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ITTF Challenge

2017 ITTF Challenge, Polish Open

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Challenge Series

Status prevails but not always by direct route

05 Oct 2017

Frenchman Abdel-Kader Salifou alongside Brazil’s Cazuo Matsumoto and the Russian pair of Alexey Liventsov and Kirill Skachkov, the leading names on duty in the Men’s Singles qualification tournament to gain places in the 2017 ITTF Challenge Polish Open in Czestochowa all emerged in first positions in their respective groups when play concluded on Thursday 5th October.

It was very much the scenario as the highest rated in each group justified their status; however, Italy’s Niagol Stoyanov and Marco Rech Daldosso alongside Chile’s Felipe Olivares and the host nation’s Marek Badowski all justified their status but took the difficult route to top spot.

Marek Badowski first place by the difficult route (Photo: Bogdan Pasek)

by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Editor

In his concluding contest Niagol Stoyanov was beaten by Slovakia’s Samuel Kaluzny in seven games (8-11, 5-11, 11-8, 6-11, 11-6, 11-9, 11-9) but on the opening day had overcome Singapore’s Lucas Tan in four straight games (11-9, 11-8, 11-6, 11-9). However, in the opening match in the group Lucas Tan had beaten Samuel Kaluzny in five games (11-5, 8-11, 11-6, 11-7, 11-3).

Thus on games ratio it was first place for Niagol Stoyanov (7:4) followed by Lucas Tan (4:5) and Samuel Kaluzny (5:7).

Somewhat differently after losing to Poland’s Kacper Petas in seven games (11-7, 5-11, 5-11, 11-5, 8-11, 11-9, 11-9) on the opening day, Marco Rech Daldosso responded to beat Gleb Shamruk of Belarus in four straight games (11-7, 11-7, 11-9, 11-9). After his success against Marco Rech Daldosso, Kacper Petas was beaten by Gleb Shamruk in four straight games (11-8, 115, 11-9, 11-5).

Games ratio was again the determining factor; Marco Rech Daldosso (7:4) concluded matters ahead of Gleb Shamruk (4:4) and Kacper Petas (4:7).

Such was the end result for Felipe Olivares. He beat Poland’s Konrad Kulpa in five games (11-13, 11-4, 11-6, 11-3, 11-4) but in his concluding contest suffered defeat at the hands of England’s Tom Jarvis in six games (11-8, 5-11, 6-11, 11-7, 11-8, 11-7). On the opening day of play Tom Jarvis had lost to Konrad Kulpa in five games (9-11,12-10, 11-3, 14-12, 11-7).

Once more games ratio determined the decision. Felipe Olivares secured first place (6:5) ahead of Tom Jarvis (5:6) and Konrad Kulpa (5:5).

Tense times, it was the same for Marek Badowski; he beat Sweden’s Malte Moregard in six games (11-8, 11-5, 12-10, 9-11, 8-11, 11-5) but in his final group stage match experienced a seven games reverse when facing Denmark’s Tobias Rasmussen (11-6, 5-11, 4-11, 6-11, 11-9, 11-7, 11-3). Pertinently one day earlier Tobias Rasmussen had lost to Maltre Moregard in six games. Games ratio determined first place for Marek Badowski (7:6) followed by Malte Moregard (6:6) and Tobias Rasmussen (6:7).

Testing times but success for the player predicted by status to secure first place. However, there was one surprise top spot.

Unbeaten on the opening day of play, Thailand’s Supanut Wisutmaythangkoon accounted for Lithuania’s Thomas Mikutis, the highest named in the group (11-6, 11-13, 11-6, 5-11, 11-9, 11-1) to reserve first place.

He joins Japan’s Kaii Yoshida, Denmark’s Zhai Yujia and Poland’s Han Chuanxi, all who had secured first places in their group one day earlier, as one of only four surprise group winners.

Challenge Series 2017 Polish Open Marek Badowski Felipe Olivares Niagol Stoyanov Marco Rech Daldosso

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