by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Manager

Sandwiched in between Xu Xin and Ma Long is colleague Lin Gaoyuan, he retains the no. 5 position. Hong Kong’s Wong Chun Ting is at no.7 spot ahead of Korea’s Lee Sangsu and Japan’s Koki Niwa; all three retain their April status.

However, immediately below there is change; Japan’s Tomokazu Harimoto moves from no.13 to no.10; Brazil’s Hugo Calderano climbs one place to no.11. The effect is that Frenchman Simon Gauzy and Japan’s Jun Mizutani, each drop two places; Simon Gauzy is now at no.12, Jun Mizutani one place lower at no.13.

Progress for Tomokazu Harimoto and Hugo Calderano but it is very minor when compared with a player who two decades ago occupied the top spot on the world rankings; Vladimir Samsonov of Belarus advances from no.37 to 24; a climb of some 13 places.

Major progress for Vladimir Samsonov, for Brazil’s Gustavo Tsuboi and Eric Jouti, the progress is even greater. Gustavo Tsuboi rises from no.54 to no.35; likewise, it is a climb on 19 places for Eric Jouti, he moves from no.98 to no.79.

Notable advancements, amongst the top 100 names there is even greater progress for Slovakia’s Wang Yang, Slovenia’s Bojan Tokic, Japan’s Mizuki Oikawa and Belgium’s Florent Lambiet.

Wang Yang moves from no.110 to no.66, Bojan Tokic from no.111 to no.70 and Mizuki Oikawa from no.103 to no.77; similarly, Florent Lambiet progresses from no.109 to no.86.

However, none can compare with Hungary’s Bence Majoros; he makes the quite staggering climb from no.194 to no.99.

Progress and of course there are those who must make way; notably in the top 100 names, Sweden’s Anton Källberg falls from no.62 to no.83, Romania’s Hunor Szocs from no.66 to no.93 and India’s Soumyajit Ghosh from no.70 to no.95.

May 2018: World Rankings