by Ian Marshall, Editor

It will be no less than their 11th appearance of the year, the only ITTF World Tour tournament they have missed in 2018 was in the Czech Republic and no doubt, if that event had not clashed with the Asian Games, they would have been present.

Most significantly, the no.6 seeds, they are one of three pairs on duty in Linz who are assured of an invitation to the Seamaster 2018 ITTF World Tour Grand Finals in December in Incheon.

Korea Republic’s Jeoung Youngsik and Lee Sangsu, the top seeds, have also qualified; likewise Hong Kong’s Ho Kwan Kit and Wong Chun Ting, the no.3 seeds are Incheon bound.

However, for Japan’s Masataka Morizono and Yuya Oshima, the no.2 seeds, they have still to secure their place. It is the same for the combination of Germany’s Patrick Franziska and Denmark’s Jonathan Groth, the no.4 seeds, as well as for Sweden’s Mattias Falck and Kristian Karlsson, the no.7 seeds,

Perform as status advises and invitations can be anticipated. Presently Masataka Morizono and Yuya Oshima appear at no.6 (407 points) on the Men’s Doubles Standings, Patrick Franziska and Jonathan Groth at no.7 (395 points). Mattias Falck and Kristian Karlsson occupy the no.8 spot (301 points).

Required to compete in the qualification tournament in Linz, Chinese Taipei’s Chen Chien-An and Chuang Chih-Yuan, the 2013 World champions are major challengers for a place in Incheon as are Germany’s Ruwen Filus and Ricardo Walther. Presently, Chinese Taipei’s Chen Chien-An and Chuang Chih-Yuan occupy the no.11 position (200 points) on the Standings, Ruwen Filus and Ricardo Walther are named at no.13 (196 points).

Notably both pairs, unlike several listed above, have completed the four appearance criteria.

Sunday 4th November: Latest Standings following Seamaster 2018 ITTF World Tour Swedish Open