"We wonder how far we're going to go": Virtual table tennis prepares for inaugural ITTF World Esports Championships
Frenchman Antonin "11FR_Anto" Landreau, who won the virtual table tennis exhibition event at the Olympic Esports Week last year in Singapore, talks to Olympics.com ahead of the first official ITTF World Esports Championships in virtual table tennis.
Table Tennis
"11FR_Anto" knows a thing or two about virtual table tennis.
After all, the Frenchman is European champion and world number one in the virtual table tennis esports world, in addition to winning the exhibition event at last year's Olympic Esports Week Singapore 2023.
But Antonin Landreau, to use "11FR_Anto"'s real name, now has his sights set on something even bigger. Something that will be special, if he accomplishes it. The right to call himself the first person ever to be crowned ITTF World Esports Champion.
This week, table tennis's global governing body, the International Table Tennis Federation, holds the inaugural in-person finals edition of the sport's World Esports Championships in Helsingborg, Sweden, from 27-28 November.
"11FR_Anto" will be there competing, witnessing first-hand the latest step in the evolution of his chosen esports discipline.
"At the beginning [two years ago] there were tournaments, but they were fairly local, they were specific to the game, they were a niche," he tells Olympics.com in French in an interview ahead of the Championships.
"But the fact that we're diversifying, that the ITTF is now interested, proves that they have a lot of faith in the game and in the development of virtual table tennis.
"When I became European champion I was overjoyed, and I thought straight back to those early days. I said to myself, ‘It's amazing how much the game has evolved in just two years, and the resources it has put in place!'
"We wonder how far we're going to go."
Few differences between virtual and physical table tennis
The most striking thing when watching a virtual table tennis match – especially one contested between both players in person – is the lack of the table which gives the sport its name.
Most virtual-reality table tennis is played online. "The great thing about the game is that it's open to everyone," Landreau says. "All you have to do is put on your headset, log on, set an appointment time, and in fact you can play with anyone in the world. It's simpler and easier to access than real table tennis."
No prior experience in playing physical table tennis is required. Players wear a virtual reality headset and hold a controller that acts as the paddle in their hand, but no other equipment – aside from computer hardware and a stable Internet connection – is needed.
"I'd say that if you've got a good grounding in table tennis, that's great, because it's going to be easier to get started," Landreau explains.
"On the other hand, there's an Australian who is in the top 10 in the (esports) world, who has never played (physical) table tennis in his life, but who has learnt with the game and has forged a tactic and a technique thanks to the game, and that's really impressive.
"But that's what makes it so magical, [...] anyone can try, anyone can progress, you just have to play."
Why table tennis fans should watch virtual table tennis and the sport's World Esports Championships
Eight players from around the world – one each from Sweden, Brazil, the People's Republic of China, Spain, Germany, and Switzerland, and two from France – will compete in the first World Esports Championships finals in virtual table tennis.
Landreau is one of the two French players, with the other – Nathan "11FR-Natping" Denéchère – having come through an online qualifier from over 200 entrants to reach Helsingborg.
"The eight participants in the World Championship are truly representative of the world level, as virtual table tennis is much less homogenous than real table tennis," Landreau said.
"The top four in Sweden are really the four best in the game… for me, the hardest to face are the (other) Frenchman and the Swiss. The Frenchman (Denéchère) and I have known each other since we were seven years old, he lives next door to me in Angers and we started out together.
"And the Swiss (Nicolas "Swiss11Rally" Champod) didn't start very long ago, but he had a very good level in youth and senior and plays really well in real life. For me, these are the two most difficult to play."
So top-level competition is guaranteed. But Landreau also hopes that fans of traditional physical table tennis will find the sport's virtual counterpart an entertaining watch.
"It's going to be fun to follow because there's a particular visual, a particular camera angle," he says. "I think all table tennis fans will find something interesting when they watch virtual table tennis.
"There's a lot of that sensation of spin, the curve of the ball. In the game's live action, the camera is perfectly positioned so that you can see the exchanges. It's a big tournament, there's going to be a fierce competition at the table, it's going to be fun to watch."
Ultimately, "11FR_Anto" hopes to leave Helsingborg as the champion to add to his growing list of accomplishments.
"My objective in Sweden is quite clear, it's to win. Winning is super important.
"If it's 4-0 every game or 4-3 every game, frankly I don't care how I do it," he laughs.