by Henry Chen
The momentum with the visitors, Fang Bo overcame Zhou Kai (12-10, 9-11, 11-9, 8-11, 7-2), before Hao Shuai and Zhang Chao combined to end matters; they beat Xu Chenhao and Zhou Yu in three games (11-6, 8-11, 7-2).
Defeat for Bayi but for the team that led the table prior with the perfect record of 12 wins from 12 fixtures, it was further success but it was hard fought success; Shandong Weiqiao needed the full five matches to overcome Bazhou.
Mainstay of the victory was Ma Long, hero of the hour was Lin Gaoyuan. Ma Long beat both Cheng Jingqi (11-9, 15-13, 11-4) and Liang Jinkun (11-8, 11-8, 11-9), before in the crucial fifth and deciding match of the fixture, Lin Gaoyuan accounted for Wang Chuqin (11-7, 11-9). The wins for Bazhou were recorded in the second match of the engagement when Liang Jinkun overcame Yan An (11-5, 11-9, 9-11, 11-7) and in the immediate ensuing doubles which witnessed success for Cheng Jingqi and Fan Shengpeng. They overcame Lin Gaoyuan and Xue Fei (11-5, 11-8).
A hard fought full distance five match success for Shandong Weiqiao; it was the same for Tianjin at home to Sichuan, a contest in which a recovery of note was required.
Success for Zhu Linfeng against Ma Te (13-11, 11-6, 11-8) and for Lai Jiaxin in opposition to Wei Shihao (11-3, 11-4, 8-11, 11-9) but that was to be the end of the visitor’s success. Liu Dingshuo and Wei Shihao combined to win the doubles against Xu Ruifeng and Yan Sheng (11-8, 7-11, 11-4), before Ma Te defeated Lai Jiaxin (11-5, 11-7, 11-6) and Liu Dingshuo overcame Xu Ruifeng (11-8, 11-7) to complete the recovery.
Testing times for both Shandong Weiqiao and Tianjin on home soil, life was less torturous for Shenzhen who welcomed Anhui. Wins for Joo Saehyuk against Zhou Qihao (11-2, 8-11, 11-5, 11-6) and in opposition to Yu Ziyang (11-9, 5-11, 11-13, 11-9, 11-7) paved the way for a three-one victory.
Liu Jikang added the further win for Shenzhen by beating Yu Ziyang in the opening match of the fixture (8-11, 11-3, 11-9, 11-8); for Anhui, the one success was recorded in the doubles. Wong Chun Ting and Zhiu Qihao accounted for Cui Qinglei and Ren Hao (11-7, 11-6).
Three home wins; in the one further fixture, as with Shandong Luneng, it was success for the visitors. Shanghai beat Jiangsu by three matches to nil.
Xu Xin accounted for Kong Lingxuan (11-6, 11-13, 11-5, 11-5), Shan Kun defeated Zheng Peifeng (11-5, 8-11, 11-5, 11-8), prior to Shang Kun and Zhao Zihao combining to secure the doubles. They accounted for Cai Wei and Kong Lingxuan in straight games (11-8, 11-5).
The outcome is that Shandong Weiqiao leads the table (21 points) being clear of nearest rivals Bayi and Shanghai who share second place (21 points). Bazhou and Shandong Luneng are now in third position (20 points), ahead of Shenzhen (17 points).
Anhui, Jiangsu and Tianjin are in joint seventh position (15 points) with Sichuan (13 points) in tenth spot.
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