/

European Champions League (ECL) is the seasonal table tennis competition for the highest ranked European club teams and is regarded as the most important international club competition in Europe. It is organised by the European Table Tennis Union (ETTU) and replaced the European Club Cup of Champions (ECCC), the previous prominent club competition, since the 1998/99 season. Originally there was only a men's competition; a women's competition was introduced in the 2005/06 season. The competition starts in September and the champions are usually determined in May in recent years.

Contents

German club Borussia Düsseldorf is the most successful club in the history of the men's competition, having won the competition seven times and being the runners-up three times, while Belgian club La Villette Charleroi and Russian club Fakel Gazprom both have won five titles.

In the women's competition, TTC Berlin Eastside from Germany has won the league five times, making it the most successful club.

History

The Men's Champions League was first organised in the 1998/99 season, with the aim to replace the European Club Cup of Champions, the previous highest level European club competition held since 1960/61 season. In the second season (99/00), the playing system was changed. The maximum number of games had been reduced from seven to five, and the double had been cancelled, with the aim of having a better presentation on TV and more excitement for the spectators. [1] The competition came into a new era in 2005/06, when the Women's Champions League started with eight clubs and the men's league was expanded from 8 to 16 clubs, enabling a greater number of nations to participate. These changes were undertaken in the hopes of making table tennis more popular in a European level as well as motivating the coming generation. [1] However, the number of teams in the women's competition decreased from eight to six in season 09/10.

In season 10/11, because of the global financial crisis, there were just four teams entering the women's competition, a number lower than the previous year (there were six teams in season 09/10). As a result, the women's competition was suspended for one year. The men's competition was also affected, causing the number of teams to decrease from 16 to 14. [2]

The women's competition resumed in season 11/12, with six teams entering the competition. [3] The number of teams in the men's competition was also restored to 16. [4]

Qualification

Only teams from any top National Leagues have the right to enter in the competition.

For the men's competition, the 4 semi-finalists of the previous year are automatically included in the competition. The remaining 12 places are filled by the 12 teams with the highest total number of ranking points for their three best ranked players on the current world ranking, with only one "foreign player" being considered.

For the women's league, the previous year's two finalists compete in the competition with the six teams with the highest total number of ranking points for their three best ranked players, also with only one "foreign player" being considered.

Moreover, there is a limitation on the number of clubs from the same nations. Not more than 4 or 3 clubs, men's and women's respectively, from the same association are entitled the right to enter in the competition. In the men's competition, if the semi-finalists of the previous year came from the same association and a 5th team has the highest ranking points, the ranking of the final national team championships would decide on the qualification.

Format

The league is completed in two stages. The first stage is the group round robin matches while the second stage is the straight 2-leg knock-out stage.

For the men's league, the 16 teams are divided into four groups within which they play round robin matches. The four teams with the highest ranking points will be seeded and play in the four groups respectively. During the group stage, 2 match points are awarded for a win, 1 for a loss and 0 for a loss in a not played or unfinished match, and the ranking order is determined by the numbers of match points gained.

If two or more teams have gained the same number of match points, their relative position are determined by the results only of the matches between them, taking successively the numbers of match points, the ratios of wins to losses in individual matches, games and points, as far as it is necessary to resolve the order. Lot is used to determine the position if teams are equal in all of the above criteria.

The top two teams in each group qualified for the knock-out stage. Those eight teams would play in a single knock-out system, with quarter-finals, semi-finals and finals, to determine the winner of the competition. At any stages two legs, home and away, are played for each tie, and teams win the tie if they win both legs. If each team wins one leg, the result is determined by aggregate score first in individual matches, then in games and finally in points.

The women's competition is held in similar format, with the exception that the six teams are divided into two groups and the two teams with the highest ranking points would be the seeds.

Playing system

The competition is played under the new Swaythling Cup system (best of 5 singles). A team consists of 3 players selected from those nominated for the event. The opposite teams play 5 single matches with the match order A v X, B v Y, C v Z, A v Y, B v X. The team match will end if one of the teams has won 3 matches.

Composition of teams

A club may nominate up to 8 players for the entire event, within which there can be a maximum of 2 foreign players. Only 1 foreign player can play in each team match and only players who have participated in at least 50% of the group matches are eligible to play the second stage. Reserve players being present in the hall would be considered as participants of the match, if confirmed on the result sheet by the referee.

Each player can only play for one club in a season. This regulation also applies to players taking part in any other team competition on the national level under the authority of an ITTF member association, except commitments for their national team.

Finals

Men’s Champions League

YearChampionsScoreRunner-up
1998/1999 Flag of France.svg Caen 3:4
4:3
(20:18)
Flag of Germany.svg Borussia Düsseldorf
1999/2000 Flag of Germany.svg Borussia Düsseldorf 3:0
3:0
Flag of Austria.svg Niederösterreich
2000/2001 Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Royal Villette Charleroi 3:0
3:2
Flag of Austria.svg Niederösterreich
2001/2002 Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Royal Villette Charleroi 3:2
3:1
Flag of Austria.svg Niederösterreich
2002/2003 Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Royal Villette Charleroi 3:1
3:2
Flag of Germany.svg Zugbrücke Grenzau
2003/2004 Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Royal Villette Charleroi 3:1
3:1
Flag of Germany.svg Zugbrücke Grenzau
2004/2005 Flag of Germany.svg RE-BAU Gönnern 1:3
3:1
(18:13)
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Royal Villette Charleroi
2005/2006 Flag of Germany.svg RE-BAU Gönnern 2:3
3:1
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Royal Villette Charleroi
2006/2007 Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Royal Villette Charleroi 3:1
3:2
Flag of Austria.svg Niederösterreich
2007/2008 Flag of Austria.svg Niederösterreich 3:0
3:2
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Royal Villette Charleroi
2008/2009 Flag of Germany.svg Borussia Düsseldorf 2:3
3:0
Flag of Germany.svg Liebherr Ochsenhausen
2009/2010 Flag of Germany.svg Borussia Düsseldorf 1:3
3:0
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Royal Villette Charleroi
2010/2011 Flag of Germany.svg Borussia Düsseldorf 3:0
1:3
Flag of Russia.svg GAZPROM Fakel Orenburg
2011/2012 Flag of Russia.svg Gazprom Orenburg 3:0
3:2
Flag of Russia.svg UMMC Ekaterinburg
2012/2013 Flag of Russia.svg Gazprom Orenburg 3:1
1:3
(315:311)
Flag of France.svg Chartres
2013/2014 [5] Flag of France.svg Pontoise-Cergy 3:1
1:3
(18:16)
Flag of Russia.svg Gazprom Orenburg
2014/2015 Flag of Russia.svg Gazprom Orenburg 1:3
3:0
Flag of Germany.svg Borussia Düsseldorf
2015/2016 Flag of France.svg Pontoise-Cergy 1:3
3:1
(15:14)
Flag of Sweden.svg Eslövs AI BTK
2016/2017 Flag of Russia.svg Fakel Gazprom 3:0
3:2
Flag of Germany.svg Borussia Düsseldorf
2017/2018 Flag of Germany.svg Borussia Düsseldorf 3:2
3:1
Flag of Russia.svg Fakel Gazprom
2018/2019 Flag of Russia.svg Fakel Gazprom 3:2
3:2
Flag of Russia.svg TTSC UMMC
2019/2020Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
2020/2021 Flag of Germany.svg Borussia Düsseldorf 3:1 Flag of Germany.svg FC Saarbrücken
2021/2022 Flag of Germany.svg Borussia Düsseldorf Awarded [6] [7] none
2022/2023 Flag of Germany.svg FC Saarbrücken 2:3
3:2
2:1
Flag of Germany.svg Borussia Düsseldorf
2023/2024 Flag of Germany.svg FC Saarbrücken 3:2 Flag of Germany.svg Borussia Düsseldorf

Women’s Champions League

YearChampionsScoreRunner-up
2005/2006 Flag of Italy.svg Sterilgarda Castel Goffredo 3:2
3:2
Flag of Germany.svg Müllermilch Langweid
2006/2007 Flag of Italy.svg Sterilgarda Castel Goffredo 3:2
3:2
Flag of the Netherlands.svg MF Services Heerlen
2007/2008 Flag of the Netherlands.svg MF Services Heerlen 3:1
Kroppach unavailable to play
Flag of Germany.svg FSV Kroppach
2008/2009 Flag of Austria.svg Linz AG Froschberg 2:3
3:1
Flag of Germany.svg FSV Kroppach
2009/2010 Flag of the Netherlands.svg MF Services Heerlen 3:1
3:0
Flag of Austria.svg Linz AG Froschberg
2010/2011Cancelled [8]
2011/2012 Flag of Germany.svg Berlin Eastside 3:2
2:3
(19–18)
Flag of Austria.svg Ströck
2012/2013 Flag of Austria.svg Linz AG Froschberg 3:1
3:2
Flag of Hungary.svg Budaörsi
2013/2014 Flag of Germany.svg Berlin Eastside 3:2
3:0
Flag of Turkey.svg Fenerbahçe
2014/2015 Flag of Turkey.svg Fenerbahçe 3:2
3:1
Flag of Austria.svg Linz AG Froschberg
2015/2016 Flag of Germany.svg Berlin Eastside 3:2
3:0
Flag of Poland.svg SPAR-Zamek Tarnobrzeg
2016/2017 Flag of Germany.svg Berlin Eastside 2:3
3:1
Flag of Poland.svg Siarka ZOT Tarnobrzeg
2017/2018 Flag of Croatia.svg Dr. Časl 3:2
3:0
Flag of Turkey.svg Bursa BB
2018/2019 Flag of Poland.svg Enea Siarka Tarnobrzeg 3:2
3:2
Flag of Croatia.svg Dr. Časl
2019/2020Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
2020/2021 Flag of Germany.svg Berlin Eastside 3:2 Flag of Austria.svg Linz AG Froschberg
2021/2022 Flag of Poland.svg Enea Siarkopol Tarnobrzeg 3:2
3:2
Flag of Germany.svg Berlin Eastside
2022/2023 Flag of Poland.svg Enea Siarkopol Tarnobrzeg 3:0
3:0
Flag of France.svg Metz
2023/24 Flag of Poland.svg Enea Siarkopol Tarnobrzeg vs. Flag of France.svg Etival ASRTT

Statistics

Performance by club

Men's Champions League

ClubWinnersRunners-upYears wonYears runner-up
Flag of Germany.svg Borussia Düsseldorf752000, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2018, 2021, 20221999, 2015, 2017, 2023, 2024
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Royal Villette Charleroi
5
4
2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2007
2005, 2006, 2008, 2010
Flag of Russia.svg TTC Fakel Gazprom532012, 2013, 2015, 2017, 20192011, 2014, 2018
Flag of Germany.svg FC Saarbrücken212023, 20242021
Flag of Germany.svg TTV RE-BAU Gönnern22005, 2006
Flag of France.svg AS Pontoise Cergy22014, 2016
Flag of Austria.svg SVS Niederösterreich1420082000, 2001, 2002, 2007
Flag of France.svg Caen Tennis de Table Club11999
Flag of Germany.svg TTC Zugbrücke Grenzau22003, 2004
Flag of Russia.svg UMMC Ekaterinburg22012, 2019
Flag of Germany.svg TTC Liebherr Ochsenhausen12009
Flag of France.svg Chartres ASTT12013
Flag of Sweden.svg Eslövs AI BTK12016

Women's Champions League

ClubWinnersRunners-upYears wonYears runner-up
Flag of Germany.svg TTC Berlin Eastside512012, 2014, 2016, 2017, 20212022
Flag of Poland.svg KTS Tarnobrzeg322019, 2022, 20232016, 2017
Flag of Austria.svg Linz AG Froschberg232009, 20132010, 2015, 2021
Flag of the Netherlands.svg MF Services Heerlen212007, 20102006
Flag of Italy.svg Sterilgarda TT Castelgoffredo22005, 2006
Flag of Turkey.svg Fenerbahçe1120152014
Flag of Croatia.svg Dr. Časl1120182019
Flag of Germany.svg FSV Kroppach22008, 2009
Flag of Germany.svg Müllermilch Langweid12006
Flag of Austria.svg SVS Ströck12012
Flag of Hungary.svg Budaörsi SC12013
Flag of Turkey.svg Bursa BB12018
Flag of France.svg Metz TT12023

Performance by nation

Men's Champions League

NationWinnersRunners-upWinning ClubsRunners-Up
Flag of Germany.svg Germany 119Borussia Düsseldorf (7), TTV RE-BAU Gönnern (2), FC Saarbrücken (2)Borussia Düsseldorf (5), TTC Zugbrücke Grenzau (2), TTC Liebherr Ochsenhausen (1), FC Saarbrücken (1)
Flag of Russia.svg Russia 55TTC Fakel Gazprom (5)TTC Fakel Gazprom (3), UMMC Ekaterinburg (2)
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Belgium 54Royal Villette Charleroi (5)Royal Villette Charleroi (4)
Flag of France.svg France 31Caen Tennis de Table Club (1), AS Pontoise Cergy (2)Chartres ASTT (1)
Flag of Austria.svg Austria 14SVS Niederösterreich (1)SVS Niederösterreich (4)
Flag of Sweden.svg Sweden 1Eslövs AI BTK (1)

Women's Champions League

NationWinnersRunners-upWinning ClubsRunners-Up
Flag of Germany.svg Germany 54TTC Berlin Eastside (5)TTC Berlin Eastside (1), FSV Kroppach (2), Müllermilch Langweid (1)
Flag of Poland.svg Poland 32KTS Tarnobrzeg (3)KTS Tarnobrzeg (2)
Flag of Austria.svg Austria 24Linz AG Froschberg (2)Linz AG Froschberg (3), SVS Strock (1)
Flag of the Netherlands.svg Netherlands 21MF Services Heerlen (2)MF Services Heerlen (1)
Flag of Italy.svg Italy 2Sterilgarda TT Castelgoffredo (2)
Flag of Turkey.svg Turkey 12Fenerbahçe (1)Fenerbahçe (1), Bursa BB (1)
Flag of Croatia.svg Croatia 11Dr. Časl (1)Dr. Časl (1)
Flag of France.svg France 1Metz TT (1)
Flag of Hungary.svg Hungary 1Budaörsi SC (1)

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References

  1. 1 2 "Short history of Men's Champions League". Archived from the original on 2011-07-10. Retrieved 2008-05-06.
  2. ETTU suspended Women’s European Champions League [ permanent dead link ]
  3. Women’s ECL is back: Austrian ambitions [ permanent dead link ]
  4. The draw for 2011-2012 Men’s European Champions League [ permanent dead link ]
  5. Miletic, Alex (30 May 2014). "Karlsson gives the crown to Pontoise". European Table Tennis Union. Retrieved 13 June 2014.
  6. After reaching the Final, Borussia Düsseldorf was declared 2021–22 champions after another two Russian semifinal teams were disqualified due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
  7. "Borussia Düsseldorf is the winner of the European Champions League men 2021-2022". European Table Tennis Union. 21 March 2022. Retrieved 21 March 2022.
  8. Owing to the global financial crisis, only four teams entered the competition. As too few teams participated, the women's competition was suspended for a year.