I’ve released LangDetectSpeech, an NVDA addon that automatically detects the language of spoken text and switches to the appropriate synthesizer voice.

Features

• Lightweight and fast language detection using FastText (supports 176 languages)
• Automatic voice switching based on detected language
• Whitelist for languages you want to detect
• Configurable fallback language

Tested Synthesizers

The addon works with:

• Windows OneCore voices (built-in)
• IBM TTS
• Vocalizer NVDA

Not working: CodeFactory Eloquence and CodeFactory Vocalizer

Installation

Download the latest release from the GitHub releases page.

By default, Windows reserves CAPSLOCK+Arrow Up and CAPSLOCK+Arrow Down for Narrator, even when Narrator is disabled. This prevents NVDA from using these key combinations, although CAPSLOCK is configured as an NVDA modifier key.

Solution

Add a registry value to disable Narrator’s hotkey interception:

1. Open the Registry Editor (press Windows+R, type regedit, press Enter).
2. Navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Narrator\NoRoam.
3. Create a new DWORD (32-bit) value named WinEnterLaunchEnabled.
4. Set its value to 0.
5. Restart your computer.

Or download and run this registry file: disable-narrator-capslock-hotkeys.reg

After restarting, CAPSLOCK+Arrow Up/Down will be available for NVDA to use.

Tested On

• Windows 11
• NVDA 2024.x

I competed at the Zurich Open 2025 from November 12-16, 2025 in Zurich, Switzerland. This was the fourth international showdown tournament held at the ibis Styles Zurich City Center Hotel.

Tournament Format

The tournament brought together showdown players from across Europe for several days of competitive matches. The event was organized by the Swiss Showdown Vereinigung.

My Results

The first day was tough with 3 losses. The first match was devastating. But I improved my defense in the second match and finally scored some goals in the third one.

Day 2 felt much better. I won 2 out of 3 matches, which was a good feeling after the rough start.

On the third day I lost both matches. The match against the Spanish player could have gone my way with a bit more luck. Against Deniz I had no chance.

I’m pretty happy with my result. I improved from 49/52 to 30/35 on an arguably stronger field.

Full Match Video

Watch one of my matches from the tournament:

Detailed Results

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 13

Time: 8:30 – Table: 3 BERTRAND (FRA) Pierre vs Lohmaier (GER) Stefan Set 1: 12-0; Set 2: 12-0 Winner: BERTRAND (FRA) Pierre

Time: 12:30 – Table: 4 LISZEWSKI (POL) Filip vs Lohmaier (GER) Stefan Set 1: 12-2; Set 2: 11-2 Winner: LISZEWSKI (POL) Filip

Time: 16:30 – Table: 5 Lohmaier (GER) Stefan vs MYSLIVEČEK (CZE) Tomáš Set 1: 0-11; Set 2: 10-12 Winner: MYSLIVEČEK (CZE) Tomáš

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 14

Time: 8:30 – Table: 5 Lohmaier (GER) Stefan vs HALBHEER (SUI) Kurt Set 1: 7-11; Set 2: 11-8; Set 3: 12-10 Winner: Lohmaier (GER) Stefan

Time: 10:30 – Table: 4 KNAZ (POL) Przemysław vs Lohmaier (GER) Stefan Set 1: 11-6; Set 2: 11-6 Winner: KNAZ (POL) Przemysław

Time: 15:00 – Table: 3 Lohmaier (GER) Stefan vs STOYANOV (BUL) Teodor Set 1: 8-12; Set 2: 12-10; Set 3: 11-8 Winner: Lohmaier (GER) Stefan

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 15

Time: 14:30 – Table: 1 Lohmaier (GER) Stefan vs FARIÑA TORRES (ESP) José Enrique Set 1: 15-12; Set 2: 8-11; Set 3: 8-12 Winner: FARIÑA TORRES (ESP) José Enrique

Time: 15:30 – Table: 3 KÜRTOGLU (GER) Deniz vs Lohmaier (GER) Stefan Set 1: 12-7; Set 2: 11-5 Winner: KÜRTOGLU (GER) Deniz

Event Details

• Location: ibis Styles Zurich City Center Hotel, Stampfenbachstrasse 60, Zürich
• Dates: November 12-16, 2025
• Organizer: Swiss Showdown Vereinigung
• Website: zurich-open.swiss-showdown.ch

Great experience competing at this international level tournament!

I attended my first international showdown tournament. I was very nervous and unfortunately that showed in the games. During the first group phase I lost all my matches and was put in the last group S. The 2nd day I had no games because of this. So I went shopping with my girlfriend in Bologna 😇 On the 3rd day I had 4 games and won all but the last one. My final result is 49 out of 52 men. It’s ok. Many thanks to Nicole for coaching me sometimes and now I know what to train for. My next tournament will be in November in Zurich.

Video in two times speed of the end of my last game:

Here are my results:

AUGUST 21, THURSDAY

Time: 8:00 – Table: 6 Lomaier Stefan vs Schmitt Florent Set 1: 11-8; Set 2: 3-12; Set 3: 4-12; Set 4: 0-0; Set 5: 0-0 Winner: Schmitt Florent

Time: 10:30 – Table: 1 Lomaier Stefan vs Milaret Yohann Set 1: 4-12; Set 2: 4-11; Set 3: 0-0; Set 4: 0-0; Set 5: 0-0 Winner: Milaret Yohann

Time: 12:30 – Table: 5 Di Bari Vincenzo vs Lomaier Stefan Set 1: 11-3; Set 2: 12-6; Set 3: 0-0; Set 4: 0-0; Set 5: 0-0 Winner: Di Bari Vincenzo

Time: 16:00 – Table: 9 Bouilloux Franck vs Lomaier Stefan Set 1: 11-3; Set 2: 12-6; Set 3: 0-0; Set 4: 0-0; Set 5: 0-0 Winner: Bouilloux Franck

AUGUST 23, SATURDAY

Time: 9:00 – Table: 7 Lomaier Stefan vs Adriaensen Thomas Set 1: 11-8; Set 2: 11-5; Set 3: 0-0; Set 4: 0-0; Set 5: 0-0 Winner: Lomaier Stefan

Time: 11:15 – Table: 2 Vercauteren Jirge vs Lomaier Stefan Set 1: 10-13; Set 2: 11-5; Set 3: 8-11; Set 4: 0-0; Set 5: 0-0 Winner: Lomaier Stefan

Time: 12:45 – Table: 1 Bertrand Pierre vs Lomaier Stefan Set 1: 0-11; Set 2: 0-11; Set 3: 0-0; Set 4: 0-0; Set 5: 0-0 Winner: Lomaier Stefan

Time: 15:45 – Table: 9 Harnandan Sergio vs Lomaier Stefan Set 1: 4-11; Set 2: 12-10; Set 3: 5-11; Set 4: 0-0; Set 5: 0-0 Winner: Lomaier Stefan

Time: 16:45 – Table: 1 Lomaier Stefan vs Arbos Ginard Carlos Set 1: 7-12; Set 2: 12-10; Set 3: 2-12; Set 4: 0-0; Set 5: 0-0 Winner: Arbos Ginard Carlos

After my slow start at the German ParaAthletic Championship the week before I wanted to run quick from the start. The temperature was similar. Around 34 degrees celsius. Very hot! This time the warmup was not rushed in any way and my trainer Carlos made a stride training the Tuesday before: start with quick and fast sprint strides to top speed and then switch to long speed preserving strides until the end. There was one other person in my race, which was way slower. So I basically ran alone with Simon this time. No fast people running away from me this time.

The start was good this time and I kept the speed pretty well. 3-4 strides after the finish I fell… But the time was finally below 70: 68.23 seconds. Finally I managed a good 400m race as intended!

Video of start and finish (Don’t look at the fall at the end!):