Europe Smash 2026, Malmö, 8/8-16

[NextLevel]

Small price for fans, not so small for the players it is stealing opportunities from. I wish I could say this is as far as it is going to go, but it isn't...

So looking at a similar situation where Mudit has his family funding a significant amount of Indian TT. How do you perceive the players will get opportunity if there is no funding in the first place?

 

[zeio]

Small price for fans, not so small for the players it is stealing opportunities from. I wish I could say this is as far as it is going to go, but it isn't...

And WTT has (quietly) increased the WTT Nomination from 2 to 3 spots for the MS/WS main draw in 2026. Condolences to the unfortunate dead-last top 50 player (top 60 in practice due to NER) who could've qualified last year.

WTT Nominations for WS
WR27 Kihara
WR57 Ch. Lutz
WR58 Kaufmann

https://www.instagram.com/europesmash/p/Da2srB3GUDF/

@europesmash on Instagram: "Introducing the Wildcards and Nominations of #EuropeSmash!😎 Could we be looking at this season’s dark horse? Secure your tickets now and be there to witness it LIVE! 🎟️ Read the full article in the link in bio!🔗 #TableT

2,081 likes, 12 comments - europesmash on July 16, 2026: "Introducing the Wildcards and Nominations of #EuropeSmash!😎 Could we be looking at this season’s dark horse? Secure your tickets now and be there to witness it LIVE! 🎟️ Read the full article in the link in bio!🔗 #TableTennis".

www.instagram.com

 

[ThePongCommenter]

So looking at a similar situation where Mudit has his family funding a significant amount of Indian TT. How do you perceive the players will get opportunity if there is no funding in the first place?

Dani is a 2600 level player who has also paid his dues in many Feeders and once was a top junior in India, and only has played at Smash events in doubles.

Botha played his first Smash event (doubles) when he was under 2200 USATT, and now will be playing singles as well as doubles in Europe Smash 2026. He's also too scared to compete for anything real domestically other than getting carried in doubles by people his parents pay off.

 

[NextLevel]

And WTT has (quietly) increased the WTT Nomination from 2 to 3 spots for the MS/WS main draw in 2026. Condolences to the unfortunate dead-last top 50 player (top 60 in practice due to NER) who could've qualified last year.

WTT Nominations for WS
WR27 Kihara
WR57 Ch. Lutz
WR58 Kaufmann

https://www.instagram.com/europesmash/p/Da2srB3GUDF/

@europesmash on Instagram: "Introducing the Wildcards and Nominations of #EuropeSmash!😎 Could we be looking at this season’s dark horse? Secure your tickets now and be there to witness it LIVE! 🎟️ Read the full article in the link in bio!🔗 #TableT

2,081 likes, 12 comments - europesmash on July 16, 2026: "Introducing the Wildcards and Nominations of #EuropeSmash!😎 Could we be looking at this season’s dark horse? Secure your tickets now and be there to witness it LIVE! 🎟️ Read the full article in the link in bio!🔗 #TableTennis".

www.instagram.com

You mean a doubles spot is knocking someone out pf the tournament?

Dani is a 2600 level player who has also paid his dues in many Feeders and once was a top junior in India, and only has played at Smash events in doubles.

Botha played his first Smash event (doubles) when he was under 2200 USATT, and now will be playing singles as well as doubles in Europe Smash 2026. He's also too scared to compete for anything real domestically other than getting carried in doubles by people his parents pay off.

The players are not the same strength, but the principle of taking away opportunities is the same as neither would playing in the position they do if it was purely an issue of merit. Botha's parents are pretty much funding the US national team training center in the USA these days. I wish such funding didn't come with strings attached but it is better for such funding to exist than not at all.