World Cup

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The World Cup was originally an invitational event for 16 of the world's top players.
But who qualifies for this prestigious event now?

 By Martin Hughes
 Owner and Editor

World Cup trophy The World Cup trophy
by courtesy of the ITTF

The 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.

You can find a list of the previous winners below.

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

 

Note: The Team World Cup is a separate event, and has been played on 12 occasions between 1990 and 2019. See table below.

 

The World Cup started as an invitational event and was initially for 16 of the World's top players, but in 2009 there was a slight change of format and the number of players invited was increased to 19.

Then, in 2013, the rules were amended again and the number of players was increased to 20 and the competition became one where most of the players qualified via Continental Cup competitions rather than just an invitation.

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1980 - 2008

The rules relating to which players take part in the World Cup, and the playing format, have changed recently so let's take a quick look at the changes.

When the Men's World Cup started in 1980 it was for 16 selected players only.

So invitations were sent to...

  • one representative from each of the six continents
  • the top six eligible players in the world ranking list
  • the current title holder
  • a host association player and
  • two wild card entries

Additionally, not more than two players from any Association could participate unless a third was invited as a "wild card" selection.

The playing format was initially a round-robin event with four groups of four players. The top two players from each group progressed into the quarter-finals which was played on a knock-out basis. The losing semi-finalists also played a match to determine third place.

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2009 - 2012

With effect from 2009, three additional players were invited to participate, and so the playing format was also changed.

Invitations were sent to...

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

But, there could still not be more than 2 players from an Association, unless a third was invited as a "wild card" selection.

 

With the addition of three extra players, the playing format was also amended.

An "Intercontinental Cup" was introduced and served as a preliminary/qualifying round for the four continental representatives from Africa, Latin America, North America and Oceania.

This was played on a group (round-robin) basis with the winner of the "Intercontinental Cup" promoted to the next stage of the event.

The final 16 players then competed in four groups of four players, on a round-robin basis, with the group winners and runners-up progressing into the quarter-finals which was played on a knock-out basis. The losing semi-finalists also played a match to determine third place.


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2013 onwards

But with effect from 2013 the event changed from being an invitational event towards an event where most of the players qualified via Continental Cups or equivalent type of tournaments.

The number of players was also increased from 19 to 20 and the following players were eligible to take part...

  • the current World champion
  • 17 players who qualified via Continental Cups or equivalent types of tournaments
  • 1 host country player nominated by his National Association
  • 1 "wild card" selected by the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF)

The rules also state that not more than two players from any Association can participate, but for 2013 only, a third player could be invited as a "wild card" selection.

 

With the addition of an extra player, the playing format was again amended further.

The World Cup is now played in three stages, with all matches being the best of seven games.

In stage 1, the 12 players who are the lowest-ranked of the 20 players taking part are divided into four preliminary groups of three players each, with all playing each other (round-robin) in their group.

The winners of each preliminary group then join the top 8 seeded players in the second stage of the competition.

In stage 2, the top 8 seeded players plus the 4 winners of the preliminary groups are divided into 4 groups of 3 players each, with all the members of a group playing each other (round-robin).

The top two finishers from each group then advance to the quarter-final stage of the competition.

The third and final stage is a knock-out competition, and the losers of the semi-finals also play each other to determine third place.


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Dual qualification or withdrawals

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, the available invitation place goes to the next highest eligible player on the World Ranking List.

If the World Champion is not available or withdraws, he will be replaced by the remaining highest ranked and highest finisher from the Continental Cups.

If the host association player is not available or withdraws, he will be replaced by another host association player nominated by the host association.

If the Wild Card player is not available or withdraws, he will be replaced by another Wild Card player selected by the ITTF.

If any other player is not available or withdraws, he will be replaced by the remaining highest ranked and highest finisher from the Continental Cups.

Any substitutions after the entry closing date will be decided by the ITTF.


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Previous winners

Men's World Cup

Year Location Winner Assoc. Runner-Up Assoc.
1980 Hong Kong GUO, Yuehua China LI, Zhenshi China
1981 Kuala Lumpur KLAMPAR, Tibor Hungary XIE, Saike China
1982 Hong Kong GUO, Yuehua China APPELGREN, Mikael Sweden
1983 Barbados APPELGREN, Mikael Sweden WALDNER, Jan-Ove Sweden
1984 Kuala Lumpur JIANG, Jialiang China KIM, Wan South Korea
1985 Foshan CHEN, Xinhua England GRUBBA, Andrzej Poland
1986 Port of Spain CHEN, Longcan China JIANG, Jialiang China
1987 Macao TENG, Yi China JIANG, Jialiang China
1988 Canton & Wuhan GRUBBA, Andrzej Poland CHEN, Longcan China
1989 Nairobi MA, Wenge China GRUBBA, Andrzej Poland
1990 Chiba City WALDNER, Jan-Ove Sweden MA, Wenge China
1991 Kuala Lumpur PERSSON, Jorgen Sweden GATIEN, Jean-Philippe France
1992 Ho Chi Minh City MA, Wenge China KIM, Taek Soo South Korea
1993 Guangzhou PRIMORAC, Zoran Croatia WANG, Tao China
1994 Taipei GATIEN, Jean-Philippe France SAIVE, Jean-Michel Belgium
1995 Nimes KONG, Linghui China ROSSKOPF, Jorg Germany
1996 Nimes LIU, Guoliang China WALDNER, Jan-Ove Sweden
1997 Nimes PRIMORAC, Zoran Croatia KONG, Linghui China
1998 Shantou ROSSKOPF, Jorg Germany KIM, Taek Soo South Korea
1999 Xiaolan SAMSONOV, Vladimir Belarus SCHLAGER, Werner Austria
2000 Yangzhou MA, Lin China KIM, Taek Soo South Korea
2001 Courmayeur SAMSONOV, Vladimir Belarus WANG, Liqin China
2002 Jinan BOLL, Timo Germany KONG, Linghui China
2003 Jiangyin MA, Lin China KREANGA, Kalinikos Greece
2004 Hangzhou MA, Lin China KREANGA, Kalinikos Greece
2005 Liege BOLL, Timo Germany WANG, Hao China
2006 Paris MA, Lin China WANG, Hao China
2007 Barcelona WANG, Hao China RYU, Seung Min South Korea
2008 Liege WANG, Hao China BOLL, Timo Germany
2009 Moscow SAMSONOV, Vladimir Belarus CHEN, Qi China
2010 Magdeburg WANG, Hao China ZHANG, Jike China
2011 Paris ZHANG, Jike China WANG, Hao China
2012 Liverpool MA, Long China BOLL, Timo Germany
2013 Verviers XU, Xin China SAMSONOV, Vladimir Belarus
2014 Dusseldorf ZHANG, Jike China MA, Long China
2015 Halmstad MA, Long China FAN, Zhendong China
2016 Saarbrucken FAN, Zhendong China XU, Xin China
2017 Liege OVTCHAROV, Dimitrij Germany BOLL, Timo Germany
2018 Paris FAN, Zhendong China BOLL, Timo Germany
2019 Chengdu FAN, Zhendong China Tomokazu Harimoto Japan
2020 Weihai FAN, Zhendong China Ma, Long China

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Women's World Cup

Year Location Winner Assoc. Runner-Up Assoc.
1996 Hong Kong DENG, Yaping China YANG, Ying China
1997 Shanghai WANG, Nan China LI, Ju China
1998 Taipei WANG, Nan China LI, Ju China
2000 Phnom Penh LI, Ju China WANG, Nan China
2001 Wuhu ZHANG, Yining China KIM, Hyon Hui North Korea
2002 Singapore ZHANG, Yining China LI, Nan China
2003 Hong Kong WANG, Nan China NIU, Jianfeng China
2004 Hangzhou ZHANG, Yining China WANG, Nan China
2005 Guangzhou ZHANG, Yining China GUO, Yan China
2006 Urumqi GUO, Yan China ZHANG, Yining China
2007 Chengdu WANG, Nan China ZHANG, Yining China
2008 Kuala Lumpur LI, Xiaoxia China TIE, Yana Hong Kong
2009 Guangzhou LIU, Shiwen China GUO, Yue China
2010 Kuala Lumpur GUO, Yan China JIANG, Huajun Hong Kong
2011 Singapore DING, Ning China LI, Xiaoxia China
2012 Huangshi LIU, Shiwen China SAMARA, Elizabeta Romania
2013 Kobe LIU, Shiwen China WU, Yang China
2014 Linz DING, Ning China LI, Xiaoxia China
2015 Sendai LIU, Shiwen China ISHIKAWA, Kasumi Japan
2016 Philadelphia HIRANO, Miu Japan CHENG, I-Ching Chinese Taipei
2017 Markham ZHU, Yuling China LIU, Shiwen China
2018 Sichuan DING, Ning China ZHU, Yuling China
2019 Chengdu LIU, Shiwen China ZHU, Yuling China
2020 Weihai CHEN, Meng China SUN, Yingsha China

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2020 World Cups

The 2020 Men's World Cup was originally scheduled to be from 16-18 October 2020 in Dusseldorf, Germany, but due to the Coronavirus pandemic it was held from 13–15 November 2020 in Weihai, China.

The 2020 Women's World Cup was originally scheduled to be from 23-25 October 2020 in Bangkok, Thailand, but due to the Coronavirus pandemic it was held from 8–10 November 2020 in Weihai, China.

The next Team World Cup has not yet been determined.

2018, 2019 and 2020 Mens World Cup winner, Fan Zhendong with the World Cup trophy 2018, 2019 and 2020 Mens World Cup winner, Fan Zhendong with the World Cup trophy

 

Men's Team World Cup

Year Location Winners Runners-Up
1990 Chiba City, China Sweden China
1991 Barcelona, Spain China Sweden
1994 Nimes, France China Sweden
1995 Atlanta, USA South Korea Germany
2007 Magdeburg, Germany China Hong Kong
2009 Linz, Austrai China South Korea
2010 Dubai, United Arab Emirates China South Korea
2011 Magdeburg, Germany China South Korea
2013 Guangzhou, China China Chinese Taipei
2015 Dubai, United Arab Emirates China Austria
2018 London, England China Japan
2019 Tokyo, Japan China South Korea

 


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Women's Team World Cup

Year Location Winners Runners-Up
1990 Chiba City, China China North Korea
1991 Barcelona, Spain China South Korea
1994 Nimes, France Russia Germany
1995 Atlanta, USA China Romania
2007 Magdeburg, Germany China South Korea
2009 Linz, Austrai China Singapore
2010 Dubai, United Arab Emirates China Singapore
2011 Magdeburg, Germany China Japan
2013 Guangzhou, China China Japan
2015 Dubai, United Arab Emirates China North Korea
2018 London, England China Japan
2019 Tokyo, Japan China Japan

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MORE PAGES ABOUT
MAJOR TABLE TENNIS TOURNAMENTS
For more information about the World Cup, take a look at my other articles...

World Cup

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Other Major Tournaments

Olympic Games

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2024 Olympic Games - Paris, France

2020 Olympic Games - Tokyo, Japan

2016 Olympic Games - Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

2012 Olympic Games - London, England

2008 Olympic Games - Beijing, China

2004 Olympic Games - Athens, Greece

 

World Championships

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2024 World Team Championships - Busan, South Korea

2023 World Championships - Durban, South Africa

2022 World Team Championships - Chengdu, China

2021 World Championships - Houston, USA

2020 World Team Championships - Busan, South Korea

2019 World Championships - Budapest, Hungary

2018 World Team Championships - Halmstad, Sweden

2017 World Championships - Dusseldorf, Germany

2016 World Team Championships - Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

2015 World Championships - Suzhou, China

2014 World Team Championships - Tokyo, Japan

2013 World Championships - Paris, France

2012 World Team Championships - Dortmund, Germany

2011 World Championships - Rotterdam, Netherlands

2010 World Team Championships - Moscow, Russia

2009 World Championships - Yokohama, Japan

 

ITTF World Tour

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European Championships

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2022 European Championships - Munich, Germany

2020/21 European Championships - Warsaw, Poland

2019 European Championships - Nantes, France

2018 European Championships - Alicante, Spain

2017 European Championships - Luxembourg, Luxembourg

2016 European Championships - Budapest, Hungary

2015 European Championships - Russia, Ekaterinburg

2014 European Championships - Lisbon, Portugal

2013 European Championships - Schwechat, Austria

2012 European Championships - Herning, Denmark

2011 European Championships - Gdansk/Sopot, Poland

2010 European Championships - Ostrava, Czech Republic

2009 European Championships - Stuttgart, Germany

2008 European Championships - St Petersburg, Russia

 

Commonwealth Games

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Table Tennis Events Calendars

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Table Tennis Officials

World Rankings


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