UTT Season 7: Goa Challengers beat UP 10-5, finish league phase unbeaten
Synopsis
No UTT team had ever gone through a league phase undefeated — until now. Dempo Goa Challengers swept all six opponents in Season 7, with Robles and Szocs once again the architects of a 10-5 win over UP Prometheans that sealed a historic first. They enter the semifinals not just as favourites, but as record-breakers.
Key Takeaways
Dempo Goa Challengers defeated UP Prometheans 10-5 in UTT Season 7 on 22 July in Panaji, Goa .
Goa became the first team in UTT history to finish the league phase without a defeat, winning all six matches.
Alvaro Robles won 3-0 and Bernadette Szocs won 2-1 to give Goa an unassailable early lead.
Manav Thakkar and Yangzi Liu won for UP in the closing matches, but could not affect the result.
Szocs was named MatchIQ Player and Foreign Player of the Tie; Abhinandh PB won Indian Player of the Tie.
Dabang Delhi TTC vs PBG Pune Jaguars will decide the fourth semifinal spot.
Dempo Goa Challengers scripted history on 22 July by becoming the first team in Ultimate Table Tennis (UTT) history to complete the league phase without a single defeat, routing UP Prometheans 10-5 in Season 7 at Panaji, Goa. The two-time champions swept all six of their league opponents to top the standings and advance to the semifinals in dominant fashion.
How Goa Built Their Historic Lead
Spanish star Alvaro Robles set the tone with a clinical 3-0 demolition of Sudhanshu Grover (11-7, 11-5, 11-4), giving Goa an immediate advantage. Romanian ace Bernadette Szocs then survived a spirited fightback from Sayali Wani to win 2-1 (11-3, 9-11, 11-9) and double the lead.
The tie was effectively sealed in the mixed doubles, where Szocs and Abhinandh PB edged Ricardo Walther and Swastika Ghosh in three tight games (11-9, 11-10, 11-9), putting the result beyond doubt and preserving Goa's unbeaten record with two matches still to play.
UP's Late Fight and Individual Honours
UP Prometheans salvaged pride in the closing exchanges. Manav Thakkar handed Abhinandh PB a second consecutive singles loss, defeating the young Indian 2-1 (8-11, 7-11, 11-8 in reverse). Former two-time MVP Yangzi Liu also recovered from dropping the opening game to beat teenage prospect Syndrela Das 2-1 (11-10, 7-11, 6-11). The late resistance, however, could not alter the evening's defining narrative.
Szocs was named both the MatchIQ Player of the Tie and Foreign Player of the Tie. Abhinandh PB claimed the Indian Player of the Tie award, while Robles earned the Bisleri Shot of the Tie honour.
What the Unbeaten Run Means
No team in UTT's history had previously gone through an entire league phase undefeated. Goa's achievement is particularly significant given the calibre of the field: Butterfly UTT Season 7, staged under the aegis of the Table Tennis Federation of India (TTFI), features 42 players from across the globe, including 14 Olympians. The tournament continues to serve as a key pillar of elite table tennis development in India.
What's Next
Goa now await their semifinal opponents. Elsewhere, Dabang Delhi TTC will face PBG Pune Jaguars in the final league-phase tie, with the fourth semifinal berth at stake. All matches are live on Star Sports Khel (Hindi), Star Sports Tamil 2 HD, and Star Sports Tamil 3 HD, and streamed on JioHotstar in Hindi, Tamil, and English.
Final Scores — Dempo Goa Challengers 10-5 UP Prometheans:
Alvaro Robles bt. Sudhanshu Grover 3-0 (11-7, 11-5, 11-4)
Bernadette Szocs bt. Sayali Wani 2-1 (11-3, 9-11, 11-9)
Abhinandh PB/Bernadette Szocs bt. Ricardo Walther/Swastika Ghosh 3-0 (11-9, 11-10, 11-9)
Abhinandh PB lost to Manav Thakkar 1-2 (8-11, 7-11, 11-8)
Syndrela Das lost to Yangzi Liu 1-2 (11-10, 7-11, 6-11)
Point of View
Not just a statistical one — it reflects a roster depth that no other UTT franchise has matched across a single season. The combination of Robles's consistency and Szocs's ability to win tight games means opponents have no weak link to target. The more interesting question heading into the semifinals is whether the pressure of expectation — and the absence of adversity through the league phase — becomes a factor when Goa face a team with nothing to lose.
NationPress
23 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened in the Goa Challengers vs UP Prometheans UTT Season 7 match?
Dempo Goa Challengers defeated UP Prometheans 10-5 on 22 July in Panaji, Goa, completing an unbeaten league phase in UTT Season 7. Alvaro Robles and Bernadette Szocs starred, with the mixed doubles sealing the tie before UP won the final two matches.
Why is Goa Challengers' UTT Season 7 run historic?
Dempo Goa Challengers became the first team in Ultimate Table Tennis history to go unbeaten through an entire league phase, winning all six of their matches. No previous UTT franchise had achieved this feat across any prior season.
Who were the standout performers for Goa Challengers against UP Prometheans?
Alvaro Robles won his singles 3-0 and Bernadette Szocs won her singles 2-1, before the pair of Szocs and Abhinandh PB clinched the mixed doubles to seal the tie. Szocs was named MatchIQ Player of the Tie and Foreign Player of the Tie.
Which match decides the fourth UTT Season 7 semifinal spot?
Dabang Delhi TTC will face PBG Pune Jaguars in the final league-phase tie, with the fourth and last semifinal berth on the line. Dempo Goa Challengers have already qualified as league toppers.
Where can I watch UTT Season 7 matches live?
All Butterfly UTT Season 7 matches are broadcast live on Star Sports Khel in Hindi, Star Sports Tamil 2 HD, and Star Sports Tamil 3 HD. Live streaming is available on JioHotstar in Hindi, Tamil, and English.
