At the Challenger Teqball League - Szombathely Cup, Teqball returned home, reflecting on the high number of Hungarian participants. Altogether, 13 countries' 59 players competed in three categories while new suggested rules were tested during the competition.

CTL's next stop was the Szombathely Cup in Hungary where the athletes faced each other in three categories men's singles, mixed doubles and men’s doubles.

As part of this event, exciting new rule proposals were tested to gather feedback from athletes after experiencing these changes firsthand. FITEQ's Competition team will evaluate the feedback however, the first reactions are generally great.

In men's singles, the spectators saw the first surprise in the Quarterfinals when FITEQ World Ranking18th Milan Csabi (HUN) triumphed against his fellow opponent, Teqball World Series Madrid's runner-up, fifth on the ranking Martin Csereklye. His journey ended in the next round when world and European champion Apor Gyorgydeak (ROU) beat him confidently and reached the final. On the other side of the branch world bronze medallist, Hugo Rabeux (FRA) got the victory over Csaba Banyik (HUN) then came short against the record champion, Adam Blazsovics (HUN) in the semis. While the Frenchman and Csabi became bronze medallists, Gyorgydeak stayed unbeaten in 2024 in men's singles as he won in two sets against his friend, 'Blazso'.

With the 'W', the King of 2022 won back-to-back in CTL as he took the previous category at Malaga Marca Cup.

Apor Gyorgydeak with his collection at Challenger Teqball League - Szombathely Cup.

Eight twosomes competed in mixed doubles as the smallest field of the Challenger Teqball League Szombathely Cup. The odds were right as four favourites advanced from the group stage. Krisztina Acs/Balazs Katz (HUN) gave no chance to Amelie Julian (FRA)/Daniel Botond Varga (HUN) while Petra Pechy/Adam Bako (HUN) stayed always one step ahead of Zsofia Dezsenyi (HUN)/Nikola Mitro (SRB). It was already sure that a Hungarian unit would triumph in XD, but the final showed that none of them was happy with the 2nd place. Pechy/Bako took the first set, which was enough time for Acs/Katz to understand their opponent's tactics and fought back in the second then won the third by 10-12.

As 44 athletes faced each other in men's doubles, this category became the biggest by the numbers and while the group stage was paper form, there were fierce battles during the knockout matches. The young prodigies from Hungary Boldizsar Levik/Benjamin Patrik Toth surprised the category's title holders, Banyik/Katz in the first set. Then the more experienced athletes advanced to the semifinals in the next two sets where Gergo Dombai/Soma Cseri (HUN) awaited them after they beat their fellow opponents in the QF, Martin Csereklye/Barna Kovacsfi in two. The world champs were more confident and took the victory in two close sets. Arnold Szilagyi (ROU)/Rabeux were surprised in the Quarterfinals as Bako/Zaid Eidan (KUW) triumphed. The twosome almost made a bigger shock against Blazsovics/Gyorgydeak, but the world champions closed the bout with a one-sided third set. 

The final could have been easily part of the last days of the World Teqball Championships. Both sides showed their absolute best. Gyorgydeak/Blazsovics kicked off with a strong opening period, then Banyik/Katz equalised in the second. With multiple double faults, the Romanian/Hungarian side took the lead and never let the world champions back.

The penultimate Challenger Teqball League event will be held in the heart of Transylvania, Romania. The Szekelyudvarhely Gobek Cup will be a special one as Apor Gyorgydeak, Kinga Barabasi and Szabolcs Ilyes along with many others will both play in front of their home crowd between the 8th to 10th of November. Finals will be streamed on TEQ TV.