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European Champions League (table tennis)
Encyclopedia
European Champions League (ECL) is the seasonal table tennis
competition for the highest ranked Europe
an 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 is only a men competition while a women competition was introduced in the 2005/06 season. The competition starts in September and the champions are usually determined in May in recent years.
Belgian club La Villette Charleroi
is the most successful club in the history of the men's competition, being the champions from 2001 to 2004 and having won the competition for 5 times, while Italy's
topclub Sterilgarda TT Castelgoffredo has won the women's league twice, being the most successful club in the women's competition. The Finals of 07/08 season were held in April to early May, with Austria
n club SVS Niederösterreich became the champions of the men's competition, and Dutch
club MF Services Heerlen has been declared to be the winner of the women's league after German
club FSV Kroppach are known to be unable to play on the fixed date of the second leg.
, the previous highest level European club competition since 1960/61 season. In the second season (99/00), the playing system is changed. The maximum number of games had been reduced from 7 to 5, and the double had been cancelled, with the aim of having a better presentation in TV and more excitement for the spectators. The competition came into a new era in 2005/06, when the Women's Champions League started with 8 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.
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, previous year’s two finalists will 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 will decide on the qualification.
For the men’s league, the 16 teams are divided into 4 groups within which they play round robin matches. The 4 teams with the highest ranking points will be seeded and play in the 4 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 2 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 determined 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 8 teams will play in a single knock-out system, with quarter-finals, semi-finals and finals, to determine the winner of the competition. At any stages 2 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 men’s league, with the exception that the 8 teams are divided into 2 groups and the 2 teams with the highest ranking points will be the seeds.
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 national level under the authority of an ITTF member association, except commitments for their national team.
Table tennis
Table tennis, also known as ping-pong, is a sport in which two or four players hit a lightweight, hollow ball back and forth using table tennis rackets. The game takes place on a hard table divided by a net...
competition for the highest ranked Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
an club teams and is regarded as the most important international club competition in Europe. It is organised by the European Table Tennis Union
European Table Tennis Union
The European Table Tennis Union is the highest authoritative body of regulation and organization of table tennis in Europe regarded by International Table Tennis Federation. It was founded in 1957, and currently has 56 member associations...
(ETTU) and replaced the European Club Cup of Champions
European Club Cup of Champions
The European Club Cup of Champions, often known as the European Cup or CEEE, was a table tennis competition for European club teams. It was organized by the European Table Tennis Union annually for men's and women's teams. It was first held in session 1960/61 for the men's competition, and the...
(ECCC), the previous prominent club competition, since the 1998/99 season. Originally there is only a men competition while a women competition was introduced in the 2005/06 season. The competition starts in September and the champions are usually determined in May in recent years.
Belgian club La Villette Charleroi
La Villette Charleroi
Royal Villette Charleroi is a Belgian table tennis club, the most successful club in the European Champions League with 5 titles....
is the most successful club in the history of the men's competition, being the champions from 2001 to 2004 and having won the competition for 5 times, while Italy's
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
topclub Sterilgarda TT Castelgoffredo has won the women's league twice, being the most successful club in the women's competition. The Finals of 07/08 season were held in April to early May, with Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
n club SVS Niederösterreich became the champions of the men's competition, and Dutch
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
club MF Services Heerlen has been declared to be the winner of the women's league after German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
club FSV Kroppach are known to be unable to play on the fixed date of the second leg.
History
The Men’s Champions League was first organised in the 1998/99 season, with the aim to replace the European Club Cup of ChampionsEuropean Club Cup of Champions
The European Club Cup of Champions, often known as the European Cup or CEEE, was a table tennis competition for European club teams. It was organized by the European Table Tennis Union annually for men's and women's teams. It was first held in session 1960/61 for the men's competition, and the...
, the previous highest level European club competition since 1960/61 season. In the second season (99/00), the playing system is changed. The maximum number of games had been reduced from 7 to 5, and the double had been cancelled, with the aim of having a better presentation in TV and more excitement for the spectators. The competition came into a new era in 2005/06, when the Women's Champions League started with 8 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.
Qualification
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, previous year’s two finalists will 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 will 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 4 groups within which they play round robin matches. The 4 teams with the highest ranking points will be seeded and play in the 4 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 2 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 determined 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 8 teams will play in a single knock-out system, with quarter-finals, semi-finals and finals, to determine the winner of the competition. At any stages 2 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 men’s league, with the exception that the 8 teams are divided into 2 groups and the 2 teams with the highest ranking points will be the seeds.
Playing System
The competition is played under the new Swaythling Cup system (best of 5 singles). A team is consisted 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 will 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 national level under the authority of an ITTF member association, except commitments for their national team.
Men’s Champions League
| Year | Champions | Score | Runner-up |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998/1999 |  Early Modern France Caen Tennis de Table Club |
3:4 4:3 (20:18) |
 Germany Borussia Düsseldorf |
| 1999/2000 | Germany Borussia Düsseldorf |
3:0 3:0 |
 Austria SVS Niederösterreich |
| 2000/2001 |  Belgium Royal Villette Charleroi |
3:0 3:2 |
Austria SVS Niederösterreich |
| 2001/2002 | Belgium Royal Villette Charleroi |
3:2 3:1 |
Austria SVS Niederösterreich |
| 2002/2003 | Belgium Royal Villette Charleroi |
3:1 3:2 |
Germany TTC Zugbrücke Grenzau |
| 2003/2004 | Belgium Royal Villette Charleroi |
3:1 3:1 |
Germany TTC Zugbrücke Grenzau |
| 2004/2005 | Germany TTV RE-BAU Gönnern |
1:3 3:1 (18:13) |
Belgium Royal Villette Charleroi |
| 2005/2006 | Germany TTV RE-BAU Gönnern |
2:3 3:1 |
Belgium Royal Villette Charleroi |
| 2006/2007 | Belgium Royal Villette Charleroi |
3:1 3:2 |
Austria SVS Niederösterreich |
| 2007/2008 | Austria SVS Niederösterreich |
3:0 3:2 |
Belgium Royal Villette Charleroi |
| 2008/2009 | Germany Borussia Düsseldorf |
2:3 3:0 |
Germany Liebherr Ochsenhausen |
| 2009/2010 | Germany Borussia Düsseldorf |
1:3 3:0 |
Belgium Royal Villette Charleroi |
| 2010/2011 | Germany Borussia Düsseldorf |
3:0 1:3 |
 Russia GAZPROM Fakel Orenburg |
Women’s Champions League
| Year | Champions | Score | Runner-up |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005/2006 |  Italy Sterilgarda TT Castelgoffredo |
3:2 3:2 |
Germany Müllermilch Langweid |
| 2006/2007 | Italy Sterilgarda TT Castelgoffredo |
3:2 3:2 |
 Netherlands MF Services Heerlen |
| 2007/2008 | Netherlands MF Services Heerlen |
3:1 Kroppach unavailable to play |
Germany FSV Kroppach |
| 2008/2009 | Austria Linz AG Froschberg |
2:3 3:1 |
Germany FSV Kroppach |
| 2009/2010 | Netherlands MF Services Heerlen |
3:1 3:0 |
Austria Linz AG Froschberg |
Men's Champions League
| Club | Winners | Runners-up | Years won | Years runner-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Royal Villette Charleroi |
||||
| Borussia Düsseldorf |
4 | 1 | 2000, 2009, 2010, 2011 | 1999 |
| TTV RE-BAU Gönnern |
2 | 2005, 2006 | ||
| SVS Niederösterreich |
1 | 4 | 2008 | 2000, 2001, 2002, 2007 |
| Caen Tennis de Table Club |
1 | 1999 | ||
| TTC Zugbrücke Grenzau |
2 | 2003, 2004 | ||
| TTC Liebherr Ochsenhausen |
1 | 2009 | ||
| GAZPROM Fakel Orenburg |
1 | 2011 |
Women's Champions League
| Club | Winners | Runners-up | Years won | Years runner-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MF Services Heerlen |
2 | 1 | 2007, 2010 | 2006 |
| Sterilgarda TT Castelgoffredo |
2 | 2005, 2006 | ||
| Linz AG Froschberg |
1 | 1 | 2009 | 2010 |
| FSV Kroppach |
2 | 2008, 2009 | ||
| Müllermilch Langweid |
1 | 2006 |
Men's Champions League
| Nation | Winners | Runners-Up | Winning Clubs | Runners-Up |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Germany Germany Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate... |
6 | 4 | Borussia Düsseldorf (4), TTV RE-BAU Gönnern (2) | TTC Zugbrücke Grenzau (2), Borussia Düsseldorf (1), TTC Liebherr Ochsenhausen (1) |
| Belgium Belgium Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many... |
5 | 4 | Royal Villette Charleroi (5) | Royal Villette Charleroi (4) |
| Austria Austria Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the... |
1 | 4 | SVS Niederösterreich (1) | SVS Niederösterreich (4) |
| France France The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France... |
1 | Caen Tennis de Table Club (1) | ||
| Russia Russia Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects... |
1 | GAZPROM Fakel Orenburg (1) |
Women's Champions League
| Nation | Winners | Runners-Up | Winning Clubs | Runners-Up |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Netherlands Netherlands The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders... |
2 | 1 | MF Services Heerlen (2) | MF Services Heerlen (1) |
| Italy Italy Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and... |
2 | Sterilgarda TT Castelgoffredo (2) | ||
| Austria Austria Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the... |
1 | 1 | Linz AG Froschberg (1) | Linz AG Froschberg (1) |
| Germany Germany Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate... |
3 | Müllermilch Langweid (1), FSV Kroppach (2) |