Playing Schedule

The following is a tentative schedule that cannot be confirmed until final entries are received. A detailed schedule will be released with the draw on the 12th September.

 

Association Team Event Format and Entry Conditions 

Team Structure 

All team events are played in a 3-player format: 

• Open teams may register a squad of up to 5 players. 
• Junior category teams (U13, U15, U19) may register a squad of up to 4 players. 
• Junior teams require a minimum of 3 players. Open teams require a minimum of 3 players. 
• A player may enter a maximum of 1 Open team event and 1 Junior team event. 

Match Format 

All team matches follow the match order: A v Y, B v X, C v Z, Doubles, A v X, C v Y, B v Z. All matches are Best of 5 games to 11 points.  

All round robin team contests must be played to completion. Only knockout team contests can finish once a result is obtained. 

Once a result is obtained in any contest, an association may substitute in an eligible player or players to take the place of a starting player for their remaining matches. No player may play in more than one position on the result sheet. 

A player may enter a maximum of 1 Open team event and 1 Junior team event. 

Grade Allocation and A Grade Limit 

Depending on the number of entries received, teams will be allocated into grades. Associations do not select which grade their team is entered into. 

• A maximum of two teams from any one association may compete in the A Grade. 
• There is no limit on the number of teams per association that may compete in lower grades. 
• The A Grade will have a maximum of 8 teams (or 9 teams if there are exactly 9 entries). 
• Where a category receives 10 or more entries, teams will be split into separate grades. 

Champion Determination 

The NZ Champion in each category (Open, U19, U15, U13) is determined by the winner of the A Grade. 

Team Seedings 

Teams will be seeded using the combined ranking points of the top 3 players in each team, based on the August rankings list. 

Draft Facility 

A draft facility is available for associations who wish to contribute a player to the draft pool or request a draft player to complete a team. Please note: 

• Associations with at least two players may request additional players from the draft pool to form a team, and the team will play under the name of the applying association. 
• Associations with excess players in particular categories, or without enough players to form a team, may apply to have those players placed in the draft pool.
• There is no guarantee that a draft player request or draft team will be filled. 
• No team comprising players from three or more associations can medal. 
• If the drafted player is ranked higher than both players from the applying association, the team is ineligible to win a medal. 
• All draft players and teams will be notified 5 days after entries close (by 31st August 2026) on whether their draft has been filled. 

Individual Events Format of Play 

All singles events will have a round robin stage and knockout stage where applicable. All doubles events will be knockout format. All matches are Best of 5 games to 11 points. 

Exception: Open Men's Singles and Open Women's Singles — from the Quarter-finals onwards, all matches will be Best of 7 games to 11 points. 

How to Enter

Team Events 

All team event entries are to be submitted by the Association using the official entry form, which will be distributed to all associations on 26th June 2026. Completed entry forms are to be returned to John Cordue at entries@tabletennis.nz by 11:59pm, Tuesday 26th August 2026. 

Individual Events 

All individual entries must be submitted online via Tournament Planner. 

• Entries Open: 26th June 2026 
• Entries Closing Date: 11:59pm, Tuesday 26th August 2026 

There will be no late entries accepted under any circumstances. No payment = no entry accepted.

ENTER HERE (Coming Soon)

Individual Events Entry Conditions

All players entering the tournament will be deemed to have read and accepted the Entry Conditions under which the tournament and the events are to be conducted. This tournament is eligible for Ranking points.

Eligibility to Enter Events

• Players must be a member of an association affiliated with Table Tennis New Zealand (TTNZ), or their overseas national association which must be affiliated to ITTF. All international entries are at the discretion of TTNZ to accept.
• Eligibility for under-age events is determined by age as at the 31st December 2025.  Proof of age may be required. 
• Players entering age categories shall be restricted to two consecutive age categories; for example, U13/U15, or U15/U19. 
• Players entering graded categories shall be restricted to two consecutive graded categories; for example, Open/B, or B/C, or C/D. 
• Where a player has entered a doubles event with a partner who is not eligible or fails to enter, the player will be placed into the Partner Required pool of players and allocated a partner accordingly.

TTNZ’s policy for entry conditions being breached is as follows:

In the situation where a player enters more events than they are eligible to under the entry conditions for this tournament, the situation will be remedied according to the following, noting that any event entry is considered equal and there is no differentiation between a singles event or a doubles event entry:

• The allowance of entry in age group categories takes precedent over graded category entries. I.e. If there is a breach of entry conditions, a player will be removed from any graded category before age group category. 
• If a player breaches the entry requirements for age-group category allowances, the player will retain entry in the maximum number of lowest age group categories for under-age events, or the oldest age group categories for over-age events. A player will be automatically removed by TTNZ from all events in other age group category(ies). E.g., If a player enters U13, U15, U19 they will automatically be removed by TTNZ from all U19 events. 
• A player who enters events in more than the allowable number of grades will retain their entry in the maximum number of lowest grades and be automatically removed by TTNZ from all other grades. E.g. A player enters C grade combined doubles, B grade singles and doubles and Open Singles. The player will be automatically removed from the Open singles and retain their entry in the B and C grade events. 
• TTNZ has no obligation to inform the player and/or doubles partners of removal of entries if they are in breach of the entry conditions for this tournament. The process will take place automatically. 

 

Graded Events Eligibility

Eligibility for B, C and D Grade events shall be determined from the August rankings list. If players do not appear on the TTNZ Rankings list, they are not eligible to play B, C and D Grades. 

Grade	Men’s Ranking	Women’s Ranking	Rankings List
B	26 or Below	11 or Below	TTNZ August Rankings List
C	76 or Below	41 or below	TTNZ August Rankings List
D	201 or below	91 or below	TTNZ August Rankings List

 

 

Seedings, Draws and Results

Seedings and draws for individual events will be constructed using the TTNZ August rankings lists.

Regulations

The tournament will be conducted in accordance with the TTNZ National Tournament Regulations and the current ITTF Laws and Regulations of Table Tennis. The Referee’s decisions are final.

Medals & Prizes

Gold, Silver and Bronze medals will be awarded in all individual and team events.

Officials

Referees: TBC
Deputy Referees: TBC
Umpires: Players will be required to umpire in all their team matches. Umpiring requirements for individuals will be communicated on the day.

Equipment & Clothing

Equipment: 

Tables: Xiom 

Nets: Xiom 

Balls: White Donic 3★ 

Floor: Red Rubber Floor 

Clothing:
No white clothing or singlets shall be worn. Athletes may wear any clothing that complies with ITTF Regulations.

Tournament Regulations  Ranking System RegulationsTournament Calendar