Düsseldorf, Germany, is bracing itself for an electrifying week of elite beach volleyball as it hosts the 33rd edition of the CEV EuroBeachVolley. From Wednesday to Sunday, the continent`s finest women`s teams will converge at the renowned Rochus Club, transforming the venue into a sandy arena of ambition, precision, and athletic prowess. With every top contender confirming participation, this year`s championship promises to be one of the most competitive in recent memory, a true proving ground for European dominance.
The tournament format is meticulously designed to test endurance and strategic acumen. Thirty-two women`s teams have been meticulously divided into eight pools of four, initiating a modified pool play system. Each duo will compete twice, vying for supremacy within their respective groups. The eight fortunate pool winners will earn a direct ticket to the coveted Round of 16, bypassing an additional hurdle. Meanwhile, teams finishing second and third in their pools will face the gauntlet of the Round of 24, a high-stakes playoff to secure their spot in the knockout stages. The initial pool skirmishes are set for Wednesday and Thursday, followed by the Round of 24 matches later on Thursday. The stakes escalate on Friday with the Round of 16 and quarterfinals, leading to the nail-biting semifinals on Saturday, culminating in the medal matches on Sunday. It`s a schedule that ensures continuous, high-octane action.
As the first serve looms, let`s delve into the intricate dynamics of the initial pools – A, B, C, and D – where alliances are forged and rivalries ignited.
Pool A: The Italian Ascent and Ukrainian Ambition
Valentina Gottardi and Reka Orsi Toth, Italy`s rising stars, poised for a strong showing.
Featuring Valentina Gottardi and Reka Orsi Toth of Italy, Marketa Svozilova and Marie-Sára Štochlová of Czechia, Valentyna Davidova and Anhelina Khmil of Ukraine, and Ieva Dumbauskaite and Gerda Grudzinskaite of Lithuania, Pool A offers a fascinating blend of established talent and burgeoning potential. Gottardi and Orsi Toth, a relatively new pairing for the 2025 season, have already demonstrated remarkable synergy on the Beach Pro Tour. Their consistent good results and individual international experience position them as the frontrunners for the top spot. One might even suggest they are playing a different game, already in the Round of 16 mindset.
The real drama in this pool is anticipated to unfold in the battle for second place. The Czech duo of Svozilova and Štochlová, while capable, have shown flashes of inconsistency, leaving an opening for the rapidly ascending Ukrainian team of Davidova and Khmil. Since joining forces in 2024, the Ukrainians have become one of the continent`s fastest-rising forces, eager to translate their potential into a significant result at this higher level. The Lithuanian pair, Dumbauskaite and Grudzinskaite, are the lowest-seeded but are seasoned competitors at the Futures level. They embody the classic “underdog” role, equipped with the experience and grit to orchestrate a surprise upset. While the Italians are well-positioned for direct advancement, overlooking the Ukrainians would be a strategic misstep, and dismissing the Lithuanians entirely would be an act of competitive hubris.
Pool B: Austrian Dominance and Emerging Talent
The Klinger sisters, Dorina and Ronja, spearhead Austria`s challenge.
Pool B features Dorina Klinger and Ronja Klinger (Austria), Emi van Driel and Wies Bekhuis (the Netherlands), Yeva Serdiuk and Daria Romaniuk (Ukraine), and Chenoa Christ and Anna-Chiara Reformat (Germany). The Klinger sisters have firmly cemented their status as one of Europe`s premier teams over the past few years. Their consistency and experience make them the overwhelming favorites to dominate this pool, as their opponents, despite their burgeoning potential, likely lack the seasoned competitive edge to truly challenge them for the top seed.
The race for second place looks to be an intriguing one. The Dutch pair, van Driel and Bekhuis, represent a highly promising young contingent, tipped as the most likely candidates to secure the runner-up position. However, they must contend with Serdiuk and Romaniuk, another Ukrainian team making significant waves on the international circuit. The host nation`s duo, Christ and the remarkably young 16-year-old Reformat, face a steep uphill climb. Having never competed together internationally, their journey through this pool will be less about immediate advancement and more about invaluable experience against stronger, more established opponents. The Austrians are expected to advance directly, while the Dutch appear to be the favorites for second. The final elimination round spot will likely be a determined contest between the Ukrainians and the Germans, proving that even in predictable pools, narratives of ambition and development can still shine.
Pool C: Swiss Momentum Meets German Resolve
Swiss Olympians Anouk and Zoé Vergé-Dépré arrive in Düsseldorf in scorching form.
Comprising Anouk Vergé-Dépré and Zoé Vergé-Dépré (Switzerland), Sandra Ittlinger and Anna-Lena Grüne (Germany), Mila Konink and Raisa Schoon (the Netherlands), and Julia Radelczuk and Natalia Okla (Poland), Pool C promises high-caliber beach volleyball. The Vergé-Dépré sisters are currently the talk of the international beach volleyball scene, arriving in Düsseldorf on the back of an impressive streak of four consecutive Beach Pro Tour medals. Their form makes them the unequivocal favorites to claim the top spot, though they will certainly face stiff resistance from the formidable German and Dutch duos.
Ittlinger and Grüne, fresh from their instrumental role in Germany`s Beach Nations Cup Finals triumph, are a team rapidly improving with every outing in their inaugural year as partners. Their progression has been nothing short of impressive, transforming them into a significant threat. Across the net, the Dutch pair, featuring two-time Olympian Schoon alongside the immensely promising 19-year-old Konink, possess the raw talent to become a dominant force, even if a breakout result has yet to materialize. The Polish team of Radelczuk and Okla, having played fewer than ten international events together since 2024, face a daunting challenge. Their path to the elimination rounds is arguably the steepest, a true test of their nascent partnership. While the Swiss are undoubtedly the pool`s leading act, they must bring their `A` game against a surging German team and a Dutch duo brimming with untapped potential. As for the Polish, their theoretical chances are slim, but the “underdog” tag often translates to “potential spoiler,” a role few embrace with greater enthusiasm.
Pool D: A Duel of Titans and Underdog Dreams
Switzerland`s Hüberli and Kernen prepare for a tough fight for the top spot in Pool D.
Pool D promises to be the most captivating and unpredictable of the initial groups, featuring Tanja Hüberli and Leona Kernen (Switzerland), Tina Graudina and Anastasija Samoilova (Latvia), Melanie Paul and Lea Sophie Kunst (Germany), and Heleene Hollas and Liisa Remmelg (Estonia). The battle for first place is poised to be an absolute thriller, with very little separating the Swiss and Latvian powerhouses. Graudina and Samoilova, two-time EuroBeachVolley champions, bring a wealth of experience and a champion`s mentality. However, Hüberli and Kernen have been playing exceptionally well since forming their partnership at the start of the season, showcasing a dangerous combination of skill and momentum. It`s a clash of titans where recent form meets championship pedigree.
The fight for the third elimination spot is equally intriguing. Paul and Kunst, playing on home soil, possess undeniable potential but have shown a degree of inconsistency that could be exploited. Conversely, Hollas and Remmelg have established themselves as Estonia`s top team in recent years and arrive in Düsseldorf in strong form from the Futures level. While a clear separation exists between the top two teams and the other two, this only sets the stage for thrilling second-round matches. Teams will be fighting tooth and nail, not just to advance to the Round of 16, but simply to secure a lifeline into the elimination rounds, ensuring every point carries immense weight.
As the EuroBeachVolley 2025 spectacle unfolds in Düsseldorf, the stage is set for an unforgettable display of athleticism, strategy, and sheer determination. Each pool, a miniature tournament in itself, holds the promise of upset and triumph, laying the groundwork for the knockout stages where only the truly exceptional will prevail. The sand awaits, and the champions are ready to be crowned.
Torin Vale