World Table Tennis (ITTF) explained

World Table Tennis
Abbreviation:WTT

World Table Tennis, stylized as WTT, is an organization created by the ITTF in 2019 that runs commercialized table tennis tournaments.[1] Its inaugural tournament was held in November 2020 in Macao, China. It is distinguished from the predecessor ITTF World Tour by various rules changes and big prize money for commercialized purposes.[2] [3] [4] The head of its council is Liu Guoliang, a former Olympic gold medalist and former head coach of China.[2]

Background

In 1926, The ITTF was founded by William Henry Lawes of Wymondham, England. The nine founding members were Austria, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, England, Germany, Hungary, India, Sweden and Wales. The first international tournament was held in January 1926 in Berlin, and the first World Table Tennis Championships was held in December 1926 in London.[5] It was the only event for over 50 years that was run and managed commercially by the ITTF.

In 1980, the ITTF World Cups was introduced, followed by the ITTF World Tour in 1996. Until 2003, commercial rights for these events were passed on to the local organising committees (LOC) but a different approach was taken to centralise rights through the creation of TMS. TMS was tasked to manage these rights on behalf of ITTF, until 2017 when ITTF decided to buy back the rights to be taken in house.[6]

In 2018, professional consultants Deloitte and Withers were engaged to assist with remodelling the way that the ITTF does business.[7] Through full models and financial understanding of our events and other worldwide properties, ITTF sought to understand the untapped commercial potential of table tennis. One key finding led to the idea of separation between the management of the professional and institutional structures of table tennis.

On 30 May 2019, ITTF announced the idea of World Table Tennis (WTT),[8] a new commercial vehicle for table tennis. To launch WTT, the ITTF executive committee appointed a selection panel. The panel included ITTF President Thomas Weikert, ITTF Deputy President Khalil Al-Mohannadi, ITTF Executive Vice President for Finance Petra Sorling, ITTF CEO Steve Dainton, and ITTF Marketing Director Matthew Pound.[9]

Recent hires

WTT also announced the hire of Philippe Le Floc’h, former Chief Commercial Officer at FIFA and marketing director at UEFA, as Senior Commercial Strategy Consultant, in line with WTT's aim to commercialise the sport.[10] Shortly afterwards, Stephen Duckitt, who had 15 years of sports management experience, primarily with WTA and ATP, was announced as WTT Event Strategy Director.

On 29 June 2020, WTT announced that China Table Tennis Association President, Liu Guoliang had accepted the role as Chair of the WTT Council. The WTT Council is tasked to ensure the healthy development of WTT and to be at the helm of the future development of table tennis.[11] [12] WTT Macao was announced on 11 September 2020 to be held between 25 and 29 November 2020.[13] The debut event was a promotional showcase featuring 16 of the world's best male and 16 of the world's best female paddlers. The event implemented a brand new format with innovative scoring methods. It also featured a prize purse of US$800,000 with players paid a minimum of US$15,000, and earning more prize money per match they win.[14] [15]

Next to join was Melissa Soobratty. Announced on 4 December 2020, the former vice president, Media at Football Marketing Asia joined as WTT Senior Media Director to oversee all areas related to content, to further professionalise the organisation's expanding media operations.[16]

WTT event structure

Tournaments2019−present
TiersIGrand Smash
IIWTT Series WTT Finals
(WTT Cup Finals)
IIIWTT Champions
(WTT Champion Series)
IVWTT Contender
Series
WTT Star Contenders
VWTT Contenders

Grand Smash

The Grand Smashes will become the pillars of the sport and the most important events in the table tennis calendar. The events will feature both Men's and Women's singles draws with more players now receiving automatic entry into events. There will be fewer seeded players and a separate qualifying draw to ensure that the excitement kicks off right from the start. Doubles and Mixed Doubles events will also be played during the Grand Smashes.[17] [18]

Dates: Fixed dates on the annual WTT Calendar

Players: 64 Men's & Women's Singles, Doubles & Mixed doubles draw

Length of event: 10 Days + Qualification

Prize Pool: Up to US$ 3 million

Number of events: Up to 4

Singapore Smash
YearMen's singlesWomen's singlesMen's doublesWomen's doublesMixed doubles
2022 Fan Zhendong Chen Meng Fan Zhendong
Wang Chuqin
Wang Manyu
Sun Yingsha
Wang Chuqin
Sun Yingsha
2023 Sun Yingsha
2024 Wang Chuqin Wang Manyu Ma Long
Lin Gaoyuan
Chen Meng
Wang Manyu

WTT Series

The WTT Series will serve as the platform for all professional players to compete internationally. The series is split up into 3 tiers to give the athletes adequate playing opportunities: Cup Finals, Champion Series and the Contender Series. WTT aims to hold these events in unique venues around the world that include theatres, bars, clubs, stadiums and more to create a unique, interesting and intimate opportunity for fans to interact with the athletes.[19]

WTT Finals

The WTT Finals are split into Men's and Women's events that will be held separately. The top 16 players of the year will qualify for this year-end event together with the best 8 pairs. Qualification will be determined by the player's performance throughout the WTT season and reflected through their Table Tennis World Ranking.

The first two editions of WTT Finals (2021 and 2022) was known as WTT Cup Finals. WTT stated that the winners of the WTT Cup Finals would win the prestigious ITTF World Cup trophies in March 2021, but the winners have been actually presented with WTT Finals specific trophies since the inaugural edition.

Players: 16 in Men's & Women's Singles, Top 8 pair in doubles

Length of event: 5 days

Prize Pool: Up to US$1.5million each

Number of events: 2

YearHost cityMen's singlesWomen's singlesMen's doublesWomen's doubles
2021Singapore Fan Zhendong Sun Yingshanot heldnot held
2022Xinxiang, China Wang Chuqin
2023Doha, Qatar
Nagoya, Japan
Xiang Peng
Yuan Licen
Wang Manyu
Sun Yingsha

WTT Champions

The WTT Champion Series is exclusive to the top 32 men and women in the world. Four separate men's and women's event will be held with up to US$5million up for grabs. The matches will be played on one table to ensure that the best TV production and best entertainment is presented to fans.

Players: 32 Men's & Women's Singles

Length of event: 6 days

Prize Pool: Up to US$5million

Number of events: 4 men & 4 women

TourHost cityMen's singlesWomen's singles
2022
WTT Champions European Summer SeriesBudapest, Hungary Tomokazu Harimoto Wang Manyu
WTT Champions MacaoMacau Wang Chuqin Sun Yingsha
2023
WTT Champions XinxiangXinxiang, China Fan Zhendong Sun Yingsha
WTT Champions MacaoMacau Wang Chuqin Wang Manyu
WTT Champions FrankfurtFrankfurt, Germany Lin Yun-ju Wang Yidi
2024
WTT Champions IncheonIncheon, South Korea Liang Jingkun Sun Yingsha
WTT Champions ChongqingChongqing, China Fan Zhendong Sun Yingsha
WTT Champions MacaoMacau
WTT Champions MontpellierMontpellier, France
WTT Champions FrankfurtFrankfurt, Germany

WTT Star Contenders

WTT Star Contenders will consist of 6 events throughout the year featuring 48 men and 48 women. These events will serve as the platform for the next best in the world to earn ranking points to make the step up into the WTT Champions Series.

Players: 48 Men's & Women's Singles

Length of event: 6 days + Qualification

Number of events: 6

TourHost cityMen's singlesWomen's singlesMen's doublesWomen's doublesMixed doubles
2021
WTT Star Contender Doha IDoha,
Qatar
Tomokazu Harimoto Mima Ito Lee Sang-su
Jeoung Young-sik
Shin Yu-bin
Jeon Ji-hee
Cheng I-ching
Lin Yun-ju
WTT Star Contender Doha IIDoha,
Qatar
Hugo Calderano Hina Hayata An Jae-hyun
Cho Seung-min
Miyu Nagasaki
Minami Ando
Shunsuke Togami
Hina Hayata
2022
WTT Star Contender DohaDoha,
Qatar
Andrej Gacina Miyuu Kihara Benedikt Duda
Dang Qiu
Miyuu Kihara
Miyu Nagasaki
Emmanuel Lebesson
Jia Nan Yuan
WTT Star Contender European Summer SeriesBudapest,
Hungary
Wang Chuqin Wang Yidi Cho Dae-seong
Lee Sang-su
Sun Yingsha
Wang Manyu
Wang Chuqin
Wang Manyu
2023
WTT Star Contender GoaGoa,
India
Liang Jingkun Wang Yidi An Jae-hyun
Cho Seung-min
Miyu Nagasaki
Miwa Harimoto
Jang Woo-jin
Jeon Ji-hee
WTT Star Contender BangkokBangkok,
Thailand
Lin Gaoyuan Chen Xingtong Lin Gaoyuan
Lin Shidong
Chen Xingtong
Kuai Man
Lin Gaoyuan
Chen Xingtong
WTT Star Contender LjubljanaLjubljana,
Slovenia
Fan Zhendong Sun Yingsha Lin Shidong
Xiang Peng
Wang Yidi
Kuai Man
Wang Chuqin
Sun Yingsha
WTT Star Contender LanzhouLanzhou,
China
Wang Chuqin Alexis Lebrun
Felix Lebrun
Chen Meng
Wang Manyu
Lin Shidong
Kuai Man
2024
WTT Star Contender DohaDoha,
Qatar
Wang Chuqin Sun Yingsha Liang Jingkun
Yuan Licen
Chen Xingtong
Qian Tianyi
Wang Chuqin
Sun Yingsha
WTT Star Contender GoaGoa,
India
Felix Lebrun Cheng I-ching Lim Jong-hoon
An Jae-hyun
Shin Yu-bin
Jeon Ji-hee
Lim Jong-hoon
Shin Yu-bin
WTT Star Contender LjubljanaLjubljana,
Slovenia
WTT Star Contender BangkokBangkok,
Thailand
Tomokazu Harimoto Mima Ito
WTT Star Contender LanzhouLanzhou,
China



WTT Contenders

Then the final tier, the WTT Contenders, allows the rest of the professional players throughout the world rankings to develop their talents in up to 14 events per year, each one lasting for four days.

Players: Flexible playing system

Length of event: Flexible playing system

Number of events: Up to 14 events

TourHost cityMen's singlesWomen's singlesMen's doublesWomen's doublesMixed doubles
2023
WTT Contender DurbanDurban,
South Africa
Hugo Calderano Qian Tianyi Chen Yuanyu
Lin Shidong
Zhang Rui
Kuai Man
Lin Shidong
Kuai Man
WTT Contender DohaDoha,
Qatar
Fan Siqi
WTT Contender AmmanAmman,
Jordan
Lin Shidong Mima Ito Liu Yebo
Xu Yingbin
Cheng I-ching
Li Yu-jhun
WTT Contender LagosLagos,
Nigeria
Zhou Qihao Shin Yu-bin Jang Woo-jin
Lim Jong-hoon
Jeon Ji-hee
Shin Yu-bin
Xiang Peng
Liu Weishan
WTT Contender TunisTunis,
Tunisia
Anton Kallberg Miwa Harimoto Jang Woo-jin
Park Gang-hyeon
Sutirtha Mukherjee
Ayhika Mukherjee
Lin Yun-ju
Chen Szu-yu
WTT Contender ZagrebZagreb,
Croatia
Lin Gaoyuan Miu Hirano Lin Shidong
Yuan Licen
Jeon Ji-hee
Shin Yu-bin
Wang Chuqin
Sun Yingsha
WTT Contender LimaLima,
Peru
Marcos Freitas Shin Yu-bin Mizuki Oikawa
Sora Matsushima
Jeon Ji-hee
Shin Yu-bin
Álvaro Robles
María Xiao
WTT Contender Rio de JaneiroRio,
Brazil
Mattias Falck Hina Hayata An Jae-hyun
Lim Jong-hoon
Jeon Ji-hee
Shin Yu-bin
Lim Jong-hoon
Shin Yu-bin
WTT Contender AlmatyAlmaty,
Kazakhstan
Lin Yun-ju Kuai Man Lin Shidong
Xu Yingbin
Chen Yi
Kuai Man
Cho Dae-seong
Joo Cheon-hui
WTT Contender MuscatMuscat,
Oman
Hugo Calderano Hina Hayata Patrick Franziska
Dimitrij Ovtcharov
Ng Wing Lam
Zhu Chengzhu
Lin Yun-ju
Chen Szu-yu
WTT Contender AntalyaAntalya,
Turkey
Felix Lebrun Hina Hayata Lim Jong-hoon
An Jae-hyun
Orawan Paranang
Suthasini Sawettabut
Tomokazu Harimoto
Hina Hayata
WTT Contender TaiyuanTaiyuan,
China
Liang Jingkun Wang Manyu Lin Gaoyuan
Lin Shidong
Chen Xingtong
Qian Tianyi
Lin Shidong
Kuai Man
2024
WTT Contender DohaDoha,
Qatar
Timo Boll Jeon Ji-hee Lim Jong-hoon
Lee Sang-su
Jeon Ji-hee
Shin Yu-bin
Wang Chuqin
Sun Yingsha
WTT Contender TaiyuanTaiyuan,
China
Liang Jingkun Chen Xingtong Ma Long
Lin Gaoyuan
Chen Yi
Kuai Man
Lin Shidong
Kuai Man
WTT Contender Rio de JaneiroRio,
Brazil
Hugo Calderano Miyu Nagasaki An Jae-hyun
Oh Jun-sung
Honoka Hashimoto
Hitomi Sato
Lim Jong-hoon
Shin Yu-bin
WTT Contender MendozaMendoza, Argentina Benedikt Duda Sakura Mori Horacio Cifuentes
Santiago Lorenzo
Sakura Mori
Miyu Nagasaki
Yuta Tanaka
Miyu Nagasaki
WTT Contender ZagrebZagreb,
Croatia
Alexis Lebrun Alexis Lebrun
Simon Gauzy
Sakura Yokoi
Satsuki Odo
WTT Contender LagosLagos,
Nigeria
Dimitrij Ovtcharov Sreeja Akula Harmeet Desai
Manav Thakkar
Sreeja Akula
Archana Kamath
Lim Jong-hoon
Shin Yu-bin
WTT Contender TunisTunis,
Tunisia
Tomokazu Harimoto Miwa Harimoto Tomokazu Harimoto
Hina Hayata
WTT Contender LimaLima,
Peru



WTT Contender AlmatyAlmaty,
Kazakhstan



Notes and References

  1. Web site: Introducing WTT. Worldtabletennis.com.
  2. News: Table tennis requires change and innovation, says WTT Council Chair Liu. China Daily. 2020-12-01.
  3. News: WTT Macau Recap: Raising the $ Bar for the Sport. ButterflyOnline.com. 2020-11-30. Hopkins. Steve.
  4. News: Frequently Asked Question. WTT. 2020-06-11. https://web.archive.org/web/20201204091835/https://res.cloudinary.com/tt-kharkiv/image/upload/v1592218072/WTT%20%28World%20Table%20Tennis%29/wtt-faq-11-june-2020.pdf. 2020-12-04.
  5. Web site: ITTF Archives. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20110301103409/http://www.ittf.com/museum/archives/index.html. 2011-03-01.
  6. Web site: ITTF and TMS International end exclusive marketing agreement. ittf.com. 22 November 2016. 3 April 2024.
  7. Web site: A Message from the CEO I World Table Tennis Origins. Around The Rings.
  8. Web site: 29 May 2019. ITTF ready for revolution through World Table Tennis. ITTF.com.
  9. Web site: Carp. Sam. 3 March 2020. World Table Tennis plans include event revamp and double prize money. Sports Pro Media.
  10. Web site: Welcome to World Table Tennis!. www.gosports.com.my.
  11. Web site: 29 June 2020. China's table tennis chief Liu Guoliang named WTT Council head. Chinadaily.
  12. Web site: McCullagh. Kevin. 29 June 2020. Chinese table tennis president appointed to lead WTT Council. Sport business.
  13. Web site: Hua. Xia. 12 November 2020. WTT tournament to debut in Macao in November. Xinhua Net.
  14. Web site: 19 November 2020. Table tennis' biggest stars to compete at WTT Macao 2020 presented by Galaxy Entertainment Group. Government Information Bureau of the Macao SAR.
  15. Web site: Hopkins. Steve. 30 November 2020. WTT Macau Recap: Raising the $ Bar for the Sport. Butterfly Online.
  16. Web site: Cline. Warren. Melissa Soobratty joins as WTT Senior Media Director. 5 December 2020. thesportyworld.com.
    Web site: Svenson. David. 4 December 2020. WTT appoints Soobratty to lead media rights strategy. Sports Business.
  17. Web site: Grand Smashes – everything you need to know!. Worldtabletennis.com.
  18. Web site: Lee. David. 4 March 2020. Paddlers get bigger payout in new WTT format. Straits Times.
  19. Web site: Houston. Michael. 13 March 2020. Bidding open for 2021 rebranded World Table Tennis events. www.insidethegames.biz.