by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Manager

Hungary’s Nandor Ecseki and Adam Szudi, the top seeds enjoyed success; they accounted for Yuta Tanaka and Shunsuke Togami (11-7, 8-11, 13-11, 11-7). Likewise, Germany’s Benedikt Duda and Ricardo Walther, the no.2 seeds, overcame a Japanese pairing, the beat Koyo Kanamitsu and Yukiya Uda (11-4, 11-7, 11-8).

However, for the next two pairings in the order of merit it was defeat.

Belgium’s Martin Allegro and Florent Lambiet, the no.3 seeds, lost to Chinese Taipei’s Pang Wang-Wei and Sin Chia-Hung (9-11, 12-10, 9-11, 13-11, 11-9); Chile’s Gustavo Gomez and Juan Lamadrid, the no.4 seeds, experienced defeat at the hands of Frenchmen Andrea Landrieu and Romain Lorentz (10-12, 11-7, 11-8, 11-7).

Defeats for two notable partnerships, there were defeats for two more on what was not a good day for Belgium. In addition to Martin Allegro and Florent Lambiet, the combination of Laurens Devos and Robin Devos, the no.6 seeds, suffered at the hands of Israel’s Mathan Simon and Tauber (8-11, 11-8, 12-10, 11-7).

Problems for Belgium there were also problems for the host nation; Filip Cipin and Luka Fucec experienced departed proceedings, the no.8 seeds, they lost to Italy’s Jordy Piccolin and Niagol Stoyanov (9-11, 11-6, 11-9, 11-9).

Meanwhile, in the two remaining first round Men’s Doubles matches, Turkey’s Ibrahim Gündüz and Abdullah Yingeler, the no.5 seeds, beat Feng Yujin and Kanak Jha of the United States (13-11, 11-7, 8-11, 11-8); Egypt’s Khalid Assar and Mohamed El-Beaili accounted for Alexandre Cassin and Alexandre Robinot of France (11-9, 11-8, 4-11, 11-2).

The quarter-finals and semi-finals of the Men’s Doubles event will be played on Friday 13th April.