One of the big highlights of the European Handball Federation (EHF) beach handball club calendar wrapped up on Sunday (8 June) with the conclusion of the four-day EHF European Beach Handball Tour Finals, known as the ‘ebt Finals’.

A total of 28 teams (14 men’s and 14 women’s) did battle on the beach in Trapani, Italy.

Zagreb return to the sandy summit for the first time since 2017

After last tasting ebt Finals success in 2017, BHC Zagreb returned to the top of the podium once more, defeating 2024 champions, Portugal’s Escola de Formacao de Espinho – Os Tigres, in the final in Italy, 2-0 (19:16, 24:22). Losing finalists in 2018, 2021 and 2023, the title is Zagreb’s fourth overall (2014, 2015, 2017, 2025).

On their way to gold they lost just once match – against 12 Monkeys Koln BHC (2-0) in the preliminary group stage, but also recorded wins against Os Tigres, Malaga, BHT GRU, Jurmala and Rytieri to seal their last eight spot.

The quarter-finals saw an all-star clash against the strong GRD Leca – Spar side (2-0, 17:14 26:16) and the semi-final was a tighter affair against, Danish side Aarhus Beach (2-0, 27:22, 23:22), but Zagreb seemed to get better as the event went on.

And they ended the competition as they started it, with a 2-0 win over Os Tigres, which was almost the same score as their opener against the same team three days earlier (2-0, 22:18, 27:24). Aarhus took bronze with a 2-0 win over 12 Monkeys.

“We waited eight years for another ebt Finals title and to have another one is a great feeling especially for me, as this is my eighth title as a player. I think nobody has more than me so it means a lot; I feel like Im holding a record,” said BHC Zagreb player Ivan Juric to ihf.info.

“I felt this year could be ours. We assembled a good team, although all of the players couldn’t travel to Italy, so we were short-handed in some games,” added the 38-year-old.

“Our defence was great and gave us more confidence in attack. For me, it was easier to play [this time] because I only played in attack, not in defence too. This was something I talked to my coach about before, that I cannot play both ways anymore.”

And Juric would return home to Zagreb with another award: that of the MVP of the tournament, as voted for by fans.

“I would always trade an MVP for a gold medal, so when you end up winning both, the feeling is very special,” said the 2025 IHF Men’s Beach Handball World Championship winner with Croatia. “It’s a great feeling to be recognised by the broader audience and to win most of the fan votes.”

Spain’s Almeria return to summit

The women’s competition featured teams from 12 nations, with Spain’s CATS A.M. Team Almeria running out winners, defeating Irish side Niteroi Rugby FC in the final via shoot-out 2-1 (27:14, 18:20, SO 6:4). 

Led by 2016 IHF Women’s Beach Handball World Championship winner Asun Batista, Almeria got off to a terrible start, losing three games in their preliminary round group, but scraping through to the quarter-finals, thanks to three wins against Kanonierky, BHT Byczki Kowalewo Pomorskie and London GD.

From then one though it was only wins with The Danish Beachhanbdall Dream seen off in the last eight via shoot-out (2-1 (20:24, 24:14, SO 7:6), Kanonierky again, in the semi-final, but this time 2-0 (19:12, 17:11) and then the Irish side for gold.

The title is Almeria's second ebt Finals gold, coming four years after their first one back in 2021.

BHC Zagreb ensured the Croatian club went home with two medals after their men’s side took gold, winning bronze by seeing off Slovakian side Kanonierky also via shoot-out 2-1 (12:16, 19:15, SO 7:4).

All-star Teams announced

Two IHF Beach Handball World Championship winners were voted by fans online as the MVPs of their respective competitions with almost 4,000 fan votes made online for the ebt Finals 2025 All-star Teams.

2016 IHF Women’s Beach Handball World Championship winner with Spain, Asuncion Batista Portero, won the most valuable player award as her team, CATS A.M. Team Almeria, took gold, while fellow podium-topper and current IHF Men’s Beach Handball World Championship winner Ivan Juric – with Croatia – won gold with his side, BHC Zagreb.

Women’s competition
MVP: Asuncion Batista Portero (CATS A.M. Team Almeria)
Goalkeeper: Thais Petrucci Negocio Montenegro (Niterói Rugby FC) 
Defender: Lucia Lesac (BHC Zagreb)
Top scorer: Pauline Borrmann (CAIPIranhas Bartenbach) – 165 points
Fair Play Award: The Danish Beachhandball Dream 

Men’s competition
MVP: Ivan Juric (BHC Zagreb)
Goalkeeper: Oliver Middell (12Monkeys Köln BHC)
Defender: Ignacio Vladimir Palomino Fidalgo (Escola de Formação de Espinho - Os Tigres)
Top scorer: Lennart Wörmann (12Monkeys Köln BHC) – 157 points
Fair Play: Beach Handball Tilburg

Final Ranking

Women’s Competition
1 CATS A.M. Team Almeria (ESP)
2 Niteroi Rugby FC (IRL)
3 BHC Zagreb (CRO)
4 Kanonierky (SVK)
5 CAIPIranhas Bartenbach (GER)
6 The Danish Beachhandball Dream (DEN)
7 Westsite Amsterdam (NED)
8 AD IASPORTS (POR)
9 Multichem Szentendrei NKE (HUN)
10 Blue Team (ITA)
11 Fundación Fomento y Deporte CBMP Ciudad de Málaga (ESP)
12 BHT Byczki Kowalewo Pomorskie (POL)
13 Handball Erice (ITA)
14 London GD (GBR)

Men’s Competition
1 BHC Zagreb (CRO)
2 Escola de Formacao de Espinho – Os Tigres (POR)
3 Aarhus (DEN)
4 12 Monkeys Koln BHC (GER)
5 GRD Leça – Spar (POR)
6 SC Squadra Buda (HUN)
7 Niterói Rugby FC (IRL)
8 Fundación Fomento Deporte CBMP Ciudad de Malaga (ESP)
9 Beach Handball Tilburg (NED)
10 BHT GRU JUKO Piotrkow Trybunalski (POL)
11 Blue Team (ITA)
12 C4H10 Melluzhi Jurmala (LAT)
13 Czech Lions (CZE)
14 Karpatski Rytieri (SVK)

For all results, visit HERE for the men’s competition and HERE for the women’s competition.

Photo credit: Joe Pappalardo / EHF