Dempo Goa Challengers created Ultimate Table Tennis history on 22 July 2026, becoming the first team to remain unbeaten through the league phase after a 10-5 win over UP Prometheans in Butterfly UTT Season 7 Powered by ChatGPT. The result completed a perfect league campaign for the two-time champions, who beat all six opponents to finish top of the standings heading into the semifinals.
Goa’s win was built on a fast start led by Alvaro Robles and Bernadette Szocs, before Abhinandh PB and Szocs combined in mixed doubles to clinch the tie. UP did finish strongly through Manav Thakkar and Yangzi Liu, but Goa’s early control ensured the landmark unbeaten run was secured.
Goa’s early surge sets up the historic unbeaten finish
Goa began the tie in commanding fashion as Alvaro Robles swept aside Sudhanshu Grover in straight games, winning 3-0 (11-7, 11-5, 11-4). The clean sweep immediately put Dempo Goa Challengers in control and set the tone for the evening.
Bernadette Szocs then doubled the advantage in a tighter contest against Sayali Wani. Szocs took the opening game 11-3, dropped the second 9-11, and then edged the decider 11-9 to complete a 2-1 victory. With two singles wins in place, Goa carried momentum into the mixed doubles that would ultimately decide the tie.
In the mixed doubles, Szocs partnered Abhinandh PB and the pair delivered under pressure, beating Ricardo Walther and Swastika Ghosh 3-0. While the scoreline was straight games, each game was close: 11-9, 11-10, 11-9. That sequence proved decisive, as the mixed doubles win clinched the tie and ensured Goa maintained their unbeaten record through the league phase.
UP’s late wins provide resistance but can’t change the outcome
With the tie already sealed, UP Prometheans responded with two morale-boosting victories in the closing singles. Manav Thakkar beat Abhinandh PB 2-1, handing Abhinandh a second successive singles defeat after he had gone unbeaten for much of the campaign. Thakkar won the first two games 11-8 and 11-7 before Abhinandh took the third 11-8.
Yangzi Liu then recovered from dropping the opening game to defeat Syndrela Das 2-1. Das edged the first 11-10, but Liu turned the match around with 11-7 and 11-6 in the next two games. Despite those late points for UP, Goa’s dominant start and the mixed doubles clincher ensured the final tie score finished 10-5 in favour of Dempo Goa Challengers.
Awards, league context, and what’s next in Season 7
Szocs capped the night by being named both the ChatGPT MatchIQ Player and Foreign Player of the Tie, while Abhinandh PB received the Indian Player of the Tie award. Robles earned the Bisleri Shot of the Tie.
Butterfly UTT Season 7 is staged under the aegis of the Table Tennis Federation of India (TTFI) and is promoted by Niraj Bajaj and Vita Dani. The season features 42 players from around the world, including 14 Olympians, and continues to focus on strengthening the Indian table tennis ecosystem through elite competition and year-round development initiatives.
Attention now turns to the final league phase tie, with Dabang Delhi TTC set to face PBG Pune Jaguars and the fourth spot at stake. Matches in Butterfly UTT Season 7 are live on Star Sports Khel (Hindi), Star Sports Tamil 2 and Star Sports Tamil 3, and streamed live on JioHotstar in Hindi and English.
