Pokal

In just over three weeks, the first title of the year will be awarded: In the Liebherr Cup Final Four on January 4, 2026, the four best teams of the cup season will face each other and battle for the trophy at the ratiopharm arena Ulm/Neu-Ulm. Fans should hurry: Only a few tickets are still available for this top event.

It will be a gathering of superstars when the Liebherr Cup Final Four takes place in the twin cities on the Danube on January 4, 2026: Fan Zhendong and Patrick Franziska are expected to attend, as are Dimitrij Ovtcharov and Jonathan Groth, Shunsuke Togami and Darko Jorgic. All fans can look forward to three highly exciting matches – and an impressive atmosphere. In recent years, around 5,000 spectators have flocked to the ratiopharm arena Ulm/Neu-Ulm, ensuring a sold-out venue. Due to high demand, the entire arena will be open for the first time this season, making the Liebherr Cup Final Four 2026 bigger and more spectacular than ever before.

If you want to be there on January 4, 2026, you should hurry: only a few tickets are still available for the event. If you are unlucky in the short term, you should still keep an eye on the official TTBL ticket shop in the coming weeks: fans who are unable to attend will offer their tickets there via the secondary market feature. These will then be displayed as bookable seats in the hall overview as usual. Those who can't make it to the ratiopharm arena can of course cheer on their favorites from home: All three matches will be broadcast live by TTBL media partner Dyn. As usual, the Liebherr Cup Final Four will kick off with the semifinals, which will be played simultaneously on two tables starting at 11 a.m. On one table, 1. FC Saarbrücken TT will face defending champion TTF Liebherr Ochsenhausen; while on the other, TTC RhönSprudel Fulda-Maberzell will take on TTC OE Clarity-Telefonie Systeme Bad Homburg. After a short break for set changes, the big showdown for the title will take place and the 2026 German Cup winner will be determined.

Saarbrücken sends Olympic champion Fan Zhendong into the race

Even before the start of the season, 1. FC Saarbrücken TT had positioned itself as a title contender. With Olympic champion Fan Zhendong, the club sensationally brought a Chinese superstar to Saarland, triggering a Germany-wide table tennis hype. In addition to the two-time singles world champion, FCS is fielding Patrick Franziska and Darko Jorgic, among others, making it the favorite to win the title in all competitions. In the past five years, Saarbrücken has secured a place in the Liebherr Cup Final Four four times, reaching the final three times and winning the trophy once (2022). Last year, they lost 1:3 to Ochsenhausen – this time, they are looking for revenge in the semifinals. However, FCS should be warned: with Shunsuke Togami, TTF has a double world champion in its ranks who is still undefeated this season. Thanks to Togami, the five-time cup winner (2002, 2003, 2004, 2019, 2025) is dreaming of repeating last year's success.

TTC RhönSprudel Fulda-Maberzell, on the other hand, is still waiting for its first title in the club's history: between 2013 and 2016, the East Hessians reached the cup final four times in a row, only to lose to Borussia Düsseldorf each time. On January 4, 2026, the Fulda team led by Germany's “Mr. Olympia” Dimitrij Ovtcharov will once again reach for the title. The road to the final leads past this year's big surprise team in the cup: TTC OE Clarity-Telefonie Systeme Bad Homburg, coached by legendary coach Helmut Hampl, sensationally knocked out record cup winners Düsseldorf (3:2) in the quarterfinals, reaching the semifinals for the second time in a row. Last season, Bad Homburg lost to Ochsenhausen (1:3) – this time, the Taunus team led by Jo Yokotani is aiming to pull off a major coup.

Liebherr Cup Final Four on January 4, 2026

Semifinals, 11 a.m.
TTC RhönSprudel Fulda-Maberzell – TTC OE Clarity-Telefonie Systeme Bad Homburg
TTF Liebherr Ochsenhausen – 1. FC Saarbrücken TT

Final, immediately following
Winner of semifinal 1 – Winner of semifinal 2

At the official partner hotel, the Leonardo Royal Ulm, all fans and partners will also receive rooms including breakfast at special rates (€99 per night in a double room / €89 per night in a single room) between January 2 and 5, 2026, subject to availability. Book directly with the hotel using the code TTPokal26 at https://www.leonardo-hotels.de/ulm/leonardo-royal-hotel-ulm.

Beitragsbild (oben): Liebherr Pokal-Final Four (BeLaSportfoto)