by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Manager

At the quarter-final stage of proceedings, he overcame the defensive skills of Russian qualifier Artur Abusev in closely contested five games duel decided by the very narrowest of margins in the crucial fifth game (14-12, 5-11, 10-12, 11-8, 11-9).

Progress for Andreas Levenko at the semi-final stage of proceedings; for Romania’s Cristian Pletea, the no.3 seed and Hungary’s Bence Majoros, the no.4 seed, it was farewell. Cristian Pletea was beaten by Aliaksandr Khanin of Belarus, the no.5 seed (11-7, 11-7, 8-11, 11-13); Bence Majoros experienced defeat at the hands of Denmark’s Anders Lind (11-9, 11-4, 11-6).

Defeats for the third and fourth seeds in the penultimate round; for Japan’s Yuto Kizukuri, the top seed, it was the end of the journey in round two. He was beaten by Moldova’s Andrei Putuntica in a duel resolved by the minimal two point margin in the deciding fifth game (5-11, 11-9, 6-11, 11-8, 12-10). Alas, later, he was to experience a third round reverse when beaten by Russia’s Denis Ivonin, the no.11 seed (11-9, 11-8, 10-12, 11-8).

Progress to the quarter-final stage for Denis Ivonin but no further progress, in the round of the last eight he was beaten by Romania’s Rares Sipos, the no.7 seed (11-9, 11-8, 10-12, 11-8).

In the penultimate round, Rares Sipos meets Aliaksandr Khanin, Andreas Levenko opposes Anders Lind; the Under 21 Men’s Singles event will be played to a conclusion on Friday 13th April.