by Ian Marshall, ITTF publications Editor

Listed at no.506 on the recently published Men’s World Rankings for May; Chou Te-Hao accounted for Saudi Arabia’s Al Alkhadrawi, named at no.315 (11-8, 11-9, 11-5, 9-11, 11-7), prior to overcoming Sweden’s Elias Ranefur by the very narrowest of margins in a full distance seven games duel (8-11, 8-11, 11-9, 11-7, 5-11, 11-7, 11-9).

Presently, Elias Ranefur has no World ranking but earlier this year in March was listed at no.167.

Wins against the odds for Chou Te-Hao for Han Yubeen it was the same. He accounted for Japan’s Koyo Kanatisu (11-8, 11-9, 11-8, 8-11, 1111) and in an equally tense duel as Chou Te-Hao experienced to top his group, he beat England’s David McBeath (8-11, 11-9, 10-12, 11-2, 8-11, 13-11, 14-12).

Two surprises but that was not the scenario where the leading names were concerned; for the principal names on duty on the opening day of action in the Men’s Singles qualification tournament, it was one match played, one win recorded.

Russia’s Vasiliy Lakeev beat Sweden’s Simon Soderlund in a closely contested full distance encounter decided by the minimal two point margin in the deciding game (11-9, 6-11, 12-10, 12-10, 8-11, 9-11, 11-9); whilst only slightly more comfortably Iran’s Nima Alamian overcame Russia’s Andrey Semenov (10-12, 7-11, 11-9, 12-10, 11-3, 11-8). Also, in a similar manner Japan’s Yuto Kizukuri caused Sweden problems. He beat Anders Eriksson (7-11, 5-11, 11-7, 11-8, 11-9, 11-4).

Meanwhile, not to be outdone, Slovenia’s Darko Jorgic defeated Austria’s Maciej Kolodziejczyk (7-11, 11-9, 13-11, 11-4, 8-11, 11-9).

Play in the Men’s Singles qualification tournament concludes on Wednesday 3rd May.