Brand New Event -- 2018 CTTA Open Team Competition (Updated!!!)

Photo: CTTA

CTTA has launched a brand-new table tennis team competition which amateur players get to play with the professionals on the same team and together they compete for the province with pride. The 2018 CTTA Open Team Competition consists of 2 legs and the first leg will touchdown Shanghai from 1-3 March.

The 2018 CTTA Open Team Competition is the very first table tennis team competition that have high-level amateur players and professional players, mostly national team members, joining force in a team competition. The first leg held in Shanghai from 1-3 March invites provinces ending up top 8 in the men's team competition at 2017 Chinese National Games to send a team of 8 men and 3 women, 2 of the men are amateur players from the 30-39 and 40-49 age groups.

Other than the interesting blend of the 'grass-root' and the 'top' players, CTTA has made a twist on the playing system. The team needs to play all 7 matches, men's singles, mixed singles, men's singles (amateur players from the 30-39 age group), mixed doubles, men's singles, women's singles and men's singles (amateur players from 40-49 age group), in a team match regardless of the results. The top 2 teams of this competition will be granted a chance to compete at 1 World Tour (Challenge), U21 included.

Final Standings
Champion: Guangdong
1st Runner-up: Henan
2nd Runner-up: Beijing / PLA

Results

Source: 上海乒乓 (Day 1, 2, 3)

Schedule (GMT+8)
March 1
10:00 [Live on Great Sport]
Group A: Shanghai Vs Beijing; Guangdong Vs Shandong
Group B: Sichuan Vs Jiangsu; PLA Vs Henan

15:30 [Live on Great Sport]
Group A: Shanghai Vs Guangdong; Beijing Vs Shandong
Group B: Sichuan Vs PLA; Jiangsu Vs Henan

March 2
09:30
Group A: Shanghai Vs Shandong; Beijing Vs Guangdong
Group B: Sichuan Vs Henan; Jiangsu Vs PLA

15:30
Semifinals 1: Beijing Vs Henan
Semifinals 2: Guangdong Vs PLA

March 3
09:30 [Live on Great Sport]
Finals: Guangdong Vs Henan

Players' List (the highlighted players are professional players)

Beijing					Sichuan
	Name	M/F	Date of Birth			Name	M/F	Date of Birth
1	Xu Xin	M	1984-09-24		1	Xu Ruifeng	M	1992-03-29
2	Dai Yuan	M	1976-06-11		2	Lai Jiaxin	M	1995-01-15
3	Dong Haoyu	M	2003-09-18		3	Zhu Linfeng	M	1996-1-17
4	Yan An	M	1993-01-12		4	Yan Sheng	M	1997-1-16
5	Wang Chuqin	M	2000-05-11		5	Kuang Li	M	2003-1-6
6	Ji Jiale	M	1999-02-10		6	Pu Junwei	M	1998-4-1
7	Liu Yebo	M	2001-04-08		7	Zheng Changgong	M	1985-10-21
8	Yang Yinghao	M	2001-01-05		8	Ni Jie	M	1975-1-28
9	Li Jiayuan	F	1997-03-18		9	Guo Yan	F	1997-8-10
10	Zhang Zhao	F	1997-4-6		10	Yang Huijing	F	1996-5-12
11	Guo Yuhan	F	2000-02-18		11	Yuan Yuan	F	2001-1-19
Henan					PLA
	Name	M/F	Date of Birth			Name	M/F	Date of Birth
1	Ren Hao	M	1995-1-28		1	Fan Zhendong	M	1997-01
2	Xia Yizheng	M	1993-01-07		2	Zhou Yu	M	1992-05
3	Niu Guankai	M	2002-01-28		3	Zhou Kai	M	1996-03
4	Yu Heyi	M	2000-02-25		4	Xu Chenhao	M	1995-03
5	Wang Liinkn	M	1988-04-10		5	Zhao Zhaoyan	M	1998-01
6	Wang Wei	M	1984-06-18		6	Liu Hanfeng	M	2003-01
7	Wen Yukai	M	1975-01-25		7	Liu Yang	M	1987-06
8	Jin Hui	M	1978-07-28		8	Wu Zhen	M	1977-01
9	Yuan Xuejiao	F	1995-12-05		9	Mu Zi	F	1989-01
10	Ma Wanhe	F	2000-03-25		10	Hu Limei	F	1995-01
11	Tian Yuyao	F	2002-08-22		11	Sun Mingyang	F	1999-02
Jiangsu					Shanghai
	Name	M/F	Date of Birth			Name	M/F	Date of Birth
1	Zhang Yudong	M	1996-1		1	Xu Xin	M	1990-01-08
2	Zhu Cheng	M	1997-5		2	Shang Kun	M	1990-11-21
3	Cao Yantao	M	2001-1		3	Zhao Zihao	M	1997-01-06
4	Yu Zhengyang	M	2002-1		4	Sun Zheng	M	2002-04-05
5	Sun Wen	M	1997-2		5	Chen Yutao	M	1998-09-08
6	Wan Qiaoyu	M	2000-2		6	Huang Yishun	M	1996-02-24
7	Shen Jianyu	M	1980-9		7	Luo Ren	M	1981-02-17
8	Zhong Min	M	1972-1		8	Xia Yiqiang	M	1975-12-18
9	Shi Xunyao	F	2001-7		9	Xue Siyu	F	1992-01-23
10	Qian Tianyi	F	2000-1		10	Cui Xuetong	F	1997-01-06
11	Liu Fei	F	1994-1		11	Tao Jingjing	F	2001-03-01
Guangdong					Shandong
	Name	M/F	Date of Birth			Name	M/F	Date of Birth
1	Lin Gaoyuan	M	1995-5-19		1	Kong Lingxuan	M	1996-5-9
2	Zhou Qihao	M	1997-1-12		2	Fang Bo	M	1992-1-9
3	Zhang Chao	M	1985-1-5		3	Liu Dingshuo	M	1998-1-13
4	Li Yijie	M	1997-4-3		4	Yang Yilin	M	2000-9-23
5	Li Kelei	M	1999-6-9		5	Liu Gaoyang	F	1996-6-13
6	Tan Ruopeng	M	2001-7-1		6	Gu Ruochen	F	1994-1-3
7	Shen Peng	M	1985-3-19		7	Wang Xiaotong	F	2000-10-22
8	Meng Gangxiong	M	1976-1-9		8	Liu Quan	M	2004-3-29
9	Zhang Meizhu	F	2000-3-20		9	Dong Pengfei	M	1987-3-13
10	Yang Caiying	F	1998-7-25		10	Ding Gang	M	1975-1-22
11	Huang Yingqi	F	2002-1-2		11	Ren Ke	M	1971-9-10

Source: 上海乒乓

It may not be a world-class team competition like the Team World Cup ended a few days ago but it is a great opportunity for the amateur players to interact with the professional players and a big step to explore alternatives for team competition format. What are your thoughts on this innovative playing system? Tell us in the comment below!