Full house welcomed the finalists in Budapest on the last day of the Teqball World Series. Sunday concluded a very eventful competition at the birthplace of the sport with terrific matches as all of the finals went to three sets. Kinga Barabasi earned two gold medals as she won the women’s doubles alongside Viorica Tonu, then the mixed with Apor Gyorgydeak. At the same time, Adam Bako and Matyas Odnoga retook their throne on Hungarian soil.

The women’s doubles final was already historical even before it started. Viorica Tonu achieved Moldova’s greatest success by making it to the gold medal game in a major tournament, but she was not satisfied with that. She and her partner, singles European champion Kinga Barabasi from Romania faced World championship runner-ups Petra Pechy and Nora Vicsek who enjoyed the support of the home crowd.

It fueled the Hungarians to a three-point lead early on, but Barabasi/Tonu recovered and went on a 9:2 run. They managed to have four setpoints, but the Hungarians saved them all and tied the set at 11. However, Barabasi and Tonu kept their cool and won the deciding rally to go up 1:0.

The second set was just as close as the first and no teams were able to build a two-point gap. This time though, it was the Hungarian unit that stayed focused at the end and equalized the game with a 12:10 set win.

They carried on the momentum at the beginning of the third period but Barabasi/Tonu quickly came back from a three-point deficit. Pechy/Vicsek had to call a timeout being down 6:8, then they crawled back to tie it up at 10. But the last two points went to Barabasi/Tonu, and by that, the gold medal also went to them! A historical success for Tonu and Moldova, and also the season’s first trophy in women’s doubles for Barabasi!

The bronze medals were shared between Alicja Bartnicka/Zaneta Cygora (POL) and Zsofia Dezsenyi/Amelie Julian (HUN/FRA).

Final, women’s doubles

Pechy/Vicsek (HUN)–Barabasi/Tonu (ROU/MDA) 1:2 (-11, 10, -10)

„I’m so happy now! We made little steps each day to reach the final, it was crucial that we were able to practice together before the tournament” – said Viorica Tonu after the event.

Viorica Tonu made history in Budapest.

Three Hungarians and a Romanian took the court in the men’s doubles final as Adam Bako and Matyas Odnoga (who won the previous major Hungarian event in Esztergom) faced Apor Gyorgydeak and Adam Blazsovics. The first set was reminiscent of the women’s final as the teams went back and forth. Towards the end, the Romanian-Hungarian pair seemed to be in control, but Bako/Odnoga stormed back with five points in a row and snatched the opening set.

Gyorgydeak/Blazsovics shifted gears for the second set and dominated from the get-go to the end and equalized the match.

The deciding set hardly could have been more exciting and dramatic with thrilling rallies: it was tied at 10 when Odnoga hit a perfect smash, then tipped home the matchball to get the victory and their first trophy in 14 months. Their countrymen, Soma Cseri and Bence Forgacs won the bronze medal together with Marek Pokwap and Adrian Duszak from Poland.

Final, men’s doubles

Gyorgydeak/Blazsovics (ROU/HUN)–Bako/Odnoga (HUN) 1:2 (-10, 5, -10)

„It looks like we became home specialists, but we take it! We are very happy to win it all, it was an event full of elite players so it makes it even more special!” – said Adam Bako.

Bako/Odnoga became "home-specialists" as they won the last two major international Teqball events in Hungary.

Gyorgydeak had no time to rest after the loss as he was featured in the mixed doubles final alongside Barabasi, where they faced their Gobek teammates, Alicja Bartnicka and Marek Pokwap. The Romanians started strong and built a three-point lead but the Polish team fought their way back. Despite their efforts, Barabasi/Gyorgydeak went on to have two set points, only to watch their opponents score the next three and complete the comeback.

To nobody’s surprise, the next period was also very tight. Bartnicka/Pokwap were two points away from the crown at 10:10, but this time the Romanians were the better finishers, so the third final went to three sets, too.

It was also as hard-fought as it gets but after 8:8, Barabasi/Gyorgydeak upped their game, scored the next four points, and claimed the trophy!

Two Hungarian teams, Petra Pechy/Adam Blazsovics and Gabriella Kota/Balazs Katz finished third in the competition.

Final, mixed doubles

Pokwap/Bartnicka (POL)–Barabasi/Gyorgydeak (ROU) 1:2 (11, -10, -8)

„I could not be happier, I don’t even know what to say! This is the first time that I won two golds in one tournament, it is really an indescribable feeling!” – said Kinga Barabasi.

Barabasi remained undefeated in two categories at Teqball World Series Budapest.

It was a terrific day for her as she not only won two gold medals but for the first time in her career, she was voted to be the Best Female Athlete of the Event. Fellow Romanian Apor Gyorgydeak got one gold and one silver, thus he was awarded the Best Male Athlete of the Event, as well the first in his career.