From its very inception, TTX (or "Table Tennis X") was designed to shake things up. With its colorful, spin-free rackets and bigger, heavier ball designed for outdoor play, TTX is a more accessible version of table tennis. New rules also add a fun element to the mix. Service rules are relaxed, meaning no 6"/15cm ball toss is required. Instead of games to 11, TTX is played sudden death to two-minutes. Once per game, each player may announce "wildcard" before serving, doubling the value of the point. A clean winner will also net you two points. Thus, if the server announces "wildcard" and proceeds to ace the would-be receiver, the server shall be awarded a whopping four points. Since its debut at the 2016 Rio Olympics, TTX has steadily grown in popularity. Already catching on in African countries like Uganda and Egypt, the nascent sport staged its first national championship last year in Sweden. This summer, TTX will make its American debut with "Smash Street," taking over Denver on August 24. Offering food, drinks and music, Smash Street will truly be a party. Despite the fun atmosphere, expect some stiff competition in the Mile High City, which is only an hour and a half from the US Olympic table tennis training center in Colorado Springs. To raise the stakes even higher, the winner will win an all-expenses-paid trip to the 2020 World Team Table Tennis Championships in Busan, South Korea. The VIP treatment will include a chance to play with the world champions. Once the dust settles in Denver, the TTX faithful will plot a course toward the Mediterranean. On October 6, the "Roma Ping Pong Fest" will see colorful tables take over the streets of Rome for Italy's inaugural TTX festival, featuring music, "fun zones" and a celebrity tournament. While it is still making a name for itself inn the world of sport, one thing is becoming abundantly clear. TTX throws the best parties.

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