[The promotional message below from World Table Tennis (WTT) describes a global virtual table tennis competition open to the public and scheduled to take place this fall alongside an in-person professional player competition that will be held in China. The virtual competition will use the Eleven Table Tennis platform, known to provide a particularly realistic simulation of play (e.g., see the 11-minute video “Eleven Table Tennis – Realness Test and Beginners Guide” on YouTube). As the message below notes, the platform now offers a mixed reality mode that lets users bring the gameplay directly into their physical space, which should further enhance the sense of presence. –Matthew]

[Image: Source: Nasi Lemak Tech (NLT)]

Game On: WTT E-Smash Redefines Table Tennis With PICO and Intel

By WTT Team
August 24, 2025

The horizons of WTT Grand Smash are pushing into new dimensions. World Table Tennis (WTT), PICO – a leader in virtual reality – and Intel have announced the launch of PICO x Intel WTT E-Smash 2025, an all-new VR competition to be staged alongside China Smash 2025 at Beijing’s Shougang Park. It’s where the physical and digital collide, setting a new standard for how the sport can be played, watched, and experienced.

Table tennis has long held a special place in China’s sporting culture, while VR esports have emerged as one of the most dynamic new frontiers in competition. PICO x Intel WTT E-Smash 2025 brings these two forces together, merging the heritage of the game with the possibilities of immersive technology. Backed by WTT’s sporting expertise, PICO’s VR innovation, and Intel’s computing power, it is a fusion designed to push the boundaries of the sport.

The event unfolds in three stages:

• Global Registration: 25 August 25 – 2 September 2025
• Global Online Qualifiers: 4 September – 14 September 2025
• Finals: 4 October 4 2025, at Beijing’s Shougang Park, with the China Finals and Global Finals held side by side.

Fans can also immerse themselves in the action from 25 September to 5 October inside PICO’s dedicated zone at Shougang Park, open for ten days of interactive VR experiences.

At the heart of PICO x Intel WTT E-Smash 2025 is Eleven Table Tennis, developed by For Fun Labs and widely recognised as the benchmark for VR table tennis. Built on an advanced millimetre-precise physics engine, the game recreates every element of real-world play, from the kick of a sidespin loop to the sharp precision of a backhand flick. The tactile feedback, spin trajectories, and shot control deliver an experience so faithful that the transition from headset to table feels seamless.

Its latest Mixed Reality (MR) mode takes that immersion a step further, allowing players to drop a virtual table into their physical surroundings. Living rooms, gyms, or classrooms instantly become competition arenas. This breakthrough lowers the barrier to VR competition, enabling professional-level training at home while also connecting players to real-time matches against global opponents or AI at multiple skill tiers, all within the 11-point format. A global ranking and community achievement system adds another competitive layer, offering clear pathways for improvement and recognition.

Driving this innovation is PICO’s expertise in immersive hardware, ensuring accessibility and scalability, and Intel’s cutting-edge computing solutions, optimising global online play with low latency and high stability. Together with WTT’s professional sporting DNA, these forces combine to create a competitive ecosystem where elite athletes, gamers, and fans meet in a shared digital arena.

While China Smash 2025, held on 25 September to 5 October, brings the world’s best athletes together across five categories (Men’s Singles, Women’s Singles, Men’s Doubles, Women’s Doubles, and Mixed Doubles), PICO x Intel WTT E-Smash 2025 will run alongside as a bold extension of the action.

When the roar of China Smash 2025 meets the buzz of the VR headset, and when millimetre-perfect virtual spins clash with real-world competitive fire, something bigger than sport emerges: the evolution of table tennis and the creation of an entirely new arena. Register here to participate in PICO x Intel WTT E-Smash 2025.