by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Editor

At the conclusion of proceedings it was honours even.

Jorge Paredes beat Diego Sepuldeva in the opening contest in a five games titanic struggle (11-8, 11-13, 11-6, 10-12, 15-13), before on the second day of play Diego Sepuldeva responded to overcome Emanuel Lara in four games (14-12, 9-11, 11-9, 13-11) and Emanuel Lara defeated Jorge Paredes in a full distance duel (8-11, 11-5, 5-11, 11-6, 11-8).

Thus games ratio determined the outcome; it was first place for Diego Sepuldeva (5:4) with Jorge Paredes second (5:5) and Emanuel Lara third (4:5).

A close call, in the remaining groups, matters were more clear cut. Brazil’s Gustavo Ushisima beat Chile’s Rodrigo Garcia to top his group (11-8, 12-10, 11-7), whilst Chile’s Denys Fierro accounted for colleague Gustavo Castillo (10-12, 8-11, 11-6, 11-5, 11-8) and Argentina’s Tomas Sanchi (11-8, 17-15, 11-8) to reserve first place.

Not to be outdone, Andres Martinez, also from Chile, beat compatriot Matias Pedraza (11-8, 1-11, 11-8, 11-8) and Luciano Alto, like Tomas Sanchi from Argentina, to reserve first place in his group (11-8, 11-8, 11-3).

At the quarter-final stage Gustavo Sepuldeva meets Argentina’s Horacio Cifuentes, the top seed; Denys Fierro opposes Brazil’s Rafael Torino, the no.4 seed. In the opposite half of the draw, Gustavo Ushisima faces Chile’s Juan Lamadrid, the no.2 seed; Andres Martinez confronts Argentina’s Francisco Sanchi, the no.3 seed.

The quarter-finals of the Under 21 Men’s Singles event will be played on Friday 28th April.