Round Robin Tie-Breakers in Table Tennis
Three players finish with the same record and the room starts arguing. Decide the tie-break rules before the event, publish them, and apply them in the same order every time.
Step 1: match points
The usual scoring in a group is 2 match points for a win, 1 for a loss in a played match, and 0 for a loss in an unplayed or unfinished match, such as a walkover. Rank players by total match points first.
Step 2: results among the tied players
If two or more players are level on match points, their order is decided only by the matches among them. Matches against players outside the tied group do not count. The tie-break criteria are applied in turn, as far as necessary:
- Match points from the matches among the tied players.
- The ratio of games won to games lost in those matches.
- The ratio of points won to points lost in those matches.
If at any step one or more players are separated from the rest, remove them. Then go back to the start of the procedure for the players who are still level, counting only the matches among those remaining.
This procedure follows the ITTF’s round-robin ranking rule as quoted by coach Alois Rosario of PingSkills, who cites ITTF regulations 3.7.5.1 to 3.7.5.4. Check the current text in the regulations that govern your event.
Worked example
A, B and C are tied on 5 match points in a group of four.
- A beat B 3–0.
- B beat C 3–1.
- C beat A 3–2.
Every player has one win and one loss among the tied players, so match points among them are level. Now look at the games in those three matches:
| Player | Games won | Games lost | Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | 3 + 2 = 5 | 0 + 3 = 3 | 1.67 |
| B | 0 + 3 = 3 | 3 + 1 = 4 | 0.75 |
| C | 1 + 3 = 4 | 3 + 2 = 5 | 0.80 |
A ranks first. B and C are now separated from A, so apply the procedure to B and C alone. B beat C, so B ranks second and C third. Note that C’s better game ratio over B does not matter once A is removed, because the head-to-head result between the remaining two decides it.
When it is still level
If every step leaves players level, the ITTF rule is to decide their positions by lot. For a cut line that decides who advances, do the draw in front of the players, or play a deciding match if you have time and the players agree.
Practical tips
- Record game and point scores. The final tie-break needs the points of every game. If you write down only the match result, you cannot break a three-way tie without playing again.
- Publish the rules on the draw sheet. A single line such as “2 points per win, 1 per loss, ties by head-to-head” prevents arguments.
- Do not re-rank during the group. Wait until every match in the group is complete.
- Let software do it. The free tournament software applies this procedure automatically and flags unresolved ties so you can draw lots.