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Singapore to host WTT Grand Smash with biggest ever prize pool of US$2 million

Women's table tennis world No.1 Sun Yingsha in action at the WTT Cup Finals in Singapore's OCBC Arena in December 2021.
Women's table tennis world No.1 Sun Yingsha in action at the WTT Cup Finals in Singapore's OCBC Arena in December 2021. (PHOTO: Then Chih Wey/Xinhua via Getty Images)

SINGAPORE — Singapore will be hosting in the inaugural World Table Tennis (WTT) Grand Smash tournament, which will see the biggest ever prize pool of US$2 million (S$2.7 million) being offered at an officially-sanctioned table tennis event.

The tournament will be held at the OCBC Arena at the Singapore Sports Hub from 7 to 20 March. A qualifying competition will be held for the men's and women's singles category from 7 to 9 March, followed by the main draw from 11 to 20 March.

The main draw will feature 64 players in each of the men's and women's singles competitions, 24 pairs in each of the men's and women's doubles, and 16 pairs in the mixed doubles.

All champions at the WTT Grand Smash will received 2,000 table tennis world ranking points. The men’s and women’s singles champions will each walk away with a winner’s cheque of US$100,000, while players who lose in the opening rounds will share in more than 40 per cent of the prize money on offer.

"We are humbled by the confidence WTT has in Singapore as host for the inaugural WTT Grand Smash," said Sport Singapore chief executive officer Lim Teck Yin.

"This is a testimony of Singapore’s capability and stature as a sporting destination in the region. Sport Singapore is excited to be working with WTT on this marquee event."

Top tier in WTT's pyramid of tournaments

WTT – the commercial arm of the International Table Tennis Federation – said in a media release on Tuesday (8 February) that the Grand Smash tournaments will become the top tier in its pyramid of events.

There will be three other tiers under the WTT series, which include the WTT Cup Finals and the WTT Champion Series.

The Singapore Grand Smash comes just three months after the city-state staged the first WTT Cup Finals at the same venue. The December event had a US$600,000 prize purse and featured 32 of the world's top male and female players.

WTT Cup Finals singles champions Fan Zhendong and Sun Yingsha, who are also the respective men's and women's world No. 1s, are expected to play at the new tournament. Singapore's world No.9 Feng Tianwei, who reached the women's singles quarter-finals at the WTT Cup Finals, is also likely to take part.

"Playing the WTT Cup Finals at home was such a great experience and I loved being able to play in front of all the fans supporting me," Feng said.

"The pandemic has been very challenging for all athletes, so every opportunity to play again in events is precious. Singapore Smash will be a whole new level and experience."

WTT said it is working closely with the relevant authorities to stage the event safely, in accordance with Singapore’s prevailing safe management measures.

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