Site Products

Comparing the First and Last ITTF Rankings of 2023

(by Steve Hopkins)

As we entered 2023, China held the top three spots in the ITTF Rankings with Fan Zhendong, Ma Long, and Wang Chuqin leading the way.  A year later, China holds the top four spots – with the same three at the top.  Fan Zhendong will enter 2024 in first, with Wang Chuqin and Ma Long in second and third.

A year ago, Harimoto had just dropped two spaced to fourth, and Truls Moregard was in fifth – and Liang Jingkun was on the rise at No. 6.  A year later, it is now Jingkun in fourth.  Hugo Calderano and Lin Yun-Ju are the top non-Chinese players at No. 5 and No. 6.  Lin Gaoyuan is 7th, followed by Europe’s highest ranked player, Felix Lebrun at 8.  Lin Shidong is 9th, Korea’s top player, and Jang Woojin is 10th.

Overall, things haven’t changed that much – there are five European players in the top 15 (not 6), and there are 6 Chinese players in the top 15 (one more than a year ago).  The order of the players has changed a little, with Harimoto just outside of the Top 10, Kallberg replacing Moregard as the top Swede in the rankings, and with Felix Lebrun’s rise to the Top 10 occurring a little quicker than many would have expected.  But, outside of China’s continued dominance at the top, there is a balance between European and other Asian players (with Hugo Calderano, Quadri Aruna, and Omar Assar making appearances for other continents in the top 20 as well).

At the end of 2022, there were a series of major championships that had significant impact on the rankings.  The schedule is a little different this year with the WTT Finals starting on January 3rd – effectively ending 2023 in 2024 (like Americans do with football bowl games).  With that in mind, we can withhold final judgment on these 2023 rankings for another week – as the Rankings that will be released on January 9th with reflect all of 2023 (plus the WTT Finals).

Visit ButterflyOnline.com for the latest table tennis news and results.

Latest News

MLTT Featured Team: Chicago Wind

July 14, 2025
(by Steve Hopkins, photo MLTT) The Chicago Wind plan to blow over competition in the upcoming Major League… Read More

Wang Chuqin and Zhu Yuling

July 13, 2025
(by Steve Hopkins) Wang Chuqin made quick work of Tomokazu Harimoto in the Men’s Singles Final of the… Read More

WAB CLUB FEATURE: California Table Tennis

July 13, 2025
(by Steve Hopkins) Nestled in Rosemead, California, at the heart of the San Gabriel Valley near Los Angeles,… Read More

United States Smash: Harimoto and Chuqin to Clash in Finals

July 13, 2025
(by Steve Hopkins) Fans in Las Vegas were treated to two epic Semifinal matches on Saturday at the… Read More

United States Smash: Semifinals

July 13, 2025
(by Steve Hopkins) When all was said and done, it was the top three seeds (and the sixth… Read More

Nishant Lebaka – Forehand Smash with Short Pips

July 13, 2025
(by: Bowmar Sports) In this Butterfly Training Tips, Nishant Lebaka is executing the Forehand Smash with short pips… Read More

Serve Into the Body

July 11, 2025
WAIT FUNCTION: Serve long serve to elbow, Robot plays topspin to Backhand, Backhand spin block down the line.… Read More

Playing Kids

July 8, 2025
(By Larry Hodges) Let’s face it; they’re probably faster than you. They might have a coach working with… Read More
View All News

Get the latest from Butterfly

Stay “In The Loop” with Butterfly professional table tennis equipment, table tennis news, table tennis technology, tournament results, and We Are Butterfly players, coaches, clubs and more.