ITTF world rankings

The ITTF world ranking is a world ranking for table tennis athletes . It is published once a month by the table tennis world association ITTF separately for women and men. Here, the athletes' skill levels are rated based on their last results in official competitions.

The European ranking is automatically created from the ITTF world ranking , in which the non-European players are crossed out.

In addition to prestige, a placement in a ranking can also have material significance. The participants of the European Masters Cup were invited according to their placement in the European list.

history

In 1928 the ITTF published a world ranking list for the first time.

As a result, a ranking was usually published once a year. Each member of the World Ranking Committee proposed a ranking. The final ranking was calculated from this by averaging. In this way only a few active participants could be assessed.

Since 1991 the world rankings have been created with the help of computers. In this way, significantly more active participants can be taken into account, and the ranking list can be created more often.

The system provided for points to be awarded to a player when they win and to reduce their score when they lose. In addition, an active person lost points if he did not participate in a competition for a long time. This system meant that some top players stayed away from certain tournaments for fear of losing points. Therefore, the ITTF changed the calculation mode from January 1998: point losses in the event of defeats were limited, and bonus points were awarded for good placements in a tournament. Inactivity no longer resulted in a point deduction.

As of January 1, 2018, the calculation method was switched to a cumulative system: Individual wins and losses no longer have any effect on the number of points, this only depends on the tournament placements, with the best eight tournaments - including one continental tournament - in the last twelve months be taken into account.

In April 2020, the ITTF will freeze the current ranking until further notice, because the coronavirus crisis means that the game has been suspended.

The world's number one

Men (months)

• 09 / 2000-10 / 2002: Wang Liqin (26)
• 11 / 2002–12 / 2002: Ma Lin (2)
• 01 / 2003–05 / 2003: Timo Boll (5)
• 06 / 2003-06 / 2003: Werner Schlager (1)
• 07 / 2003-07 / 2003: Ma Lin (1)
• 08 / 2003-09 / 2003: Timo Boll (2)
• 10 / 2003–05 / 2004: Ma Lin (8)
• 06 / 2004–11 / 2004: Wang Liqin (6)
• 12 / 2004–12 / 2004: Wang Hao (1)
• 01 / 2005-02 / 2007: Wang Liqin (26)
• 03/2007–05/2007: Ma Lin (3)
• 06 / 2007-06 / 2007: Wang Liqin (1)
• 07 / 2007-09 / 2007: Ma Lin (3)
• 10 / 2007–12 / 2009: Wang Hao (27)
• 01 / 2010–12 / 2010: Ma Long (12)
• 01 / 2011–03 / 2011: Timo Boll (3)
• 04 / 2011-09 / 2011: Wang Hao (6)
• 10 / 2011–05 / 2012: Ma Long (8)
• 06 / 2012–12 / 2012: Zhang Jike (7)
• 01 / 2013-02 / 2013: Xu Xin (2)
• 03 / 2013-04 / 2013: Ma Long (2)
• 05 / 2013-06 / 2013: Xu Xin (2)
• 07 / 2013-02 / 2014: Ma Long (8)
• 03 / 2014-02 / 2015: Xu Xin (12)
• 03 / 2015–12 / 2017: Ma Long (34)
• 01 / 2018–02 / 2018: Dimitrij Ovtcharov (2)
• 03 / 2018–03 / 2018: Timo Boll (1)
• 04 / 2018-06 / 2019: Fan Zhendong (15)
• 07 / 2019-10 / 2019: Xu Xin (4)
• 11 / 2019–11 / 2019: Fan Zhendong (1)
• 12 / 2019–12 / 2019: Xu Xin (1)
• 01 / 2020–01 / 2020: Fan Zhendong (1)
• 02 / 2020–03 / 2020: Xu Xin (2)
• 04/2020: Fan Zhendong

Women (months)

• 01 / 1999-12 / 2002: Wang Nan (48)
• 01 / 2003–12 / 2007: Zhang Yining (60)
• 01 / 2008–01 / 2008: Guo Yue (1)
• 02 / 2008–10 / 2008: Zhang Yining (9)
• 11 / 2008–11 / 2008: Li Xiaoxia (1)
• 12/2008–12/2009: Zhang Yining (13)
• 01 / 2010-09 / 2010: Liu Shiwen (9)
• 10 / 2010–01 / 2011: Guo Yan (4)
• 02 / 2011-02 / 2011: Li Xiaoxia (1)
• 03 / 2011–03 / 2011: Guo Yan (1)
• 04 / 2011-10 / 2011: Li Xiaoxia (7)
• 11 / 2011-08 / 2013: Ding Ning (22)
• 09 / 2013-09 / 2014: Liu Shiwen (13)
• 10 / 2014–10 / 2015: Ding Ning (13)
• 11 / 2015–09 / 2016: Liu Shiwen (11)
• 10 / 2016–10 / 2017: Ding Ning (13)
• 11 / 2017–12 / 2017: Zhu Yuling (2)
• 01 / 2018–02 / 2018: Chen Meng (2)
• 03 / 2018–03 / 2018: Zhu Yuling (1)
• 04 / 2018-06 / 2018: Chen Meng (3)
• 07 / 2018–12 / 2018: Zhu Yuling (6)
• 01 / 2019–05 / 2019: Ding Ning (5)
• 06 / 2019–: Chen Meng

Calculation bases

New calculation (from 2018)

In individual competitions there are points depending on the round reached; whoever is eliminated in the qualification group phase receives points for each individual won, points are also awarded for mere participation. If you are seeded and immediately eliminated in the first stage of the knockout round , you will only receive half of the points provided. In team competitions, points are awarded for each individual won, depending on the level and phase of the tournament. In total, a maximum of eight results - including a maximum of one result from continental championships / cups (continental games are not subject to any restrictions) - from the last twelve months are included in the calculation. World Cup results count around two years until the next World Cup of the same type (team or individual World Cup), World Cups, continental championships and the Grand Finals until the next edition. The new system rewards active players who regularly take part in international tournaments, so that a few good results are no longer enough to maintain a good position. The best players from the traditionally weaker continents (e.g. Oceania) also have an easier time achieving a good placement, as for example winning the Oceania Cup and taking part in the World Cup for which you are already earning more than 3000 points through the Oceania Cup (Australian David Powell jumped from 336th to 119th in January 2018).

The rankings for the individual age groups (U21, U18 and U15) are also no longer created by excluding players who are too old, but also according to a cumulative system that only takes tournaments for the corresponding age groups into account. U21 players who already only take part in adult tournaments are therefore no longer included in the U21 world rankings. In the U-21 list only the best six results are taken into account, in the U-18 and U-15 lists five.

A number of changes were made for 2019, including increasing the point differences in the main round - second-placed only receive 75% to 85% instead of 90% of the points of the first-placed - and the elimination of those placed in the first round no longer halves the Points.

Olympic games

victory	Second	Third	Fourth	Quarter finals	last 16	last 32	2nd round	1 round	Preliminary round	Wins team
3000	2550	1950	1800	1500	1200	900	600	450	300	250

Individual world championships

victory	Second	Semifinals	Quarter finals	last 16	last 32	last 64	last 128	Preliminary round	Group: 2.	Group: 3.	Group: 4.	Group: 5.
3000	2550	1950	1500	1200	900	600	450	300	225	150	75	30th

World team championships

Championship Division		2nd division		3rd division
Group stage / main round	Placement games	Group stage / main round	Placement games	Group stage / main round	Placement games
250	180	100	72	50	36

World cup

victory	Second	Third	Fourth	Quarter finals	last 16	17th to 20th place	Wins team
2550	1915	1660	1530	1275	1020	765	250

World Tour

	victory	Second	Semifinals	Quarter finals	last 16	last 32	Qual. Last 32	Qual. Last 64	Qual. Last 128	Qual. Last 256	Qual. Last 512 / participation
Grand Finals	2550	2040	1660	1275	1020
World Tour Platinum	2250	1800	1465	1125	900	675	450	340	225	170	115
World Tour	1800	1440	1170	900	720	540	360	270	180	135	90

Challenge Series

	victory	Second	Semifinals	Quarter finals	last 16	last 32	last 64
Challenge Plus	1100	880	715	550	440	330	220
Challenge	850	680	555	425	340	255	170

Challenge Series qualification

Qual .: Groups only	Groups-2.	Groups-3.	Groups-4.	participation
Challenge Plus	165	110	85	30th
Challenge	130	85	65	20th
Qual .: groups + 1 preliminary round	Preliminary round 1	Groups-2.	Groups-3.	Groups-4.	participation
Challenge Plus	165	110	85	55	30th
Challenge	130	85	65	45	20th
Qual .: groups + 2 preliminary rounds	Preliminary round 2	Preliminary round 1	Groups-2.	Groups-3.	Groups - 4th / participation
Challenge Plus	165	110	85	55	30th
Challenge	130	85	65	45	20th
Qual .: only knockout round	Qual. Last 64	Qual. Last 128	Qual. Last 256	Qual. Last 512	Qual. Last 1024 / participation
Challenge Plus	165	110	85	55	30th
Challenge	130	85	65	45	20th

Individual continental competitions

	victory	Second	Semi-final / Third	Fourth	Quarter Finals / Fifth	Sixth	seventh	Eighth	last 16	last 32	last 64	last 128	Qual. Last 32	Qual. Last 64	Qual. Last 128	Qual. Last 256	Wins team	Group stage wins	participation
Games	1050	790	685	630	525	500	475	445	420	315	210	160	160	105	80	55	70	18th	6th
Championship / Cup	1800	1350	1170	1080	900	855	810	765	720	540	360	270	270	180	135	90		25th	12
Multi-sport	600	450	390	360	300	285	270	255	240	180	120	90	90	60	45	30th		10	5
Others	300	225	195	180	150	143	136	130	120	90	60	45	45	30th	23	15th		3	1

Team continental championships

1st division		2nd division		3rd division
Group stage / main round	Placement games	Group stage / main round	Placement games	Group stage / main round	Placement games
180	140	90	75	60	50

Old calculation (until 2017)

Scoring points

Valuation points are awarded when participating in tournaments that are designated as valuation tournaments by the ITTF. In every match between players who already have a rating, the rating of the winner increases by a number s, that of the loser is reduced by a number v. The numbers s and v depend on the difference in playing strength (rating minus bonus points (see below)) of the participants and the classification of the tournament by the ITTF.

In such a match, base points are initially awarded. These depend on the difference in skill level (rating minus bonus points (see below)) of the participants and the fact whether the result is "expected" or "unexpected". If the player with the higher rating has won, then that is an "expected result", otherwise it is an "unexpected result". The base points are multiplied by a factor of 1, 1.5 or 2 depending on whether the tournament was classified by the ITTF in class R3, R2 or R1. If the multiplication by 1.5 does not result in a natural number, the product is rounded up to the next higher natural number.

Table 1: Points for an "Expected Result"

Point difference	R3 factor 1	R2 factor 1.5	R1 factor 2
> 750	0	0	0
501-750	1	2	2
401-500	2	3	4th
301-400	3	5	6th
201-300	4th	6th	8th
151-200	5	8th	10
101-150	6th	9	12
51-100	7th	11	14th
26-50	8th	12	16
1-25	9	14th	18th

Table 2: Points for an "Unexpected Result"

Point difference	R3 factor 1	R2 factor 1.5	R1 factor 2
0-24	10	15th	20th
25-49	12	18th	24
50-99	14th	21st	28
100-149	16	24	32
150-199	20th	30th	40
200-299	24	36	48
300-399	28	42	56
400-499	32	48	64
500-749	36	54	72
> 749	40	60	80

The (minus) points for the loser are always calculated with a factor of 1.

A special case is when, in a match between players A and B, player A has a rating, but player B does not. If A wins, he receives no points. If A loses, his rating is reduced by 10.

If a player has not participated in a valuation tournament for 12 months, he will no longer be listed in the world rankings, but he will keep his valuation points.

example

Looking at a match between Timo Boll and Ma Long in tournament class R1 and based on the world rankings from July 1st, 2011. Here Boll has a rating number of 2818, Ma Long of 2710. The difference between the rating numbers is thus 108. Here, for the sake of simplicity, we assume that the rating numbers do not contain any bonus points.

If Boll wins, then it is an expected result. Therefore, the number of the winner Boll increases by 12 (6 basis points from Table 1 with factor 2), the number of the loser Ma Long is reduced by 6 (as it is weighted with the factor 1).

If, on the other hand, Boll loses, then it is an unexpected result. The rating of the winner Ma Long increases by 32 (16 basis points from table 2 with factor 2), the loser Boll loses 16 points.

Bonus points

The ITTF awards bonus points for top positions in certain tournaments. To this end, the ITTF assigns important tournaments to four classes B1, B2, B3, B4. For example, class B1 includes the world championships and the Olympic Games , class B2 the ITTF Pro Tour - Grand Finals, B3 the ITTF Pro Tour tournaments and the European championships , and B4 regional events.

The bonus points are valid for exactly 12 months and are then deducted from the rating number.

Table 3: Bonus points

	B1	B2	B3	B4
winner	56	40	24	8th
Second	49	35	21st	7th
Third	45	32	19th	6th
Loser semifinals	42	30th	18th	6th
Loser quarterfinals	35	25th	15th	5
Place among the last 16	28	20th	12	4th
Place among the last 32	21st	15th	9	3
Place among the last 64	14th	10	6th	2
Place among the last 128	7th	5	3	1

For example, an Olympic champion receives 56 bonus points because this is a B1 tournament. The losers of the quarter-finals of a European Championship get 15 bonus points.

literature

• Caught in the jumble of numbers , calculation basis, criticism, DTS magazine , 1995/7 pp. 4–5
• ms: Playing more is rewarded , DTS magazine , 1998/3 p. 16

Web links

• current ITTF world rankings
• ITTF world rankings from 1928 to 1986 (accessed April 1, 2012; PDF; 148 kB)
• ITTF world rankings from 1947 to 2001 (Excel; 171 kB) ( Memento from October 24, 2013 in the Internet Archive ) (accessed on January 24, 2019)
• Basics of the old calculation ( accessed on March 10, 2018)

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Table tennis magazine, official organ of the Lower Saxony table tennis association, edition 2004/3 p. 6
2. ↑ ^{a b} New world ranking system from 2018: The key points. mytischtennis.de, January 11, 2017, accessed on November 14, 2017 . 
3. ↑ TTF Rankings released for April 2020 and frozen until activities resume (accessed on April 16, 2020)
4. ↑ World Ranking Regulations. ittf.com, pp. 12-14 , accessed January 18, 2019 . 
5. ↑ World Ranking - Details. ittf.link, January 2018, accessed on March 10, 2018 . 
6. ↑ POWELL David. tabletennisworldranking.com, accessed March 10, 2018 . 
7. ↑ 2019 World Ranking Summary of changes. ittf.com, accessed November 27, 2018 . 
8. ↑ World Ranking Regulations 2019. ittf.com, pp. 15-17 , accessed on January 18, 2019 .