A sporting event high above the rooftops of Gelsenkirchen: at the 2026 Stölting Cup, the Stölting Service Group’s table football tournament, 21 teams from a network of regional and national partner clubs and companies, suppliers and customers competed against each other for a good cause on Friday, 11 September, 21 teams from a mix of regional and national partner clubs and companies, suppliers and customers competed against one another for a good cause at the Penthouse at Stölting Harbour. The event raised a total of around 40,000 euros, which will be channelled via the „It’s for Kids“ foundation specifically into educational projects and charitable organisations supporting Gelsenkirchen’s nursery schools. „Every year, the Stölting Cup brings our network together to tackle issues precisely where help is most needed. Following last year’s support for the hospice, this time we’re focusing on the very youngest children. Through the foundation, the proceeds will be channelled specifically into tangible educational projects for Gelsenkirchen’s nursery schools,“ says Sebastian Mosbacher, CEO of Stölting Service Group GmbH.
Local derby and the decider in the final
The growing field of participants provided plenty of excitement. Alongside Schalke legends Olaf Thon and Klaus Fischer, sports journalist Oliver Forster (Magenta TV) also covered the tournament. Following some thrilling matches and an intense knockout stage starting at 5.30 pm, the Knappschaft Kliniken team finally secured the title at 9 pm in the final, beating SV Eintracht Trier 10–4.
„The competition was very strong this year; we had to work hard to win the title. Nobody gives an inch at the tables today – that’s exactly what makes the Stölting Cup so special. The whole event was a perfect opportunity to meet loads of lovely people from all sorts of different industries. Taking home the cup is the icing on the cake. But the best thing about this evening is the feeling that every goal scored will translate into real help for the nurseries in Gelsenkirchen,“ said the proud winners at the trophy presentation.
Donations for specific local nursery projects
The total amount consists of the teams’ entry fees, donations and a charity auction. During the auction, Jens Buss from Provinzial Versicherung secured two exclusive box seats for Die Toten Hosen’s farewell concert on 29 June 2027 at the VELTINS-Arena for 6,500 euros. Further highlights included four Schalke VIP tickets, which went to Autohaus Schmidt and BP Communications for 6,000 euros. The latter also bid 4,500 euros for an eight-hour building clean-up, during which Stölting CEO Sebastian Mosbacher will personally lend a hand. As a spontaneous surprise, the Bleeker Group made two further Schalke box tickets available, which were won at auction by Legden-based Stapelbroek GmbH for 2,500 euros.
The grant directly benefits nursery schools in Gelsenkirchen – for example, for practical educational projects, support materials and programmes for children from socially disadvantaged backgrounds. As Ulrich Bohnen, director of the „It’s for Kids“ Foundation, emphasised: „What Stölting and his partners have set up here above the rooftops of Gelsenkirchen is having very tangible local effects: With these funds, we can take several nursery projects in the city to a whole new level. This is not a measure that is merely a drop in the ocean, but provides tangible relief and targeted support where it is most urgently needed.“
Next year, too, the challenge cup is set to be contested at Stölting for a good cause.
