by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Manager
Vitor Ishiy ended his group phase contests on a high note by beating Belgium’s Florent Lambiet, the highest rated player in the group, he prevailed in four games (15-13, 12-10, 4-11, 11-7, 11-3).
It was sufficient to secure top spot; the previous day he had lost to the host nation’s Daniel Kriston in six games (9-11, 11-6, 11-4, 5-11, 11-8, 11-4), before later on the opening day the Hungarian had lost to Florent Lambiet. Just as he had won in six games, he experienced defeat by the same margin (11-13, 11-4, 11-9, 12-10, 6-11, 12-10).
The outcome, first place for Vitor Ishiy (6:5) ahead of Daniel Kriston (6:6) and Florent Lambiet (5:6).
“I knew i needed to win four-one to secure the top finish. In this match it was an open game which suited me a lot more and the last time we played against each other; it was a very hard encounter. I am very pleased I could make it happen.” Vitor Ishiy
Meanwhile for Yevhen Pryshchepa, in his concluding group stage contest it was very different. He lost to Hong Kong’s Ng Pak Nam in six games (7-11, 11-4, 11-9, 9-11, 11-9, 11-6). However, the previous day he had beaten Bulgaria’s Stanislav Golovanov in four straight games (11-2, 11-8, 11-3, 11-8), the Bulgarian having in the next match accounted for Ng Pak Nam in seven games (12-10, 11-8, 6-11, 8-11, 11-8, 12-14, 11-3).
Thus games ratio decided the outcome, Yevhen Pryshchepa finished in first place (6:4) followed by Ng Pak Nam (7:6) and Stanislav Golovanov (4:7).
One win, one loss for Truls Moregard, he just watched. He secured first place on games ratio without on the second day of action with raising his racket in anger. On the opening day of play he had been beaten by Puerto Rico’s Brian Afanador in seven games (8-11, 3-11, 11-9, 12-10, 11-6, 9-11, 11-9) but had then recovered to defeat Mexico’s Marcos Madrid in six games (11-13, 11-7, 4-11, 11-9, 11-9, 11-9).
On day two, Marcos Madrid, the highest rated in the group, beat Brian Afanador by a similar margin to that which he had experienced defeat in opposition to Truls Moregard (11-7, 11-4, 9-11, 11-4, 4-11, 11-9).
The end result was first place for Truls Moregard (7:6) followed by Marcos Madrid (6:6) and Brian Afanador (6:7).
Preliminary rounds now await.
