Major League Table Tennis (MLTT)

[pongfugrasshopper]

UTT was over already, there were UTT players in Macao since their final is already over. Pitchford might also have been in UTT, as was Quadri. Or maybe I misunderstood and there is something else still going on.

Oh, I didn't realize UTT was over already. Time really flies. I guess now she'll be preparing China Smash which is coming up in 11 days. She'll be hoping to get a good draw to advance at least 1 round. R64 = $5,000 USD, R32 = $11,000 USD.

 

[ritersofly]

Watched both matches yesterday, already it is evident that the league has jumped an entire tier in skill level! Pitchford definitely looks on the higher end for sure but I think there are many on the other team that could pull an upset on him, and that’s exciting!

 

[ritersofly]

Bay Area has none of Jinbao/Lily/Cruz/Pereira present for the first match and pays for it... wonder if their roster will often not be at full strength this season given those players other commitments

Sucks because I’m pretty sure this was a problem for many of the teams in S1 and they were drafting with commitments in mind for S2, hopefully this is just a one off thing. Was really hoping to see Perreira play, he can be a total beast. Lily Zhang of course too would have liked to see how she did against Kotomi Omoda from Japan (Paddlers). Am also excited to see her play Wensheng Wei from China (Revolution).

 

[ThePongCommenter]

Sucks because I’m pretty sure this was a problem for many of the teams in S1 and they were drafting with commitments in mind for S2, hopefully this is just a one off thing. Was really hoping to see Perreira play, he can be a total beast. Lily Zhang of course too would have liked to see how she did against Kotomi Omoda from Japan (Paddlers). Am also excited to see her play Wensheng Wei from China (Revolution).

Agreed and it was a problem for the Blasters in particular which is why I called it out...hope it is not going to be a recurring issue and if it is they won't have much playoff hopes with their B team.

Overreactions from first match: Lily would have no issue with Wensheng Wei...Omoda looks like the stronger player and would put up a better fight against Lily but I think Lily and Amy are still the strongest women in the league, and no I did not forget Vivarelli.

 

[ThePongCommenter]

Watched both matches yesterday, already it is evident that the league has jumped an entire tier in skill level! Pitchford definitely looks on the higher end for sure but I think there are many on the other team that could pull an upset on him, and that’s exciting!

Assuming Pitchford is in shape, who are those many that you think could pull an upset on him?

 

[ThePongCommenter]

He still got a game.

Not to discredit the game he took but I think it is underrated how new players to the league need to mentally adjust to the dynamic of playing out a third game after already winning the match. Throughout last season I noticed a lot of matches that looked like they should have ended in a sweep instead ending with a 2-1.

 

[ritersofly]

Assuming Pitchford is in shape, who are those many that you think could pull an upset on him?

Jinbao Ma
Hampus Nordberg
Haocheng Wang
Benedek Olah
Lubomir Pistej
Emmanuel Lebesson

Probably missing another 2-3 I think could do it.

 

[pongfugrasshopper]

LInks for tonight's games

Bay Area Blasters vs. Florida Crocs

Princeton Revolution vs. Portland Paddlers

 

[ThePongCommenter]

Portland with the biggest Golden Game meltdown in MLTT history?

 

[pongfugrasshopper]

Portland with the biggest Golden Game meltdown in MLTT history?

Huge mistake by the coach to put in Wei Wang in the high intensity Golden Game when he didn't play any singles or doubles match that night. It all went downhill from there.

 

[ThePongCommenter]

Huge mistake by the coach to put in Wei Wang in the high intensity Golden Game when he didn't play any singles or doubles match that night. It all went downhill from there.

And to wait that long to call the timeout when it was clear shit was hitting the fan...

 

[ritersofly]

Huge mistake by the coach to put in Wei Wang in the high intensity Golden Game when he didn't play any singles or doubles match that night. It all went downhill from there.

Unfortunately i agree, I was thinking the exact same thing.. why not the hometown hero Jiwei?? Why not the Chinese hidden beast Haochen Wang? Instead the chopper? Don’t choppers usually need time to get into a good rhythm?

His 4 point loss definitely swayed the momentum in Princeton’s favor ugh.

 

[ThePongCommenter]

Not to discredit the game he took but I think it is underrated how new players to the league need to mentally adjust to the dynamic of playing out a third game after already winning the match. Throughout last season I noticed a lot of matches that looked like they should have ended in a sweep instead ending with a 2-1.

I'm not imagining it, commentator just said that last season, players leading 2-0 going into game 3 ended up losing the third game more than half the time...

 

[ThePongCommenter]

Lundquist and Nordberg are for real...Portland may actually have something brewing.

 

[ritersofly]

Lundquist and Nordberg are for real...Portland may actually have something brewing.

Haocheng Wang is also a beast waiting to be unleashed! Kumar has his moments but is a bit unreliable.. Kotomi has potential to beat all other women in the league imo but obvi Lily Zhang is probably the favorite in that match up.

 

[Tony's Table Tennis]

Oh, I didn't realize UTT was over already. Time really flies.

UTT is very short, can't blame you for missing that.
22 Aug to 7 Sep (that is provided you made the finals)
so a 2 weeks league.

Some WTT event is almost as long as UTT

 

[ritersofly]

I'm not imagining it, commentator just said that last season, players leading 2-0 going into game 3 ended up losing the third game more than half the time...

UTT is very short, can't blame you for missing that.
22 Aug to 7 Sep (that is provided you made the finals)
so a 2 weeks league.

Some WTT event is almost as long as UTT

That’s pretty cool that they do that, just kind of short and sweet 2 weeks of intense matches and poof it’s gone lol, so it doesn’t interfere with other events..

Funny you mention the Indian league cause there’s so many similarities between UTT and MLTT, mostly in the best of 3 with no ‘win by 2’ quick play format and the showmanship of it.

 

[Tony's Table Tennis]

That’s pretty cool that they do that, just kind of short and sweet 2 weeks of intense matches and poof it’s gone lol, so it doesn’t interfere with other events..

Funny you mention the Indian league cause there’s so many similarities between UTT and MLTT, mostly in the best of 3 with no ‘win by 2’ quick play format and the showmanship of it.

yeah, won't be wrong to say MLTT copy some ideas from UTT
just like XD world cup too.

UTT is pretty creative, but to me, it is just maybe a bit too short.
or rather international circuit is too crowded.

I prefer league (teams event) over individual, for the sake of the sport growth.

Why I say UTT is too short? each team plays 5 matches, before there were 6 teams, so 5 is correct.
now, the round robin is still 5 matches, but there are 8 teams - that is wrong, need to be 7 matches.
But I guess they don't have the days to stretch it out.

Some European players needs to rush back to Europe to play league there, so it isn't like UTT's foreign players (including its Indian players) can stay too long, as they have other leagues to attend to, too.

 

[ritersofly]

yeah, won't be wrong to say MLTT copy some ideas from UTT
just like XD world cup too.

UTT is pretty creative, but to me, it is just maybe a bit too short.
or rather international circuit is too crowded.

I prefer league (teams event) over individual, for the sake of the sport growth.

Why I say UTT is too short? each team plays 5 matches, before there were 6 teams, so 5 is correct.
now, the round robin is still 5 matches, but there are 8 teams - that is wrong, need to be 7 matches.
But I guess they don't have the days to stretch it out.

Some European players needs to rush back to Europe to play league there, so it isn't like UTT's foreign players (including its Indian players) can stay too long, as they have other leagues to attend to, too.

Interesting! Yeah TT has so much going on with all the big WTT events and leagues I’m sure it’s hard to find a longer uninterrupted time..

What you said about the amount of matches reminds me that for MLTT I heard the CEO saying they’re already looking into expanding into more teams for season 3 and I’m wondering how that will work because right now they have two divisions of 4 teams, and it works out well over the weekend for the 4 teams to do a round robin against each other (2 matches each day Fri, Sat, and Sun), so if they expand to more teams, how will they squeeze more matches into a weekend?

 

[Tony's Table Tennis]

Interesting! Yeah TT has so much going on with all the big WTT events and leagues I’m sure it’s hard to find a longer uninterrupted time..

What you said about the amount of matches reminds me that for MLTT I heard the CEO saying they’re already looking into expanding into more teams for season 3 and I’m wondering how that will work because right now they have two divisions of 4 teams, and it works out well over the weekend for the 4 teams to do a round robin against each other (2 matches each day Fri, Sat, and Sun), so if they expand to more teams, how will they squeeze more matches into a weekend?

most leagues plays on weekends
UTT played every single day.
It costs more to have a longer period, ie, players dont' get paid waiting around. and then there will be more traveling expense. So, UTT was a win-win for all.

so for MLTT to have more teams, or want more matches, it will then take more weekends.
Or they need to start playing during the week too.

Its a tough one

Most leagues play in the weekend is because of audience
The longer your league, the more chance your international players will have other commitments to attend to.

also, MLTT league planning is tough for internationals.
ie, they can fly in and play 3 weekends in a row (3 weeks staying in 1 place is long). 13 Sep to 6 Oct.
Then next match is 1 Nov. no one will hang around for 3 weeks unpaid and no training.
Then its 15 Nov
then its 13 Dec

Basically for a team, it is like 2 to 3 matches a weekend, but other than the first 3 weekends, the last 3 is too far apart.
Staying 3 weekends is very long, if there was WTT nearby, maybe it would work, but otherwise, 3 to 4 weeks (including travel), for 6~9 matches, and how much money.... Its a tough one.

That is the reason why TPE plays was not interested, not to mention, the schedule overlaps with crucial events on the international and Taiwan's domestic calendar.

So the players need to be able to stay in USA for a long time (or nearby) for it to work for the clubs. Or the money needs to be good for them to fly around like that. USA is pretty far to travel