Run-in between Moregard and SBTF?

[NextLevel]

Wait, didn't Truls lose to Jon Persson 0-3 just recently in the Swedish league?
I see where you're coming from, but Truls still hasn't won a single major title (you can only maybe count WTT Smash, but those happen so frequently plus WCQ was absent) to be in position to demand "diva-level" privilege.
That recent 0-4 annihilation by Sora isn't adding to his credit as well.

Here we go again with zeio type arguments. Losing a match to probably the hottest player on the tour (someone who was pleasantly surprised ro beat him easily) is now the priority rather than looking at what Truls means to the country as part of the big picture.. Again, these things can be resolved however but no argument that Truls isn't the best and most valuable player for Sweden is going to be taken seriously because of this or that individual result. Who in Europe has won a single major title if not Truls? He is easily one of the most decorated players of his generation in terms of WTTC and Olympics medals and was clearly the team leader in the Euro team gold effort. It is true he has no European singles gold medals, but who has them for Sweden if not Truls?

The match I saw recently had Truls beating Persson but if something ended his streak or affected his record, I will stand corrected. But you can look at the league and tell us the best players.

EDIT: Just found out that Truls lost his 102 match streak with the loss you are pointing out.

 

[Angerer]

Here we go again with zeio type arguments. Losing a match to probably the hottest player on the tour (someone who was pleasantly surprised ro beat him easily) is now the priority rather than looking at what Truls means to the country as part of the big picture.. Again, these things can be resolved however but no argument that Truls isn't the best and most valuable player for Sweden is going to be taken seriously because of this or that individual result. Who in Europe has won a single major title if not Truls? He is easily one of the most decorated players of his generation in terms of WTTC and Olympics medals and was clearly the team leader in the Euro team gold effort. It is true he has no European singles gold medals, but who has them for Sweden if not Truls?

The match I saw recently had Truls beating Persson but if something ended his streak or affected his record, I will stand corrected. But you can look at the league and tell us the best players.

EDIT: Just found out that Truls lost his 102 match streak with the loss you are pointing out.

Although I don't necessarily disagree with what you say, I don't see other successful players (some much more decorated) demanding this many concessions from their associations.
I don't feel for the SNT, it's rather Truls' hostility towards his fellow teammates. Unfollowing on IG and being aggressive on court I can't justify.

 

[zeio]

That they even bring it up in their own magazine Pingis, it shows to me that problem is huge.

It must be significant enough, which is why I drew parallels between SWE MT and JPN WT. The head coaches of both teams wouldn't have called for more teamwork for no reason.

In contrast, Harimoto told Kishikawa it's fine to prioritize Matsushima for the lineup when necessary, with both admitting in the 2026/4/11 episode of Sports Real&Live that they are in a rivalry and Harimoto views Matsushima as a threat but at the same time is reassuring as a teammate. That willingness to close ranks for the greater goal is sorely missing in the JPN WT and I see the same thing with the SWE MT.

 

[NextLevel]

Although I don't necessarily disagree with what you say, I don't see other successful players (some much more decorated) demanding this many concessions from their associations.
I don't feel for the SNT, it's rather Truls' hostility towards his fellow teammates. Unfollowing on IG and being aggressive on court I can't justify.

Because some of these things are not publicly reported. In other cases, other players are nice enough not to push back. If Franziska was more of an alpha at heart, you think what happened with Timo being selected over him to play the Olympics couldn't have caused a rift of the German team? When Hugo skips playing a team event in a Panamerican championship, you think it is because the team is happy with it and would prefer to develop younger players rather than win gold medals? Why is Nathaniel Molin head coach of France? I can tell you similar stories from countries that are lower on the ranking but it won't really matter.

I am not so much defending Truls as pointing out that his personality issues, and not all of them are detrimental to the team, have been known for a while and sometimes, accommodating special talents requires you to deal with those issues somehow. If the country wants to maintain a principled approach, they can keep him off the team. Unfortunately, how to explain that behavior when dealing with your double Olympics silver medallist and two time World Championships medalist is the hard part. Without similarly performing talent on the team, people manage such things *somehow*. And so will Sweden.

 

[Metaxa]

Truls plays in Sweden because he struggles to live away from his family. He has a 100 consecutive victory record in the Swedish league which tells his level gap. Most players at his level are playing full time in France and Germany, even his national team mates. When you think about Truls needs, think about small things like that to help create a better context around how much being around his family means to his success. If he was playing in Germany and throwing tantrums over this it would be a different story. But the fact that he has committed to playing in Sweden even when the level is not ideal for his TT growth tells you a lot about his fundamental character and when dealing with special talents like this, the answer is not to be as unacommodating as possible. I am not Swedish but I wouldn't be surprised if the fact that Truls plays in Sweden gives the league eyeballs it wouldn't get otherwise. Are any of the other national team level players able to do the same in their prime?

Mmmm, I don’t think travelling and being away from his family really play a major role. Besides, Truls also plays regularly for Olympiakos in Athens, Greece. He always plays with his team at the weekend, whenever necessary and whenever his schedule allows, so I suppose he’s away from home for at least three days each time.

 

[NextLevel]

Mmmm, I don’t think travelling and being away from his family really play a major role. Besides, Truls also plays regularly for Olympiakos in Athens, Greece. He always plays with his team at the weekend, whenever necessary and whenever his schedule allows, so I suppose he’s away from home for at least three days each time.

He also plays with the German team Saarbrucken for ETTU Champions Cup events. Greece is not a top league and allows its players to participate in multiple leagues so he can spend most of his time and play at home and show up in Greece occasionally.

When he first went to the Bundesliga:

Bordtennis: Truls Möregårdh lämnar Eslöv – klar för Bundesliga

Truls Möregårdh lämnar Sverige. Världssexan kommer att spela i Bundesliga i höst. – Det var för svårt att inte tacka ja till det, säger Möregårdh.

www.svt.se

After playing in Bundesliga for Neo Ulm, he has always kept Eslov as his training base and played only in short term engagements or leagues/events that allow for playing in multiple countries.

Bordtennis: Truls Möregårdh återvänder till Eslöv

Han lämnade Eslöv i somras. Nu kan SVT Sport avslöja att världsfemman Truls Möregårdh återvänder mitt i säsongen. – Jag älskar att spela i Sverige och är sugen på revansch, säger det svenska stjärnskottet.

www.svt.se

Even when he decided to play last year, they were just building another strong team and he finally lost a match in the Swedish league to Jon Persson after taking his 83 win streak to 102 matches.

Bordtennis: Draget för att rädda kvar Truls Möregårdh i Pingisligan: ”Vill vinna ett guld till”

Truls Möregårdh har gett klartecken till ännu en säsong i Pingisligan för sitt Eslöv. – Jag vill vinna ett SM-guld till, säger han till Skånska Dagbladet.

www.svt.se

Again, just about every player who is at his level doesn't stay or train in Sweden.

 

[NextLevel]

It must be significant enough, which is why I drew parallels between SWE MT and JPN WT. The head coaches of both teams wouldn't have called for more teamwork for no reason.

In contrast, Harimoto told Kishikawa it's fine to prioritize Matsushima for the lineup when necessary, with both admitting in the 2026/4/11 episode of Sports Real&Live that they are in a rivalry and Harimoto views Matsushima as a threat but at the same time is reassuring as a teammate. That willingness to close ranks for the greater goal is sorely missing in the JPN WT and I see the same thing with the SWE MT.

You seem to think if Kallberg has won the last two national Championships and was ranked in the top 10 in the world that it wouldn't affect how Moregardh behaved or how Sweden approached him. The willingness of Harimoto is just as realistic as it is altruistic.

 

[passifid]

Got to be honest Sweden are a TT special country who has not cultivated a real top junior to success since the 1980s. This is the first talent they have brought to a top level in 60 years.

Messi was treated specially by Argentina and so was maradona.

If they want to demotivate their Olympic silver medalist and their best player since JO Waldner then let the ego of their head coach destroy their national prospects for medals as a team feel free. Imo it's more on the second level players like karlsson to win something worthwhile if he wants to be treated the same.

It might do well for the national juniors to see that if you win special medals that no one else can in 20 years you get the special treatment.

I say this as someone who generally dislikes moregardh and thougt he was very over rated as a junior. But I would rather have moregardh play for the UK than both have the snt head coach and karlsson combined

 

[zeio]

You seem to think if Kallberg has won the last two national Championships and was ranked in the top 10 in the world that it wouldn't affect how Moregardh behaved or how Sweden approached him. The willingness of Harimoto is just as realistic as it is altruistic.

I hate repeating myself. As stated in my previous post, Moregard is free to prove to the team that he's worthy of respect equal to his demands. Otherwise, Harimoto is right to take Moregard lightly (and not Kallberg) in contrast to LYJ and Felix.

 

[NextLevel]

I hate repeating myself. As stated in my previous post, Moregard is free to prove to the team that he's worthy of respect equal to his demands. Otherwise, Harimoto is right to take Moregard lightly (and not Kallberg) in contrast to LYJ and Felix.

I guess i shouldn't be ao surprised that someone whose handle translates to "god" considers his opinions infallible. Moregardh has proven that and more to his team, no way his team loses to Romania if he had played that tie.

It is also interesting to continually cite Harimoto as if Harimoto has more singles medals than Truls in WTTC or Olympics. But I will not dwell on it too seriously. It is just another infallible opinion.

 

[passifid]

I hate repeating myself. As stated in my previous post, Moregard is free to prove to the team that he's worthy of respect equal to his demands. Otherwise, Harimoto is right to take Moregard lightly (and not Kallberg) in contrast to LYJ and Felix.

Harimoto not take him seriously?

Is this like Liam pitchford telling us he doesn't take jorgic seriously?

 

[zeio]

Harimoto not take him seriously?

Is this like Liam pitchford telling us he doesn't take jorgic seriously?

Don't ask me. Go read his Butterfly interview.

 

[zeio]

I guess i shouldn't be ao surprised that someone whose handle translates to "god" considers his opinions infallible. Moregardh has proven that and more to his team, no way his team loses to Romania if he had played that tie.

It is also interesting to continually cite Harimoto as if Harimoto has more singles medals than Truls in WTTC or Olympics. But I will not dwell on it too seriously. It is just another infallible opinion.

As I've repeatedly stated, you're arguing with the coaches and players now. Stop wasting my time.

https://www.tabletennisdaily.com/forum/topics/ittf-wttc-finals-doha-2025-5-17-25.36703/post-525009

Quote something from a reputable/authoritative table tennis source to support your stance and we can go from there.

 

[zeio]

Even a former player and a former head coach do not speak highly of Moregard's style. Go convince them.

Same with Hao Shuai, who still views Harimoto and LYJ as the top threats rather than Moregard and Felix as of World Cup 2026.

https://www.tabletennisdaily.com/forum/topics/wtt-finals-hong-kong-2025-12-10-14.35838/post-555705

MS F
Moregard (4) 2-4 Harimoto (-8, 5, -9, 10, -12, -2)
Former HKG player Tang Kwok Kei and former HKG head coach Chan Kong Wah after G5: 打啲瀟灑波冇用㗎 (There is no use playing elegant shots)

G5 demonstrated neatly the big gap between Harimoto and Togami/Matsushima. Harimoto played 1 more 7-game match as well. A well-deserved title.

 

[passifid]

Even a former player and a former head coach do not speak highly of Moregard's style. Go convince them.

https://www.tabletennisdaily.com/forum/topics/wtt-finals-hong-kong-2025-12-10-14.35838/post-555705

I suspect Tang Kwok Kei would be over the moon if he was half as successful as moregardh.

People saying a top 5 former player and olympic silver medalist is a bad player needs to come from a gold medalist. And that is only because they have higher aspirations. Why should moregardh take seriously the lamentations of players who's best achievement was simply making a team when his is second at the biggest stage in the world

 

[zeio]

I suspect Tang Kwok Kei would be over the moon if he was half as successful as moregardh.

People saying a top 5 former player and olympic silver medalist is a bad player needs to come from a gold medalist. And that is only because they have higher aspirations. Why should moregardh take seriously the lamentations of players who's best achievement was simply making a team when his is second at the biggest stage in the world

Not a bad player (no one said it) but not the most threatening player (just like Tanaka and Togami on WCQ's counterloops). Silver/bronze medalists don't really count in Hao Shuai's eyes when they couldn't take out FZD. Go convince him.

 

[passifid]

Not a bad player (no one said it) but not the most threatening player (just like Tanaka and Togami on WCQ's counterloops). Silver/bronze medalists don't really count in Hao Shuai's eyes when they couldn't take out FZD. Go convince him.

If hao shuai was able to win that silver better than moregardh then why didn't they send him instead of wcq who notably didn't win it?

Edit: I just realised, zeio why did you even consider the opinion that is "unless you can reliably beat the best player in the whole world you are not threatening or good" surely even you can tell that is a stupid opinion

 

[NextLevel]

I suspect Tang Kwok Kei would be over the moon if he was half as successful as moregardh.

People saying a top 5 former player and olympic silver medalist is a bad player needs to come from a gold medalist. And that is only because they have higher aspirations. Why should moregardh take seriously the lamentations of players who's best achievement was simply making a team when his is second at the biggest stage in the world

That's the problem. It is like the limitations of these perspectives are complete ignored to push extremely parochial arguments. Is Truls a complete player like Fan Zhendong or Ma Long, arguably no, but neither is Harimoto. Is Truls style very disruptive and has it won lots of critical matches, of course. Harimoto should have beaten Togami and taken that bronze away from Truls. In reality, a lot of these statements are self serving zeio interpretations. The players themselves are speaking about specific details of matchups or circumstances and expert opinions are not to be confused with actual results. Truls has been on the CNT radar since he was a teenager. No one pretends otherwise except zeio.

 

[zeio]

If hao shuai was able to win that silver better than moregardh then why didn't they send him instead of wcq who notably didn't win it?

Edit: I just realised, zeio why did you even consider the opinion that is "unless you can reliably beat the best player in the whole world you are not threatening or good" surely even you can tell that is a stupid opinion

The same thing has been said about Mizutani commenting on Hayata reaching the bare minimum by NextLevel that he has not won a WTTC singles bronze medal.

Apparently, he couldn't care less. That's what he said and that's also what I had written as well. Go find some pros comments that back your stance and we can go from there. Otherwise, I couldn't care less whether you agree or not.

 

[passifid]

The same thing has been said about Mizutani commenting on Hayata reaching the bare minimum by NextLevel that he has not won a WTTC singles bronze medal.

Apparently, he couldn't care less. That's what he said and that's also what I had written as well. Go find some pros comments that back your stance and we can go from there. Otherwise, I couldn't care less whether you agree or not.

My stance that moregardh won olympic silver in singles? Do I need a professional opinion on that or will the medal table do?

The point that moregardh is a very strong player is backed by his ratings and medal lists. If someone wants to say if he had better fundamentals he could win more then fair enough. But pretending he can't beat top players is probably wrong because wtt keeps records of the matches.