Defending champions reach semi-finals

The favourites dominate this year's ebt Finals in Stare Jablonki. With defending women's champions Club Balonmano Playa Algeciras, Multichem Szentendrei N.K.E. and Westsite Amsterdam, the teams ranked one to three in 2017 have also reached the semi-finals of the ebt Finals' 2018 edition.

The fourth team is the home side, Team Poland. They will face Szentendre in the first semi-final at 10:30 CET on Sunday. Algeciras play Amsterdam at the same time on court 2.

All matches are streamed live on ehfTV.

The situation is slightly different in the men's event. It comes to no surprise that defending champions and record winners (seven titles since 2009) Detono Zagreb have reached the stage of the last four once again.

On Sunday, they face one of their arch rivals, Russian side SC Ekaterinodar, a former EHF Beach Handball Champions Cup winner, at 11:15 CET. However, Ekaterinodar's last ebt Finals was not as successful, as they only placed sixth.

In the second semi-final, Salgótarjáni Strandépítök BHC, fourth placed at the 2017 edition, face newcomers Pinturas Andalucía BM Playa Sevilla, also at 11:15.

The women's final is played at 15:30, the men's final at 16:30 on Sunday.

Men's schedule and results

Women's schedule and results

#dontworrybeachhappy kicks off

Coinciding with the start of the ebt Finals, the European Handball Federation has launched a new campaign, dubbed #dontworrybeachhappy, which runs from the end of May until the end of August.

#dontworrybeachhappy offers a plethora of activation, engagement and participation possibilities for players and fans alike on a weekly basis. Prizes will be awarded to weekly and monthly winners, with the final grand prize being a free trip to the EHF Champions Cup in October.

Weekly prizes include a beach towel, provided by the EHF's sports outfitter Salming. The weekly winners of each month compete for the title of the 'monthly winner', who can look forward to a full 'Salming beach pack', which includes a backpack, shirt, sunglasses, and much more.

The monthly winners then have the won the ultimate prize: a trip to the EHF Beach Handball Champions Cup.

The campaign runs exclusively on the EHF's beach handball accounts on Facebook and Instagram.

Make sure you follow them! The first challenge is 'Share your best beach handball selfie' and the entry period runs until 10 June. Don't forget to hashtag your selfie with #dontworrybeachhappy.