by 729 fx (Posted Mon Mar 08, 2010 9:01 pm) Read Main Topic
by 729 fx (Posted Sun Mar 07, 2010 9:42 pm)Oh BTW, the price of a normal carbon Blutenkirshe blade cost from US$20.00 upwards to my knowledge.Read Main Topic
by 729 fx (Posted Sun Mar 07, 2010 9:19 pm)The summary of results at the Latin American TT Championship :Men’s SinglesFinalLIU Song (ARG) bt Cazuo MATSUMOTO (BRA) 11-5, 11-5, 15-13, 11-6Women’s SinglesFinalYadira SILVA (MEX) bt Ligia SILVA (BRA) 9-11, 11-9, 11-5, 10-12, 16-14, 11-8Men’s DoublesFinalHugo HOYAMA/Cazuo MATSUMOTO (BRA) bt Guillermo MUÑOZ/Jude OKOH (MEX) 11-9, 11-6, 11-9Women’s DoublesFinalRuiadda EZZEDDINE/Fabiola RAMOS (VEN) bt Berta RODRIGUEZ/Maria Paulina VEGA (CHI) 11-6, 11-8, 11-8Mixed DoublesFinalCazuo MATSUMOTO/Ligia SILVA (BRA) bt Jude OKOH/Yadira SILVA (MEX) 11-9, 11-6, 12-10Under 21 Men’s SinglesFinalAlberto MIÑO (ECU) bt Juan VILA (DOM) 11-8, 11-2, 6-11, 11-9Under 21 Women’s SinglesFinalPaula MEDINA (COL) bt Ruaidda EZZEDDINE (BRA) 11-8, 8-11, 11-6, 11-7Read Main Topic
by ejunkie (Posted Sun Mar 07, 2010 3:49 am)OK the adjustment to the handle after using regular one had driven me crazy since I use so many different blades on a regular basis. I use at least three to four blades currently. So I finally got rip of the Dotec, finally said good bye to Dotec handle.Read Main Topic
by 729 fx (Posted Wed Mar 03, 2010 8:02 pm)I was informed Rule 3.05 (maybe 3.05.02, but am not sure the exact clause) dictates on distraction (by players talking/mumbling/making noises etc) in the middle of game. Say if player A say something when playing against player B in a game, what will happen?Let's dissect the scenario.1) If it's done with purpose to distract the other player, what will happen?2) if it is the nature of player A to mumble some words during play but no intention to distract player B, what will happen ?Read Main Topic
by 729 fx (Posted Wed Mar 03, 2010 7:56 pm)There is no max amount of time for players to towel up or take a drink. It is total judgment call by the umpire.Read Main Topic
by 729 fx (Posted Wed Mar 03, 2010 7:53 pm)Ma Lin (China), gold medallist in the Men’s Singles event at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games and compatriot Liu Shiwen, the world’s no.1 ranked woman, head the list of competitors for the Asian Cup to be staged in the Chinese city of Guangzhou from Friday 26th to Sunday 28th March 2010.The tournament immediately precedes the Volkswagen 2010 Cup – Guangzhou which will be staged in the same venue on Monday 29th and Tuesday 30th March, an event which offers a staggering total prize fund of $250,000. The winners of the Men’s and Women’s Singles events each pocket US$50,000 and drive away in a Volkswagen Tiguan Saloon car.Ma Lin and Liu Shiwen may well start as the favourites for gold in the Asian Cup but both will face strong opposition; especially from their compatriots. Zhang Jike, the 2008 winner of the Men’s Singles event at the Chinese National Championships and Xu Xin, the Men’s Singles champion at the recent Qatar Open, are both on duty; whilst similarly for Liu Shiwen, there are two in form players from China who will pose a definite threat - Guo Yan who retained her Women’s Singles crown at the ITTF Pro Tour Grand Finals in Macau in January and Guo Yue, the Women’s Singles winner at the Qatar Open in February.Meanwhile, from beyond the borders of China, Hong Kong’s Ko Lai Chak, Singapore’s Gao Ning and Yang Zi plus India’s Sharath Kamal Achanta will all be seeking to impose their presence.Similarly, in the Women’s Singles event, Singapore’s Fen Tianwei and Wang Yue Gu will present formidable opposition as will four other young ladies. Hong Kong’s experienced Lau Sui Fei, the rapidly improving Huang Yi-Hua of Chinese Taipei, the stylish Korean Seok Ha Jung and Thailand’s ever reliable Nanthan Komwong are on scheduled to compete.Furthermore, it is an opportunity for young players to prove their worth. In the Men’s Singles competition Chinese Taipei’s Chen Chien-An, Japan’s Koki Niwa, Iran’s Noshad Alamiyan plus the Korean duo of Seo Hyun Deok and Kim Min Seok will be in action. Completing the Men’s Singles list is Kuwait’s Ibrahem Al-Hasan, Chinese Taipei’s Wu Chih-Chi, Japan’s Kasuhiro Chan and Hong Kong’s Tse Ka Chun, whilst for the women the remaining places are filled by India’s Poloumi Ghatak, Hong Kong’s Zhang Rui, Iran’s Neda Shahsavari and Malaysia’s Beh Lee Wei.CompetitorsMen: Ma Lin (CHN), Zhang Jike (CHN), Xu Xin (CHN), Ibrahem Al-Hasan (Kuwait), Chen Chien-An (TPE), Wu Chih-Chi (TPE), Koki Niwa (JPN), Kasuhoro Chan (JPN), Kim Min Seok (KOR), Seo Hyun Deok (KOR), Noshad Alamiyan (IRI), Ko Lai Chak (HKG), Tse Ka Chun (HKG), Gao Ning (SIN), Yang Zi (SIN), Sharath Kamal Achanta (IND).Women: Liu Shiwen (CHN), Guo Yue (CHN), Guo Yan (CHN), Nanthana Komwong (THA), Misako Wakamiya (JPN), Yuri Yamanashi (JPN), Seok Ha Jung (KOR), Yang Ha Eun (KOR), Feng Tianwei (SIN), Wang Yue Gu (SIN), Poloumi Ghatak (IND), Lau Sui Fei (HKG), Zhang Rui (HKG), Huang Yi-Hua (TPE), Neda Shahsavari (IRI), Beh Lee Wei (MAS(Note : Source from ITTF News)Read Main Topic
by 729 fx (Posted Wed Mar 03, 2010 7:51 pm)Welcome ! Welcome ! Please welcome two of our newest tt junkies to the forum :1) papajack2222) sesandersonEnjoy your stay here and please share some of your tt junkiesm with the rest.Good day!Read Main Topic
by ejunkie (Posted Wed Mar 03, 2010 11:23 am)Well, I am suggesting that there should be a private channel for the buyers to ask questions and the sellers to answer them regarding their products.Read Main Topic
by 729 fx (Posted Wed Mar 03, 2010 2:31 am)Anyone try this ipong robot from another forum?http://www.megaspin.net/store/default.a ... pong-robotTo my understanding it can only give backspin and top spin and cannot provide side spin balls.Read Main Topic
by 729 fx (Posted Wed Mar 03, 2010 1:55 am)I've seen people talk about Galaxy(YinHe), Dawei, DHS and Double Fish table tennis equipments, but not Palio, which is surprising since their rubbers are well known and they have a large line of blades. A friend of mine who went to China(Guangzhou and Shenzen) recently mentioned that Palio are the most popular brand in China, overtaking even YinHe. The quality of the blades are good, and are easily as good as any YinHe blade in most table tennis shop. My question is that why Palio products have remained so obscure?I was informed that a few years back, their range of table tennis equipment was known as the budget brand in China. This could be the reason that they are popular. I checked out some of their rubbers, and the quality and consistency was largely there. The YinHe blades are of the better quality I have seen come out of China. Now I have seen some Palio blades to judge their quality, eg Palio TCT, T7, TNT etc. From what I can gather in other forums they have indeed lifted their products, and have now come up with some quality and top notch products.Their rubbers, especially the CJ8000 is very popular and at a reasonable price too. They have 2 types, one made in China factory, the other under ESN (like the Macro Era) which is a tensor rubber.Read Main Topic
by 729 fx (Posted Wed Mar 03, 2010 1:24 am)Which service positions are there and why is it so important to take up the optimal service position?The classical position for forehand serves is on the backhand side in order to play the next ball with the forehand from this position. The advantage is the position of the legs. The right handed player has the left leg in front and the left handed player the left one. That way it is possible to move speedily around the backhand and make a point with the forehand. On top of that this service position enables you to good placement possibilities. Another frequent option nowadays is also a serve from the middle of the table with the forehand as well as with the backhand . The players who serve with the backhand from the middle of the table don’t move around so often and are looking more for a game backhand from the backhand side and forehand from the forehand side. On the backhand side you can use the whole area from the outside to the middle of the table as a service position. That is very important for a service game with a lot of varieties(Note : Source from Butterfly Newsletter MArch 2010)Any comments?Read Main Topic
by 729 fx (Posted Wed Mar 03, 2010 1:14 am)At the National German Championships of the men and women from the 5th to the 7th of March in the Arena of Trier two record holders set new top records this year. They are Timo Boll and Nicole Struse. Boll, the number four of the world ranking list from the Butterfly Club Borussia Duesseldorf could win his 10th singles title and become the only record holder in front of Conny Freundorfer and Eberhard Schoeler who both have nine titles just like Boll. In opposite to Nicole Struse, who plays in the Bundesliga for SV Boeblingen and got into the tournament with a wild card because she didn’t qualify before, who is chasing her own record, which stands at nine singles titles since 2007. The number “ten” could go down in table tennis history in the historical roman town Trier. Winning title number ten is largely depending on the performance of the opposition in the men as well as in the women events. The clear favourite Timo Boll, who had to withdraw from the Qatar – and Kuwait Open because of a muscle injury in his upper leg, is fit again but is facing four highly motivated colleagues with Bastian Steger (Frickenhausen), as well as Dimitrij Ovtcharov, Christian Suess and Patrick Baum, his colleagues from the European Champions team, who are looking for turning possible weaknesses to their own advantage for their first title. Also worth noticing could be the performances of the three young players - Ruwen Filus from Hanau, Steffen Mengel and Patrick Franziska. In the women’s event the situation is completely different. Nicole Struse is the only record holder, who passed Hilde Bussmann and Trude Pritzi in 2005, when she won her eighth title. At the national championships 2007 in Chemnitz, Struse won title number nine already. But the favourites this time are two others: the European Champion Wu Jiaduo as well as the defending champion Elke Schall. Apart from Nicole Struse the other player, Irene Ivancan, has a chance for a medal. Defending champion Timo Boll and Nicole Struse are not starting in the doubles. Lars Hielscher/Bastian Steger are candidates for a medal.(Note : Source from Butterfly News)Read Main Topic
by 729 fx (Posted Tue Mar 02, 2010 10:19 pm)Anymore interesting table tennis movies?Read Main Topic
by 729 fx (Posted Tue Mar 02, 2010 9:21 pm)The Table Tennis Association of Malaysia will organise the 30th Milo Malaysian Youth Championship from 16th - 19th March 2010 at the Confucian Hall, Confucian Primary Secondary School in Kuala Lumpur.Read Main Topic
by 729 fx (Posted Tue Mar 02, 2010 9:15 pm)The city of Novara in Italy will host the European Continental qualification event for the 2010 Youth Olympic Games in Singapore. Four boys and four girls will get qualified from this tournament.Valencia will be the host city for the very last qualification event for the 2010 Youth Olympic Games in Singapore. The final opportunity for a berth in the Youth Olympic Games will take place immediately following the conclusion of the Venezuela Junior Open; Saturday 24th and Sunday 25th April 2010 will be the dates.(Note : Source from ITTF News)Read Main Topic
by 729 fx (Posted Sun Feb 28, 2010 9:33 pm)Men Single Semi-Finals:Ma Long vs Xu Xinhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OqNQxKBms5wMa Lin vs Zhang Jikehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ds4HIg5e3k0Men Single Final :Ma Lin vs Xu Xinhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vKD_2dejAEcRead Main Topic
by 729 fx (Posted Sun Feb 28, 2010 8:53 pm)OK, back to reporting the results of the Kuwait Open.18 year old Liu Shiwen (China) secured the fourth Women’s Singles title of her career on the ITTF Pro Tour when she beat 21 year old Ai Fukuhara (Japan) in a spell binding final at the Salwa Cup Kuwait Open last Saturday 27th February 2010. Seeded no.1, Liu Shiwen overcame the no.16 seed: 11-7, 20-18, 6-11, 11-4, 8-11, 11-13, 11-3.The rally was played at a breathtaking speed, of the highest calibre, and the speed of the exchanges breathtaking. Played at a fast and furious pace, both players never retreating from the table, it was Liu Shiwen who captured the first game after Ai Fukuhara had saved one game point.The 2nd game produed the best from both players. Matching Ai Fukuhara in the speed department and using her topspin skills to good effect, Liu Shiwen established a 9-6 lead in the second game.And after Liu SW leads at 3-1, Ai Fukuhara won the fifth game in style. She did it again in the 6th and only the deciding 7th game will produce the winner. There were two winners Liu Shiwen and table tennis.Coached by Kong Linghui, the former Olympic and World champion, Liu Shiwen made full use of the table, she attacked wide to the backhand, wide to the forehand; thoroughly testing the blocking skills of her adversary.---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------In the Women Doubles, Guo Yan and Guo Yue, the no.5 seeds, clinched the Women’s Doubles crown at the Salwa Cup Kuwait Open beating compatriots and third seeds, Ding Ning and Liu Shiwen at the final hurdle. Both Guo's showed great understanding to emerge victorious by the margin of 11-9, 19-17, 5-11, 7-11, 11-6, 16-14.Prior to the 2010 Salwa Cup Kuwait Open they had two ITTF Pro Tour Wom,en’s Doubles titles to their credit, in 2005 and 2007 they won at the Panasonic China Open.----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------In the Men Doubles, Ma Long and Zhang Jike won their first ever ITTF Pro Tour Men’s Doubles title as a partnership when they succeeded in beating Wang LiQin and Xu Xin.Wang Liqin and Xu Xin totally dominated the first game;, they could not put a foot wrong, Ma Long and Zhang Jike could do nothing right. Xu Xin made the openings, Wang Liqin delivered the execution. However, in the second game, the boot was on the other foot; Ma Long and Zhang Jike were totally dominant. The third game was a closer affair with the pairs level at 5-all; the stage at which Wang Liqin and Xu Xin took control. They moved ahead 9-5 and at 10-6 held four game points; Ma Long and Zhang Jike saved one game point but they could not save a second.Wang Liqin and Xu Xin held the advantage.Ma Long and Zhang Jike responded to establishe a 7-4 lead in the fourth game, eventually succeeding 11-8. And then as their confidence grew, they took the title with the score 3-11, 11-6, 7-11, 11-8, 11-8, 11-9.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------China’s 20 year old Xu Xin, the man who had been given a reprieve at the quarter-final stage of the Men’s Singles event, secured gold at the Salwa Cup Kuwait Open.Similar to compatriot Ma Long, three years earlier in Kuwait, he secured his first ever ITTF Pro Tour Men’s Singles crown, saving match points in the sixth and seventh games to reserve the top step of the medal podium.At the final hurdle Xu Xin beat Chinese National Team colleague Ma Lin by the margin of 10-12, 11-8, 10-12, 13-11, 5-11, 13-11, 12-10.(Note : Source from ITTF News)Read Main Topic
by 729 fx (Posted Sun Feb 28, 2010 8:52 pm)A pre-made paddle for USD$170??Wow! Was it made of gold or some precious metal? If someone mentioned a classic or antique blade from Stiga or Butterfly from yesteryears selling around >$100, I would feel it is OK as a collecters item. But a pre-made. Wow, anything can happen in the table tennis world.Read Main Topic
by 729 fx (Posted Mon Feb 22, 2010 4:15 am)Also I agree with ejunkie on his statement :"I will add a few more, not hitting thru the ball enough. Some use too fast of equipments and end up not doing a full stroke (because they don't have to to get the ball over to the other side of the table)."I, for one was in that category. A couple of times when switching from all-wood blades to composites (which are faster, of course), I tend to slacken on my stroke movement, and when I used back the all-wood blade, I felt kinda funny but at least I know where my mistake are.So, my advice to all tt junkies out there, not to use too fast an equipment, but to start from a "ALL" or "OFF-" type of equipment and slowly upgrade from there.Read Main Topic
by 729 fx (Posted Mon Feb 22, 2010 4:03 am)Sometimes a block do not seem to be defensive, but more of a "counter-attack", using opponent's speed on the ball to return it back to him by good placement with the block.Read Main Topic
by 729 fx (Posted Sun Feb 21, 2010 8:50 pm)There is another Palio blade, released in the year 2006 which comprised of Titanium and wood and was categorised as ALL+ to OFF- (IMO). Was told it is slower than the TCT (Titanium-Carbon blade which is categorised as OFF)It is a 7-ply blade and the model is T-7. Will be able to try this out end March and will review it later.Read Main Topic
by 729 fx (Posted Sun Feb 21, 2010 8:45 pm)Wang Liqin (China), the most successful male player in the history of the ITTF Pro Tour (he last won at the Volkswagen Open Japan in September 2006), recorded a five games victory over compatriot Zhang Jike to win the Men’s Singles title at the Qatar Open.He won 11-7, 10-12, 11-8, 11-5, 11-9.Wang Liqin used his counter topspin ability in full flow to a better start; he captured the opening game as he forced errors from his younger opponent. He won the first game being comfortable playing from half distance.On the other hand when Zhang Jike could stay close the table and give Wang Liqin little time, he was successful. In the second game, neither player was able to exert their authority on proceedings.At 7-all the scores were level but then the next two points went to Wang Liqin.Zhang Jike won the next point but at 10-8 it was game point to Wang Liqin; the three times Men’s Singles champion was honing in on a two games to nil advantage but Zhang Jike had other ideas.He won four points in a row to secure the game and level the match score.Motivated by the success, Zhang Jike went ahead 4-1 in the third game, Wang Liqin levelled at 5-all but then Zhang Jike re-established his lead, matching Wang Liqin in the counter topspin department.It was vintage Wang Liqin as he accelerated to the title.It was the third time that WANG Liqin, seeded no.4, had won the Men’s Singles crown at the Qatar Open, previously he had won in 2005 and 2006. Furthermore it ended a barren spell on the ITTF Pro Tour. The victory in Qatar was his first Men’s Singles crown on the ITTF Pro Tour since winning in Japan in 2006. At the penultimate stage he beat Ma Long, the no.1 seed, before overcoming a second national team compatriot, ZHANG Jike, seeded no.7, in the final.Men’s Singles Semi-FinalsWANG Liqin (CHN) bt MA Long (CHN) 11-5, 11-13, 12-10, 11-6, 8-11, 11-9ZHANG Jike (CHN) bt LEE Jung Woo (KOR) 11-5, 11-7, 11-3, 11-8FinalWANG Liqin (CHN) bt Zhang Jike (CHN) 11-5, 11-13, 12-10, 11-6, 8-11, 11-9Women’s Singles Semi-FinalsLIU Shiwen (CHN) bt Daniela DODEAN (ROU) 11-9, 11-7, 11-7, 11-7GUO Yue (CHN) bt GUO Yan (CHN) 2-11, 6-11, 11-7, 11-3, 11-7, 6-11, 11-3FinalGUO Yue (CHN) bt LIU Shiwen (CHN) 15-13, 5-11, 11-7, 9-11, 11-13, 11-9, 11-9Men’s Doubles FinalMA Lin / WANG Hao (CHN) bt WANG Liqin / XU Xin (CHN) 11-8, 7-11, 11-4, 11-5, 9-11, 12-10Women’s Doubles FinalDING Ning / LIU Shiwen (CHN) bt KIM Kyung Ah / PARK Mi Young (KOR) 11-8, 11-8, 11-2, 13-11(Note : Source from ITTF News)Read Main Topic
by 729 fx (Posted Sun Feb 21, 2010 8:29 pm)Vladimir Samsonov (Belarus) is the latest to confirm his participation in the inaugural Volkswagen Cup to be staged in the Chinese city of Guangzhou on Monday 29th and Tuesday 30th March 2010.Other notable players who have confirmed their participations (Men Singles) are Joo Se Hyuk (Korea), Werner Schlager (Austria) and Cheung Yuk (Hong Kong).Meanwhile, for the Women's Singles, Feng Tianwei (Singapore), Kim Kyung Ah (Korea), Jiang Huajun (Hong Kong), Liu Jia (Austria) and Li Jiao (Netherlands) have all accepted invitations and will be in Guangzhou.A Volkswagen Tiguan saloon car plus US $ 50,000 awaits the winners of the Men’s and Women’s Singles event, in a tournament carries a total prize fund of no less than US $ 500,000 and involves eight men and eight women competing on a knock-out basis.Not only will Vladimir Samsonov be an attraction, as brave new innovation is being introduced.Spectacular doubles is a challenge for five pairs to produce the most exciting table tennis possible; each pair will have two three minute sessions to entertain the crowd with marks being awarded for consistency, degree of difficulty and the spectacular qualities of the show.It promises to be an event not to be missed, with the second staging of the tournament being scheduled for November 2010 in Germany.Players initially selected with a maximum one per country are:Men: Ma Long (CHN), Timo Boll (GER), Vladimir Samsonov (BLR), Michael Maze (DEN), Jun Mizutani (JPN), Joo Se Hyuk (KOR), Werner Schlager (AUT), Cheung Yuk (HKG)Women: Liu Shiwen (CHN), Feng Tianwei (SIN), Kim Kyung Ah (KOR), Jiang Huajun (HKG), Wu Jiaduo (GER), Liu Jia (AUT), Li Jiao (NED), Ai Fukuhara (JPN) (Note: Source form ITTF News)Read Main Topic
by 729 fx (Posted Sun Feb 21, 2010 1:37 am)Yes, that was a good tip from ejunkie.I myself uses 3 - 4 blades currently (maybe the ejing in me) rather than 1 blade.Furthermore these blades ranges from composites (carbon, titanium) and all wood (5-ply and 7 ply)Read Main Topic
by 729 fx (Posted Tue Feb 16, 2010 9:58 pm)Trying out a Palio TCT c-pen blade, which is rated as offensive. For everyone information, Palio stands for " People Always Loves It Only", an acronym I find amusing.So I put on a hard YinHe (Galaxy) 9000D rubber (about 47 degree) for this first test and has been playing with it almost a week and a half todate. I will try either a medium or a softer rubber next and see how it felt.Look & Feel: The woodwork is fairly good. It was symmetrical but at the very edge there is some roughs and the feel is very light (was told it is about 88 or 89g). It is a Chinese penhold racquet (I was ask if I wanted a c-pen or a shakehand) blade to test, I chose the c-pen). It is a 7-ply blade, ie wood-carbon-titanium-thicker wood-titanium-carbon-wood.Sound: First, without rubber, the blade gives a crispy ping sound when the ball is hit, due to the 2-ply thin titanium and 2 ply carbon configuration. It is louder all around the blade as the sweet spot is by far larger. With the YinHe rubber, the sound was muffled slightly but the same bounce height remains the same.Weight: The lightness is unbelievable. It weighted slightly less than 70g and feels very light indeed.Play: 1) Serve: Fast serving long tends to go out, maybe due to my eagerness and not condition to use this new blade as yet. Still adapting to it. Serving short is good and got all my shots landed where I wanted to. 2) Block: Par Excellent. Counter blocking and punching blocks is fast most of the time, mainly because I paired a stiff blade with a hard rubber. 3) Loop: I think this blade is not made for loopers. It is not forgiving and all my loops went out and I have to put in great effort to ensure the ball stays in. I find that this blade is more suitable for the flat hitter/driver. Summary: I must say the TCT-hard rubber combo is a hitter/driver primary weapon and the blade is really light and fast, suitable for those on the offensive as well as blocker/counter-blocker. With this blade you will definitely have more reaction time for close-to-table blocking and attacking. The workmanship is good (better than my YinHe 986).Pictures will upload later.Read Main Topic
by 729 fx (Posted Tue Feb 16, 2010 9:36 pm)See the following for a superb game between 2 Chinese good player:http://www.youtube.com/user/ttCountenan ... G7FVTTR7uURead Main Topic
by 729 fx (Posted Tue Feb 16, 2010 9:18 pm)Read from another tt forum on the following :"It may not quite match the announcement of Tuesday 6th April 1971 but the invitation, issued on Monday 15th February 2010, for foreign teams to compete in the Chinese National `A’ League and Chinese National `B’ League is most certainly a ground breaking move by the Chinese Table Tennis Association.Tuesday 6th April 1971 was the day that sparked what became known in history as “Ping Pong Diplomacy”. At the 31st World Championships in Japan the United States Table Tennis Team received an invitation to visit China; the ensuing visit on Monday 12th April 1971 started the thaw in Sino-American relations.It paved the way for United States President, Richard Nixon to visit China and meet Chairman Mao Zedong in February 1972.No Longer ClosedThe invitation from the Chinese Table Tennis Association will not result in Barack Obama visiting Beijing and 40 years later, we live in a much different world; the once closed doors of China are now open to the world and the invitation to compete in the Chinese National League is a further indication of China’s desire to promote the sport of table tennis.Excellent Chance“In recent times China has started working to help with the development of table tennis outside its borders, various training camps have been organised with some of Europe’s top players taking the chance to practise with the best”, explained Steve Dainton, ITTF Marketing Director. “In 2010 the national association now welcomes teams and players to compete in this year’s league system in China, it is an excellent chance for aspiring world class players to come to the country that, in recent times, has dominated table tennis; it is a good chance to learn from the best and gain experience playing against numerous highly talented aspiring Chinese Stars.”Certainly that is the situation.The Chinese `A’ League and the Chinese `B’ League are in effect the second and third divisions; the Chinese Super League is the top division comprising eight men’s and eight women’s teams.Two Places for Men and Two for WomenA total of 24 Men’s Teams and 24 Women’s Teams comprise the Chinese `A’ League for 2010 with two places in each competition being open to foreign teams or clubs. The competition will be organised in two stages: the first stage will take place from Wednesday 2nd to Monday 7th June in Chengdu (Sichuan Province) and in Yantan (Shandong Province). In each city, 12 Men’s Teams and 12 Women’s Teams will compete. The second stage will take place in Chongqing (a provincial municipality) from Wednesday 25th to Sunday 29th August.First StageIn the first stage, the 12 teams in each venue will play against each other on a “round robin” format; thus following the conclusion of play there will be a ranking for both Men’s Teams and Women’s Teams.In the second stage all the teams meet in Chongqing. The top four teams from Chengdu and the top four teams from Yantan, a total of eight teams, play each other on a “round robin” basis; the top four teams then compete on a knock-out basis (semi-final, final, third place match) to decide the top four places. The teams finishing in fifth to eighth places do likewise for positions five to eight.The same process is followed to determine positions nine to 16 and 17 to 24.Order of PlayEach team must register a minimum of four players with no player being permitted to compete in more than two matches in one particular fixture. The order of play is: A v X, B v Y, Doubles, A v Y, B/C/D v W/X/Z.Promotion and RelegationAt the end of proceedings the champion team meets the team that finished in eighth place in the Chinese Super League for the right to compete in the 2011 Chinese Super League whilst the last five placed teams are relegated to the Chinese `B’ League.SimilarSimilarly, the Chinese `B’ League is based on two stages. The first stage will be held in Shanghai from Wednesday 16th to Sunday 20th June with the second stage being organised in Luohe (Henan Province) from Wednesday 15th to Sunday 19th September.Shanghai StageIn Shanghai, the competition starts with 32 Men’s Teams and 32 Women’s Teams. The teams compete in four groups; eight teams in each group. The top two teams from each of the four groups then compete on a knock-out basis with play-off matches to determine positions. The process is also followed for he teams finishing in third and fourth places in each group (positions 9-16), fifth and sixth places (positions 17-24), seventh and eighth places (positions 25-32).Luohe StageA ranking is therefore achieved; in Luohe, the top 16 teams from Shanghai are drawn into two groups with eight teams in each group; matches are played on the “round robin” format. Following the conclusion of the group matches, the top four teams compete on a knock-out format to determine the champion team. Play-off matches are staged to determine the final order.The teams finishing in fifth to eighth place in each group follow the same principle to determine places 9-16.Equally, the same overall format will be followed in Luohe for those teams who finished in places 17-32 in Shanghai.Swaythling Cup PrincipleThe Chinese `B’ League follows the Swaything Cup principle for all matches: A v X, B v Y, C v Z, A v Y, B v X. The top four teams progress directly to the Chinese `A’ League for 2011 with teams finishing in positions 27 to 32 being demoted to the Chinese `C’ League.TeamsIn order to compete in the Chinese `A’ League and Chinese `B’ League, a minimum of four players per team must be registered. A team comprises Team Manager, Coach and four players; the registration fee is US$100 and accommodation costs are US$50 per day.EntriesIn order to qualify as a foreign team, at least 65% of the team members must not be members of the Chinese Table Tennis Association; world ranking will determine acceptance and as to whether the team is placed in the Chinese `A’ League or Chinese `B’ League.The deadline for registration is Thursday 1st April 2010. "IMO, time they've done something like this, they used to allow players from other countries to play in their leagues but then right before the Olympics and World Championships they only kept it open to their own people. In the year 2005 the Koreans, comprises of Ryu, Oh,Joo,& Lee and another mis team of Chiang PL ,T Boll, ASmirnov played in the the Chinese league.Read Main Topic
by 729 fx (Posted Tue Feb 16, 2010 8:58 pm)Was wondering why the latest ITTF ranking for the month of February was not updated yet. Well, apparently, ITTF have changed the rating system again, (I think like the old way). Here's a link to ITTF's explanation on the changes : http://www.ittf.com/_front_page/ittf_fu ... ategory=wrhttp://www.ittf.com/_front_page/ittf_fu ... ition_ID=&Apparently, ITTF says they want to compress the ratings to reduce the gaps between rated players. In short to be more transparent to the players on how the ratings are calculated. Prevoiusly, it was a total mystery, so with the new ratings system, after you play someone, you have a better chance of guessing exactly where you'll be without having to wait a month or so to find out.IMO ITTF is also trying to boost players for simply showing up to events. If you look at the chart that determines how many bonus points you get, for not even doing anything significant like winning. I feel that rankings should be purely based on a win-loss scenario, with only bonus points for winners of major events (Olympics, Worlds, World Cups). In TT and chess you get points based on who you defeat - so if you are at 2600 that means it is your strength, not the points you manged to collect at the tourneys. And I think that number should stay with you for some time till other players trying to get more points to bypass your rating by beating you or other higher ranked players.Read Main Topic
by 729 fx (Posted Thu Feb 11, 2010 8:40 pm)A brainchild from ITTF President, professional table tennis will take the form of entertainment that can be of a more light hearted variety; one that is quite simply fun but of a nature that no-one want to miss.Scheduled for Monday 29th and Tuesday 30th March 2010, the Volkswagen Cup, to be staged in the southern Chinese city of Guangzhou, will include this very special event. It is called "Spectacular Pairs", where five pairs, four male and one female will be invited to participate. Each pair will have two three minute sessions, a total of six minutes, to produce the most exciting table tennis possible.Players will be judged on three criteria - elements of consistency, degree of difficulty and spectacular nature of the rally.It is proposed to appoint three judges with a possible celebrity assessing “spectacular”, a coach advising on “difficulty” and a table tennis umpire officiating for “consistency”.Each pair will perform twice, the points will be totalled and if pairs are tied then there will be a play off. The relevant pairs will each perform for a further two minutes and judged.The winning pair will receive US$10,000, the runners up US$5,000 in addition to a US$5,000 appearance fee.(Note : Sourced from ITTF News)Read Main Topic