Short matches, constant changes and one clear goal: table 1. King of the Court – known in German-speaking table tennis as the «Kaiserturnier» – is one of the liveliest fun formats around. Nobody sits around for long, and it stays open until the very last round who ends up on top.
The Principle: Move Up, Move Down
Play takes place at numbered tables or courts. After each round, winners move up one table and losers move down one table. Whoever wins at table 1 stays there and is King or Queen – until their next defeat. Round by round, the field sorts itself by playing strength: the strongest fight for the title at the top, and further down, increasingly evenly matched players meet as well.
King of the Court works in singles just as well as with fixed doubles or mixed teams that move up and down together. Women and men play either together or separately, with their own tables and standings.
The Starting Line-Up – an Underrated Trick
Who starts at which table? In the Club Turnier Manager, the order of entry sets the starting line-up: the first entry starts at table 1. Before the first round, the line-up can still be adjusted – by tapping two participants or by redrawing.
More Players Than Places: Sitting Out and the Waiting Room
With an odd number of participants, one person sits out per round – always the loser at the last table. If there are clearly more participants than tables or courts, the waiting room comes into play: whoever loses at the last table moves to the waiting room, and whoever has waited longest re-enters at the last table. That way everyone gets to play regularly, even in a small hall.
Short Rounds: Mark the Winner Only or Use a Timer
King of the Court thrives on pace. Instead of entering every score set by set, you can simply mark the winner at each table – optionally with a round timer that runs for all tables at once. Of course you can also play regular sets, for example one game to 11. Read more about the timer in Timed Play.
How long you play is up to you: King of the Court has no fixed number of rounds. Play as long as your hall time allows – the last round decides.
How the Standings Work
In King of the Court, it isn't the total number of wins that counts but where you finish: what matters is the table and result of the last round. The winner at table 1 is ranked 1st, the loser at table 1 2nd, the winner at table 2 3rd and so on. Wins, sets and points are tracked, but only for information.
That makes the last round especially exciting: a win at table 1 at the right moment is worth more than a long winning streak further down.
Which Sports Is It For?
In table tennis, King of the Court is a classic – short games to 11 and many tables are a perfect fit. In padel and pickleball, the same principle is widespread under exactly that name. It also works well in badminton, tennis and squash if matches are kept short – for example with one set or a timer.
Your Next King of the Court
The Club Turnier Manager keeps track of tables, moves up and down, the waiting room and the standings automatically – with a round timer if you like. Offline in the browser, no installation.
Try It NowConclusion
King of the Court combines pace, movement and a clear highlight: the battle for table 1. With a clever starting line-up, short rounds and the waiting room for large groups, it stays exciting to the end. If you're looking for a relaxed evening with lots of playing time and a crowned winner, King of the Court is exactly right.