Professional Ping Pong League In Play

Recently I discovered the existence of a team-based professional table tennis league.  

Major League Table Tennis (MLTT) began play in September and is the newest and one of the most exciting sports leagues to enter the US. In its inaugural season, MLTT features 8 teams in cities across the country competing in an innovative team-based format.

MLTT was founded by software entrepreneur and table tennis fanatic Flint Lane. Flint has played table tennis since he was a kid but really caught the bug when his wife Kathy surprised him with a birthday gift of table tennis lessons with three-time Olympian David Zhuang. After losing 11-0, 11-0, Flint took up the sport seriously and innovative in establishing a professional team league.

The eight MLTT teams are divided into East and West Divisions.

The East Division includes Carolina Gold Rush, Florida Crocs, Princeton Revolution and Chicago Wind.  The West Division teams are Bay Area Blasters, Seattle Spinners, Texas Smash and Portland Paddlers.  

During the regular season, division matches will be held in team cities with all four teams facing off against each other on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Each head-to-head match will be worth 21 points with each point contributing to overall team standings.

The league has finished the first half of the season with Carolina Gold Rush topping the East Division at 13-3.  The Bay Area Blasters lead the West Division at 8-5.

Here is the schedule for the second half:
  • January 5-7: East Division battles at Broward Table Tennis Club, Davie, FL
  • January 26-28: West Division showdown at Portland Expo Center, Portland, OR
  • February 9-11: East Division clash at Advent Health Field House, Winter Haven, FL
  • February 23-25: West Division engagement at Angel of the Winds Arena, Everett, WA
  • March 15-17: East Division contest at Rider University, Lawrenceville, NJ
  • April 5-7: West Division finale at Koch Arena, Wichita, KS
The league will soon announce the location for Championship Weekend, which will be the highlight of the season, where teams will be competing for the coveted MLTT Cup and $100,000 in prize money.

The top player in the MLTT is Enzo Angles with the Carolina Gold Rush.  Enzo has a 30-9 record in singles play and 31-8 in doubles.

For more information on the MLTT go to:  Major League Table Tennis (mltt.com)

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