by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Editor
Bastian Steger, the top seed will meet qualifier, Kilian Ort.
In the round of the last eight Bastian Steger beat Iran’s Nima Alamian, the no.30 seed (11-9, 11-3, 8-11, 12-14, 14-12, 11-4), whilst at the same time Kilian Ort continued his quite unprecedented run of success.
Two days after celebrating his 21st birthday, he accounted for Spain’s Jesus Cantero in four straight games (12-10, 13-11, 12-10, 11-7) to reserve his place in the penultimate round.
Furthermore, it was arguably another upset; presently on the Men’s World Rankings, Kilian Ort is named at no.188, Jesus Cantero at no.133.
Meanwhile, in the corresponding Men’s Singles semi-final, there is also a player involved who was required to compete in the two day qualification tournament; like Kilian Ort, the Czech Republic’s Tomas Tregler has followed a path of destruction.
At the quarter-final stage he overcame Russia’s Alexey Liventsov (9-11, 3-11, 11-7, 11-4, 11-7, 11-8), also a qualifier but listed at no.134 on the Men’s World Rankings as opposed to Tomas Tregler who is named at no.151.
In the penultimate round, the 26 year old from the Czech Republic opposes Sweden’s Jon Persson, the no.22 seed. Impressively, he ousted Antonin Gavlas, like Tomas Tregler a qualifier and from the Czech Republic. He emerged victorious in four straight games (11-7, 11-6, 11-5, 11-9).
Success for Jon Persson but some four hours earlier it had been defeat; partnering colleague Jens Lundqvist the Swedes had experienced a four games Men’s Doubles semi-final reverse at the hands of Korea’s Choi Wonjin and Lee Jungwoo (11-5, 7-11, 14-12, 11-9).
In the final, Choi Wonjin and Lee Jungwoo confront Hungary’s Nandor Ecseki and Adam Szudi, the no.3 seeds; they reserved their place in the title decider courtesy of success against Iran’s Nima Alamian and Noshad Alamiyan, the no.5 seeds (11-9, 7-11, 8-11, 11-6, 11-7).
The programme on Sunday 30th April is scheduled to start 10.00am (local time) with the first Women’s Singles semi-final; following a break, at 2.30pm (local time) the Women’s Doubles will commence the finals schedule.
