by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Editor

Wins over colleagues Sergio Bignardi (13-11, 11-3, 11-7, 11-6) and Wesley Rosa (11-13, 10-12, 11-5, 11-7, 12-10, 11-4) on the opening day of action, he concluded matters on the second day by causing an upset of note.

Listed at no.741 on the current Men’s World Rankings, the 17 year old accounted for Chile’s 38 year old Alejandro Rodriguez, named at no.330, in six games (10-12, 11-7, 11-8, 5-11, 11-7, 11-6).

A somewhat surprise outcome; not in the remaining seven groups, the notable names all concluded their initial phase contests unbeaten.

Additional to Luiz Anjos; the host nation’s Eric Jouti, Carlos Ishida and Massao Kohatsu duly finished in first places in their respective groups; all concluding their initial stage matches with wins over colleagues

Eric Jouti beat Guilherme Teodoro (11-2, 11-5, 12-10, 11-8); Carlos Ishida overcame Eduardo Tomoike (11-6, 11-7, 8-11, 11-7, 8-11, 11-3), whilst Massao Kohatsu accounted for Gustavo Yokota (6-11, 10-12, 11-6, 11-4, 11-4, 11-7).

Meanwhile from foreign shores, it was top spot for the Slovak Republic’s Thomas Keinath, as it was for Bulgaria’s Philipp Floritz as well as for the Chilean duo of Gustavo Gomez and Juan Lamadrid.

In the exchanges that brought the group contests to a conclusion, all defeated Brazilian adversaries. Thomas Keinath proved too strong for Leonardo Fogaca (11-4, 11-5, 11-6, 11-5), as did Philipp Floritz when facing Humberto Manhani (8-11, 11-9, 11-5, 9-11, 11-7, 11-8).

Likewise, Gustavo Gomez overcame Rafael Rosenberg (11-5, 11-6, 11-5, 11-7); Juan Lamadrid defeated Gustavo Kodama (6-11, 10-12, 13-11, 11-6, 11-6, 11-6).

Players finishing in first places in each of the eight initial stage groups join the eight seeds in the first round.