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Many table tennis enthusiasts are understandably confused by the WTT events, as these tournaments are relatively new and some are still undergoing modifications. I’ve been following the WTT Series for a year, and this article aims to explain WTT events. I’ll cover what the WTT events are, why they were introduced, the tiers of WTT events, who can qualify, which events are played, how the matches are set up, how much points are awarded, and where to watch these events.
| WTT Event | Who can qualify | What events are played | Match Set-up | Points Awarded |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Smash | Top-ranked players | Men’s Singles Women’s Singles Men’s Doubles Women’s Doubles Mixed Doubles | Multiple tables; High production in higher rounds | Winner - 2000 Finalist - 1400 Semi-finalist - 700 |
| Finals | Top 16 | Men’s Singles Women’s Singles | Single table; 1 game at a time; Every match is high production | Winner - 1500 Finalist - 1050 Semi-finalist - 525 |
| Champions | Top 32 | Men’s Singles Women’s Singles | Single table; 1 game at a time; Every match is high production | Winner - 1000 Finalist - 700 Semi-finalist - 350 |
| Contender | Top players including up and coming players | Men’s Singles Women’s Singles Men’s Doubles Women’s Doubles Mixed Doubles | Multiple tables; cameras are far from the tables | Winner - 400 Finalist - 280 Semi-finalist - 140 |
* Overview of the WTT events. More on this later.
What are WTT Events?
WTT (World Table Tennis) events are international table tennis competitions organized by World Table Tennis, the commercial arm of the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF). These events aim to elevate the global appeal of table tennis by enhancing its commercial, media, and entertainment aspects. WTT events are structured in tiers, with each offering different levels of competition and prize money.
It replaced the ITTF World Tour. These days, you will no longer see ‘Open Tournaments’ like the Qatar Open, China Open, Korea Open, etc. These were part of the ITTF World Tour, also known as the ITTF Pro Tour, and have been replaced by the newly created WTT.
Why WTT events were introduced?
WTT (World Table Tennis) events were introduced as part of a strategic overhaul by the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) to modernize the sport, increase its global appeal, and boost its commercial value. WTT replaced the long-standing ITTF World Tour for several key reasons:
- Enhancing the Commercial Value of the Sport
The ITTF recognized that table tennis had untapped commercial potential, particularly in terms of media rights, sponsorship, and fan engagement. WTT was created to professionalize the sport further by adopting a more business-focused model. The aim was to attract larger sponsors, improve media coverage, and make the sport more appealing to global audiences through better marketing.
- Improving the Viewing Experience
The ITTF World Tour had a traditional format that lacked the entertainment value that other sports had begun to offer. WTT events were designed with improved media production, better storytelling, and more fan engagement, making it more attractive for television and digital audiences. Enhancing the viewing experience, both in arenas and on broadcasts, became a central focus.
- Creating a Clearer Event Structure
The ITTF World Tour often had many events with inconsistent formats, which could be confusing for fans and players alike. The WTT event structure is more streamlined, with distinct event tiers like WTT Grand Smashes, WTT Champions, WTT Cup Finals, and WTT Contenders. These clear distinctions in event hierarchy help make the calendar easier to follow and give players more structured paths to success.
- Raising the Profile of the Sport’s Stars
A major goal of WTT is to elevate the profiles of table tennis players globally. The format and presentation of WTT events are designed to create more narrative drama and excitement around key players and rivalries.
- Boosting Opportunities for Emerging Players
The WTT structure includes the “WTT Contenders” series, which gives emerging and lower-ranked players more opportunities to compete and earn ranking points. This helps develop talent from across the world and provides a clearer pathway for younger players to ascend the rankings.
- Aligning with Global Sports Trends
WTT was also introduced to align table tennis with global trends in sports entertainment, where events are no longer just about the competition, but also about creating a spectacle for fans, both on-site and via digital platforms. This means bigger venues, more fan interaction, and enhanced production values.
What are the WTT Tier of Events?
WTT events are structured in tiers, with each offering different levels of competition and prize money. The four main types of WTT events are:
- WTT Grand Smashes: These are the premier events attracting top players and offering the highest prize money.
- WTT Cup Finals: End-of-year events featuring the top-ranked players from the WTT series, based on their performance throughout the season.
- WTT Champions: Featuring the best players globally, this tier focuses on high-level competition, with a smaller number of participants.
- WTT Contenders: Aimed at providing competitive opportunities to up-and-coming players and those looking to improve their rankings.
Who can qualify for the WTT Events?
- WTT Grand Smashes
- Top-ranked players from the ITTF world rankings automatically qualify.
- Wildcard entries are given to promising players or local stars.
- WTT Cup Finals
- Only the top 16 players in the men’s and women’s singles rankings qualify.
- No doubles or mixed doubles events are played at the WTT Cup Finals.
- WTT Champions
- Top 32 players from the ITTF world rankings automatically qualify.
- Wildcard entries may be given to rising stars, host country players, or based on performance in other WTT events.
- WTT Contenders
- Open to a wider range of players, including up-and-coming players and mid-ranked professionals.
- Players qualify based on their ITTF rankings, but the field is more inclusive, allowing lower-ranked players to participate.
- Qualification tournaments may be held before the main event to fill available slots.
What are the events played in the WTT series?
1. WTT Grand Smashes
• Men’s Singles
• Women’s Singles
• Men’s Doubles
• Women’s Doubles
• Mixed Doubles
2. WTT Cup Finals
• Men’s Singles
• Women’s Singles
3. WTT Champions
• Men’s Singles
• Women’s Singles
4. WTT Contenders
• Men’s Singles
• Women’s Singles
• Men’s Doubles
• Women’s Doubles
• Mixed Doubles
How the games are played?
Games are played best-of-five for the lower round and best-of-seven for the higher rounds. Multiple tables are used for the WTT Grand Smash and Contender series. For the WTT Champions and Cup Finals only one table used and therefore only 1 match are livestreamed at a time. This is to ensure that the best TV production and entertainment is presented to fans.
How much points are awarded for WTT Events Winners?
The amount of ranking points awarded depends on which WTT event the player won. The most points are awarded in the WTT Grand Smash, followed by the Finals, then Champions, and lastly, Contender events. Here are points awarded a player reach at least semi-finals for each event.
WTT Grand Smash
Winner – 2000
Finalist – 1400
Semi-finalist – 700
WTT Finals
Winner – 1500
Finalist – 1050
Semi-finalist – 525
WTT Champions
Winner – 1000
Finalist – 700
Semi-finalist – 350
WTT Contender
Winner – 400
Finalist – 280
Semi-finalist – 140
Where to watch WTT Events?
The WTT Contender Series are livestreamed in the WTT YouTube Channel. Some of the games of the WTT Grand Smash specially the qualifying and lower rounds can be watched live in the WTT YouTube Channel. However, the higher round especially higher seed and big personalities like Ma long can only be watched via a live broadcaster. The live broadcaster depends on which country you belong
* Photo Credit WTT (Source: WTT Facebook Post )
These are sample live broadcaster in the WTT Champions Montpellier in 2024.
Please note though that these live broadcasters are paid subscriptions .
Lastly, WTT Champions and Cup Finals can only be watched via live broadcaster. These events are not livestreamed in the WTT Youtube Channel.
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