French Table Tennis Stars Shine in Montreux Ahead of World Team Championships Selection

As the French Table Tennis Federation evaluates the World Team Championships selection, the recent performances at the European Top 16 in Montreux, Switzerland, have provided critical data points for the national team’s roster. Led by a dominant display from Alexis Lebrun, the French contingent solidified its standing among Europe’s elite during the competition held from February 5 to 8, 2026.

The event, which gathers the top 16 European players based on the previous year’s rankings, serves as a primary barometer for form and mental toughness. For the French squad, the results in Switzerland offer a clear picture of the current hierarchy within the men’s and women’s ranks as they prepare for global competition.

Alexis Lebrun Maintains Dominance

Alexis Lebrun entered the tournament as the defending champion and left with his crown intact. In a high-stakes final on February 8, Lebrun defeated Slovenia’s Darko Jorgić with a 3-1 victory, securing the gold medal and reaffirming his position as the premier force in European table tennis.

The road to the final was a testament to Lebrun’s resilience. In the quarter-finals on February 7, he survived a grueling encounter against teammate Simon Gauzy, winning 3-2. The momentum continued into the semi-finals, where he faced his brother, Félix Lebrun. In a decisive sibling rivalry match, Alexis swept Félix 3-0 to advance to the championship round.

Félix Lebrun, despite the semi-final loss, demonstrated his own caliber by dismantling Lind 3-0 in the quarter-finals, ensuring a strong French presence in the final stages of the tournament.

Women’s Squad: Jia Nan Yuan’s Consistent Form

On the women’s side, Jia Nan Yuan continued to prove why she is a cornerstone of the French national team. Having previously claimed the title at the 2024 Europe Top 16 Cup, Yuan reached the semi-finals of the 2026 edition.

Yuan’s path through the bracket showed a clinical approach to the game. She began her campaign with a 3-1 victory over Mittelham in the round of 16 on February 5, followed by a dominant 3-0 win against Polcanova in the quarter-finals on February 7. Her run eventually ended in the semi-finals, where she fell 1-3 to Bernadette Szőcs, who ultimately took the gold.

Supporting Yuan was Charlotte Lutz, who as well reached the quarter-finals. Lutz opened her tournament with a convincing 3-0 win over Bergström on February 5, before falling 1-3 to Szőcs on February 7.

Historical Context: The Montreux Legacy

Montreux has become a recurring stage for French success. Looking back to the 53rd edition of the event in January 2024, Jia Nan Yuan secured her first title, while Slovenia’s Darko Jorgić claimed his third consecutive victory at the time. The 2026 results represent a shift in power, with Alexis Lebrun now establishing a similar era of dominance in the men’s bracket.

For readers unfamiliar with the format, the European Top 16 is not a standard open tournament; it is an invitation-only event for the highest-ranked players in Europe, making it one of the most concentrated fields of talent in the sport. Success here is often viewed by national federations as a prerequisite for high seeding in world team events.

Implications for National Team Selection

The results from the 2026 European Top 16 provide the French Table Tennis Federation with a verified performance map. The synergy and competitive level between Alexis and Félix Lebrun, combined with the steady reliability of Jia Nan Yuan and the emergence of Charlotte Lutz, create a powerful foundation for the upcoming World Team Championships.

Selection for these championships typically weights recent head-to-head results against top-tier international opponents. By defeating Jorgić and Gauzy, Alexis Lebrun has effectively removed any doubt regarding his role as the team’s lead player. Similarly, Yuan’s ability to consistently reach the final four of Europe’s most exclusive tournament secures her standing in the women’s selection process.

The French federation is expected to finalize the official roster for the World Team Championships following the analysis of these results and subsequent training camps. Fans and analysts will be watching closely to see if the momentum from Montreux translates into a podium finish on the world stage.

The next official update regarding the final squad selection is expected from the French Table Tennis Federation in the coming weeks.

Do you think the Lebrun brothers are the key to a world title for France? Share your thoughts in the comments below.