The Answer
This week's quiz question appeared to divide our readers neatly in half, with 40% of the respondents at the time of writing voting for Option 1, while 42% decided that Option 5 was the right choice.Results at the time of writing are as follows:
Option 1: 75 votes (40%)
Option 2: 22 votes (11%)
Option 3: 6 votes (3%)
Option 4: 3 votes (1%)
Option 5: 78 votes (42%)
with a grand total of 184 votes.
Looking back, I think my wording of Options 1 and 5 was not the best, and I really should have written that Option 1 is "Player A has the choice of ends.", and Option 5 is "Player B has the choice of ends.". The way it was written could be interpreted as implying that it was up to the umpire to decide what was fair and give the choice to a player, rather than having the umpire simply enforce the rules which automatically gave Player A or Player B the right to choose.
I think this is what Steve O. was referring to when he emailed me to mention that this week's quiz question had no correct answer and was not up to my usual high standard (sorry Steve!). In fact, Steve's email contained a succinct answer and explanation to the quiz question, which I'll reproduce below:
I don't think any of the answers to your quiz are correct! As I understand it, the ITTF rules are as follows
2.13.1 The right to choose the initial order of serving, receiving and ends shall be
decided by lot and the winner may choose to serve or to receive first or to start
at a particular end.
2.13.2 When one player or pair has chosen to serve or to receive first or to start
at a particular end, the other player or pair shall have the other choice.
Therefore in your scenario, Player A made the first choice, by nominating to receive. (He could have chosen an end if he so wished) . Player B has the other choice.
I think this is clear cut, and not up to your usual high standard of question!
Have a great weekend
Steve O.
Steve has hit the nail squarely on the head, that since Player A chose to receive, he has used up the first choice by deciding who will serve and who will receive, leaving Player B with the remaining option, which is the choice of ends.
So the answer to what the umpire should do is in fact Option 5: Give Player B the choice of ends, although it would have been better worded as Option 5: Player B has the right to choose ends.
And with 40% of respondents choosing Option 1, and 42% of readers choosing Option 5, is it any wonder that arguments occur?
