Table tennis / Rule 2.12
Winning a match
ITTF · 2026In short
A match is decided over an odd maximum number of games.
Best-of format
A match consists of the best of an odd number of games. The winner is the player or pair that secures a majority of that agreed maximum. Once that majority is reached, remaining games are unnecessary; the match is already decided.
Check the event format
This law does not prescribe a single universal match length. Check the applicable competition format to know how many games can be played. Keep games and points separate: a match is won through games won, rather than by adding all rally points together.
Independent explanations and translations, not official federation publications. Based on the supplied ITTF Statutes 2026, effective 01/01/2026: the Laws of Table Tennis and selected international competition regulations. Independent condensed explanations with wheelchair exceptions identified. Administrative, disciplinary and event-specific chapters are not reproduced in full. References use PDF pages.
Sources & approach ↗
Sources & approach ↗