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EUROPEAN CHAMPIONS LEAGUE - A SHORT HISTORY OF PREVIOUS SEASONS

The best club of this era is Royal Villette Charleroi of Belgium, having won the title every year from 2001 to 2004, having also participated in the two finals after that. The winner of these was TTV RE-BAU Gönnern, which won both titles in very dramatic matches. 2007 Charleroi won its 5th title against SVS Niederösterreich and 2008 saw the same final, during which the Austrians won their first title. Along with record champions Charleroi several other clubs were quite successful: TTV RE-BAU Gönnern (GER 2 titles), SVS Niederösterreich (AUT/ 1 title, 5 final participations), Caen TTC (FRA 1 title), and TTC Zugbrücke Grenzau (GER/ 2 final participations). This year Borussia Dusseldorf climbed to the place closer to the top of the list with the second win alongside two previous final participations (first title Germans won in 2000.)

Right from the start the ETTU general secretary, Mrs. Jeanny DOM has been organizing this competition in a professional way, while keeping in mind that the organization of a European competition is most often a highly difficult task.

The league"s first season already created enormous suspense and drama. Caen TTC defeated Borussia Düsseldorf in the 2 finals due to their minimally better game ratio. With the advantage of a home match, Caen enjoyed the support of more than 5000 enthusiastic spectators - a record attendance which was not to be broken for quite some time.

The second year brought adjustments to the tournament mode. The maximum number of games had been reduced from 7 to 5, and the double had been cancelled. The aim of these changes was a better presentation in TV and more excitement for the spectators. The season"s title went to Borussia Düsseldorf with two safe victories over SVS Niederösterreich. The following year brought the first title for Royal Villette Charleroi, and Vladimir SAMSONOV introduced himself as a member of the brilliant Belgian team, which he would lead to easy victories in the coming three years. In the year 2004 Charleroi also set a new attendance record: The famous sports hall „Spiroudome" was sold out with 6500 spectators.

The next season brought a change and went even further in suspense than the opening years. Royal Villette Charleroi was challenged in the final by TTV RE-BAU Gönnern. After the home victory of 3:1 the title seemed almost defended, but in Gönnern the German team played very well and in the final of finals Timo BOLL beat the champion of the Champions League, Vladimir SAMSONOV with 3:1. Due to the better set ratio the German sensation had won his team their first title in our elite league. Generally, the focus is on the season of 2005/2006, which marked the beginning of a new era.

In the Champions League for men, 2006 brought a repeat of last season"s final with just as much tension and drama. After the narrow 2:3 defeat in Charleroi TTV RE-BAU Gönnern successfully defended it"s title. The key to success was the highlight of the evening, a final of finals, when Timo BOLL stepped up at 2:1 to defeat Vladimir SAMSONOV, securing the 2nd title in a row for his team. The champion of Champions League was now not only Vladimir, but also Timo who suffered one defeat only during the entire season, of course to Vladimir in the 1st final.

2007 Royal Villette Charleroi defended the title and secured it for the 5th time. But the champion had the greatest amount of luck thusfar in his history. Said luck was not needed during the finals, when SVS Niederösterreich was even beaten in the away game, but for the quarterfinal against TTF Liebherr Ochsenhausen, when the team seemed defeated after a devastating 0:3 away defeat. But in front of their home crowd they managed to turn the tables with Vladimir SAMSONOV demonstrating backbone and luck right from the start. Jens LUNDQUIST led him by 9:6 in the 5th game, but he succeeded in coming back. Charleroi finally made the decision for entering the semifinal by a better point ratio after the game ratio was tied as well as the overall score, a result that happened for the first time in this top league. In the semifinal TTV Gönnern was defeated twice, with only the two champions coming to a draw due to the fact that both BOLL and SAMSONOV won their respective home matches. The final then was a breeze, two unendangered wins against SVS Niederösterreich granted Charleroi their 5th title. A good performance came this season from the Spanish champion Club Cajagranada Tenis Mesa, who entered the semifinals for the first time and lost against SVS Niederösterreich in a very even encounter.

In the season 2008 Austrian top club succeeded in taking revenge for the first time on Charleroi in the final. After a close victory in the semifinal against Cajagranada, the Austrian top club won the title for the first time in May 2008 with two victories, the first was an incredible 3:0 in the Schloßparkhalle Wolkersdorf, where former world champion Werner SCHLAGER even defeated the champion of the Champions League, Vladimir SAMSONOV. The latter did manage to get back at his opponents with two wins in the home match, but his club still lost by 2:3, and the Lower Austrians had reached their goal.

In last season, there was no lack of surprises. It proved to be hard year for Vladimir SAMSONOV who failed to reach the final stage for the first time after 10 successful years in which he lift the trophy five times. Nevertheless, Vladimir is still a most successful player in the ECL with 137 wins and 23 defeats. His team Cajagranada lost in quarterfinal against the winners - Borussia Dusseldorf. Borussia interrupted another tradition. Team from Dusseldorf eliminated Royal Villette Charleroi in semi final, prevented the Belgium"s club to reach the final for the first time after year 2001. German team led by super star Timo BOLL dominated throughout whole competition. They were beaten once - in the first Leg of the final. LIEBHERR Ochsenhausen succeeded with the narrow 3:2 win but it was not enough for the title. In furious finish, Borussia Dusseldorf grabbed the title.

This season promises another great edition of ECL. The strong line up of top European clubs includes the names of biggest stars of sport. Among the table tennis greats are again the two times winners and favorites Borussia Dusseldorf with Timo BOLL Christian SUSS, Seiya KISHIKAWA... Former world champion Werner SCHLAGER and CHEN Weixing will lead Austria"s SVS Niederosterreich and Danish side Roskilde Bordtennis BTK61 with Michale MAZE have new reinforcement, Korea"s OH Sang Eun. Royal Villette Charleroi will try to reach the title once again with new star Dimitrij OVTCHAROV.

The new comers will spice up the competition even more. The ETTU Cup quarterfinalist from last edition, Russia"s UMMC will have premiere in the ECL. The club"s first star is Croat Zoran PRIMORAC. The winner of ETTU Cup Pluderhausen is also in game. Jorgen PERSSON joined the side that already has Aleksandar KARAKASEVIC.