How does a team match work in table tennis?
I · Intermediate · Scoring and winning · 1 of 7Checked 13 October 2026
A team match is a series of individual matches, usually the best of five, and it ends as soon as one team has won a majority. In a group, each win earns 2 match points and each loss in a played match earns 1. Ties are settled on the results among the tied players or teams.
How it works
Team systems named in the regulations:
| System | Players | Order of play |
|---|---|---|
| Best of 5, five singles | 3 | A v X, B v Y, C v Z, A v Y, B v X |
| Best of 5, four singles and a doubles | 2 to 4 | A v X, B v Y, doubles, A v Y, B v X |
| Best of 5, doubles first | 3, each playing at most twice | Doubles (B and C v Y and Z), A v X, C v Z, A v Y, B v X |
| Best of 7, six singles and a doubles | 3 to 5 | A v X, B v Y, C v Z, doubles, A v Y, C v X, B v Z |
| Best of 9, nine singles | 3 | Every player meets every opponent |
- A draw by lot decides which team is A, B, C and which is X, Y, Z. The captains then name their players.
- The match stops when one team has won a majority of the possible matches.
Groups (round robin):
- 2 match points for a win, 1 for a loss in a played match, 0 for a loss in a match not played or not finished.
- Equal on match points: only the matches among the tied members count. Compare match points, then the ratio of wins to losses in individual matches (team events), then in games, then in points.
- Still equal: by lot.
Tricky cases
Are all five matches played if a team leads 3-0?
No. The team match ends when one team has won a majority.
Is overall games difference used to split a tie in a group?
No. Only the results between the tied players or teams are used.
Why the rule exists
Fixed orders of play stop a captain choosing match-ups after seeing the opponent's line-up. The point for a played loss rewards turning up and finishing.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| ITTF regulations | As above; the entry form says which system is used | Reg 3.7.4.3, 3.7.5, 3.7.6, 3.7.7 |
| Olympic and WTT team formats | Set by those competitions | Not covered |
From the rule book
ITTF Statutes 2026, Regulations 3.7.5 to 3.7.7. Checked 13 October 2026. Official document: ITTF Statutes (PDF).