by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Editor
Success against Frenchman, Irvin Bertrand, the no.27 seed in four straight games (11-4, 11-7, 11-4, 11-8) but in his concluding group stage contest it was defeat. He was beaten by Argentina’s Tomas Joffre in a full distance seven games duel (11-7, 9-11, 6-11, 9-11, 11-9, 11-9, 11-8).
However, in the opening match in the group, Irvin Bertrand had beaten Tomas Joffre without the loss of a single game (11-4, 11-7, 11-4, 11-8). One win for each player, games ratio determined the outcome; it was first place for Antonino Amato (7:4) followed by Irvin Bertrand (4:4) and Tomas Joffre (4:7).
Thus Antonino Amato and Irvin Bertrand advanced to the main draw; for Tomas Joffre it was the end of the road; players finishing in first and second places in each of the 24 groups join the 16 seeds in the main draw.
A close call for Antonino Amato, it was the same for Belgium’s Thibaut Darcis, the surprise winner earlier in the day in opposition to Ioannis Sgouropoulos, the no.35 seed (12-14, 11-8, 5-11, 11-9, 9-11, 11-9, 11-8). He had to recover from the brink of defeat against New Zealand’s Dean Shu in order to maintain his unblemished record. He lost the first three games before winning the next three and the seventh by the very narrowest of decisions (10-12, 10-12, 9-11, 11-7, 11-8, 11-5, 13-11).
Ioannis Sgouropoulos secured second place in the group by beating Korea’s Kim Daewoo (11-6, 9-11, 11-6, 8-11, 11-4, 14-12).
Meanwhile, for the remaining names who caused upsets, the unbeaten record and top place in the group was duly secured without great alarm.
DPR Korea’s Kim Song Il, who had accounted for Japan’s Yuki Matsuyama, the no.19 seed (13-11, 11-7, 11-6, 9-11, 6-11, 6-11, 11-5), continued his good form to beat the Czech Republic’s Vlastimil Buben (8-11, 13-11, 11-4, 11-6, 8-11, 11-7). Earlier Yuki Matsuyama had overcome Vlastimil Buben; a win that secured runners up spot.
Impressive from Kim Song Il, it was the same from England’s Tom Jarvis, Germany’s Gerrit Engemann and Chinese Taipei’s Tai Ming-Wei.
Tom Jarvis, the victor over Sweden’s Truls Moregard, the no.34 seed, earlier in the day (6-11, 12-14, 11-6, 5-11, 11-9, 11-8, 11-3), secured top spot in his group by overcoming Australia’s Ben Gould (12-10, 11-6, 11-9, 11-7).
Likewise, Gerritt Engemann accounted for South Africa’s Darren Wyngaardt (11-1, 11-3, 11-6, 11-4); Tai Ming-Wei defeated Cade Peters (11-7, 11-3, 11-5, 11-4). In the early afternoon Gerritt Engemann had beaten Russia’s Denis Ivonin, the no.37 seed, Tai Ming-Wei had accounted for Denmark’s Andreas Dilling, the no.40 seed (11-8, 11-7, 8-11, 11-9, 11-6).
Defeats earlier in the day but Denis Ivonin and Andreas Dilling secured second places in their respective groups and thus main draw places.
Denis Ivonin concluded his initial phase itinerary with success against Canada’s Jason Liu (8-11, 11-4, 11-6, 11-4, 11-3), Andreas Dilling beat New Zealand’s Victor Ma (11-8, 9-11, 11-7, 11-3, 11-6).
Play in both the Boys’ Singles and Girls’ Singles events continues on Monday 5th December.
