(by Steve Hopkins, photo WTT) A press release this morning from World Table Tennis (WTT) seemingly reverses direction on participation requirements in key WTT Series events.  WTT announced today that they will remove mandatory participation requirements for all WTT Grand Smashes effective immediately.  Further, two annual exemptions will be possible for WTT Champions events, allowing […]

(by Steve Hopkins) The USA’s pull in our sport is increasing.  WTT events now regularly grace our shores, the United States Smash (the first of this highest level of WTT tour events) will be played this July in Las Vegas likely bringing the highest level of prize money for a single table tennis tournament that […]

(by Steve Hopkins) Tan’s Table Tennis Training Club is the first full-time table tennis club in the greater Cincinnati area.  The club is located just to the Northeast of Cincinnati in Mason, a few miles from the 275 Expressway and just off of I-42.    The location provides easy access to greater Cincinnati and Dayton. The […]

(by Steve Hopkins) World No. 2 Lin Shidong entered the Singapore Smash just 1000 points behind World No. 1 Wang Chuqin.  Shidong shined in Singapore, with dominant results extending across three events. In Singles, Shidong went 3-0, 3-1, 3-0, 4-1, and 4-0 to reach the Final.  And once in that Final, he outlasted World No. […]

(by Steve Hopkins) World No. 1 Wang Chuqin fought back from a 1-3 deficit to even the match, but lost 12-10 in the last game to Liang Jingkun.  The ripples of that Semifinal result could bring us a new No. 1 on Sunday. World No. 2, Lin Shidong played a tight match with France’s Alexis […]

(by Steve Hopkins) Americans had a strong showing at the Singapore Smash, with runs to the Final 16 in both Men’s and Women’s Singles.  Kanak Jha secured a great win over Sweden’s Truls Moregard (World No. 7) to reach the Round of 16, but fell to Germany’s Dang Qiu (World No. 10) on Thursday.  On […]

(by Steve Hopkins, photo WTT) Kanak Jha had one of the best matches of his career today as defeated World No. 7 Truls Moregard to reach the Round of 16 at the Singapore Smash.  Moregard had a strong start in the match, with an 11-6 win in the opening game.  The two then played three […]

(by Steve Hopkins) USA’s Lily Zhang defeated Lee Eunhye of Korea this morning 3-0.  That’s two consecutive 3-0 wins for Zhang as she reached the Round of 16 at the Singapore Smash.  In her 6 games, opponents have only reached 7 two times (and in the other four games, opponents scored 5 or fewer points). […]

(by Steve Hopkins) Table Tennis Minnesota has three locations in the greater Minneapolis-St.Paul area.  The Training Center location is on Concord Street in South St. Paul, the Jewish Center location is on Cedar Lake Road in Minneapolis, and the Bloomington Armory location is in Bloomington.  Normally, the Training Center is open Monday-Thursday and Sunday and […]

(by Steve Hopkins) The first of the adult national team rankings events was played last week in Burlingame, California.  The 2025 National Teams are adjusted throughout the year with a second national ranking tournament, the US Nationals, the US Open, and the ITTF World Rankings. In the National Teams Ranking Tournament in Burlingame, it was […]