Romanian Table Football Championship – First Round in Miercurea Ciuc
This past weekend, the first round of the Romanian National Table Football Championship took place in Miercurea Ciuc, Romania. The event was divided into two action-packed days: the first dedicated to the best sectorball players, while the second day saw the top competitors in the 12-touch discipline battle for supremacy.
Sectorball: Tactical Duels and Surprising Runs
The sectorball competition kicked off with two fiercely contested groups. Pákai confidently secured his group victory, while in the other group, four top players—Moldován, Dr. Havas, Marschal, and Bajkó—were locked in a neck-and-neck race for the top spots.
The knockout stage brought intense quarterfinals and semifinals, keeping the local Stickbreakers club fans on the edge of their seats. The biggest and most pleasant surprise came from Bodó Attila, who made an incredible run to the semifinals. However, his journey ended there against an unstoppable Pákai, the dominant Valics, and the determined Varga.
The final standings reflected the players’ exceptional form:
🥇 Pákai – flawless gameplay, undeniable champion
🥈 Valics – steamrolled nearly everyone in his path
🥉 Varga – a fantastic comeback to secure a podium finish
12-Touch: A Clash of Champions
The 12-touch discipline delivered even more intense and breathtaking matches. The lineup featured Romanian champions from the past two years—Marschal and Varga—alongside local favorite Bajkó, and recent European Championship standout Krejcik. With Valics also in the mix, the tournament promised a tight and unpredictable finish.
By the middle of the round-robin tournament, a leading group of four players began to separate themselves from the pack, making it clear that the championship title would be decided among them. The final rounds turned out to be decisive, with Varga emerging victorious after a dominant performance.
The battle for third place was particularly dramatic, as Marschal narrowly edged out his teammate Bajkó in a high-stakes showdown. However, the moment of the tournament belonged to Csutak Zsolt, the biggest surprise of the event, who stunned Marschal with a spectacular goal to secure his place among the elite.
Final standings:
🥇 Varga Ervin – the undisputed best in the region
🥈 Csutak Zsolt – the tournament’s revelation
🥉 Marschal – resilience earned him a podium spot
Looking Ahead: The Stickbreakers Cup
The tournament highlighted the rising power of the Miercurea Ciuc squad, with three of their players—Csutak, Marschal, and Bajkó—finishing in the top four. However, Varga Ervin once again demonstrated his dominance as the top player in the region.
With their skills sharpened and their sticks ready, players are already preparing for the next big event: the international Stickbreakers Cup, set to take place on May 24-25, 2025.
Stay tuned for more exciting action in the world of table football!
