Table Hockey in Europe: Your Guide to the Thriving Scene
Table hockey is booming across Europe, especially on Stiga Play-Off tables used in official play. From Sweden's invention in the 1950s to Latvia's current dominance, the sport draws thousands to tournaments yearly.
Europe's Table Hockey Roots
Sweden kickstarted modern table hockey with plastic Stiga boards in 1957, evolving from 1930s metal games. The International Table Hockey Federation (ITHF), founded in Riga in 2005, now governs 21 mostly European federations with over 8,000 ranked players.
Strict rules include 5-minute halves, rod-controlled figures, and sudden-death overtime on regulation tables.
Top Nations and Stars
Latvia tops ITHF rankings as of early 2026, led by world #1 Rainers Kalniņš (21,501 points). Sweden, Ukraine, Czechia, and Finland medal heavily.
| Rank | Nation | Top Player (World Rank) | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Latvia | Rainers Kalniņš (1) | 21,501 |
| 2 | Sweden | Hans Österman (6) | 21,145 |
| 3 | Ukraine | Evgeniy Matantsev (2) | 20,278 |
| 4 | Czechia | Patrik Petr (5) | 19,149 |
| 5 | Finland | Kevin Eriksson (3) | 18,686 |
Premier Tournaments
The World Table Hockey Tour hosts 15+ events, including Super Series like Riga Cup (Latvia, Dec 2025), Swedish Masters, and Czech Open. Kalniņš won the 2025 Worlds in Umeå and several Supers.
Latvia's Powerhouse Role
Riga hosted ITHF's birth and events like 2024 Europeans in Valmiera (Edgars Caics victorious). Riga Cup drew 159 players in 2023, run by the Latvian Federation.
Get Started Yourself
Join Europe's table hockey wave—grab a pro-grade Stiga table for home practice or local meets. Shop Stiga Play-Off Tables Now and start honing skills like the pros. Worlds return to Valmiera in 2027, with youth and women's growth surging.
