by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Editor

John Oyebode, the no.3 seed, beat Gerasimos Petris of Greece in three straight games (11-2, 11-6, 11-3), whilst Matteo Gualdi, the no.10 seed, overcame Hungary’s Norbert Terek in a very similar manner (11-2, 11-7, 11-5).

“I will try to win match after match, without setting a specific goal”, Matteo Gualdi,

“After the bronze in the Junior Boys’ Singles, the first podium in single in my life, I want another medal”, John Oyebode

Likewise, for the remaining leading names it was the very same scenario, in a competition where the top eight players on the entry list had received a direct entry to the main draw.

Csaba Andras, the top seed and like Norbert Terek from Hungary, established his authority on proceedings by beating the Czech Republic’s Filip Vybiral (11-4, 11-4, 11-7); whilst Portugal’s Tiago Li, the no.2 seed, accounted for Croatia’s, Lovro Zovko (11-9, 11-7, 11-7) and Belgium’s Adrien Rassenfosse ended the hopes of Tunisia’s Youssef Ben Attia (11-3, 11-9, 11-8).

Meanwhile, in a similar vein, Olov Kosolosky, also from Belgium and the no.5 seed, beat Bulgaria’s Martin Petrov (11-7, 11-8, 11-9); Norway’s Borgar Haug, the number no.6 seed, overcame Italy’s Andrea Puppo (11-9, 11-4, 11-7), whilst Croatia’s Ivor Ban defeated Olov Kosolosky’s colleague, Nicolas Degros (11-7, 11-5, 11-7) and Hungary’s Oliver Both ended the hopes of Croatia’s Stjepan Skoda (12-10, 11-9, 11-8).

Ivor Ban commenced play as the no.7 seed, Oliver Both the no.8 seed.