Charlotte table tennis tournaments attract some of the best players in the southeast,
while providing competition for players of all levels & ages.
These are USATT (usatt.org) nationally sanctioned tournaments.
This means USATT membership is required to participate.
Players receive a national rating after their 1st tournament, then gain/lose points
based on the outcome of future matches in sanctioned tournaments.
As well as improving ratings, incentives include prize money & trophies.
Club or league play results do not affect this rating.

All RR (round robin) events start with a number of preliminary groups of 4
where every player in the group plays every other player.
The outcome of these 3 matches per player will determine who ends up 1,2,3,4.
The 1st & 2nd place player will advance to a Single Elimination round to determine
the winner of the event. Other players have a short wait until the next event.
All matches are 3/5.
Sometimes a final match in the Open event is 4/7.

Charlotte tournaments run different types of events: open, rating, age, SE & Doubles.
Below are examples of each event, the actual rating or age limit can be
different.
eg #1: Under 2000 RR
Only players rated under 2000 would be eligible to enter.
Sometimes a minimum rating is also stipulated, in this case 1400.
That means only players rated between 1400 & 2000 would be eligible.
The reason for the minimum rating is to insure that all matches are competetive,
as players under 1400 would have no chance to advance, or even challenge.
(We try to make sure there is opportunity for players of all levels).
Players under 1400 (or beginning unrated players) have opportunity in
u1400, u1600 & u1800 giving them at least 9 matches.

eg #2: Under 18 RR
Only players under 18 years of age would be eligible to enter.
These junior events are fun for the players, with ratings ranging from
beginners to the 1800 level. This is the only event with such a large point
spread, encouraging players to work to achieve the next level while enjoying
competition among their own age group.

eg #3: Open SE
The Open Single Elimination event has no maximum, but usually has a minimum
rating attched to insure competetive matches. This is usually the last event
of the tournament offering more matches for the higher rated players,
as they only are eligible to play in 1 or 2 events.
As they sometimes drive 3-4 hours to attend our tournament, this gives them
an extra event making it worth their while to make the trip.
Only winners keep advancing, once you lose a match you are out.
The minimum is set at 1600, allowing u1600 level players 3 other events.

eg#4: Rated Doubles Events
You can enter a Doubles events if both you & your partner's rating adds up
to less than the Event limit: Under 2800, Under 3300, etc
Unrated players may enter an event at the tournament directors discretion
if the estimated rating is well below the max.

#5. Open RR Format:
Preliminary round = 8 groups of 4 RR
Top 2 players advance to Class A; second round = 4 groups of 4 RR
(top 2 from Class A  round 2 advance to Championship Single Elimination ¼ finals)
(bottom 2 from Class A round 2 advance to Class A Single Elimination ¼ finals)
3rd place in preliminary round advance to Class B: 2 groups of 4 RR / winners play final
4th place in preliminary round advance to Class C:  Single Elimination ¼ final

Keeping score
During a game it is your responsibility to keep up with the score.
Best to call the score out loud after every point so your opponent is in
agreement. After each game log the results to avoid conflict.
It is the responsibility of the winner to document the scores of the match
on the supplied score sheet.

How to document results of a match:
Let's assume you won the match, 11-8, 11-7, 9-11, 11-6. (3-1)
Find the corresponding space to your opponent.
You enter a W in the top of the box, then the scores: 8,7,-9,6.
In your opponents space mark L at the top, then 1-3.
Even though only wins matter regardless of the score,
the points prove useful sometimes when there is a tie within your group.
The tournament director or referee may need these scores to figure out
who advances.

More info on playing tournaments:

http://www.charlottetabletennis.org/editorial_detail.php?id=1

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