The International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) is excited to announce the 12 cities that will host the 2018 ITTF World Tour events.
The 2018 is set to be the biggest in history, with more prize money, more fan engagement and a better TV spectacle for the world wide TV audience.
On the announcement, ITTF Director of Competitions Karl JINDRAK stated: "In 2017 we relaunched the ITTF World Tour with a new logo, new branding, new competition structure and better conditions for the players. This has resulted in record prize money for 2017, and we hope to break this record again in 2018 and to keep moving the ITTF World Tour forward to make it the best product possible for our players, fans and members."
The 2018 World Tour will be split into two tiers, six ITTF World Tour Platinum events, which is the new top tier of the World Tour, and six regular ITTF World Tour events.
The six ITTF World Tour Platinum events will have higher prize money, and be of a higher level organisation, which will ensure the attendance of the world's best players, resulting in more international exposure for the hosts.
The six cities that have won the rights to host a 2018 ITTF World Tour Platinum event are:
Doha, Qatar: 8-11 March 2018
Bremen, Germany 23-25 March 2018
Shenzhen, China: 31 May – 3 June 2018
Incheon, Korea: 19-22 July 2018
Linz, Austria: 4-7 October 2018
Gold Coast, Australia: 8-11 November 2018
The regular ITTF World Tour events are:
Budapest, Hungary: 18-21 January 2018
Hong Kong: 24-27 May 2018
Fukuoka, Japan: 7-10 June 2018
Panagyurishte, Bulgaria: 16-19 August 2018
Olomouc, Czech Republic: 23-26 August 2018
Stockholm, Sweden: 1-4 November 2018
Korea moves back up to the top World Tour tier for the first time, after missing out last year and replacing Japan who moves down a tier. Hong Kong is back hosting a World Tour event for the first time since 2006, where it was home to the 2006 World Tour Grand Finals.
The 12 events all offer World Tour Standings points, which will be used to determine the top 16 players who will qualify for the World Tour Grand Finals, to be held from 13-16 December 2018 in a location to be determined.
Bidding for the 2018 ITTF Challenge Series is now open for countries and cities to bid for the lower tiers ITTF Tour events.
2018 World Tour Full Calendar.
For more information, please contact:
ITTF
Head of Communications
Matt Pound
Email: mpound@ittfmail.com
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