by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Editor

One place ahead of Ma Long and Xu Xin (500 points) is their compatriot Fan Zhendong (750 points), not present in Germany but on duty earlier in the year in both Hungary and Qatar where on each occasion he won the Men’s Singles title.

Notably in Qatar, he beat Xu Xin in the penultimate round, prior to accounting for Brazil’s Hugo Calderano in the final. A semi-finalist in Hungary but in Germany an opening round defeat, Hugo Calderano occupies fourth spot on the Men’s Singles Standings (388 points).

Meanwhile, for Japan’s Kasumi Ishikawa, victory in Germany means she now leads the Women’s Singles listings (700 points), being ahead of the Chinese trio of Wang Manyu (550 points), Liu Shiwen (500 points) and Sun Yungsha (325 points). Level alongside Sun Yingsha is Korea’s Suh Hyowon (325 points), the player Kasumi Ishikawa beat in the German final.

Prominent on the Men’s Singles Standings, the names of Fan Zhendong, Ma Long and Xu Xin are equally prominent on the Men’s Doubles Standings. Xu Xin is the common factor, in Qatar he won in partnership with Fan Zhendong (300 points), in Germany when joining forces with Ma Long (300 points). Next in line is the Korean combination of Jeoung Youngsik and Lee Sangsu (263 points); the runners up in Germany.

First place for China in the Men’s Doubles Standing, it is the same in the Women’s Doubles order of merit; the pairs that have to date claimed titles occupy  the leading positions.

Chen Ke and Wang Manyu, the winners in Qatar, head the list (400 points), next in line are colleagues Chen Xingtong and Sun Yingsha, the champions in Hungary (350 points). They are followed by Japan’s Hina Hayata and Mima Ito, the gold medallists in Germany.

Latest Standings: Positions following Seamaster 2018 ITTF World Tour Platinum German Open