The New York Slice – Major League Table Tennis’ Newest Team Makes Their Home Debut

by Warren Rosenberg - MetroSports Magazine November 9, 2025

The New York Metro region welcomed several new sports teams this year, two of which represent a unique team format for what was previously a sport of individual competitors.

On the traditional team sport format, the metro area welcomed the new women’s professional rugby team, the New York Exiles, and the new men’s professional soccer team, the Westchester Soccer Club, both of which call Mt. Vernon’s Memorial Field home. The Exiles were featured in the Spring 2025 issue of MetroSports Magazine.

On what had previously been individual sports, the New York Mavericks of the Professional Bull Riders circuit completed their second season as a team while the NYC Attitude of professional boxing completed their third season, winning the Team Combat League championship. The New York Empire, a professional equestrian team of the Longines Global Champions Tour, competed earlier this year with the NYC skyline as a background. The NYC Attitude were featured in MetroSports’ Summer 2025 issue and the NY Empire in an earlier online post.

On the weekend of November 7-9, 2025, the Westchester Table Tennis Center in Pleasantville New York hosted the first at-home appearance of the newest team, the New York Slice of Major League Table Tennis, and did so in front of a full house of avid supporters.

Above: The stands were full at the WTTC to cheer on the competitors in week 5 of MLTT competition Below: Some of the signage brought by fans to support their favorite players and teams

The world of table tennis is experiencing a thrilling transformation with the advent of Major League Table Tennis (MLTT), a professional league dedicated to showcasing the sport's fastest-paced and most exciting gameplay. Among its teams, the New York Slice has quickly gained prominence, capturing the imagination of fans and sports enthusiasts alike. The New York Slice is the newest expansion franchise for MLTT marking the league’s push into one of the nation’s most high-profile sports markets.

The Slice is coached by Adam Hugh, a six-time U.S. Men’s National Team member, former national champion, with over 20 years of coaching experience. He is quoted by MLTT as stating, “New York is home to the most passionate sports fans in the world—a city built on resilience and the relentless pursuit of excellence,” said Hugh. “As we bring MLTT to the metropolitan area, I’m excited to help build a winning culture and make every match an electrifying experience for our fans.”

Above: Members of the NY Slice during team introductions Below: NY Slice members Tao Wenzhang and Jishan Liang in doubles competition

The Slice features players from around the world including Tao Wenzhang (China), Jishan “All In” Liang (USA), Amir Hodaei (Iran), Haocheng Wang (China), Kaden Xu (USA), Choi Haeeun (South Korea), Koki Niwa (Japan), and Yiran Wu (China). Koki Niwa is a two time Olympic medalist. Kaden Xu is not new to the WTTC having won the WTTC’s monthly Westchester Open nine times according to WTTC founder and owner, Will Shortz. This places him as the third-most frequent winner in the tournament's 14-year history.

Prior to the start of competition, Slice newcomer Choi Haeeun said, “The start of my first American league I was so nervous, so fun, and so happy. Next in New York! Fighting Team New York Slice. I‘m so nervous because it’s a home game, but it‘s an honor to be able to play well in the first game.” Pictured below, she is in competition with 2024 Olympian Amy Wang of the Texas Smash. Amy is no stranger to the WTTC having competed there often including the 2020 T2 tournament and the 2022 celebration of the anniversary of PingPongParkinson where she played against Jordanian Olympian, Princess Zaina Rashid.

Above: Women's singles competition with NY Slice's Choi Haeeun (far right) taking on Texas Smash's Amy Wang (near left).

The MLTT format starts of with three games pitting players one-on-one in 11 point contests with the winner claiming one tournament point for their team. Next comes a doubles game, also played to 11 points with the winners adding another point to the team total follwed by a fourth singles game.  The dominant team can therefore amass up to 5 points toward the weekly tournament title. The final game of the match is a 21 point contest called the Golden Game featuring all players who rotate in after each four points are scored. The winner of the Golden Game earns 6 points towards the match total.

Above: NY Slice head coach Adam Hugh (left) giving guidance to Choi Haeeun.

While the home court advantage did not produce a win for the Slice, the team’s performance in Saturday’s Golden Game was the highlight of the weekend.  Down 0-5 in the Golden Game, the Slice put up a championship performance coming back to take the win from the Los Angeles Spinners in what is considered the all-time comeback ending on Major League Table Tennis history.  Finishing the third round of singles competition Los Angeles held a solid 9-3 lead over New York. In the fourth and final round of singles play, NY brought the Los Angeles advantage to 10-5. With the Golden Game carrying 6 points for the win and rotating all players into the competition it was in the hands of all NY players to turn the tide. Los Angeles established an early lead and, as the players rotated through, Los Angeles maintained the lead bringing the score to 20-16, with only one point needed by Los Angeles to secure the win and New York needing five. The first NY point toward that win was scored by Tao who followed by scoring two more and conceding nothing. With the score now sitting even at 20-20, New York’s Choi Haeeun stepped up to the table. Haeeun’s first serve was returned but failed to hit the table and New York won the game and, with the six points, won the match, 11-10, as well.

Above: NY Slice's Koki Niwa prepares to serve with Slice teammates looking on.

After five weeks of this season’s play, the New York Slice stand at the top of MLTT’s East Division with a 6-3 overall record.

Photos of the MLTT Week 5 at the WTTC are posted at: https://wr-photo.com/p974126843