Top Spin Messina Clinches Third Men’s Italian Cup in Ancona

Top Spin Messina lifted the Men’s Italian Cup after a tight 3-2 win over Tennistavolo Sassari at Palascherma in Ancona on January 6, 2026. The Sicilian side received the trophy from Marche Councillor for Sport Tiziano Consoli, CONI Marche President Fabio Luna, and Italian Table Tennis Federation President Renato Di Napoli. The result adds a third Cup to Messina’s trophy cabinet, matching earlier victories in 2019 and 2020.

The final unfolded as a series of momentum swings. The match opened with a five-game doubles thriller, in which Marco Cappuccio and Andrea Puppo edged Danilo Faso and Niagol Stoyanov. Vladislav Ursu then restored parity for Messina with a straight-games win over John Oyebode. Stoyanov put Top Spin ahead after beating Puppo in another five-game match, but the contest tightened when Faso was forced to retire with fever, handing Oyebode a win that leveled the tie. Ursu sealed the title for Messina with a commanding 3-0 victory over Cappuccio to complete the 3-2 scoreline.

Messina’s path to the final included a 3-1 semifinal win over Alfa Food Bagnolese. Tennistavolo Sassari reached the final by defeating Muravera Tennistavolo Sardegna Prodotti Tipici 3-1 in the other semifinal. Alfa Food Bagnolese secured third place with a 3-0 victory over Muravera in the consolation match.

Top Spin President Giorgio Quartuccio highlighted the resilience behind the triumph. “We started the new year in the best possible way,” he said. “Despite injuries and illness, the team showed great character. URSU’s two points were decisive, and STOYANOV’s win proved crucial. This trophy rewards our hard work and confirms our strength.” The club’s most recent national title prior to this Cup was the 2022 Italian Championship.

For local clubs and players, Messina’s win offers practical lessons in depth and match management: strong singles performances and clutch doubles are both decisive in knockout formats. Fans tracking form ahead of league play should watch Ursu and Stoyanov as players likely to shape Top Spin’s season. The Palascherma crowd witnessed a compact, high-stakes encounter that underlined the Cup’s role as a barometer for team readiness and a showcase for talent across Italy’s table tennis clubs.