Follow the main event
Keep up-to-date with the main draw here:
Let the Main Draw begin!
The thrills and spills of the qualification rounds in Qatar are now over. Join us tomorrow for when many of the sport’s biggest names enter the action, including the much-awaited return of Ma Long.
Before play resumes on Thursday, make sure to check out the Main Draw in full:
European champions progress
Crowned European champions last September in Alicante, Ruwen Filus and Han Ying booked their place in the main draw of the mixed doubles event but in the second preliminary round they were tested; they needed the full five games to beat Hungary’s Bence Majoros and Dora Madarasz (11-7, 11-3, 10-12, 11-13, 11-6).
Success for Germany and there was more success; Patrick Franziska and Petrissa Solja beat the Czech Republic’s Pavel Sirucek and Hana Matelova to secure their place in the competition proper (11-8, 11-4, 11-8).
Thiago Monteiro promotes Brazilian cause
Men’s Singles Preliminary Round Four
Thiago Monteiro, now 37 years old, booked his place in the main draw.
After colleague, Gustavo Tsuboi had lost to Korea Republic’s Cho Daeseong (11-6, 12-10, 11-7, 11-7), Thiago Monteiro beat Chinese Taipei’s Liao Cheng-Ting (12-14, 11-7, 11-4, 11-8, 20-18).
Croatia edges out England in seven-game thriller
Men’s Singles Preliminary Round Four
It’s proving to be some week for Tomislav Pucar! The Croatian, ranked 70th in the world, defied the odds at the Oman Open where he narrowly missed out on a place in the final. Now in Doha, the 23-year-old has booked his place in the Main Draw of an extremely competitive Qatar Open after eliminating England’s Liam Pitchford, who currently sits 53 places higher than him in the global pecking order, following an epic seven-game marathon (11-6, 8-11, 11-7, 11-8, 10-12, 11-13, 12-10).
Zhou Qihao
Men’s Singles Preliminary Round Four
Semi-finalist last November in Sweden, China’s Zhou Qihao upset the order of merit in the fourth preliminary round of the men’s singles event; he beat Chinese Taipei’s Chuang Chih-Yuan (5-11, 5-11, 11-8, 11-8, 11-8, 3-11, 11-9). Presently on the men’s world rankings, Chuang Chih-Yuan is listed at no.19, Zhou Qihao at no.100.
However, as the round neared conclusion, there was somewhat the reverse outcome with success for Chinese Taipei again China. The winner three days ago in Oman, Lin Yun-Ju beat Xu Fei (8-11, 11-6, 13-11, 11-4, 12-10).
Disappointment for India
Men’s Singles Preliminary Round Four
New horizons reach in 2018 but in the fourth preliminary round of the men’s singles event it was defeat for India.
Sathiyan Gnanasekaran lost to Chinese Taipei’s Chen Chien-An (11-5, 12-10, 11-7, 11-7), Sharath Kamal Achanta suffered at the hands of Belgium’s Cédric Nutinck (7-11, 11-8, 7-11, 11-6, 8-11, 11-8, 11-9); Amalraj Anthony lost to Frenchman Tristan Flore (11-2, 11-8, 4-11, 11-8, 11-8).
Masataka Morizono beats Marcos Freitas
Men’s Singles Preliminary Round Four
Successful earlier in the year at the selection tournament for places in the Japanese line-up at the forthcoming Liebherr 2019 World Championships, Masataka Morizono caused a major upset in the fourth preliminary round of the men’s singles event.
Named at no.45 on the current men’s world rankings, he beat Portugal’s Marcos Freitas, listed at no.45 in four straight games (11-9, 14-12, 11-9, 11-8).
Rich vein of form continues
Men’s Singles Preliminary Round Four
Semi-finalist some three days ago at the Seamaster 2019 ITTF Challenge Series Oman Open in Muscat; Croatia’s Tomislav Pucar continued his rich vein of form in the fourth preliminary round of the men’s singles event.
Listed at no.70 on the current men’s world rankings, he beat England’s Liam Pitchford, named at no.17 and the highest rated player in the qualification tournament in a titanic seven games contest (11-6, 8-11, 11-7, 11-8, 10-12, 11-13, 12-10).
Living on the brink
Women’s Singles Preliminary Round Three
Ukraine’s Margaryta Pesotska booked her place in the third preliminary round of the women’s singles by recovering from a two games to nil deficit to beat Poland’s Li Qian by the minimal two point margin in the decider (9-11, 14-16, 12-10, 10-12, 11-5, 11-7, 12-10).
She reserved her place in the main draw in exactly the same manner, she beat Monaco’s Yang Xiaoxin (9-11, 7-11, 11-6, 14-12, 11-4, 8-11, 11-9).
Differing fortunes
Women’s Singles Preliminary Round Three
Successful at the recent Seamaster 2019 ITTF Challenge Series Spanish Open, Japan’s Miyu Kato beat Nadezhda Bogdanova of Belarus to book her place in the main draw (11-8, 11-3, 11-8, 11-9).
Conversely for Germany’s Petrissa Solja, winner the first week of February at the CCB 2019 Europe Top 16 Cup, she was beaten by China’s Wang Yidi (9-11, 11-6, 12-10, 11-9, 11-6).
Hang Ying upsets seeding but Shan Xiaona departs
Women’s Singles Preliminary Round Three
Four years ago Romania’s Elizabeta Samara won the women’s singles title in Qatar beating Germany’s Han Ying in the final.
Now, four years later it was a different outcome, she was beaten by Han Ying in the third preliminary round of the women’s singles event (9-11, 7-11, 11-7, 11-8, 10-12, 11-7, 11-7).
Surprise defeat for Hina Hayata
Women’s Singles Preliminary Round Three
Winner at the ITTF Challenge Series tournaments earlier this year in Portugal and Oman, Japan’s Hina Hayata experienced a third preliminary round women’s singles defeat at the hands of Korea Repulic’s Yoo Eunchong (5-11, 11-7, 12-14, 11-9, 13-11, 2-11, 12-10).
Notably on the ITTF World Tour Yoo Eunchong has never advanced beyond to the later rounds; her best runner up in the under 21 women’s singles event in China in 2013.
Kim Haeyeong maintains form
Women’s Singles Preliminary Round Three
Korea Republic’s Kim Haeyeong, the winner the previous day in opposition to Romania’s Bernadette Szocs, the highest ranked player in the qualification tournament (8-11, 11-9, 11-8, 11-8, 11-7, 5-11, 15-13) maintained her form. She beat Japan’s Satsuki Odo (11-9, 4-11, 11-9, 7-11, 11-7, 11-5).
Notably on the current world rankings, Kim Haeyeong is listed at no.127, Satsuki Odo at no.55.
Timo Boll and Patrick Franziska show their class
Men’s Doubles Preliminary Round
Both of the unseeded German partnerships participating in qualification action have progressed to the Men’s Doubles tournament, albeit in somewhat contrasting fashion.
Timo Boll and Patrick Franziska came through their encounter against the French duo of Tristan Flore and Emmanuel Lebesson with a 3-1 victory (13-11, 10-12, 11-8, 11-8). However, for the other German pair of Dimitrij Ovtcharov and Ricardo Walther the task proved slight more difficult: trailing Austria’s Robert Gardos and Daniel Habesohn by a two games to one deficit Dimitrij Ovtcharov and Ricardo Walther required a late recovery charge, doing just about enough to book their spot in the Round of 16 (11-8, 4-11, 10-12, 12-10, 11-8).
Chinese Taipei partnerships progress
Women’s Doubles Preliminary Round
Liu Hsing-Yin and Su Pei-Ling have got their qualification campaign off to a fine start in Doha after the pair from Chinese Taipei inflicted a stunning 3-2 defeat upon the fierce Romanian partnership of Elizabtea Samara and Bernadette Szocs (7-11, 11-8, 6-11, 11-6, 11-9).
For the other Chinese Taipei duo involved in the session the news was just as positive as Chen Szu-Yu and Cheng Hsien-Tzu holding off a late comeback attempt from Poland’s Natalia Bajor and Natalia Partyka (11-7, 11-6, 9-11, 6-11, 11-7).
Big names continue to fall
Men’s Singles Preliminary Round Three
Tiago Apolonia and Panagiotis Gionis are out of the race for the Men’s Singles event after the Portuguese and Greek representatives lost out in their respective encounters with Chinese Taipei’s Liao Cheng-Ting (11-8, 11-9, 6-11, 11-7, 8-11, 4-11, 11-9) and Russia’s Kirill Skachkov (11-8, 11-6, 11-2, 11-6). Austrian hopeful Stefan Fegerl also bid his farewells with a five games defeat to Frenchman Simon Gauzy (6-11, 11-5, 11-9, 11-5, 11-7).
Kristian Karlsson’s journey ends
Men’s Singles Preliminary Round Three
One of the European continent’s finest players but there is no spot available in the Men’s Singles tournament for Sweden’s Kristian Karlsson following an unexpected defeat at the hands of Iran’s Nima Alamian (11-13, 11-4, 11-8, 6-11, 11-3, 4-11, 11-9).
Eliminating one major European competitor, if Nima Alamian is to reach the main event then he will have to topple another with Croatia’s Andrej Gacina standing in his way in the final round of qualifying later today.
Snatching victory from the jaws of defeat
Men’s Singles Preliminary Round Three
What a comeback! India’s Sharath Kamal Achanta has just achieved one of the finest recoveries of the tournament so far to put his name into the final round of qualification: French opponent Antoine Hachard got off to a flying start in the match, establishing a surprise three games lead over the Indian player. However, Sharath Kamal Achanta won the next four games in a row to advance in dramatic circumstances (9-11, 8-11, 9-11, 11-6, 11-6, 11-5, 11-5).
Danish talent continues to defy expectations
Men’s Singles Preliminary Round Three
Responsible for sending Austria’s Daniel Habesohn out of the competition on the opening day of play, Anders Lind has moved to within just a single win from a spot in the Men’s Singles draw in Doha with the young Danish star pulling off a mighty 4-3 victory over Japan’s Kazuhiro Yoshimura (8-11, 14-12, 11-9, 11-8, 5-11, 8-11, 11-3).
Wang Chuqin suffers elimination
Men’s Singles Preliminary Round Three
That’s right, you read correctly – Wang Chuqin is out of the running for the Men’s Singles draw after the Chinese star was dealt a shock defeat by Tomislav Pucar (11-7, 11-8, 9-11, 11-9, 6-11, 11-7). The Croatian sets up an exciting duel with England’s Liam Pitchford, who moved one step closer to a place in the main event following a dramatic seven game encounter with Iran’s Noshad Alamiyan (11-6, 8-11, 11-6, 10-12, 13-11, 10-12, 11-8).
Portuguese duo edge thriller
Mixed Doubles Preliminary Round
Marcos Freitas and Fu Yu have negotiated the first preliminary round of Mixed Doubles qualification by the skin of their teeth: the Portuguese pair required the full five games distance to see off Sweden’s Mattias Falck and Matilda Ekholm (9-11, 11-3, 11-7, 6-11, 11-8).
Next up for Marcos Freitas and Fu Yu is a meeting with Kanak Jha and Wu Yue in the evening session of play after the USA partnership successfully fought back from behind to defeat Singapore’s Pang Yew En Koen and Goi Rui Xuan (8-11, 11-7, 11-2, 11-9).
Drama returns
Day two of qualification has commenced in Doha and you can find all the day’s exciting fixtures here:
Margaryta Pesotska turns the tables
Women’s Singles Preliminary Round Two
Beaten by Li Qian in the final last September at the Liebherr 2018 European Championships in Alicante; in Doha, Ukraine’s Margaryta Pesotsksa turned the tables.
In a duel of high intensity, she withstood a brave recovery by the Polish stars to emerge successful by the minimal two point margin in the deciding game. (11-7, 11-6, 11-9, 14-16, 7-11, 5-11, 14-12).
Miyu Kato in fast lane
Women’s Singles Preliminary Round Two
Winner on the ITTF World Tour in Croatia in 2014 and two years later in the Czech Republic; presently listed at no.72 on the women’s world rankings, Monaco’s Yang Xiaoxin caused a major second preliminary round women’s singles upset,
She overcame the defensive skills of Japan’s Honoka Hashimoto, listed at no.25, in a tense seven games duel determined by the minimal two point margin (9-11, 14-16, 12-10, 10-12, 11-5, 11-7, 13-11).
Miyu Kato in fast lane
Women’s Singles Preliminary Round Two
Two days ago successful in Spain, Japan’s Miyu Kato was very much in the fast lane in the second preliminary round of the women’s singles event.
Most impressively she beat Hungary’s Dora Madarasz in four straight games (11-9, 11-8, 11-6, 11-5).
Mixed fortunes for Poland
Women’s Singles Preliminary Round Two
Defeat for Natalia Partyka at the hands of Portugal’s Fu Yu (11-8, 11-8, 11-13, 11-8, 7-11, 5-11, 11-6) but there was a most notable win for Poland. Natalia Bajor accounted for Thailand’s Suthasini Sawettabut, list at no.32 on the women’s world rankings, she was one of the favourites to advance to the main draw.
Natalia Bajor is listed at no.121.
Gu Yuting makes impressive start
Women’s Singles Preliminary Round Two
Gold medallist at the inaugural Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic Games but yet establish herself amongst the elite of China; Gu Yuting upset the order of merit as she started her campion.
World ranked no.61; in the second preliminary round of the women’s singles event, she beat Hungary’s Georgina Pota, named at no.34 (11-6, 11-6, 11-5, 20-18).
Yoo Eunchong beats Zhang Mo
Women’s Singles Preliminary Round Two
Listed at no.22 on the current women’s world rankings, there was an earlier that anticipated departure for Canada’s Zhang Mo. She was beaten by Korea Republic’s Yoo Eunchong (5-11, 12-10, 11-9, 11-9, 11-8).
Presently Yoo Eunchong is named at no.79.
Hina Hayata retains form
Women’s Singles Preliminary Round Two
Successful two days earlier in Oman when concluding her visit to Muscat on the top step of the podium; Japan’s Hina Hayata once again impressed.
In the second women’s singles preliminary round, she beat Ukraine’s Tetyana Bilenko (11-6, 11-9, 8-11, 11-6, 11-8).
Kim Hayeong causes biggest upset of day
Women’s Singles Preliminary Round Two
Korea Republic’s Kim Hayeong caused the biggest upset of the day and in so doing won the closest match of the day. Listed at no.127 on the current women’s world rankings, she accounted for Romania’s Bernadette Szocs, named at no.21, the highest rated player in the qualification tournament in a dramatic seven games duel (8-11, 9-11, 11-8, 11-8, 11-7, 5-11, 15-13).
Known as Li Yiran, Kim Hayeong was previously a member of the Chinese national junior team.
Simon Gauzy survives
Men’s Singles Preliminary Round Two
Close contests here there and everywhere but arguably the closest was that involving Frenchman Simon Gauzy and Japan’s Yuto Kizukuri.
Simon Gauzy eventually prevailed by securing success in a dramatic seventh game (8-11, 11-7, 11-8, 8-11, 12-10, 9-11, 14-12).
Sam Walker maintains nerve
Men’s Singles Preliminary Round Two
England’s Sam Walker maintained his nerve as he recovered from a three games to one deficit to beat Japan’s Jin Ueda (11-9, 6-11, 6-11, 9-11, 11-6, 11-9, 11-9) to cause a major men’s singles preliminary round upset.
Currently on the world rankings, Jin Ueda is listed at no.29, Sam Walker at no.93.
African champion departs at hands of Latin American champion
Men’s Singles Preliminary Round Two
Crowned African champion just over six months ago in Mauritius in early September; Nigeria’s Quadri Aruna was beaten by Brazil’s Thiago Monteiro, the player crowned Latin American champion in 2004 in Chile and in 2008 in the Dominican Republic. He experienced a five games defeat (11-9, 11-8, 3-11, 12-10, 11-6).
Presently, on the men’s world rankings Thgiago Monteiro is listed at no.104, Quadri Aruna at no.25.
Form maintained
Men’s Singles Preliminary Round Two
Chinese Taipei’s Lin Yun-Ju, the winner two days ago in Oman and Germany’s Steffen Mengel a semi-finalist in Spain both enjoyed success in the second men’s singles preliminary round.
Lin Yun-Ju beat Nigeria’s Olajide Omotayo (11-8, 11-6, 11-6, 11-5); Steffen Mengel accounted for Slovakia’s Lubomir Pistej (12-10, 12-10, 11-8, 11-3).
Change of fortunes for Zhai Yujia
Men’s Singles Preliminary Round Two
Crowned champion in Spain just two days ago, for Denmark’s Zhai Yujia it was different fortunes in Doha; it was farewell in his opening contest.
The 24 year old was beaten in the men’s singles preliminary round by Germany’s Ricardo Walther (12-10, 5-11, 11-8, 13-11, 11-8).
Hwang Minha causes major upset
Men’s Singles Preliminary Round Two
Winner at the 2014 ITTF World Cadet Challenge in Barbados, Korea Republic’s Hwang Minha caused a major men’s singles preliminary second round shock. He beat Denmark’s Jonathan Groth in seven games (13-11, 9-11, 11-7, 8-11, 8-11, 11-8, 11-7).
Presently on the men’s world rankings, Hwang Minha is listed at no.170, Jonathan Groth at no.23.
Indians in form
Men’s Singles Preliminary Round Two
India’s Sathiyan Gnanasekaran, Sharath Kamal Achanta and Amalraj Anthony all enjoyed men’s singles preliminary round success.
Sathiyan Gnanasekaran beat Sweden’s Truls Moregard (11-8, 5-11, 11-8, 11-7, 11-7), Sharath Kamal Achanta accounted for Frenchman Benjamin Brossier (15-13, 5-11, 11-9, 11-8, 11-5), Amalraj Anthony ended the hopes of Kanak Jha of the United States (6-11, 9-11, 11-6, 12-10, 11-9, 8-11, 11-7).
Advantage not converted, Yu Ziyang falls
Men’s Singles Preliminary Round Two
China has suffered its first casualty of the day with Yu Ziyang losing out in his opening Men’s Singles encounter: despite holding a two games lead Yu Ziyang proved unable to get over the finish line as Slovenia’s Bojan Tokic emerged with a 4-2 victory to his name (8-11, 9-11, 11-5, 11-3, 7-11, 11-7, 11-6).
Danish star ousts in form opponent
Men’s Singles Preliminary Round Two
Starting the year with an exceptional display last month at the CCB 2019 ITTF Europe Top 16 Cup competition but in Doha there was to be no such joy for Daniel Habesohn with the experienced Austrian competitor suffering a crushing 4-0 defeat at the hands of up-and-coming Danish star Anders Lind (13-11, 12-10, 11-8, 11-8).
Shock exits for major qualification contenders
Women’s Singles Preliminary Round
Neither one of Puerto Rico’s Adriana Díaz nor India’s Manika Batra will play any further part in Women’s Singles qualification following shock defeats at the very first hurdle in Doha: leading by a two games margin but that wasn’t enough for Adriana Díaz to prevent Serbian star Sabina Surjan from snatching the win in a seven game thriller (6-11, 9-11, 11-4, 11-7, 11-7, 12-14, 11-7) while Manika Batra was knocked out by Korea’s Kim Youjin in straight games (11-7, 12-10, 11-8, 11-5).
Nina Mittelham holds her nerve
Women’s Singles Preliminary Round
Germany’s Nina Mittelham will contest the next round of qualifying after successfully holding off a late comeback charge from Slovak opponent Eva Odorova (11-5, 11-9, 11-6, 9-11, 8-11, 11-5). But, there was no such fortune for Japan’s Honami Nakamori who, despite establishing a solid two games to nil lead, suffered a 4-2 defeat to Korea Republic’s Lee Eunhye (4-11, 7-11, 11-5, 12-10, 11-7, 11-6).
Korean duo show intent
Men’s Singles Preliminary Round
Kim Minhyeok and Cho Daeseong both produced excellent outings in their opening qualification fixtures, coming through their respective meetings with Qatar’s Ahmed Alawlaqi (11-2, 11-3, 11-3, 11-7) and Kuwait’s Marzooq Alrashidi (11-6, 11-7, 11-6, 11-5). However, there was defeat for Korea’s Choi Deokhwa, who lost out to Singapore’s Pang Yew En Koen across five games (7-11, 11-8, 11-9, 13-11, 12-10).
Wang Chuqin off to bright start
Men’s Singles Preliminary Round
China’s Wang Chuqin couldn’t have asked for a better start to his campaign in Doha after registering a comfortable victory in the opening session of the day: dominant from start to finish Wang Chuqin stormed past the host nation’s Abdulaziz Al-Hajaji in straight games, dropping a combined total of just six points over the course of the encounter (11-1, 11-2, 11-2, 11-1).
Defeat for Abdulaziz Al-Hajaji but for fellow compatriot Ahmed Khalil El Mouhanadi there was cause for celebration following his 4-1 success against India’s Sudhanshu Grover (11-8, 11-13, 14-12, 11-9, 14-12).
Journey begins in Doha
That’s right, qualification is officially underway in Doha – make sure to catch the day’s upcoming fixture line-up below:
Qualification details
The race to the Seamaster 2019 ITTF World Tour Platinum Qatar Open officially begins on Tuesday 26th March with the two-day qualification event.
Play is scheduled to commence from 10.00 am local time with day one of the qualification tournament; a total of 16 places are up for grabs in each of the men’s singles and women’s singles events.
