The 33rd edition of the CEV EuroBeachVolley, Europe`s premier beach volleyball event, is set to kick off next week in Düsseldorf, Germany. From Wednesday to Sunday, the continent`s top teams will gather to compete in this annual celebration of European beach volleyball.
Germany will host the event for the fourth time, marking its debut in Düsseldorf at the renowned Rochus Club. This year`s tournament is anticipated to be one of the most competitive in recent memory, with all leading European teams confirming their participation.
The women`s competition features 32 teams divided into eight pools of four. Each team will play two matches under a modified pool play format. Pool winners automatically qualify for the Round of 16, while second and third-place teams will compete in the Round of 24 for a spot in the next stage.
Women`s pool play and the Round of 24 matches are scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday. Friday will see the Round of 16 and quarterfinals, followed by the semifinals on Saturday, and the medal matches concluding the event on Sunday.
Düsseldorf is set for an exhilarating week of top-tier beach volleyball. As the tournament approaches, we delve into the women`s Pools A, B, C, and D, offering a closer look at the matchups.
Pool A
Teams: Valentina Gottardi/Reka Orsi Toth (Italy), Marketa Svozilova/Marie-Sára Štochlová (Czechia), Valentyna Davidova/Anhelina Khmil (Ukraine), Ieva Dumbauskaite/Gerda Grudzinskaite (Lithuania)
Italian duo Gottardi and Orsi Toth, a new partnership for the 2025 season, have already achieved strong results on the Beach Pro Tour and are favored to win Pool A. Though young, both players possess considerable international experience, including multiple EuroBeachVolley appearances.
The Czechs (Svozilova/Štochlová) and Ukrainians (Davidova/Khmil) are expected to vie for second place. Svozilova and Štochlová have shown some inconsistency this year, whereas Davidova and Khmil have been rapidly ascending in European rankings since teaming up in 2024. Lithuanian pair Dumbauskaite and Grudzinskaite are the lowest seed but have a few years of experience, dominating at the Futures level, and could potentially upset higher-ranked teams.
Italy`s Gottardi/Orsi Toth are well-positioned for a direct spot in the Round of 16, but must remain wary of the Ukrainians, who are poised for a breakthrough performance. The Czechs are likely to secure the third elimination round spot, though the Lithuanians remain a dark horse.
Pool B
Teams: Dorina Klinger/Ronja Klinger (Austria), Emi van Driel/Wies Bekhuis (Netherlands), Yeva Serdiuk/Daria Romaniuk (Ukraine), Chenoa Christ/Anna-Chiara Reformat (Germany)
The Klinger sisters have become a dominant force in European beach volleyball over recent years. They are expected to easily top their pool, as their opponents, while promising, likely lack the experience to pose a significant challenge.
The Dutch pair, Van Driel and Bekhuis, are a highly promising young team and are the favorites for second place. However, they will face stiff competition from Serdiuk and Romaniuk, one of several Ukrainian teams achieving strong results recently. Meanwhile, the newly formed German duo of Christ and 16-year-old Reformat will likely struggle against more seasoned opponents.
The Austrian Klinger sisters are strong favorites to secure the top spot and advance directly. The Dutch are tipped for second place, leaving the Ukrainians and Germans to battle for the final elimination round position.
Pool C
Teams: Anouk Vergé-Dépré/Zoé Vergé-Dépré (Switzerland), Sandra Ittlinger/Anna-Lena Grüne (Germany), Mila Konink/Raisa Schoon (Netherlands), Julia Radelczuk/Natalia Okla (Poland)
The Swiss Vergé-Dépré sisters are currently one of the most in-form teams in international beach volleyball, arriving in Düsseldorf with medals from their last four Beach Pro Tour events. While they are clear favorites for the top spot, strong challenges are expected from the German and Dutch teams.
Ittlinger and Grüne recently led Germany to victory at the Beach Nations Cup Finals and continue to improve in their inaugural year as partners. Meanwhile, two-time Olympian Schoon and promising 19-year-old Konink possess the potential for a strong team, though they`ve yet to achieve a significant result. Poland`s Radelczuk and Okla, with fewer than ten international events together since 2024, face a formidable challenge to advance.
Anouk and Zoé Vergé-Dépré are undoubtedly the strongest team in this pool. However, to secure their top seed, they must perform at their peak against an improving German team and a Dutch duo with significant potential. While the Polish team`s chances of advancing are slim on paper, their underdog status could lead to an unexpected victory.
Pool D
Teams: Tanja Hüberli/Leona Kernen (Switzerland), Tina Graudina/Anastasija Samoilova (Latvia), Melanie Paul/Lea Sophie Kunst (Germany), Heleene Hollas/Liisa Remmelg (Estonia)
Pool D is anticipated to feature the most thrilling and unpredictable battle for first place, as Switzerland`s Hüberli/Kernen and Latvia`s Tina/Anastasija are closely matched. The two-time EuroBeachVolley champions from Latvia possess greater experience, yet the Swiss pair has displayed exceptional form since their partnership began this season.
The fight for third place is also noteworthy: Germany`s Paul and Kunst, playing on home soil, have shown flashes of potential despite some inconsistency. Conversely, Estonia`s Hollas and Remmelg have been their nation`s leading team recently and are in strong form at the Futures level.
A clear distinction exists between the top two teams and the remaining two in the pool. This setup promises an exciting second round of matches, as teams strive to either secure a direct berth in the Round of 16 or qualify for the initial elimination rounds.
Jasper Thornfield 
Finley Blackwood