Table tennis is innovating again. After announcing earlier this month the creation of the first virtual world championships at the end of this year, the world governing body for the discipline (ITTF) is unveiling another new feature: the WTT Youth Grand Smash. Scheduled for launch in 2025, it will be the highest level of competition for young table tennis players, outside of world championships, with singles competitions for boys and girls under 15 and under 19. Each stage of the circuit will bring together 32 of the world's best young talents, who will compete for ITTF world ranking points and a share of the $20.000 prize pool. The WTT Youth Grand Smash tournaments will, where possible, be linked in the calendar to the Grand Smash tournaments already organized for seniors. The launch of this third level of the pyramid next year will complete a global youth circuit that already has two categories of tournaments, the Youth Star Contender and the Youth Contender. Starting next year, the calendar could offer up to four WTT Youth Grand Smash events, eight Youth Star Contender tournaments, and between 40 and 60 Youth Contender competitions.
