Edwall was a goal machine – but went beyond his trademark to get the title

Stefan Edwall was always a pure goal machine.

But when he won the world title back in 1999, the secret was something else.

The 53-year-old Swede points out two decisive factors for his victory.

✔ Merits: World champion 1999 in Wilhelmshafen.

✔ Results: Won the final against Finn Fries by 4-2 (3-2, 2-1, 1-0, 0-4, 2-4, 4-3s).

✔ Profile: A Swedish icon, both during the tournaments and afterwards. When it came to scoring – and scoring again – Stefan had no superiors in his time. Leading by 5-0 against him was never safe. There was always a risk for 5-6 if he just got that one goal. Edwall also invented the 90 degree shovel that became standard practice and still bears his name.

What do you remember the most from your world championship gold?

“Unfortunately I don’t remember too many details since it was a long time ago. But I do believe that I at least won the final due to a strong defence. That is a little strange in itself since I normally won with my enormously strong attack. What I remember the most is a hell of a party during the banquet. A few things happened that night.”

What were the keys to your victory?

“I had a favourable draw and was really looking for vengeance after the previous world championships where I was in much better form and considered myself robbed of the gold. I believe it was the desire for revenge that made me fight until the end this time. That was never my trademark as a table hockey player. I could sometimes lose motivation and be satisfied with just reaching a semifinal or final.”

Why didn’t you defend the gold medal at the following world championships?

“If I remember correctly, I had a dip in motivation after my world championship gold. I also recall that we were a few guys who ended up in a pub in Plzen already during the opening ceremony and that somebody, it might have been me, said: Ah, let’s screw world cup, lads! Unfortunately that was the road we went down.”

When was the last time you played table hockey?

“Last summer we had a few games after some good food and drinks at Lars Fridell’s summer estate. Gustaf Hermansson was there too. And then there is a table hockey game at work and they sometimes force me to play at events. That’s all nowadays.”

What are your impressions of international table hockey today?

“Very high skill level and very serious players, but also extremely boring. There is a lot of grinding of the special moves. However I also recognize my own whining – I got to hear the same things about a boring game style when I started to beat the old champions. But what I did back then is nothing at all compared to how it can look today.”

Are there things that were better in the past?

“I personally consider the game style too stereotypical, but in the bigger picture? No. Back in my days it was generally less serious, although that of course didn’t count for all players. We went to tournaments just as much to compete as to party with friends. Now table hockey is much more of a serious sport.”

Is there a chance that we will see you in future championships with help from the new rule that all former world champions are directly qualified?

“It feels distant today, but I guess it wouldn’t be totally impossible. That would demand the world championships to be played in a country where I also want to experience other things than table hockey.”

What do you do nowadays? And is there another hobby that has replaced or can compete with table hockey in your daily life?

“I still work with car spare parts at a company called Automotive and I still live in metropolitan Märsta, north of Stockholm. I satisfy my need for competition with regular games of floorball and padel, but only on a friendly level.”

Who will win the world championships 2025?

“No idea, I’m not sufficiently up to date with the present table hockey. But I can hope for a player that I know myself and that I have played against. Obviously it would be fun if a Swede could make a sensation.”