The North Korean Table Tennis team will cross the Korean Peninsula border to play at the Seamaster 2018 ITTF World Tour Platinum Korean Open in Daejeon South Korea on 17-22 July. A historic event initiated by the ITTF Foundation. The news comes after the North Korean and South Korean team formed a unified team for the semi-final at the Liebherr 2018 World Table Tennis Championships which was a sign of peace on the table tennis table. ITTF President Thomas WEIKERT stated: “It is a proud moment for the ITTF to be able to support another sign of peace on the Korean Peninsula by helping North Korea send a team to the Korean Open. After the momentous unified team at the 2018 World Table Tennis Championships which showed the world that countries can find peace on a table tennis table.” The North Korean team is sending a delegation to South Korea the move serving as the next chapter of a long history of table tennis diplomacy. Table tennis will once again act as a vehicle for peace. The newly formed ITTF Foundation is supporting the team to compete in the fourth ITTF World Tour Platinum event of 2018 as part of its Ping Pong Diplomacy program which is the first big program of the Foundation that promotes solidarity through table tennis. Led by Rio 2016 bronze medalist KIM Song I the North Koreans are fresh from their strong showing at the Pyongyang Open held last month. Qualification for the Seamaster 2018 ITTF World Tour Platinum Korean Open starts on 17 July with the main draw starting on the 19th. More details to come soon. Quick Links: Seamaster 2018 ITTF World Tour Platinum Korea Open Main event schedule Player Entry (Men) Player Entry (Women)
Butterfly Europa 25 for the European elite in Alicante
LIEBHERR 2018 ITTF-European Championships ETTU ITTF-Europe and the Local Organising Committee are delighted to announce that Butterfly will be the table supplier for the LIEBHERR 2018 ITTF-European Championships. Tables will be the Europa 25 model. The event will be held in Alicante between 18th and 23rd September when champions in singles doubles and mixed doubles will be crowned. Tickets are now available and can be purchased at Ticketmaster here – More information can be found at Liebherr 2018 ITTF-European Championships (ITTF) Liebherr 2018 ITTF-European Championships (ETTU) Local Website Ticket Sales Eurosport Broadcast Schedule Title sponsor: Liebherr Official Ball supplier: Nittaku Official Floor supplier: Enlio Offical Table supplier: Butterfly https://www.butterfly.tt/
The best 11 teams and the host Belarus will qualify for the 2nd European Games
Starting from July the Special Team Ranking will be published every month until December 2018 At the 2nd European Games June 2019 in Minsk 12 men’s teams and 12 women’s teams will participate. The best 11 teams according to the Special Team Ranking List as of 1 December 2018 and the host NOC Belarus will qualify. Starting from July the Special Team Ranking will be published every month until December 2018. The Special Team Ranking is made according to the same system as the ITTF World Team Ranking but including all players who are eligible for the Olympic and European Games: Everyone who is eligible for World Title events Everyone who has ever participated in the Olympic Games without being eligible for World Title Events All players over 21 years old who registered with ITTF for a change of Association and have the new nationality already for more than 9 years. Therefore the Special Team Ranking can differ from the World Team Ranking. At the first List issued today the lading team is Germany followed by Sweden France Portugal Austria Great Britain Russia Slovenia Croatia Belgium…In Women’s List Romania is a the top followed by Germany Austria Poland Hungary Netherlands Russia Czech Republic Luxembourg Spain… You can see complete and detailed list at the European games page Quick links Organisers Website Regulations and documents
The best 11 teams and the host Belarus will qualify for the 2nd European Games
Starting from July the Special Team Ranking will be published every month until December 2018 At the 2nd European Games June 2019 in Minsk 12 men’s teams and 12 women’s teams will participate. The best 11 teams according to the Special Team Ranking List as of 1 December 2018 and the host NOC Belarus will qualify. Starting from July the Special Team Ranking will be published every month until December 2018. The Special Team Ranking is made according to the same system as the ITTF World Team Ranking but including all players who are eligible for the Olympic and European Games: Everyone who is eligible for World Title events Everyone who has ever participated in the Olympic Games without being eligible for World Title Events All players over 21 years old who registered with ITTF for a change of Association and have the new nationality already for more than 9 years. Therefore the Special Team Ranking can differ from the World Team Ranking. At the first List issued today the lading team is Germany followed by Sweden France Portugal Austria Great Britain Russia Slovenia Croatia Belgium…In Women’s List Romania is a the top followed by Germany Austria Poland Hungary Netherlands Russia Czech Republic Luxembourg Spain… You can see complete and detailed list at the European games page Quick links Organisers Website Regulations and documents
Reigning Seamseter ECLW champion gets stronger
Draw for the 2018/19 ECLW to be held this Saturday July 7th in Saarbrucken The meeting and draw for the Seamaster 2018/19 European Champions League Women will be held this Saturday July 7th (10h30 – 16h30 CET) at the Victor’s Residenz-Hotel in Saarbrücken. Twelve clubs will be divided in four groups like in last several seasons as best two from each group secure their spots for the quarter-finals. Defending champion and No 1 seed Dr. Časl from Croatia strengthened its roster with two famous names Luxembourg’s NI Xia Lian (WR 41) and Turkey`s HU Melek (WR 50) actual individual European champion who participated in the 2017/18 ECLW final in Bursa`s jersey. Chinese Chinese LIU Gaoyang (WR 392) has concluded the list of newcomers while the 2017/18 line-up extended their contracts – Hong Kong`s DOO Hoi Kem (WR 13) LI Jie (29) and YU Fu (WR 35) – as well as domestic players Dorina SREBRNJAK (WR 152) and Mirela DURAK (WR 292) No. 2 seed and two-times ECLW runner-up Poland`s KTS Enea Siarka Tarnobrzeg has kept the same leading quartet – Elizabeta SAMARA (WR 19) HAN Ying (WR 26) LI Qian (WR 31) and Viktoryia PAVLOVICH (WR 55) while other players in the Zbignew NECEK squad are following: GU Ruochen (WR 134) Kinga STEFANSKA (WR 271) and Agata ZAKRZEWSKA (WR 455). ECLW record holder with four crowns TC Berlin Eastside occupies third place on the Seeding list with three new names: GU Yuting (WR 17) Matilda EKHOLM (WR 30) and Nina MITTELHAM (WR 58). Two Berlin`s legends Georgina POTA (WR 37) and SHAN Xiaona (WR 54) will try to secure their places in the line-up guided again by Coach Irina PALINA. Two-times winner Linz AG Froschberg has decided to build its new team around Sofia POLCANOVA (WR 18) who will be supported by Hong Kong`s SOO Wai Yam Minnie (WR 33) Japan`s Yui HAMAMOTO (WR 34) Linda BERGSTRÖM (WR 113) Mariia TAILAKOVA (WR 126) Karoline MISCHEK (WR 159) Denise Payet (WR 318) and Rebekka CARLSEN (WR 339). Former Froschberg`s ZHANG Mo (WR 23) has signed for TT Saint-Quentinois being best ranked player of No. 5 ECLW seed. French side also counts on Polina MIKHAYLOVA (WR 49) Audrey ZARIF (WR 112) and Olga MIKHAYLOVA ( – ) Aurore LE MANSEC ( – ) and Lou FRETE ( – ). There are two newcomers among the 12 ECLW participants Etival Clairefontaine ASRTT from France (No. 6 seed) and Portugal`s Sporting Clube de Portugal SCP (No. 12). French side is better ranked than Portugal`s one but Sporting has two well experienced players in the ECLW Daniela DODEAN MONTEIRO (WR 95 her husband plays in the Sporting men`s team) and 2013 European Champion in the Women`s Singles Event LI Fen (WR 153) from Sweden. Seamaster 2018/19 ECLW Seeding List 1 Dr. Časl (CRO) 30.318 2 KTS Enea Siarka Tarnobrzeg (POL) 29.443 3 TTC Berlin eastside (GER) 28.701 4 Linz AG Froschberg (AUT) 23.319 5 TT Saint-Quentinois (FRA) 20.924 6 Etival Clairefontaine ASRTT (FRA) 12.320 7 Metz TT (FRA) 11.722 8 SKST Stavoimpex Hodonin (CZE) 11.265 9 LZ Linz Froschberg (AUT) 9.939 10 UCAM Cartagena T.M (ESP) 8.301 11 Budaörsi 2I SC (HUN) 8.253 12 Sporting Clube de Portugal SCP (POR) 8.070
Reigning Seamseter ECLW champion gets stronger
Draw for the 2018/19 ECLW to be held this Saturday July 7th in Saarbrucken The meeting and draw for the Seamaster 2018/19 European Champions League Women will be held this Saturday July 7th (10h30 – 16h30 CET) at the Victor’s Residenz-Hotel in Saarbrücken. Twelve clubs will be divided in four groups like in last several seasons as best two from each group secure their spots for the quarter-finals. Defending champion and No 1 seed Dr. Časl from Croatia strengthened its roster with two famous names Luxembourg’s NI Xia Lian (WR 41) and Turkey`s HU Melek (WR 50) actual individual European champion who participated in the 2017/18 ECLW final in Bursa`s jersey. Chinese Chinese LIU Gaoyang (WR 392) has concluded the list of newcomers while the 2017/18 line-up extended their contracts – Hong Kong`s DOO Hoi Kem (WR 13) LI Jie (29) and YU Fu (WR 35) – as well as domestic players Dorina SREBRNJAK (WR 152) and Mirela DURAK (WR 292) No. 2 seed and two-times ECLW runner-up Poland`s KTS Enea Siarka Tarnobrzeg has kept the same leading quartet – Elizabeta SAMARA (WR 19) HAN Ying (WR 26) LI Qian (WR 31) and Viktoryia PAVLOVICH (WR 55) while other players in the Zbignew NECEK squad are following: GU Ruochen (WR 134) Kinga STEFANSKA (WR 271) and Agata ZAKRZEWSKA (WR 455). ECLW record holder with four crowns TC Berlin Eastside occupies third place on the Seeding list with three new names: GU Yuting (WR 17) Matilda EKHOLM (WR 30) and Nina MITTELHAM (WR 58). Two Berlin`s legends Georgina POTA (WR 37) and SHAN Xiaona (WR 54) will try to secure their places in the line-up guided again by Coach Irina PALINA. Two-times winner Linz AG Froschberg has decided to build its new team around Sofia POLCANOVA (WR 18) who will be supported by Hong Kong`s SOO Wai Yam Minnie (WR 33) Japan`s Yui HAMAMOTO (WR 34) Linda BERGSTRÖM (WR 113) Mariia TAILAKOVA (WR 126) Karoline MISCHEK (WR 159) Denise Payet (WR 318) and Rebekka CARLSEN (WR 339). Former Froschberg`s ZHANG Mo (WR 23) has signed for TT Saint-Quentinois being best ranked player of No. 5 ECLW seed. French side also counts on Polina MIKHAYLOVA (WR 49) Audrey ZARIF (WR 112) and Olga MIKHAYLOVA ( – ) Aurore LE MANSEC ( – ) and Lou FRETE ( – ). There are two newcomers among the 12 ECLW participants Etival Clairefontaine ASRTT from France (No. 6 seed) and Portugal`s Sporting Clube de Portugal SCP (No. 12). French side is better ranked than Portugal`s one but Sporting has two well experienced players in the ECLW Daniela DODEAN MONTEIRO (WR 95 her husband plays in the Sporting men`s team) and 2013 European Champion in the Women`s Singles Event LI Fen (WR 153) from Sweden. Seamaster 2018/19 ECLW Seeding List 1 Dr. Časl (CRO) 30.318 2 KTS Enea Siarka Tarnobrzeg (POL) 29.443 3 TTC Berlin eastside (GER) 28.701 4 Linz AG Froschberg (AUT) 23.319 5 TT Saint-Quentinois (FRA) 20.924 6 Etival Clairefontaine ASRTT (FRA) 12.320 7 Metz TT (FRA) 11.722 8 SKST Stavoimpex Hodonin (CZE) 11.265 9 LZ Linz Froschberg (AUT) 9.939 10 UCAM Cartagena T.M (ESP) 8.301 11 Budaörsi 2I SC (HUN) 8.253 12 Sporting Clube de Portugal SCP (POR) 8.070
Borussia Dusseldorf tops 2018/19 TTCLM seeding list
Draw to be held this Friday July 6th in Saarbrucken The meeting and draw for the 2018/19 Table Tennis Champions League Men will take place this Friday July 6th at the Victor’s Residenz-Hotel in Saarbrücken (13h30 to 19h00 CET). As usual top 16 European clubs are going to participate in this prestigious competition divided in four groups. After seven years Fakel Gazprom Orenburg will not be drawn no. 1 seed as this place belongs to the actual TTCLM champion and 11-times winner Borussia Dusseldorf. Last time Timo BOLL & Co. topped the seeding list seven years ago and this time they have 37 121 points followed by two Russian clubs Orenburg (36 775) and TTSC UMMC (28 001) Germany`s Saarbrucken (24 063) Poland`s Dartom Bogoria Grodzisk Mazowiecki (21 903) two-times TTCLM winner AS Pontoise Cergi (France 21 871) GV Hennebont (Frnce 20 298)… A total 34 players ranked among the Top 100 at the ITTF World Ranking list are promising spectacular season with some new names like UMMC`s FANG Bo from China (actual No. 32) the runner-up from the 2015 ITTF World Championships in Suzhou. Many clubs have made significant changes in their line-ups. Defending champion Borussia signed the 2018 ITTF African-Cup winner Omar ASSAR (WR 17) instead of Stefan FEGERL while 2017/18 TTCLM runner-up Orenburg has parted ways with former Assian champion Jun MIZUTANI and signed 2015 ITTF European Championships silver medalist Marcos FREITAS (WR 16). Four-time TTCLM champion Fakel Gazprom now has three former Borussia`s players: Dimitrij OVTCHAROV (WR 3) Marcos FREITAS and Vladimir SAMSONOV (WR 26). No. 3 seed and 2012 runner-up UMMC strengthened its line-up with one more world class player Jonathan GROTH (WR 19) from Denmark. No. 4 Saarbrucken kept just one member from its last year`s starting trio Patrick FRANZISKA (WR 25) while LIAO Cheng-Ting (WR 46) and Darko JORGIC (WR 67) are new names. Sporting Clube de Portugal actual No. 9 seed and last season`s semi-finalists is continuing with the same line-up from their debuting campaign: Aruna QUADRI (WR 22) Joao MONTEIRO (WR 71) Diogo CARVALHO (WR 194). German Post SV Mühlhausen 1951 e.V the 2018/19 No. 10 seed will be unique TTCLM newcomer. They will be represented by former Niederosterreich`s Daniel HABESOHN (WR 53) Ovidiu IONESCU (WR 64) Lubomir JANCARIK (WR 113) and Steffen MENGEL (358). 2018/19 Table Tennis Champions League Men 1 Borussia Düsseldorf (GER) 37121 2 Fakel-Gazprom Orenburg (RUS) 36775 3 TTSC “UMMC” (RUS) 28001 4 FC Saarbrücken TT (GER) 24063 5 KS Dartom Bogoria Grodzisk Mazowiecki (POL) 21903 6 AS Pontoise Cergy TT (FRA) 21871 7 GV Hennebont TT (FRA) 20298 8 K.S. Dekorglass Dzialdowo (POL) 19760 9 Sporting Clube de Portugal (POR) 18726 10 Post SV Mühlhausen 1951 e.V. (GER) 18477 11 VS Angers TT (FRA) 15850 12 Stella Sport La Romagne (FRA) 12615 13 Table Tennis Club Ostrava 2016 (CZE) 11323 14 Roskilde Bordtennis BTK 61 (DEN) 9648 15 SPG Walter Wels (AUT) 9577 16 Eslövs AI BTK (SWE) 8845
ITTF Announces Pioneering Plans for 2021 Commercial Rights Cycle
The International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) today announced revolutionary plans to professionalize the sport by 2021. As part of the announcement the ITTF signed an agreement with Sportsmaster to set up a new professional tournament platform in 2021 with an integrated commercial programme that will take the sport to the next level. The strategy unifies the ITTF World Tour TTX (Table Tennis X) World Veterans Tour and T2APAC League under ITTF’s new professional platform. With this table tennis will become one of the first sports to have its world championships and truly professional platforms under one roof connected to its world ranking and Olympic Qualification systems. Innovation and change for playersA major part of the Sportsmaster contract is to assist the ITTF to fully professionalize its World Tour. As part of this deal in 2019 and 2020 the ITTF will grant T2APAC the rights to arrange Diamond events. In doing so T2APAC will act as an innovation engine testing the feasibility of new initiatives that will help ensure that the Seamaster ITTF World Tour will be restructured and taken to the next level and transform the future of the sport in 2021. These include new gameplay formats ball-tracking technology player management and broadcast innovations etc. If this proves to be successful the ITTF will consider with all its stakeholders a milestone shift for the way it’s events deal with players and event organizers. Commercial rights availability driving the changeITTF currently have commercial rights agreement for the ITTF World Tour TTX and World Veterans Tour with Sportsmaster until 2020 and the ITTF will then go to market in 2019 with a fully integrated commercial programme covering 2021 and beyond. ITTF CEO Steve DAINTON stated: “With our commercial rights in 2021 becoming available we have analyzed our core product offerings to ensure they provide the maximum commercial value. To make this happen we have pushed through instrumental changes to our products to really transform table tennis into one of the leading sports globally. “During meetings at the 2018 World Table Tennis Championships the ITTF approved the first massive step by expanding the World Table Tennis Championships. Today we announce the next big step which is our new professional platform. This will be quite unique for a sport having its World Championships and a separate yet truly professional platform under one roof which is all connected to the world ranking and Olympic qualification which we believe will make us pioneers in the sporting world.” ITTF President Thomas WEIKERT stated: “This is potentially one of the most significant steps that we have taken as a federation. It is a great step for us as we professionalize the sport and create a brand new proposition for the players and fans together with the ITTF family. This change is a result of many years of support and synergy with various partners in the sport. We must acknowledge the vision of Mr Frank JI who has spearheaded the development of this partnership.” At the announcement Sportsmaster Founder Frank JI stated: “Table tennis has massive untapped commercial potential. Over the past few years we’ve worked with the ITTF to unlock this commercial potential and believe that together we can professionalize and turn table-tennis into a leading sport globally” Find out the more about historic moment here Quick Links: Photos for Editorial Use
ITTF Announces Pioneering Plans for 2021 Commercial Rights Cycle
The International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) today announced revolutionary plans to professionalize the sport by 2021. As part of the announcement the ITTF signed an agreement with Sportsmaster to set up a new professional tournament platform in 2021 with an integrated commercial programme that will take the sport to the next level. The strategy unifies the ITTF World Tour TTX (Table Tennis X) World Veterans Tour and T2APAC League under ITTF’s new professional platform. With this table tennis will become one of the first sports to have its world championships and truly professional platforms under one roof connected to its world ranking and Olympic Qualification systems. Innovation and change for playersA major part of the Sportsmaster contract is to assist the ITTF to fully professionalize its World Tour. As part of this deal in 2019 and 2020 the ITTF will grant T2APAC the rights to arrange Diamond events. In doing so T2APAC will act as an innovation engine testing the feasibility of new initiatives that will help ensure that the Seamaster ITTF World Tour will be restructured and taken to the next level and transform the future of the sport in 2021. These include new gameplay formats ball-tracking technology player management and broadcast innovations etc. If this proves to be successful the ITTF will consider with all its stakeholders a milestone shift for the way it’s events deal with players and event organizers. Commercial rights availability driving the changeITTF currently have commercial rights agreement for the ITTF World Tour TTX and World Veterans Tour with Sportsmaster until 2020 and the ITTF will then go to market in 2019 with a fully integrated commercial programme covering 2021 and beyond. ITTF CEO Steve DAINTON stated: “With our commercial rights in 2021 becoming available we have analyzed our core product offerings to ensure they provide the maximum commercial value. To make this happen we have pushed through instrumental changes to our products to really transform table tennis into one of the leading sports globally. “During meetings at the 2018 World Table Tennis Championships the ITTF approved the first massive step by expanding the World Table Tennis Championships. Today we announce the next big step which is our new professional platform. This will be quite unique for a sport having its World Championships and a separate yet truly professional platform under one roof which is all connected to the world ranking and Olympic qualification which we believe will make us pioneers in the sporting world.” ITTF President Thomas WEIKERT stated: “This is potentially one of the most significant steps that we have taken as a federation. It is a great step for us as we professionalize the sport and create a brand new proposition for the players and fans together with the ITTF family. This change is a result of many years of support and synergy with various partners in the sport. We must acknowledge the vision of Mr Frank JI who has spearheaded the development of this partnership.” At the announcement Sportsmaster Founder Frank JI stated: “Table tennis has massive untapped commercial potential. Over the past few years we’ve worked with the ITTF to unlock this commercial potential and believe that together we can professionalize and turn table-tennis into a leading sport globally” Find out the more about historic moment here Quick Links: Photos for Editorial Use
Gold for Slovenia and Spain in Tarragona
Mediterranean Games 2018 At the Mediterranean Games 2018 in Spanish Tarragona Slovenia’s Darko JORGIC added another title to his record. After he clinched gold in Men’s Singles Event JORGIC helped team of Slovenia to reach the highest step at the medal rostrum in Men’s Team’s Event. Together with Bojan TOKIC he beat France in the final 3:1. Alexandre ROBINOT Leo DE NORDEST and Joe SEYFRIED played for French team which managed to grab the only point in doubles. In the match for bronze Portugal’s Diogo CARVALHO and CHEN Diogo beat Spain 3:2. After Galia DVORAK won bronze in Singles Event she went with top position with Spain in Team’s Event. Teamed with Maria XIAO GALIA overcame Turkey 3:0 on her way to gold medal. Ozge YILMAZ Sibel ALTINKAYA and Gulpembe OZKAYA played for Turkey. France beat Greece in match for bronze.
