Regulations for table tennis championships

These Regulations have been revised and approved by the General Assembly 16 June 2007 in Tällberg, Sweden

A. General

Article 1

Unless otherwise stated in the Union’s General Regulations, or these Regulations, the Regulations of the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) - www.ittf.com - shall apply.

Article 2 - Programme - disciplines - number of players

Participation, see article 2.3.1 in the General Regulations.
The Championship is open to national/company and club teams within the Union Member.

Provided that there are participants from at least 5 Members of the Union in the discipline concerned, the following events will be held:

2.1 Team Championships

a) men elite according to the Swaythling Rules. At least 3 have to play in the team competition.
b) women elite according to the Courbillon Cup Rules. At least 2 have to play in the team competition.
c) for teams of 2 men Veterans.
d) for teams of 2 women Veterans.
For events c) and d) the rules for the Courbillon Cup are adapted.

2.2 Individual/Single:

e) Men’s elite
f) Women’s elite
g) Men’s veteran
h) Women’s veteran

2.3 Doubles:

i) Men’s elite
j) Women’s elite
k) Men’s veteran
l) Women’s veteran
m) Mixed elite
n) Mixed veteran

2.4 Veterans may take part in both the Individual Elite Championships and in the Individual Veterans’ Championships, but they cannot compete in the same event in both championships. In the Team Championships Veterans may be included in team events if they are not entered for one of the veteran’s team (Article 2.1 events c) and d).

2.5 A Union Member may nominate their unpaired player (male or female) to form a doubles pair, for the Elite or Veterans championships as appropriate, with a similarly situated player from another Union Member’s team. Those pairs will have the same rights and obligations as teams comprising players from a single Union Member.

B. Team Championships

Article 3 - Team competition and seeding

In the Elite Men’s Team Championship Article 2.1; a), groups of a minimum of 3 teams and a maximum of 5 teams are formed. For all the other team championships Article 2.1; b) c) and d), the number of teams in a group shall not exceed 7. In order to reach a real final, the priority is given to forming 2 or 4 groups.

To each group one of the best-placed teams from the previous championships is seeded (e.g. 1st to Group A; 2nd to Group B; etc.). The other teams are assigned to the groups by drawing lots. Lots are drawn under the scrutiny of the Union’s Official Delegate for the Championships. The Official Delegate shall also decide on deviations in individual cases in consultation with the Organiser.

In the groups, each team plays every other team in the group.

C. Individual Championships

Article 6 - Knockout basis - best of three/best of five sets

All the singles; doubles and mixed doubles games are played on a straight knockout basis. Victory is achieved on winning 2 sets (i.e. best of three). However, from the semi-finals onwards in the singles of the Individual Elite Championships, Article 2.2;e) and f), victory is achieved on winning 3 sets (i.e. best of five). The losers of the semi-finals are awarded joint-third place.

Article 7 - Seeding

The first four from the previous championships will be seeded if they are competitors in the current championships. Players having a first-rate national or international ranking, and who are entering these championships for the first time, may also be seeded.

Article 8 - Consolation tournament

When circumstances (e.g. space; time; etc.) allow, the Organiser may hold a consolation tournament (Elite: men’s and ladies singles and Veterans: men’s and ladies singles) for the losers of their first round matches, Elite or Veteran’s Individual Championships as appropriate. In addition each participating Union Member may enter one other person (male or female) in the consolation tournaments. This other person may be a free player or a team official.

The Regulations for the Elite and Veteran’s Individual Championships, as set out above, apply by analogy to the consolation tournaments. Furthermore, no Union medals will be awarded, but the Organisers may, at their discretion, present token prizes which they deem to be fitting and appropriate.