In women’s singles, the reigning ‘Queen of Teqball’, Jutatip Kuntatong (THA), showed no sign of mercy on the way to the final. While Laura Catalina Gomez Bulla (COL) scored 6 & 8 points against her in the Round of 16, Angelina Atanasova (BUL) and Anna Izsak (HUN) combined a total of 10 points. With this result, Izsak returned to the podium after 2022 with her first bronze medal of the category. On the other branch, the Japanese Yuina Sakamoto first surprised Silvia Ferrer Garcia (ESP) in the R16, then stopped the rising German, Daytona Hansen (GER) in three sets. Her stop came in the Semifinal, where Kinga Barabasi (ROU) finished her off in two sets. This triumph means the first world champs final for Barabasi, while Sakamoto got Japan’s first medal ever in the history of the WTCH.

The story of the beginning of the knockout stage was Stycho Zhekov’s (BUL) victory over the world champion, Adrian Duszak (POL). However, his momentum quickly faded away against last year’s runner-up, Nikola Mitro, in the QF as the Serbian won confidently in two sets. Two-time world bronze medallist, Hugo Rabeux, played only three setters in men’s singles. While Matheus Ferraz could not stop him, the flying Thai, Uthen Kukheaw, prevailed over the Frenchman to repeat his best results. However, just like in 2024, one thing is already certain: Thailand will not win in this category, as the only one missing from the collection after Mitro made it to the final, just like in 2024. The two-time world champion and title holder, Apor Gyorgydeak, seemed to be one of the most focused athletes today. Especially in the first two rounds, where he only let 4 and 3 points to his opponents, Kirill Zemskov (RTA) and Alexander Hamm (AUT). In the SF, the Youth European champion, Milan Csabi, awaited him and forced the ‘King of Teqball’ to a three-setter. Although Gyorgydeak played in his hometown, sometimes it felt like the supporters of Csabi were much louder, creating a fantastic vibe at the WTCH25. In three tight sets (10-,11,7-) Gyorgydeak stayed alive and has the chance to make his dream come true, winning at home on Sunday.

Jutatip Kuntatong/Suphawadi Wongkhamchan (THA) arrived in Romania with one clear goal, to stay unbeaten just like in their career and won their third title in women’s doubles. Today, neither Slovakia nor Brazil in the semifinal had a real chance against them, thus the Asian can prepare for their third world championship final. On the other branch, Lebanon’s Maria Chedid/Kamar Dandal made a little miracle by beating Poland and reached the best four. There, the Hungarians, Petra Pechy/Nora Vicsek, awaited who stopped Portugal earlier. The fairy tale ended quickly for the Lebanese and finished with bronze medals. That means that for back-to-back-to-back, Thailand will play against Hungary in the final. As of now, it is 2-0 for the unbeaten duo.

As every world champion from the last six competition qualified to the knockout stage, it was inevitable that stars will fall. Csaba Banyik/Balazs Katz (HUN) won in 2023 and finished as bronze medallist in 2024 aimed to reclaim their title. They started strong against Columbia and Ukraine, not giving up any set. However, after Serbia’s Nikola Mitro/Bogdan Marojevic finished off Poland and Iraq, they two giants met in the semifinal in a very heated clash, and the category’s record champions never let the Hungarians to be in rhythm. With the victory, Mitro/Marojevic returned to the final after 2022, Nuremberg. Thailand as the title holder first knocked out Lebanon, then Romania. Their opponent became Rodrigo Bento Medeiros/Matheus Ferraz (BRA), the world silver medallists from Bangkok. In the R16, they beat Portugal, then Denmark in the QF. In the semifinal, The South Americans were out of sync as Sorrasak Thaosiri/Jirati Chanliang had sharp smashes, and