MLTT Brings Challenge a Pro to MIT Sloan, Integrates SPINDEX Ratings

Major League Table Tennis announced on March 5, 2026 that it is bringing a live "Challenge a Pro" activation to the MIT Sloan Sports Analytics Conference, March 6-7 at the Thomas M. Menino Convention and Exhibition Center in Boston. The SSAC schedule lists at least one 15-minute session on Day 2, March 7 at 9:00 AM in Interactive Events Room (204), where attendees will "step up and challenge a Major League Table Tennis pro."

Flint Lane, founder and commissioner of MLTT, framed the activation as part of the league’s technology push: "MIT Sloan is where many of the most important conversations about the future of sports happen," he said, and added, "We’re excited to bring a live table tennis experience to the conference and demonstrate how technology like SPINDEX can help modernize the sport by connecting players, data, and competition on a global scale." MLTT describes itself in the release as "the first professional table tennis league in the United States."

The activation centers on SPINDEX, described in MLTT materials as "MLTT’s global table tennis rating system." MLTT says, "SPINDEX provides a universal rating system for table tennis players at every level, allowing participants to record matches, build verified ratings, and track performance over time." SSAC’s event copy echoes that positioning, calling SPINDEX "the global rating system used by MLTT players" and promising that participants will "receive a free SPINDEX rating."

Session format details appear in both sources but do not fully align. MLTT’s press release says attendees can "play a point against MLTT professionals" as part of the activation, while the SSAC schedule describes the activation this way: "In this 15-minute session, you’ll warm up, play a short competitive game, and receive a free SPINDEX rating." The SSAC listing also warns, "Sessions are limited and run on a tight schedule. Please arrive 5 minutes early," and includes the instruction, "Use this link to sign up," though the published schedule entry shows no speakers and does not include a URL in the copy provided.

MLTT’s announcement positions the activation as running "throughout both days of the conference," March 6 and March 7, while the SSAC public schedule explicitly lists the March 7, 9:00 AM slot in Room 204. The discrepancy between a single listed Day 2 session and MLTT’s "throughout both days" statement, along with the differing language about whether participants "play a point" or play a "short competitive game" in the 15-minute window, are among the outstanding logistical items noted in MLTT materials and the SSAC schedule.

Bringing hands-on play and immediate SPINDEX ratings to a sports analytics audience is the clear intent behind MLTT’s presence: the league says it aims to "create a more connected ecosystem for players, clubs, and fans" by integrating data infrastructure with live competition. The MIT Sloan conference runs through March 7 at the Menino Convention Center, and MLTT’s "Challenge a Pro" will occupy Interactive Events Room (204) in at least the March 7, 9:00 AM slot as listed on the SSAC schedule.