World Table Tennis has appointed Chris Tam as Managing Director, confirming a leadership model that brings its operations into closer alignment with the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF). Announced on 19 October, the appointment allows Tam to retain his position as ITTF Chief Operations Officer, while WTT has closed its search for a Chief Executive Officer.
The decision comes more than seven months after Petra Sörling, who also serves as ITTF President, became Chair of the WTT Board at its meeting in Singapore on 1 March 2026. ITTF described her appointment as part of its responsibility, as WTT’s majority owner, to strengthen oversight of the company’s strategy and ensure it generates sustainable value for the sport.
Tam has led WTT’s operations since May. A Singaporean chartered accountant who joined ITTF in 2024 after an international career in finance, he will be supported by Bart Vermoesen, Executive Director for Event Operations, and Tristan Lavier, Executive Director for Corporate & Public Affairs. Both will also retain their ITTF roles. The WTT Board has additionally announced plans to appoint an independent member to provide an external perspective.
In explaining its decision, the Board pointed to the delivery of the 2026 Grand Smash season, publication of the 2027 calendar and a more streamlined operating structure. WTT and ITTF have also secured an eight-year agreement with Infront, running until 2034, covering their marketing rights. The partnership includes commercial strategy and sponsorship sales across the WTT Series, with the ITTF World Championships to follow once existing commitments expire.
The scale of WTT’s audience was illustrated by China Smash in Beijing this month. According to figures published by WTT, CCTV’s coverage recorded a reach of 888.3 million, while attracting almost 117 million unique television viewers. These are distinct measures: the larger figure should not be interpreted as the number of individual people who watched the tournament.
WTT also reported 88,000 tickets sold and almost 72,000 spectators, around 80% of whom travelled from outside Beijing. Its published figures put direct economic revenue at more than RMB 147 million. Meanwhile, Shougang Park recorded 864,000 visitors between 1 and 11 October—a measure of activity across the site, rather than attendance at the table tennis competition alone.
Looking ahead, the official 2027 calendar announcement describes a WTT circuit spanning four continents, with Singapore Smash scheduled for 18–28 February. Europe already provided a significant sporting milestone in 2025, when Sweden’s Truls Moregard won the men’s singles title at Europe Smash in Malmö, becoming the first European Grand Smash singles champion.
The immediate focus remains the closing stages of 2026. WTT Champions Montpellier takes place from 27 October to 1 November, followed by WTT Champions Frankfurt on 3–8 November and WTT Finals Hong Kong on 9–13 December. Those events will complete the season as Tam takes on the permanent leadership of WTT.
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