by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Editor

Vladimir Samsonov climbs from no.29 to no.4 (589 points) on the Men’s Singles Standings; he trails China’s Ma Long (1,050 points), Germany’s Dimitrij Ovtcharov (800 points) and Fan Zhendong, also from China (650 points).

Likewise, there is progress for Frenchman, Simon Gauzy, the player Vladimir Samsonov beat in the Australian final; he climbs from no.41 no.7 (357 points), being behind Germany’s Timo Boll (575 points) and Japan’s Koki Niwa (404 points). Tomokazu Harimoto, beaten by Lim Jonghoon in the opening round in Gold Coast drops one place. He is now at no.8 (350 points).

Distinct possibilities of invitations to the Grand Finals, the losing semi-finalists in Australia are also knocking on the door. England’s Paul Drinkhall is now at no.18 (231 points; Korea’s Cho Seungmin is one place below (231 points).

Meanwhile, on the Women’s Singles Standings, Chen Meng increases her lead at the top of the order by 500 points. Once again she appears in first place (1,531 points) with colleagues Sun Yingsha and Wang Manyu, the latter the player she beat in the Gold Coast final, sharing second spot (800 points). It is no change for Sun Yingsha who did not compete in Australia, for Wang Manyu, it is a climb of three places.

Semi-finalists in Gold Coast, Gu Yuting and Zhu Yuling, similarly both from China, also make progress. Gu Yuting moves from no.14 to no.6 (400 points), Zhu Yuling from no.18 to no.10 (350 points).

Singapore’s Feng Tianwei, beaten by Japan’s Saki Shibata in the opening round in Australia, falls one place to no.4 (525 points), being one ahead of China’s Ding Ning (500 points) who was not present in Gold Coast. Chen Xingtong, also from China, beaten by Wang Manyu at the quarter-final stage moves from no.9 to no.7 (375 points); Japan’s Sakura Mori and Germany’s Shan Xiaona (366 points) complete the top eight names.

Top spot retained, in the Women’s Doubles Standings for Chen Meng and Zhu Yuling it is top spot gained (450 points); they replace Korea’s Jeon Jihee and Yang Haeun (425 points) at the head of the list. Cheng Xingtong and Wang Manyu, the runners up in Gold Coast, enter at no.4 (300 points), being one place behind the combination of Sweden’s Matilda Ekholm and Hungary’s Georgina Pota (319 points).

A change at the top of the Women’s Doubles Standings; there is no change at the top of the Men’s Doubles listings.

Japan’s Masataka Morizono and Yuya Oshima retain pole position (588 points), colleagues Jin Ueda and Maharu Yoshimura, semi-finalists in Australia, are now in clear second place (375 points), ahead of Korea’s Jang Woojin and Park Ganghyeon, the Australian gold medallists (319 points).

China’s Ma Long and Xu Xin drop two places to no.4 (300 points); runners up in Gold Coast, Chinese Taipei’s Chen Chien-An and Chiang Hung-Chieh, appear at no.5 (239 points).

Progress for Park Ganghyeon, successful in Australia, he climbs from no.18 on the Under 21 Men’s Singles Standings to no.5 (360 points); similarly colleague, Kim Minhyeok, the player beaten by Park Ganghyeon in the final, advances from no.38 to no.9 (175 points). Colleague, Lim Jonghoon, semi-finalist in Gold Coast, remains in first place (650 points).

Korea prominent, in the Under 21 Women’s Singles listings, Japan is the predominant force. The two players who contested the final in Australia lead the listings. Saki Shibata, the winner, climbs five places to occupy (550 points), Maki Shiomi advances one place (463 points) to become is next in line.

Hong Kong’s Doo Hoi Kem, the previously leader is now at no.3 (375 points).

Latest Standings: following Seamaster 2017 ITTF World Tour Platinum Australia Japan Open