Europe Smash Sweden August 14-24 2025

[zeio]

Sweden is not to be outdone by France. Germany's reign of Europe finally comes to an end?

France: The future of Europe!
Sweden: We are Europe itself!

Europe Smash 2025: Malmö, Sweden Set to Host Pinnacle of Table Tennis
https://worldtabletennis.com/description?artId=4513

“Sweden is synonymous with table tennis greatness, and hosting Europe Smash in Malmö is a tribute to both the legends of the past and the rising stars of today,” said Steve Dainton, WTT Chief Executive Officer. “Europe Smash – Sweden 2025 completes our WTT Grand Smash lineup for 2025, bringing table tennis’ pinnacle events to four unique locations around the world. We can’t wait to see the world’s best players take to the stage in Malmö next August.”

...


“Welcoming Europe Smash to Malmö is a proud moment for Swedish table tennis,” said Dennis Lindahl, President, Swedish Table Tennis Association. “This event is not just about showcasing elite competition; it’s about celebrating Sweden’s love for the sport, our incredible history, and the bright future we are building with our young talents. Malmö will be the epicentre of table tennis excellence in 2025.”


For Swedish table tennis star Truls Moregard, the announcement carries personal significance: “Playing a WTT Grand Smash in Sweden is a dream come true,” Moregard shared. “Malmö Arena will be electric, and I’m excited to compete in front of our incredible fans. Events like Europe Smash are the platform we need to take the sport to new heights.”

 

[Robin0910]

After these double Olympic silver medals it was foreseeable that they would hold a smash in Sweden to make TT even more popular

 

[Tony's Table Tennis]

Sweden is not to be outdone by France. Germany's reign of Europe finally comes to an end?

France: The future of Europe!
Sweden: We are Europe itself!

Europe Smash 2025: Malmö, Sweden Set to Host Pinnacle of Table Tennis
https://worldtabletennis.com/description?artId=4513

I don't think hosting tournaments means it over takes the reigns.

now the Swedes need to make sure the stadium is full of local spectators and not reliant on Chinese tourists.
This has been one of WTT events biggest problems.

Hopefully with Swedens recent successes, there is now more energy to support table tennis, and actually watch events live.

btw. since I am busy placing pros in leagues in Europe.
I am amazed to find how small the Swedish league is (including that of its spectatorships)

 

[zeio]

WTT has learned from the lesson of Budapest Smash 2022 and Saudi Smash 2024. The folks probably haven't secured a long-term contract but won't have to change the name of the GS in the future if they find another host in Europe, which is the second market after Asia.

Whatever the case, Europe Smash is the oddball among the 4 GSes as it doesn't use the host country name. Singapore Smash feels weird now, as China and US are continent-sized countries.

Singapore Smash 2022-2024, 2025-2029
Budapest Smash 2022
Saudi Smash 2024
China Smash 2024-2028
US Smash 2025
Europe Smash 2025

 

[Tony's Table Tennis]

WTT has learned from the lesson of Budapest Smash 2022 and Saudi Smash 2024. The folks probably haven't secured a long-term contract but won't have to change the name of the GS in the future if they find another host in Europe, which is the second market after Asia.

Whatever the case, Europe Smash is the oddball among the 4 GSes as it doesn't use the host country name. Singapore Smash feels weird now, as China and US are continent-sized countries.

Singapore Smash 2022-2024, 2025-2029
Budapest Smash 2022
Saudi Smash 2024
China Smash 2024-2028
US Smash 2025
Europe Smash 2025

Singapore is pretty much the "home" of WTT.
can't imagine one day there isn't any WTT event in Singapore.
they probably get a lot of support from the Singaporean gov to hold such prestige table tennis event too.

look Mr PM. Its Singapore vs continents
PM: how much money do you need?

 

[pingpongpaddy]

In Lawn Tennis
you have:
Europe Swing
France Italy, Spain, UK
America Swing
America , Canada
Asia Swing
china Japan Australia Korea

This makes travel for players less crazy to organise and cheaper to sponsor travel

So I vote S. Korea or Thailand

 

[zeio]

Why was Budapest Smash converted into a Star Contender and a Champions?

As well as a Feeder.

https://www.tabletennisdaily.com/forum/topics/wtt-united-states-smash-announced.35564/post-487368

No explanation was given but it is believed to be lack of funding. According to Miyazaki, WTT rushed ahead and announced it before they got the green light from the government of Hungary.

【卓球】異例の変更。7月のブダペストの「グランドスマッシュ」が「チャンピオン」「スターコンテンダー」へ格下げ
https://world-tt.com/blog/news/archives/23576

WTTはハンガリー政府、ブダペスト市からお金を出してもらうように働きかけたと言われているが、ハンガリーの関係者から聞こえてきたのは、あまりにも時間のない中で合意形成のないまま強行開催しようとしたという話だった。10億円規模の事業が数カ月で決定したり、動いていくとは到底思えない。

It is said that WTT approached the Hungarian government and the city of Budapest to get funding, but from what I heard from Hungarian officials, they tried to force the event without any consensus building and with very little time. It is hard to imagine that a project worth 1 billion yen would be decided or move forward in just a few months.

 

[Tony's Table Tennis]

As well as a Feeder.

https://www.tabletennisdaily.com/forum/topics/wtt-united-states-smash-announced.35564/post-487368


【卓球】異例の変更。7月のブダペストの「グランドスマッシュ」が「チャンピオン」「スターコンテンダー」へ格下げ
https://world-tt.com/blog/news/archives/23576

It is said that WTT approached the Hungarian government and the city of Budapest to get funding, but from what I heard from Hungarian officials, they tried to force the event without any consensus building and with very little time. It is hard to imagine that a project worth 1 billion yen would be decided or move forward in just a few months.

which event was it,
Budapest? in the first year.

within 2 or 3 weeks to go, the event date change.
and from 2 events became 1 or something like that.

 

[zeio]

European Summer Series 2022 - the summer WTT and LGY want you to not remember. WTT CS ESS (Budapest) 2022 was the inaugural edition of Champions.

FULL MATCH | Tomokazu Harimoto vs Lin Gaoyuan | MS Final | WTT Champions ESS 2022
https://youtu.be/Gjh-4Y4WsQo?t=2220

 

[pongfugrasshopper]

Definitely a Smash is needed in Europe, but why just 3 days after WTT Champions Japan? And why cram 3 Smashes in 3 consecutive months: US Smash - July, Europe Smash - August, China Smash - September. Scheduling could have been better.

 

[AutomaticBackhand]

European Summer Series 2022 - the summer WTT and LGY want you to not remember. WTT CS ESS (Budapest) 2022 was the inaugural edition of Champions.

FULL MATCH | Tomokazu Harimoto vs Lin Gaoyuan | MS Final | WTT Champions ESS 2022
https://youtu.be/Gjh-4Y4WsQo?t=2220

Its my first time seeing that.
WOW.

He makes 8 BACKHAND ERRORS IN A ROW - 6 MATCH POINTS.

How is that even possible.

 

[zeio]

Because China won't budge. They are the reason we still have WTTC (May) and World Cup (April). Remember Dainton wanted to kill off WTTC and the ensuing outcry. WTT got their way with World Cup but China brought it back.

 

[Tony's Table Tennis]

Definitely a Smash is needed in Europe, but why just 3 days after WTT Champions Japan? And why cram 3 Smashes in 3 consecutive months: US Smash - July, Europe Smash - August, China Smash - September. Scheduling could have been better.

Honestly, my guess was not in Europe but somewhere else with similar time zone to that of Japan, but not part of Asia (I guess you can guess where I was thinking lol)

I do believe Europe deserves one, but I agree, not with that kind of schedule (hence I didn't count Europe in) after knowing the close proximate in time with Japan.

well, there are 4 smash, 6 champions, 1 finals, just by WTT
then you have WTTC, XDWC, WC

so we at how many "major events" for 12 month period?

PS, I have not factored in other majors like continentals....

 

[zeio]

Singapore is pretty much the "home" of WTT.
can't imagine one day there isn't any WTT event in Singapore.
they probably get a lot of support from the Singaporean gov to hold such prestige table tennis event too.

look Mr PM. Its Singapore vs continents
PM: how much money do you need?

Singapore is merely the HQ of WTT/ITTF just as Lausanne was the HQ of ITTF. WTT considered to be headquartered in Hong Kong at first. Singapore is more comparable to Hong Kong, Taiwan and South Korea - collectively known as the 亞洲四小龍/Four Asian Tigers [Dragons in Chinese] back in the 90s, with Japan as the top dog of Asia, until China entered the chat in 2001.

But I digress, the original plan back in 2020 was to hold 1 GS each in China and Japan, with the other 2 outside of Asia.

取消單項世錦賽提議引爭議 乒乓已邁出改革第一步 (The proposal to cancel the individual World Championships causes controversy | Table Tennis has taken the first step of reform)
https://www.upower.com.hk/article/574511-取消單項世錦賽提議引爭議-乒乓已邁出改革第一步

全面職業化改革後的國際乒乓球賽事，將與已經高度職業化的網球賽事體系極為相似。 WTT每年將舉辦四項大滿貫賽事，其設想是中國、日本各設一站，其餘兩站則將在亞洲以外舉辦。

 

[yamagata]

super EXCITED! Will be interesting to see if Truls and Anton make a serious effort to win this. If so they should go to Sweden directly after Las Vegas and skip Nigeria, Brazil and Japan.

 

[Tony's Table Tennis]

super EXCITED! Will be interesting to see if Truls and Anton make a serious effort to win this. If so they should go to Sweden directly after Las Vegas and skip Nigeria, Brazil and Japan.

They can't just skip Japan, technically speaking

 

[backspacer]

@UpSideDownCarl can you change the title to Europe Smash Sweden August 14-24 and move it to the WTT sub-forum?

Player list is out for the singles' events. WCQ will be missing interestingly. Nice to see Hashimoto on the women's side.

 

[pongfugrasshopper]

Looks like it's China's turn to get the wildcards. Japanese women got 2 extra at the US Smash (double Miyu). China gets it in Europe.

 

[zeio]

Automatic entry started. LGY and QTY are in singles for now.

 

[jammmail]

Qualifying draw is pretty stacked