England’s Men’s Team kept the home crowd roaring deep into the night at the 2026 ITTF World Team Table Tennis Championships Finals in London, producing a thrilling victory over Moldova to book their place in the last 16 at a buzzing OVO Arena Wembley.
After watching the England women’s team bow out earlier in the day, all hopes rested on the shoulders of the men — and they rose to the occasion in dramatic style.
The night did not begin perfectly for the hosts, as Samuel Walker suffered a tough defeat in the opening match, instantly putting England under pressure. For a moment, the arena fell silent as Moldova grabbed the early advantage and threatened to spoil the home atmosphere.
But England responded like a team determined to keep their championship dream alive. Tom Jarvis stepped up and completely shifted the momentum with a calm and commanding straight-games victory over Andrei Putuntica. Jarvis played with confidence, precision, and aggression, energizing both his teammates and the thousands of English supporters packed inside Wembley.
Then came one of the standout moments of the night. Connor Green, competing in his very first ITTF World Team Championships, delivered a fearless performance under pressure. Having already impressed earlier in the tournament against China’s Liang Jingkun, Green finally got his reward with a brilliant comeback win over Denis Terna. After dropping the opening game, the young Englishman exploded into life, dominating the next three games with fearless attacking table tennis and incredible composure.
Suddenly, England were one match away from victory — and the noise inside the arena became deafening. Chants echoed around Wembley as fans sensed a famous home win was within touching distance.
Moldova, however, refused to surrender quietly. Vladislav Ursu pushed Jarvis to the limit in a tense battle filled with momentum swings and high-pressure rallies. But with the crowd behind him, Jarvis found another level when it mattered most. Showing nerves of steel, he fought through the pressure to complete his second victory of the night and seal England’s place in the last 16.
The celebration from players and fans alike captured the emotion of the moment as England kept their hopes alive on home soil.
Elsewhere, the tournament nearly witnessed one of its biggest shocks when Denmark narrowly escaped a stunning upset against Canada in an unforgettable late-night thriller.
Canada looked on the verge of producing a historic win after Simeon Martin and Eugene Wang shocked Danish stars Tobias Rasmussen and Anders Lind in dramatic fashion. Suddenly, belief spread through the Canadian camp as the deciding match approached.
With everything on the line, Edward Ly had the opportunity to complete the upset of the tournament. But Denmark’s experienced star Jonathan Groth handled the pressure brilliantly, producing a composed display to crush Canada’s dream and rescue a dramatic 3-2 victory for the Europeans.
The electric atmosphere, dramatic comebacks, and emotional victories once again proved why the ITTF World Team Championships in London are delivering unforgettable moments night after night.
