Brazilian Table Tennis Championships: categories and format
The Brazilian Table Tennis Championships, officially the TMB Platinum Campeonato Brasileiro, are the top national event run by the CBTM, Brazil's table tennis federation. They are held once a year at the end of the season, with age groups from under-7 to veterans, rating-based "Absoluto" divisions and para events. Winners earn 3,000 National Ranking points, the most on the calendar.
In this article
Brazil is the strongest table tennis nation in Latin America, home of Hugo Calderano and the host of the 2029 World Championships in Rio. Behind the stars is a busy national system, and at its top sits the Brazilian Table Tennis Championships, the event that crowns the year's national champions in every division, from 7-year-olds to players in their 70s.
This guide explains how the Brazilian Championships work and how they compare with the setup in the US. Details follow the CBTM's 2024 handbook; the federation adjusts the rules each season.
What are the Brazilian Table Tennis Championships?
The championships are run by the CBTM (Confederação Brasileira de Tênis de Mesa), Brazil's national federation and the equivalent of USA Table Tennis. They are part of a national circuit called TMB (Tênis de Mesa Brasil), and the official name is TMB Platinum Campeonato Brasileiro. They take place once a year, usually at the end of the season.
It is a big event. One edition, in Joinville, drew close to two thousand players across Olympic-style, para, individual and team events, and was billed as the largest competition in CBTM history. More on the sport's growth in the country is in table tennis in Brazil.
Competition levels in Brazil
The championships sit at the top of a pyramid. Every level gives National Ranking points, with different weights:
| Event | Run by | Points for the winner |
|---|---|---|
| TMB Platinum Campeonato Brasileiro | CBTM | 3,000 |
| TMB Platinum (national stages) | CBTM | 2,000 |
| TMB Challenge Plus | State federations, sanctioned by CBTM | 1,000 |
| TMB Estadual (state) | State federations | 400 |
| TMB Regional | Regional leagues | up to 150 |
Brazil also uses a rating system, a bit like the one in the US. See how the US version works in USATT rating system explained.
The categories
There are two kinds of individual divisions, and players can enter more than one within the limits of the rules.
Age groups
| Division | Age |
|---|---|
| Under-7 to Under-13 | up to 13, in two-year bands |
| Under-15 | 14 and 15 |
| Under-19 | 16 to 19 |
| Under-21 | 20 and 21 |
| Adult | 22 to 29 |
| Senior 30 and 35 | 30 to 39 |
| Veterans | 40 and up, in five-year bands |
Age is counted by year: it is the age a player turns by December 31 of the season.
Rating divisions ("Absoluto")
The Absoluto A to F divisions group players of any age by playing level, based on their national rating. Absoluto A is the elite division, where the country's top players fight for the national title. Newcomers start in Absoluto F and move up as they win, a system that will feel familiar to anyone who has played rating-based events in the US.
There are also para divisions based on functional classification, plus team events for clubs and state teams.
How the format works
- The CBTM publishes an official notice with venue, dates and rules about 60 days before.
- Players are entered through the CBTM online system, with their membership up to date.
- Most divisions start with groups of 3 or 4 players, seeded by ranking.
- The top finishers in each group move on to a knockout bracket.
- Divisions with five or fewer entries play a single round robin group.
Matches are best of an odd number of games to 11, with the number of games depending on the stage and division. Very large divisions can go straight to single elimination. Group tiebreaks follow ITTF logic: head-to-head between two players and, among three or more, the ratio of matches, then games, then points. For how these systems compare, see table tennis tournament formats.
Who can enter?
To play the Brazilian Championships you must belong to a club registered with a state federation and have a current CBTM annual membership at a level that allows national events. There is no walk-in entry: the route goes through your club and state federation, much like USATT membership is required for sanctioned US tournaments.
New to tournaments? Start with the steps in how to enter a table tennis tournament.
The US equivalent
In the US, the closest event is the USATT US National Championships, held once a year with open, age and rating events. The structure differs (the US system leans more on rating events), but the idea is the same: one big national event that brings the whole community together. Players who came up through the Brazilian system are profiled in Brazilian table tennis players.
Frequently asked questions
How do the Brazilian Table Tennis Championships work?
It is a yearly CBTM event with age divisions, rating-based Absoluto divisions and para events. Most divisions start in groups and finish with a knockout.
Who runs table tennis in Brazil?
The CBTM (Confederação Brasileira de Tênis de Mesa), together with state federations and regional leagues.
Can foreigners play the Brazilian Championships?
Under the 2024 handbook, foreign players can only take part in National Ranking events if they hold permanent residency in Brazil, and even then they cannot play for Brazil's national team. Check the CBTM rules for the current season.
What is Absoluto A in Brazilian table tennis?
The top division by level, made up of players with A and B ratings regardless of age. It decides the main national title.
How many points is the Brazilian Championships worth?
Each division winner gets 3,000 National Ranking points, the most on the CBTM calendar.