The Teqball World Series edition of 2025 got started in Jinan, China, where the best of the best stepped to the tables for 30,000 dollars. The first day kicked off with the battles of mixed doubles and women's singles.

The event got underway on Friday with the most unpredictable category, the mixed doubles, where the 24 duos were drawn into eight groups for the first phase. This stage brought no surprise as all of the favourites advanced, but it was far from a cakewalk for the top contender.

Two-time world champions Suphawadi Wongkhamchan/Phakpong Dejaroen (THA) made no mistake, which sounds evident at first, but Dejaroen was visibly dealing with an injury and had to be taken care of by medical personnel during the first two matches. After advancing, they eliminated Japanese Yuina Sakamoto/Akinori Wase (who were edged out by Thais Areeya Homdee/Sorrasak Thaosiri in a thrilling three-setter that went to overtime in Group G) in the Round of 16, then bounced Zsofia Dezsenyi/Adam Blazsovics (HUN) in the quarterfinals. In the semis, they had to go against another Thai unit, Jutatip Kuntatong/Jirati Chanliang, and still managed to move on after two close sets.

The lower bracket was dominated by Team Gobek as Viorica Tonu/Marek Pokwap (MDA/POL) crushed Group F by allowing only 9 points in two games as the best performers of the group stage, then knocked out Wantika Innu/Pornthep Wapisiri (THA) in the Round of 16, and maintained their immaculate record against Mira Faeno Dahlmann/Balazs Katz (DEN/HUN) a round later.

World Teqball Championships 2024 bronze-medallists Kinga Barabasi/Apor Gyorgydeak (ROU) put on a show, too, as they surrendered only 10 points in their two group matches, then closed out the best home team, Seiya Arai/Hu Hong Shi (CHN) in the Round of 16, and kind of easily dealt with Homdee/Thaosiri in the QFs. Then came the semifinal between them and Tonu/Pokwap, a match that will be remembered as one of the closest games in the history of Teqball World Series. The Moldovan-Polish duo claimed the opening set by a single point, but Barabasi/Gyorgydeak equalized after the second. The third period could not have been tighter as Tonu/Pokwap emerged victorious by the score of 17-15, thus making it to the final against the two-time defending world champion Thai twosome. After this breathtaking battle, the Polish phenom was understandably happy:

“I have a lot of positive emotions right now. I am so proud of how we performed today. We were really good in our heads, we beat many tough opponents in the knockout stage. I don't know about Viorica, but personally, my minimum goal was to be in the top 8 and fight for the medal. I think the most important thing was to believe that this is possible, and secondly, to be in the moment. We were not focused on opponents or anything else, but on every single point. For me, Apor and Kinga are one of the top duos in the World, and I can learn from them almost every day, and I'm sure they will win many more World Series together.”

The bronze medal was taken by Kuntating/Chanliang & Gyorgydeak/Barabasi.

Most of the ladies had no time to rest as the event continued with the women’s singles competition. Regular doubles teammates and two-time world gold medallists Kuntatong and Wongkhamchan were drawn into the same group, with the singles world title holder Kuntatong winning this epic matchup in straight sets. Barabasi, 2021's 'Queen of Teqball' Anna Izsak (HUN), European championship runner-up Amelie Julian (FRA), Tonu, Zsofia Dezsenyi (HUN), Elena Kapustyanova (RTA), and Aidana Otorbaeva (KGZ) also won their respective groups, with only the Moldovan dropping a set versus Sakamoto in Group E.

The Round of 16 brought the drama as Wantika Innu pulled off the upset in three sets against Tonu, and her countrywoman, Homdee put on a heroic effort against Izsak with an injured ankle that limited her tremendously, but eventually came up short against the former World #1. Izsak carried on the momentum and outdueled Dezsenyi in the quarterfinals, and in the meantime, Kuntatong and Julian did the same to Otorbaeva and Innu, respectively. In the last QF, Wongkhamchan proved that she is more than capable of competing in singles, eliminating Barabasi in a fantastic three-setter. And she did not stop there as she successfully stopped Izsak in straight sets in the semifinal to make her way to the gold medal game where she will face… Kuntatong again, who knocked out Julian in a lopsided match in the other semifinal, so the two members of the World’s best doubles will battle for the throne.

“I can not believe that I made it to the final, it proves that I am on the right track as I would like to achieve great successes this year, too. I am thrilled that I can play against Jutatip in the final and also for advancing to the gold medal game in mixed doubles, as well. To be honest, I am a bit surprised that I was able to go this far in singles, because it is way different than the doubles, especially in attack. It was not easy in the beginning, but I started to feel more and more comfortable in the later rounds” - said Suphawadi Wongkhamchan at the end of Day 1.

Izsak & Julien gathered bronze medal at 2025's first Teqball World Series event in Jinan.

On Saturday, the men will take the stage as their singles competition kicks off. The 48 contestants are drawn into 16 groups, and the first stage immediately promises some clashes that have the chance to turn out to be nail-biters. For example, two medal hopefuls, 2024's men's doubles world champ Thaosiri will face last year’s doubles runner-up Pokwap in Group C, two-time mixed doubles world champion Dejaroen will go up against 2023's MD gold medallist Katz in Group J, Chanliang and fellow Thai Uthen Kukheaw will most likely vie for the top spot in Group L, and you can also find World #1 Gyorgydeak, the current 'King of Teqball', 2024's singles silver medallist Nikola Mitro (SRB), 4-time world champ Blazsovics, Austrian prodigy Alexander Hamm, or the always-spectacular Bartlomiej Franczuk (POL) in the field

Trust us, you do not want to miss any of the action on Saturday, so tune into TeqTV on YouTube!