According to the significant rule changes of the WTT series recently released by WTT, Fan Zhendong, the gold medalist of the Paris Olympics, is expected to participate in important international events such as WTT Grand Slams and championships.

Paris Olympic Gold Medalist Fan Zhendong (China)

WTT has released significant rule changes to the WTT series. In the operation of the WTT from 2025 onwards, a series of important changes have been made from the perspective of reducing the burden on players and improving the attractiveness of competition.

●Removal of the obligation to participate in the WTT Grand Slam

As a result, players who have the right to play in the remaining three majors in 2025 (US Majors: July, European Majors: August, and China Majors: September) can participate or decide not to participate.

●Exemption from WTT Championship twice a year

According to the new rules applicable to the Incheon Championship in April, players who qualify for the tournament will be exempted from participating in the tournament twice a year in future championships.

● The prize money is increased by $1 million

In addition to the already significantly increased total prize money for 2025, the WTT Council has approved an additional $1 million at all tournament levels to strengthen monetary incentives.

● Golden ticket for Olympic gold medalists

Olympic gold medalists will receive a special opportunity to compete in all Grand Slam tournaments and 6 championship tournaments. This privilege will be valid for four years after the Olympic victory.

●Enhance the format of the competition

Discuss more best-of-7 matches.

The following are the comments from WTT CEO Steve Dynton and other leaders of the international table tennis world.

Steve Daynton (WTT CEO): WTT was created to build a more professional path for players. Our event has matured, we are confident that it will be successful, and we have ample time to implement these changes. This decision is welcome for the players and will further strengthen our high-level events.

Peter Thorne (ITTF President): The players are at the heart of our tournament and we genuinely accept their feedback, and I'm glad that WTT is implementing these positive changes. We will work together to respond quickly to the concerns we face.

Liu Guoliang (President of the WTT Board of Governors): The feedback from the players and stakeholders is very important, and we reaffirm our commitment to the continuous evolution of the WTT series, and these changes reflect our desire to make table tennis a more exciting, rewarding and player-centric sport, and we sincerely thank the Secret Service for their efforts and constructive input from the table tennis community. ”

Among the changes to the rules, it is worth noting the abolition of the mandatory participation obligation and exemption from participation in the competition. Moreover, it should be that the Olympic gold medalists were given the treatment of golden tickets.

Reducing appearances in WTT Majors and Championships will undoubtedly ease the burden on players. However, WTT wins and losses are related to the world ranking, so it is estimated that players who want to improve (and do not want to fall) the world ranking will not use the exemption rule of not participating in WTT Grand Slams and two-time championships, and there should still be many players who participate in the tournament as before.

Regarding the golden ticket to the Olympic gold medalist, is it Fan Zhendong who uses this rule in reality and goes to the WTT Grand Slam and Championship Tournament? Fan Zhendong submitted an application to the ITTF late last year to leave the world rankings and announced that it had been accepted. He wrote on his social media "Weibo", "I have not retired yet, and I will continue to work hard to participate in other competitions in the future." ”