A year after the successful exhibition event at the Olympic Esports Week Singapore 2023, table tennis takes another historic step forward as the inaugural ITTF World Esports Championships begins tomorrow, 27 November in Helsingborg, Sweden.
Eight elite players will compete in this groundbreaking virtual reality (VR) table tennis championship, including two qualifiers who emerged from an intensive online qualification process that saw 212 participants. The remaining six include the top-ranked players on Eleven Table Tennis, one host entry from Sweden, and additional wildcards, creating a field of seven male players and one female competitor.
The finals will take place at Helsingborg Arena, which is currently hosting the ITTF World Youth Championships (22-29 November), creating a unique celebration of table tennis across generations and formats.
Meet the Elite Eight:
Find out more about our eight players here.
Playing System
The championship features an innovative format where competitors face off in extended competitive encounters:
- Players compete in best-of-5 match meetings
- Each individual match is played as best-of-3 games/sets
- Victory requires winning 3 matches
- Third-place play-off will be contested between semifinal losers
Competition Schedule:
- 27 November: Quarter-finals: 17:15-20:15 (UTC+1)
- 28 November: Semi-finals and Finals: 15:45-18:45 (UTC+1)
The competition will be played on Eleven Table Tennis, developed by FUN FOR LABS, the official publisher for the ITTF World Esports Table Tennis Championships. Players will compete using the latest virtual reality technology, with compatible headsets including:
- Meta Quest 2
- Meta Quest 3
- Pico 4
The Road to Helsingborg
The path to the finals began on 14 October with an intensive qualification process that saw 212 participants compete across six demanding rounds. From this competitive field, Swiss11Rally and 11FR-Natping emerged victorious to join six carefully selected wildcards, creating a diverse field that spans generations and playing styles. This blend of qualification and invitation has assembled an elite roster representing the very best of both traditional and virtual table tennis.
Where to watch?
Fans can follow all the action through multiple platforms:
- ITTF YouTube Channel
- Olympic Channel via Olympics.com (only on 28 November)
Why It Matters?
This championship represents a groundbreaking fusion of traditional table tennis excellence and digital innovation. Through the advanced physics and realistic gameplay of Eleven Table Tennis, players can showcase their skills in a virtual environment that closely mirrors the physical sport, demonstrating table tennis’s successful adaptation to the digital age. The stage is set for an extraordinary championship that will crown our first-ever ITTF World Esports champion, promising unforgettable moments in Helsingborg.
