by Ian Marshall, Editor

Four groups in the initial stage of play, not seeded, Billy Shilton accounted for Sweden’s Anton Grankvist (11-7, 11-6, 11-3), before causing a major upset by beating Frenchman, Thomas Bouvais, the top seed (3-11, 11-8, 11-5, 11-7).

Confident, the young man, who is based at the English Institute of Sport in Sheffield, completed his initial phase contests in style. He overcame Hungary’s Gyula Zborai in straight games (11-8, 11-4, 11-6). A place in the quarter-finals booked, the good form continued; Billy Shilton prevailed against Russia’s Artem Iakolev (11-7, 11-6, 11-9) to reserve a podium finish.

Progress to the penultimate round against the odds, in fact it is the same for all four semi-finalists; none appeared amongst the top four seeded names at the start of play. Thomas Bouvais, who finished in second place in the group, experienced a quarter-final defeat at the hands of the host nation’s Piotr Grudzien (17-15, 11-8, 8-11, 11-5), Sweden’s Linus Karlsson, the no.2 seed, had to settle for third place in his group; for Belgium’s Marc Ledoux, the no.3 seed as well as for Poland’s Marcin Skrzynecki, the no.4 seed, it was a quarter-final exit.

Hungary’s Andras Csonka ended the hopes of Marc Ledoux (7-11, 11-9, 11-9, 8-11, 11-5), Slovakia’s Richard Csejty overcame Marcin Marcin Skrzynecki (9-11, 11-9, 6-11, 11-8, 12-10). At the semi-final stage Billy Shilton meets Andreas Csonka, Piotr Grudzien faces Richard Csejty.

Problems for Rafal Lis

Problems for the top seed in class 8, it was the same in class 4; Poland’s Rafal Lis was beaten by Slovakia’s Boris Travnicek (11-4, 11-6, 9-11, 10-12, 12-10) and had to settle for second place in the group. Players finishing in first and second positions in each first stage group advance to the main draw; thus a semi-final place was reserved, hopes remain alive.

Otherwise, for the top seeds in the remaining men’s singles events, it was first place in the group, progress to the knock-out stage where as in class 4, play is yet to start.

Korea Republic’s Joo Youngdae (class 1) and Chile’s Louis Bustamente Flores (class 2) alongside Poland’s Maciej Nalepka (class 3) and Norway’s Tommy Urhaug (class 5) duly secured top spots. It was the same in the standing categories for Chile’s Cristian Dettioni (class 6), Germany’s Bjoern Schnake (class 7) and Great Britain’s Josh Stacey (class 9), as it was for Poland’s Patryk Chojnowski (class 10) and Hungary Peter Palos (class 11).

Second place for Kang Oejeong

Meanwhile, in the women’s singles events there was one notable casualty. Korea Republic’s Kang Oejeong, the top seed in class 4-5, had to settle for second place in her group; she was beaten by Turkey’s Irem Oluk (4-11, 12-10, 11-9, 11-8). Notably Irem Oluk remained unbeaten to secure first position.

An upset, not in the remaining categories; the top seeds all ended the day unbeaten. Croatia’s Andela Muzinic (class 2-3) enjoyed success, as did Germany’s Stephanie Grebe (class 6), Norway’s Aida Dahlen (class 7-8). Likewise it was top spot for the Turkish duo of Neslihan Kavas (class 9) and Merve Demir (class 10), a situation that applied also to Hong Kong’s Ng Mui Wui (class 11).

Play in the individual events concludes on Friday 21st February.

• 2020 Polish Para Open: Draws and Full Results