by Ian Marshall, Editor

The Chinese quartet of Fan Zhendong (1,050 points), Ma Long (1,031 points) and Lin Gaoyuan (600 points) followed by Xu Xin (575 points) head the Men’s Singles Standings.

Notably none have as yet met the minimum criteria of competing in five tournaments in order to qualify for the end of year tournament; however, by virtue of the fact that Xu Xin is competing in Australia, he will meet that requirement.

Next on the list is Korea Republic’s Jang Woojin (574 points) who will not enhance his status having experienced a qualification stage defeat. He is, followed Brazil’s Hugo Calderano (513 points) and Japan’s Tomokazu Harimoto (475 points). Also present in Geelong amongst the leading names on the Standings are Japan’s Jun Mizutani (400 points), the Korea Republic duo of Lim Jonghoon (396 points) and Lee Sangsu (394 points) as well as Japan’s Kazuhiro Yoshimura (266 points) and Chinese Taipei’s Chuang Chih-Yuan (230 points).

All with the exception of Jun Mizutani have achieved the five tournament mark and when play concludes in Australia, he will have joined the group.

Similarly, on the Women’s Singles Standings, China’s Wang Manyu heads the list (1,525 points) but does not compete in Geelong. However, the next four names are all scheduled to play.

Japan’s Kasumi Ishikawa (1,039 points) and China’s Liu Shiwen (794) points, in addition to Mima Ito, also from Japan (688 points) are all named on the entry list. Similarly amongst the leading names on the Women’s Singles Standings, Korea Republic’s Suh Hyowon (497 points), Chinese Taipei’s Cheng I-Ching (406 points) and China’s Ding Ning (400 points) will all be in action. Pertinently Liu Shiwen will complete the five tournament requirement; Ding Ning will still be one short.

Also on duty in Geelong and very much in the running for a Grand Finals’ place is Singapore’s Feng Tianwei (349 points), as is Korea Republic’s Jeon Jihee (250 points) in addition to the Japanese trio comprising Saki Shibata (300 points), Hitomi Sato (274 points) and Miu Hirano 247 points. All have crossed the appearance criteria line.

Meanwhile in the Men’s Doubles event, Korea Republic’s Jeoung Youngsik and Lee Sangsu, who lead the standings (507 points), occupy the top seeded spot in Geelong; also prominent is the combination of Jang Woojin and Lim Jonghoon (419 points) as well as Chinese Taipei’s Chen Chien-An and Chuang Chih-Yuan (189 points). All three pairs have met the four tournament appearance as a partnership requirement.

A good performance in Australia and they will enhance their Grand Finals chances; it is the same in the Women’s Doubles event for Japan’s Hina Hayata and Mima Ito (450 points), the top seeds in Geelong. They are in fourth place on the Standings behind Korea Republic’s Jeon Jihee and Yang Haeun (476 points) also present in Australia.

China’s Chen Xingtong and Sun Yingsha head the Women’s Doubles Standings and like the prominent pairs present in Geelong have met the four appearance partnership requisite.

Seamaster 2018 ITTF World Tour: Latest Standings following Seamaster 2018 ITTF World Tour Platinum, Shinan Korea Open