The second stop of the Teqball World Series came to a close on Sunday. The tournament in Dezhou started with plenty of upsets, but in the end, it was the sport’s most decorated team that took home all the gold medals.

In the men’s doubles, first-timers Soma Cseri/Gergo Dombai faced Team Gobek superteam Apor Gyorgydeak/Marek Pokwap. Despite being underdogs, the Hungarians did not shy away from the challenge and not only managed to keep up with the favourites, but even led midway through the first set, thanks to their powerful attacks. However, a costly double fault from them secured the period for Gyorgydeak/Pokwap, who also found themselves behind early in the second. But again, a couple of unforced errors by Cseri/Dombai allowed them to put together a massive run at the end of the second, and with five points in a row, the Romanian/Polish tandem was able to close out the Hungarians. This success meant a long-awaited breakthrough for Pokwap, who finally took home the gold medal in a major tournament.

Final, men’s doubles
Soma Cseri/Gergo Dombai (HUN)–Apor Gyorgydeak/Marek Pokwap (ROU/POL) 0:2 (-10, -7)

This weekend turned out to be special for the 19-year-old Polish in more the one way:

‘I played very tight matches throughout the tournament, but it felt good. Gyorgydeak’s calmness also positively affected me, but it was the birth of my cousin, Alicja, that gave me an extra boost today. I dedicate this win to her and to Poland, as well.’ 

He did not have much time to rest as his name was called alongside Kinga Barabasi’s to play for another gold in the mixed doubles. Their opponent was the 2023 world bronze-medallist duo, Krisztina Acs/Csaba Banyik (HUN), who won multiple TWS gold medals last year. Pokwap carried on the momentum from the previous final, and he looked like a superhuman who was programmed against making mistakes. His incredible smashes, combined with stellar defence from Barabasi, were too much to handle for the Hungarians. Occasionally, the Gobek teammates switched roles, but the results were the same: controlled plays, precise finishes, and many points. They allowed seven points altogether and made it look easy against an otherwise really tough opponent. 

Final, mixed doubles
Kinga Barabasi/Marek Pokwap (ROU/POL)–Krisztina Acs/Csaba Banyik (HUN) 2:0 (3, 4)

‘Being mentally prepared is key at this level. I know that the Hungarians are capable of much better performance; I think we were more ready for the battle than they were. Marek was unbelievable and his domination made me relaxed, too’ - said Kinga Barabasi after the final.

To make Team Gobek’s day (or weekend) a clean sweep, it was Gyorgydeak’s turn to extend his undefeated streak in the men’s singles. ‘All he had to do’ was to repeat what he did to Serbian Nikola Mitro in the World Teqball Championships 2024 gold medal game, as these two faced off again in a major final.

This is definitely easier said than done, and the three-time doubles world champion Serbian showed early on that he came ready to play. They went back and forth, but after 10:10 in the first set, Gyorgydeak managed to score the next two points - courtesy of an ace from Mitro that was reversed to be a foot fault, followed by another mistake resulting in a double fault. This blow hit Mitro hard as he was visibly shaken at the beginning of the second. Gyorgydeak scored the first 9 points, and even though Mitro tried a similar rally to what he did on Saturday in the semifinal against his friend, Bogdan Marojevic (who was coaching him in the final this time), the six consecutive points were too little and too late. Gyorgydeak kept his calm and smashed home the seventh match point to add another trophy and gold medal to his already unparalleled collection, also to extend his undefeated streak to almost 18 months and exactly 76 victories in a row.

Final, men’s singles
Apor Gyorgydeak (ROU)–Nikola Mitro (SRB) 2:0 (10, 7)

‘I believe that 70% of my success comes from the work we put in with my mental trainer. It feels amazing to be the source of calmness for Kinga and Marek, two fantastic players. There were two crucial situations this weekend: first, when Balazs Katz was four points away from defeating me in the quarterfinals, and then at the end of the first set in the final. But I managed to stay focused and turned things around. My goal is to keep my streak alive and become a three-time singles world champion’ - said Gyorgydeak after winning two golds in Dezhou.

The Best Female Player of Teqball World Series Dezhou was given to Kinga Barabasi, while Marek Pokwap was voted to be the Best Male Player of Teqball World Series Dezhou.