Exciting Start to the 2025 Hungarian 12 Touch Championship

Following the European Championship in Serbia, the 2025 competitive season officially kicked off on the first weekend of February! The Hungarian Table Football Federation (MALSZ), in collaboration with venue owner Gábor Kondor, organized the year’s first tournament at Eiffel Bistro in Budapest. This event marked the opening round of the national individual championship in the 12 Touch category.

Unfortunately, the two finalists from the European Championship were unable to attend due to other commitments. Despite their absence, a strong and competitive field gathered, promising intense battles from the very beginning. The players were divided into two groups based on rankings, and the group stage itself delivered thrilling matches and surprising results.

As the tournament progressed, it became impossible to predict the matchups for the knockout stage. In Group A, the top five players were separated by just one point each, with only István Mártonfi securing a guaranteed spot in the next round. The rest had to battle in decisive head-to-head encounters, where Lukács was the most unfortunate. In Group B, the advancing players were already determined, but the final rankings were still up for grabs. Matkó Péter’s victory over his teammate Kiss proved to be crucial, though its significance wasn’t immediately clear.

Breakout Performance and Upsets

The biggest surprise of the tournament was 14-year-old Major Bence (DSC-ALE), who managed to qualify for the knockout stage, while experienced player Gábor Kondor underperformed. Major didn’t stop there—he went on to defeat the tournament’s only undefeated player, Mártonfi, in the quarter-finals with an impressive 4-2 victory. This secured him a new personal best after finishing 7th and 6th in his previous events. How long can he continue this remarkable rise?

To reach the final, Major had to face his DSC teammate, Matkó Péter, in the semi-finals. This time, experience prevailed, and Matkó defeated Major, ending his dream run. In the bronze match, Kovács left no room for mercy and took third place. Kovács had a difficult start, suffering two early losses in the group stage, but secured his progression in the final group round. From there, he confidently defeated Kiss and made his way to the semi-finals, where he faced Gábor Farkas Jr.—a player he had already beaten in a 7-6 thriller during the group stage. This time, however, Farkas Jr. got his revenge, securing a well-earned spot in the final.

Matkó Péter Takes the Title

In the championship match, Farkas Jr. faced Matkó Péter, who had earned a relatively easier path to the final after finishing second in his group and overcoming Marschal and Major in the knockout rounds. In the final, Matkó controlled the match from start to finish, securing a dominant 6-3 victory to claim the first round of the 2025 Hungarian National Championship.

The next chapter of the championship will continue in August in Maroslele. The season is just getting started, and with rising young talents and experienced veterans battling for glory, more thrilling matches await!