Section 6: Scoring
6.1 Game Scoring
Per Law 2.11, a game is won by the first player or pair to reach 11 points. If the score reaches 10–10, the game continues until one player or pair leads by exactly 2 points. There is no upper point limit at deuce; play continues until the 2-point advantage is achieved.
6.2 Match Scoring
Matches are decided on a best-of format:
- Best-of-7: First to win 4 games. Used at Olympic Games, World Championships, and major WTT events.
- Best-of-5: First to win 3 games. Common at many national and international events.
- Best-of-3: First to win 2 games. Used at some national league and recreational competitions.
6.3 Scoring During Service Changes
Service alternates every 2 points during normal play (Laws 2.13.4). Once the score reaches 10–10, service changes every 1 point. The umpire announces the score after each rally, calling the server's score first (e.g., "5–3" means the current server leads 5–3).
6.4 Recording the Score
The umpire keeps the official score and announces it aloud after each point. Scoreboards at major venues display the running score. In team matches, the overall team score (sets won) and individual match score (games and points) are tracked separately.
6.5 Team Match Scoring Formats
At the Olympic Games, team events use the following format (the "Olympic Team Format"):
- Each tie consists of 4 singles and 1 doubles rubber.
- The first team to win 3 rubbers wins the tie.
- Each rubber is best-of-5 games.
- The order of rubbers is: Singles 1, Singles 2, Doubles, Singles 3, Singles 4 (if needed).
The World Team Championships uses the Swaythling Cup format (men) and Corbillon Cup format (women), each consisting of 9 singles rubbers with no doubles, best-of-5 games each.
6.6 Ranking Points
ITTF World Rankings are determined by a points system based on results at ITTF-sanctioned events. WTT events carry varying points values based on event tier (WTT Grand Smash, WTT Champions, WTT Contender, WTT Star Contender). Detailed ranking formulas are published in the ITTF Ranking Regulations.