The only thing which is truly constant is change. The ITTF (International Table Tennis Federation) has taken this paradox to heart, as evidenced by their radical new creation, World Table Tennis (WTT). This explicitly commercial-minded enterprise is poised to implement tectonic shifts in the world of table tennis. While hype for WTT has been building for years, details have been scarce. Now, the plan for its debut is coming into view. As we finally begin to come over the Sisyphean hill that is 2020 and focus the binoculars on 2021, a mysterious set of "Hubs" comes into view. What are these "Hubs," exactly? (Although it is unclear if this is a proprietary term, the ITTF treats them as proper nouns, hence the capital "H.") Using the metaphor of a hub as a center of a wheel, the meeting place of divergent spokes, a Hub will gather players from the world over for weeks of competition in the same location. A similar concept is currently employed in the NBA's so-called "Bubble," an invite-only basketball summer camp in Disney World which will happen to determine the 2019-2020 NBA Championship. While this surreal innovation was necessitated by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Hubs look to use a similar system even if life ever returns to normal. The WTT will feature four yearly "Grand Smash" tournaments. Modeled after the Grand Slam tournaments in tennis and golf, the Grand Smashes will offer irresistible prize money and world ranking points, all but ensuring a star-studded line-up. The first-ever Grand Smash will be held during the second hub between April 13 and May 16 in China. The World Table Tennis Championships were originally scheduled to make their American debut next June 17-26 in Houston. Now, the prestigious biennial event will be restructured as a season-ending tournament for the top points-getters on the WTT tour. While no new dates have been announced by the ITTF, it seems safe to assume the championships will be held later in the year, after the Olympics and remaining Grand Smash tournaments conclude. According to WTT Event Strategy Director Stephen Duckitt, the challenges and confusion of 2020 will not deter destiny. "Despite the difficulties caused by COVID-19, WTT is being proactive to ensure that international table tennis events are able to take place in 2021, acknowledging that this first calendar year will act as a stepping-stone towards a full event schedule, to be implemented in subsequent years," said Duckitt. "2021 is a landmark year for the sport and we remain committed to offering our fans, both old and new, the opportunity to watch world-class table tennis that is refreshed, re-energized and redefined." While we struggle to get our footing in a world which insists on thrashing about uncontrollably, change looks on unconcerned, perhaps even betraying the slightest complicit smirk. Constant as ever.

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