Major League Table Tennis enters the final weekend of Season 3 with most of the playoff picture now in place, but one critical spot remains undecided.

Three teams have already secured their places in the postseason. The Portland Paddlers and Chicago Wind will represent the Western Conference, while the Carolina Gold Rush have claimed the first playoff position in the East.

That leaves one remaining playoff berth. The second Eastern Conference spot will be determined this weekend at Rider University in Lawrenceville, New Jersey, where the Princeton Revolution will attempt a late surge to overtake the New York Slice.

Western Conference Race for the Top Seed

Although both Western Conference playoff teams have already qualified, one important battle remains.

The Portland Paddlers currently sit at 217 points, while the Chicago Wind lead the West with 227 points.

Portland still has matches remaining this weekend. If the Paddlers reach 228 total points, they will claim the top seed in the Western Conference heading into Championship Weekend.

Finishing first would provide an important psychological advantage as the league prepares for the playoffs in Fremont, California from April 18-19.

Eastern Conference: Final Playoff Spot on the Line

The Carolina Gold Rush have completed their regular season with 199 points, which will likely make them the top seed in the Eastern Conference.

If that’s the case, then the race for the second playoff spot will come down to two teams.

The New York Slice have finished their season with 185 points, leaving the door open for the Princeton Revolution, who enter the final weekend with 150 points and three matches remaining.

Because MLTT standings are determined by total points earned across singles, doubles, and the Golden Game, Princeton still has a mathematical path to qualify.

If the Revolution were to win all three matches by the maximum margin of 21-0, they could earn 63 points, which would easily surpass New York’s total.

While that scenario is unlikely, the target is much simpler. Princeton needs 36 points this weekend to move ahead of the Slice and secure the final playoff position.

A Key Absence for Princeton

The Revolution will face this challenge without one of their most important players.

Cho Seungmin, currently ranked No. 2 in the MLTT Power Rankings, will not be available for the weekend.

Cho carries a Spindex rating of 2818 and has been one of the Revolution’s most reliable performers this season. His absence places additional pressure on the rest of the lineup to deliver strong results across singles and doubles.

Playing on home turf at Rider University, Princeton will rely on the energy of the crowd as they attempt to keep their playoff hopes alive.

Final Weekend Schedule

The final matches of the regular season will feature the Florida Crocs, Princeton Revolution, Portland Paddlers, and Atlanta Blazers.

Friday

• Florida Crocs vs Atlanta Blazers: 4 p.m. EDT
• Princeton Revolution vs Portland Paddlers: 7:30 p.m. EDT

Saturday

• Portland Paddlers vs Florida Crocs: 4 p.m. EDT
• Princeton Revolution vs Atlanta Blazers: 7:30 p.m. EDT

Sunday

• Atlanta Blazers vs Portland Paddlers: 11 a.m. EDT
• Princeton Revolution vs Florida Crocs: 2:30 p.m. EDT

For Princeton, the three matches represent a final opportunity to close the gap on New York.

What to Watch

Several storylines will define the final weekend of the regular season.

• Can the Portland Paddlers catch Chicago for the Western Conference’s top seed?
• Can the Princeton Revolution produce the points they need to overtake New York?
• How will Princeton adjust without Cho Seungmin in the lineup?
• Which players will step forward in the final push toward the playoffs?

Looking Ahead

By the end of the weekend, the MLTT playoff field will be fully set.

The top two teams from each conference will advance to Championship Weekend, scheduled for April 18-19 at Table Tennis America in Fremont, California.

With the regular season coming to a close, every game this weekend carries weight. The final standings, playoff matchups, and conference seeding will all be determined before the league turns its attention to the championship stage.

Fans can follow every match from the final weekend by tuning in on CBS Sports and through the global streaming platform tabletennis.tv. Supporters who want to experience the action live can also attend the matches at Rider University in Lawrenceville, New Jersey.

To watch live coverage and stay connected with the league, sign up at tabletennis.tv and check the CBS Sports schedule for broadcast times.

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