PLAYING FORMAT

The ECL will be played in two stages.

In the 1st stage, the teams will be divided into 4 groups of 4 teams and in their group the teams will play each other in order to determine the final ranking order in each group.

In a group, 2 match points shall be awarded for a win, 1 for a loss and 0 for a loss in a not played or unfinished match, and the ranking order shall be determined primarily by the numbers of match points gained.

If 2 or more teams have gained the same number of match points, their relative position shall be determined by the results only of the matches between them, taking successively the numbers of match points, the ratios of wins to losses in individual matches, games and points, as far as it is necessary to resolve the order.

If 2 or more clubs have gained the same numbers of match points and have the same ratios of wins to losses in individual matches, games and points, their relative positions shall be decided by lot.

After the group matches of the ECL, the 4 teams ranked N° 3 in the groups shall continue to compete in the ETTU Cup (see chapter L.8.6).

In the 2nd stage the winners and the 2nd ranked teams of the groups will play in a single knock-out system, with quarter-finals, semi-finals and finals, to determine the winner of the competition.

The winner of group A goes to position 1, the winner of group D goes to position 8, the winners of group B and C shall be drawn between positions 4 and 5. The teams finishing in position 2 of the first stage groups shall be drawn by lot into the remaining places but in the opposite half to the winners of their initial group.

The home right for the first leg of these matches will be given to the 2nd ranked teams of the groups, for following rounds the home right for the first leg will be given to the lower ranked team. In all stages each tie will be played in 2 legs, home and away. If in matches of the second stage each team has won one leg, the winner will be the team with the better aggregate score first in individual matches, then in games and finally in points. If they are still equal the winner shall be decided by lot.

PLAYING SYSTEM

The playing system shall be the new Swaythling Cup system (best of 5 singles).
A team shall consist of 3 players selected from those nominated for the event. All individual matches shall be played on the same table.

The home team shall be A,B,C and the visiting team X,Y,Z. The order of play shall be A v X, B v Y, C v Z, A v Y, B v X and the team match shall end when one team has won 3 individual matches, each the best of 5 games.

There shall be no interval during the televised matches and there shall be an interval of not more than 15 minutes after the second individual match unless both captains have agreed before the start of the team match that there will be no interval.