How to use Open Table Tennis

Getting Started

You can look around without signing in. Anyone can see the rankings, clubs, events and player pages. You only need to sign in when you want to join an event, run one, or fill in your own details.

Use the menu at the top of the page to reach Rankings, Events and your Profile. The links at the bottom of every page lead to this guide and other helpful pages.

Signing In

You do not need a password. To sign in, go to Sign In and type your email address. We send you an email with a button to log in, so just open the email and tap the button. If you have never used Open Table Tennis before, your account is set up the first time you do this, so there is no separate sign-up step.

Your Profile

After signing in, open Profile and fill in your details, such as your name, photo and the club you play for. This is how other players see you around the site. Your email address cannot be changed here. When you are happy with your details, tap Update Profile to save them.

Clubs

Everyone plays for a club, and clubs are at the heart of the rankings and events. Each club has its own ranking list, so your position and points are always counted within your club rather than across the whole site.

You choose your club on your profile. If you are running an event somewhere new, you can add that club while you set the event up.

Rankings

The Ranked Players page shows where everyone stands at a club, with the top player first. You can pick a different club, show only men or only women, and search for someone by name. You only see players who have a ranking at the club you are looking at. Players earn points from event results, so the more you play and win, the higher you climb.

Events

The Events page shows competitions you can take part in. You can search by the event's name, its series or where it is held. Each event shows the dates, the venue, any prize money and a countdown to the start.

Open an event to see who has signed up, the matches and the knockout draw.

To join, open the event and tap Register to Play. Changed your mind? You can Withdraw again. You can only join or withdraw before the event starts; once it is under way, the player list is fixed.

Running an Event

Once you are signed in, you can run your own event from Host an event. First you choose where it is held, either an existing club or a new one you add on the spot. Then you fill in the details, like the name, dates and how many players can take part, and confirm.

Two things are worth knowing. You set a player limit of 4, 8, 16, 32 or 64 so the knockout draw works out evenly, and you can name people who are allowed to enter match scores for you (see Helpers below). Once you confirm, your event appears for players to find and join.

Making the Draw

The draw is the knockout chart that decides who plays who. Only the person who created the event can make it, from the event's Draws tab. You need the right number of players first, 4, 8, 16, 32 or 64, so the rounds match up evenly. If you do not have the right number yet, the Generate Draw button tells you how many more players you need, or how many to remove, to reach the next size. Players are placed so the strongest are not drawn against each other too early.

Entering Scores

Scores go straight onto the draw. Open the Draws tab and tap a match once both players are known. Choose how many games the match is (best of 3, 5 or 7) and type in the points from each game. Open Table Tennis works out who won each game and moves the winner into the next round. You can look back at finished matches under the Matches tab, and the results update the club points and rankings.

Helpers (Scorekeepers)

Entering every score yourself can be a lot of work when you are running an event. As you set one up, you can add the email addresses of people you trust to help. They will be able to enter results for that event alongside you, which is handy for umpires or helpers at the tables.

Looking After Your Event

After you create an event, you are in charge of it.

• Make the draw once enough players have signed up.
• Enter the scores yourself, or let your helpers do it.
• Delete the event if it is no longer happening. You can only delete it while no one has signed up yet, so nobody loses their place.