by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Editor

Impressively Kristian Karlsson completed his group stage matches unbeaten by overcoming Romania’s Cristian Pletea (11-7, 11-3, 11-7, 11-8), the win as expected, Kristian Karlsson is listed at no.27 on the current Men’s World Rankings, Cristian Pletea at no.166.

Meanwhile, standing at no.104 on the current Men’s World Rankings, 31 year old Jon Persson accounted for Hong Kong’s Jiang Tianyi, named at no.59 on the current order and a player who has enjoyed notable ITTF World Tour success. Pertinently he won in Brazil in 2008 and in Hungary in 2015.

Similar to Jon Persson, his colleagues who were highest rated players in their respective groups, commenced the second day of action unbeaten; rather differently their progress came to a very abrupt end.

Listed at no.24 on the current Men’s World Rankings, Mattias Karlsson was beaten by Frenchman, Romain Lorentz, named at no.155 (11-8, 11-4, 11-8, 10-12, 11-9). In a likewise fashion Pär Gerell, who stands at no.46, experienced defeat at the hands of Russia’s Alexey Liventsov; he occupies the no.118 spot in the global order. The Swede was beaten in four straight games (12-10, 11-9, 11-5, 13-11).

Comprehensive defeats, it was the same for Anton Källberg but he could at least offer a reason for the reverse. He was beaten by a former ITTF World Tour Men’s Singles winner. He lost to Romania’s Adrian Crisan in five games (11-4, 5-11, 11-6, 12-10, 13-11) the winner of the Men’s Singles title at the 2005 Brazil Open.

Presently on the Men’s World Rankings, Anton Källberg is listed at no.74; Adrian Crisan at no.89.