Hammarby, who finished seventh in the men's handball league this season, has surprised in the spring's SM playoffs and knocked out series two Kristianstad with 3–0 in matches in the quarterfinals in March.
In Friday's fourth semi against table six Helsingborg in Eriksdalshallen in Stockholm, the home team was superior in front of the fully packed stands. The match ended 37–23 and Hammarby is on to the final with 3–1 in matches.
"Bajen" has not played an SM final since the 2007–2008 season. Then they defeated Sävehof in the final match at Scandinavium in Gothenburg and Hammarby took their third consecutive SM gold, which is also the club's latest.
In this year's final, which is played in best of five matches, Ystads IF awaits, who on Thursday knocked out Sävehof in their semifinal with 3–1 in matches. The meeting was a replay of last year's SM final, which Sävehof won.
Ystads IF has this season both won the Swedish Cup and finished first in the handball league. The last time the Scanians took SM gold was in 2022. This year's final is the club's third in four years.
Ystad begins the men's final series against Hammarby at home on Wednesday, May 14.
On the women's side, Skara became clear for a historic final after defeating Skuru with 22–18 and 3–0 in matches in the semifinal. It is the first time in the club's history that Skara plays an SM final in handball.
There, either reigning champion Sävehof or H65 Höör awaits. Sävehof leads the match series with 2–1 and can decide on away ground on Monday.
The women's final series begins on Tuesday, May 6.
