Elias Ranefur: the Swede who beat Ovtcharov in the Panagyurishte final
Elias Ranefur is a Swedish table tennis player born in 1996, a right-handed shakehand player. In September 2026 he won WTT Contender Panagyurishte, beating Dimitrij Ovtcharov in the final. In October 2026 he is world No. 29.
In this article
Elias Ranefur is now one of Sweden's most important players, in a country with a great table tennis tradition. In 2026 he won his first WTT title and took down big names, including China's Lin Shidong. This page covers Ranefur's career, titles and playing style.
Who is Elias Ranefur
Elias Ranefur was born on 29 June 1996 in Sweden. He is right-handed and plays the shakehand grip. He is 1.85 m tall. His birthplace is not given in the sources consulted.
Elias Ranefur's titles
| Competition | Results |
|---|---|
| World Team Championships | Beat Lin Shidong in the 2026 group stage (Sweden v China) |
| European Championships | Silver in junior singles in 2014 |
| WTT | Contender Panagyurishte 2026 champion; Feeder Manchester 2024 finalist |
| Swedish Championships | Doubles gold in 2021 |
| Ranking | October 2026: No. 29 |
2026: Ranefur's breakthrough
In May 2026, at the World Team Championships, Ranefur beat former world No. 1 Lin Shidong and helped Sweden win its group match against China. In September he won WTT Contender Panagyurishte in Bulgaria, beating Dimitrij Ovtcharov 4-3 in the final, with 11-9 and 15-13 in the last two games. See the profile of Dimitrij Ovtcharov. In October 2026 he is No. 29 in the table tennis world ranking.
Before the title
Ranefur took silver in junior singles at the 2014 European Championships and won the Swedish doubles title in 2021 with Simon Arvidsson. In 2024 he was a finalist at WTT Feeder Manchester. He is the second-highest ranked Swede, behind Truls Möregårdh. The country's heritage is in the golden era of Swedish table tennis.
Playing style
What counts in his game:
- Powerful attacks from both forehand and backhand, with no weak wing.
- Backhand serve that is varied and dangerous, a trademark.
- Creative, offensive play that decides many points in the first balls. More on playing styles.
- See also Anton Källberg, another name of the new Swedish generation.
Recent results on the tour
| Year | Wins | Losses |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 13 | 8 |
| Total | 13 | 8 |
| L | WTT Champions Montpellier 2026 2026-10-30 | Men's singles Round of 16 | Patrick Franziska GER vs Elias Ranefur SWE 3-1 12-10, 11-4, 8-11, 11-8 |
| W | WTT Champions Montpellier 2026 2026-10-27 | Men's singles Round of 32 | Elias Ranefur SWE vs Anton Kallberg SWE 3-2 7-11, 8-11, 11-7, 12-10, 11-8 |
| L | China Smash 2026 2026-10-05 | Men's singles Round of 64 | Elias Ranefur SWE vs Kuo Guan-Hong TPE 0-3 4-11, 4-11, 6-11 |
| W | WTT Contender Panagyurishte 2026 2026-09-13 | Men's singles Final | Elias Ranefur SWE vs Dimitrij Ovtcharov GER 4-3 8-11, 10-12, 11-5, 9-11, 11-5, 11-9, 15-13 |
| W | WTT Contender Panagyurishte 2026 2026-09-12 | Men's singles Semifinals | Kristian Karlsson SWE vs Elias Ranefur SWE 2-3 10-12, 11-7, 11-6, 6-11, 12-14 |
| W | WTT Contender Panagyurishte 2026 2026-09-12 | Men's singles Quarterfinals | Elias Ranefur SWE vs Milosz Redzimski POL 3-0 11-5, 11-9, 11-9 |
| W | WTT Contender Panagyurishte 2026 2026-09-11 | Men's singles Round of 16 | Elias Ranefur SWE vs Andrej Gacina CRO 3-2 11-9, 8-11, 11-9, 9-11, 11-5 |
| W | WTT Contender Panagyurishte 2026 2026-09-10 | Men's singles Round of 32 | Elias Ranefur SWE vs Petyo Krastev BUL 3-0 14-12, 11-9, 11-1 |
Source: WTT official results. Updated October 31, 2026. worldtabletennis.com
Frequently asked questions
Who is Elias Ranefur?
He is a Swedish player born in 1996, right-handed, shakehand, and the 2026 WTT Contender Panagyurishte champion.
How old is Elias Ranefur?
He was born on 29 June 1996, so he is 30 in October 2026.
What is Elias Ranefur's ranking?
In October 2026 he is No. 29 in the men's world ranking.
Did Elias Ranefur beat Ovtcharov?
Yes. He beat Dimitrij Ovtcharov 4-3 in the final of WTT Contender Panagyurishte in September 2026.