Major League Table Tennis (MLTT) returns this weekend to my hometown in Portland, Ore., with six matches that promise tight scorelines, momentum swings, and moments of brilliance from some of the best players in the world. With roster rules ensuring every player has a role and a format that rewards both depth and chemistry, fans can expect battles that go down to the very last game.

The Format

Each MLTT match has two stages:

‍Stage 1 – Five ties are played:‍

• #1 Singles – Played by each team’s top-rated player (or #2 if within 75 points).‍
• #2 Singles – Women’s match, always a woman against a woman.‍
• Doubles – Right after the women’s singles. Each pair must come from the roster, with only one singles overlap allowed. Righty-Lefty Doubles teams often dominate.‍
• #3 Singles – A matchup between players chosen from each team’s middle group (#3–#6).‍
• #4 Singles – Brings a different top player from each team (from the #1/#2 pool) to close the match.
  Each tie is worth three points (best of three games). If a Stage 1 game reaches 10 - 10, there’s no deuce. It’s decided by a Golden Point. ‍
  

Stage 2: The Golden Game – No matter the score after Stage 1, the match is not over. Coaches select any five players, who play at least four points before rotating out in a race to 21 points. If that game reaches 20–20, the outcome is decided by the Ultimate Golden Point. It’s pure pressure!

Doubles: MLTT’s Open Serving Innovation

MLTT has rewritten a rulebook that’s dictated doubles matches for nearly a century. In Open Serve Doubles, the middle line is gone. Servers can start from anywhere on the court and aim anywhere on the opponent’s side. Traditional restrictions vanish, creating wild angles, unpredictable rallies, and new tactical wrinkles. It’s one of the league’s most fan-friendly innovations, and it continues to produce highlight-reel points every weekend.

A Note on Lineups

These previews are based on projected lineups and probabilities. Nothing is set in stone. Coaches Alex Yang of Carolina, Romain Lorentz of Los Angeles, Christian Lillieroos of Portland, and Eric Owens of Chicago know their rosters inside and out, and they could shuffle doubles pairings or adjust singles order within the rules. 

What follows is my best projection. The real drama unfolds live from the downtown Oregon Convention Center.

Friday 4:00 — Carolina Gold Rush vs. Chicago Wind

Carolina fields Eugene Wang and Enzo Angles at the top, supported by Chen Sun in the women’s block and Mohamed Shouman bringing his energy. Kai Zhang provides depth and pairs well with Angles in Righty-Lefty Doubles. Sun was Week 2’s Female Player of the Week alongside Shouman in Charlotte, where her blistering attacks left me with whiplash. When she’s on, she is absolutely lights out. Chicago counters with Emmanuel Lebesson, Robert Gardos, Jeongwoo Park, Daniel Tran, and Sean Zhang, plus five-time Olympian Mo Zhang, who won last season’s women’s MVP. Zhang and Lebesson form one of the strongest doubles teams in MLTT.
Projection: Carolina 9–6.

Friday 7:30 — Los Angeles Spinners vs. Portland Paddlers

L.A. will rely on Kou Lei, Lubomir Pištej, Alexandre Robinot, Marcos Madrid of Mexico, Aditya Sareen, and Swedish Olympian Matilda Ekholm. Portland will respond with Dongsoo Kang, Min Hyeok Kim, Hampus Nordberg, Nikhil Kumar, Sid Naresh, and Kotomi Omoda. Omoda recently helped Japan defeat China at the World University Games, clinching the deciding fifth match. Kang’s defense is more repellant than Columbia Sportswear GORE-TEX. Nothing gets through him. And just when you think he’s finished, Kang unleashes an offense reminiscent of Korean legend Joo Sae-hyuk. Kumar and Naresh, proud champions from UC Berkeley, bring proven doubles chemistry.
Projection: Portland 8–7.

Saturday 4:00 — Carolina Gold Rush vs. Los Angeles Spinners

Carolina showcases Eugene Wang and Enzo Angles again, joined by Chen Sun, Kai Zhang, Wei Wang, and Mohamed Shouman. Angles and Kai have become one of the league’s most entertaining doubles duos, delivering dazzling one-two punch combinations in Charlotte. Shouman continues to live up to his “Showman” nickname. L.A. counters with Kou Lei and Lubomir Pištej’s firepower, Robinot’s French flair, Madrid’s international experience, Sareen’s youthful spark, and Ekholm’s Olympic pedigree.
Projection: Carolina 9–6.

Saturday 7:30 — Chicago Wind vs. Portland Paddlers

Chicago features Emmanuel Lebesson, Robert Gardos, Jeongwoo Park, Sean Zhang, Daniel Tran, and Mo Zhang. Gardos adds his wealth of European expertise, while Lebesson brings sharp left-handed angles. Portland counters with Kang, Kim, Nordberg, Kumar, Naresh, and Omoda. Nikhil Kumar and Sid Naresh were the pride of UC Berkeley, winning college nationals doubles and team in Rockford, Illinois, which happens to be home of chief referee Ed Hogshead. This tie may come down to doubles: Zhang + Lebesson versus Kumar + Naresh. Or will Portland Coach Christian Lillieroos call an audible and break up the Berkeley duo for a U.S./SWEDISH combo?
Projection: Portland 8–7.

Sunday 11:00 — LA Spinners vs. Chicago Wind

L.A. leans on Kou Lei’s explosiveness, Pištej’s sharp shot-making, Robinot’s aggressive play, Madrid’s steady presence, Sareen’s energy, and Ekholm’s consistency. Chicago’s response comes with Lebesson’s angles, Gardos’s creativity, Park’s steadiness, Mo Zhang’s Olympic pedigree, and Sean Zhang’s doubles leadership. Ekholm vs. Mo Zhang pits an Olympian against an Olympian, a women’s match with true star power. Pištej remains one of the sharpest shooters in MLTT, often re-holstering his weapon after tremendous forehand winners.
Projection: Chicago 8–7.

Sunday 2:30 — Carolina Gold Rush vs. Portland Paddlers

Carolina closes the weekend with Wang, Angles, Sun, Shouman, Kai, and Wei Wang. Portland brings Kang, Kim, Nordberg, Kumar, Naresh, and Omoda. Sun vs. Omoda in the women’s block is a must-watch. Omoda has become the spark plug Portland needs now that former hometown hero Jiwei Xia plays for the Atlanta Blazers. Shouman thrives in the spotlight, while Kang remains nearly unbreakable defensively. Doubles will be electric: Angles + Kai vs. Kumar + Nordberg in a Righty-Lefty Doubles showdown.
Projection: Carolina 8–7.

The Weekend Forecast

• Carolina Gold Rush: 3 - 0, favorites with balance, Sun’s reliability, and strong Righty-Lefty Doubles.
  
• Portland Paddlers: 2 - 1, dangerous in doubles and women’s singles, and the only team with the weapons to trouble Carolina.
  
• Chicago Wind: 1 - 2, veteran depth and Mo Zhang’s Olympic history keep them competitive in every tie.
  
• LA Spinners: 0 - 3, Kou Lei and Ekholm provide world-class quality, but doubles chemistry remains a hurdle.
  

Color Commentator’s View

Enzo Angles and Kai Zhang are quickly becoming must-watch doubles performers. Chen Sun can shut down a tie with her blistering attacks, while Kotomi Omoda has emerged as one of the most exciting young stars in world table tennis. Dongsoo Kang is a defensive wall who can flip rallies into offense. Robert Gardos brings international expertise, Lubomir Pištej dazzles with shot-making, and Mohamed Shouman remains pure entertainment value. Nikhil Kumar and Sid Naresh carry the pride of Berkeley, Aditya Sareen brings youthful fire after the China Smash, and Kou Lei’s explosiveness gives LA a fighting chance in every tie.

No matter how Stage 1 ends, every MLTT match comes down to the Golden Game — and when it reaches 20–20, the Ultimate Golden Point. Add in doubles with Open Serving, where the middle line is gone and creativity reigns, and MLTT continues to change the rules of the game.