Play-off Thriller in Table Tennis: Langstadt and Weinheim Ahead of the Semifinal Showdown

The play-offs in the 1st Women's Bundesliga begin directly with the semifinals. Four teams will play two final spots this weekend in home-and-away matches: TSV Dachau 65 faces TSV Langstadt, TTC 1946 Weinheim faces regular season champion ttc berlin eastside. The final matches for the German Championship 2026 are scheduled for May 29 and 31.

Dachau vs. Langstadt: Many Signs Point to an Open Semifinal

The first leg between TSV Dachau 65 and TSV Langstadt is scheduled for Friday (7 p.m.) in Dachau, with the return leg following on Sunday (4 p.m.) in Langstadt. The most recent head-to-head already suggests that the series could be close: both teams drew after three and a half hours last Saturday.

The course of that match in particular provides arguments for an open starting position. Langstadt was temporarily ahead 4:2 because Sophia Klee and Lorena Morsch scored points in the lower pairings – against Koharu Itagaki and Dora Cosic, respectively. In the second round, however, both singles were lost. For the play-offs, this indicates how much the encounter can be influenced by daily form, matchups, and small fluctuations in individual duels.

Dachau is again expected to field a well-rehearsed quartet: Sabine Winter and Seoyoung Byun provide stability in the top pairings, with Itagaki and Cosic as two more options to keep the level high. Langstadt is relying, among others, on Orawan Paranang, who picked up two wins in the dress rehearsal.

Coach Anna Rauch nevertheless assesses the task with deliberate caution: “Orawan Paranang played outstandingly and got two wins. However, against these strong opponents, that is by no means a given in the upcoming play-off duels. So all the other players also have to reach their performance limits if we want to have a chance. We definitely have enough self-confidence. We are looking forward to the duels with Dachau.”

Another factor could be personnel fine-tuning: Franziska Schreiner was recently absent on the Bavaria tour, giving Langstadt an additional option.

Sports director Manfred Kämmer emphasizes the challenge: “The Dachau team around their star Sabine Winter is a really tough nut for our team.”

Overall, much points to two hard-fought games in which the favorite role is not clearly assigned.

Berlin vs. Weinheim: Regular Season Champion vs. Underdog

The second semifinal starts on Friday (7:30 p.m.) with the first leg in Weinheim, with the return leg following on Sunday (1 p.m.) in Berlin. It is a repeat of the championship finals of the past three years – but this time with a significantly different starting position.

ttc berlin eastside enters the series as the dominant regular season champion. The record of 23:1 points underlines their consistency, and Berlin already won the cup in January in Kolbermoor – the final opponent was Weinheim. Thus, the sporting roles are clear: Berlin starts as the favorite in the semifinal.

Weinheim only secured the play-off ticket at the last moment: a 6:0 in Weil brought them into the top four teams. Manager Christian Säger puts the perspective accordingly clearly: “We are clear underdogs and will be able to play completely relaxed and free. Our fans should see great table tennis once again and we will give everything for that.”

For Berlin, the goal is clearly to reach the final. Manager Andreas Hain says: “Our entire team will meet for preparation two days before the match and we will give everything with full concentration and, especially against Weinheim, with high motivation to reach the final. All eligible players are available and we will decide at short notice who will play.”

On Weinheim’s side, the lineup remains an important lever. In the decisive 6:0 in Weil, their best player Chien Tung-Chuan was missing; Kim Seongjin took the top position, Daria Trigolos played in the lower pairings. This gives Weinheim additional options for the semifinal – but initially does not change the fact that Berlin, due to their season performance, goes into the duels as the clear favorite.

What Decides in the Semifinal if Tied: Golden Match with High Stakes

The semifinals are played in a home-and-away format. If a team wins both matches, it advances directly to the final. If the score is tied after two matches, a Golden Match follows immediately after the second leg.

This Golden Match is deliberately designed as a pressure format: two doubles and four singles are played (1 vs. 1, 2 vs. 2, 3 vs. 3, and 4 vs. 4). Each encounter is only one set up to 11 points – no extension. The winner is the team that first scores four points. If it is 3:3 after six matches, the ball difference decides. If that is also equal, each team names a player; then the decision falls in a single set up to 6 points, also without extension.

Especially in the duel between Dachau and Langstadt, this scenario seems plausible, as even the dress rehearsal produced no winner. In comparison, a Golden Match between Berlin and Weinheim would be a bigger surprise given Berlin’s regular season dominance.

The finals for the German Championship 2026 are scheduled for May 29 and 31.