World Cup

by courtesy of the ITTF

The table tennis World Cup first took place in Hong Kong in August 1980 as an experimental event, but it was so successful that it's been contested every year since.

Separate tournaments are staged for men and women, but the women's event only started in 1996, 16 years after the first Men's World Cup.

The World Cup is an invitational event, and was initially for 16 of the World's top players.

But 2009 saw a slight change of format and the number of players was increased to 19.

The rules of the competition state that 19 players will be invited to take part as follows...

• the holder of the World Cup
• the World champion
• the champion player or the strongest current player from each of the 6 continents
• 1 player from the host Association
• the top 8 players from the World Ranking List and
• 2 "wild card" selections

... although the number of players may be modified by the ITTF's Executive Committee from time to time.

But, there cannot be more than 2 players from an Association, unless a third is invited as a "wild card" selection.

If the World Champion and the World Cup title holder is the same player, or the host Association has a player qualified as title holder or from the World Ranking, then the host Association invitation place will go to the next highest eligible player on the World Ranking List.

Two reserves are also named to cover for non-acceptance or withdrawal of players through injury.

The World Cup is initially played in groups, on a round robin basis, with the final stages being on a straight knockout basis.

However, in 2009 a new playing format was introduced.

So, after players have accepted their invitations, there's an initial round known as the "Intercontinental Cup".

The four continental representatives from Africa, Latin America, North America and Oceania compete in an "Intercontinental Cup" which is played in one group on a round-robin basis.

Each of the four players compete against each other with the winner of the "Intercontinental Cup" promoted to the next stage of the event...

The final 16 players then compete in four groups of four players, on a round-robin basis, with the group winners and runners-up competing on a straight knockout basis to decide the first four positions.

Men's World Cup

Women's World Cup

The 2013 Liebherr Men's World Cup will be from 25-27 October in Verviers, Belgium whilst the 2013 Volkswagen Women's World Cup will be from 20-22 September.

2009 Winner
Vladimir Samsonov