London Teqvoly Challenger Cup

“World is Curved” reads the tagline alongside the Teqvoly branding wherever you might first have found it. Getting ahead of the curve, though, is something we are often taught is a secret to success. 2020’s Valentines weekend was a chance for the UK capital to do just that, and to fall in love with a new sport in the process. 

Teqvoly’s debut in London saw 32 mens and womens teams come together in the East of the city, known as the home to the London 2012 Olympic Games, to “voly” their way to success. The London Teqvoly Challenger Cup joined a small but rapidly growing number of privileged Challenger Cup hosts across international locations. While this first London edition boasted a draw in which 90% of the teams were from the host city, it also included overseas teams from Ireland and Poland; the latter of whom were current Teqvoly World Champs. The appeal is clear.

Jakub and Michal triumphed on the UK stage after their international successes last year. Meanwhile our champions on the women’s side, Jana and Kathi, earned their first title on a Teqvoly stage.

Men 

1st Jakub Choromanski and Michal Wlostowski- world champions

2nd - Marcelo Ross and Michele Mafrici- Spikers

3rd - Heiner Alzate and Lorenzo Bartolini - Onyx

Women

1st - Jans Parmova and Kathi Rud - Orcas

2nd - Lucia Barbato and Valeria Lantieri - Ireland

3rd -  Natalie Velarde and Laura Konopecka - QMU

The sport is versatile and future tournaments being considered include the possibility of mixed-, beach- and para-editions. Teqvoly's post-tournament distribution of their smart tables around London will ensure the continued growth of the sport. We at VolleyFirst were proud to work in partnership with Teqvoly to deliver 76 matches at the University of East London (UEL) and offer a total prize fund of $2000 for the male competition and $2000 for the female competition. 

Indeed the world is curved and after this weekend, so too it seems is the popularity measure of the sport in London - upwards, no less.