by Ian Marshall, Editor
Xu Xin (1,075 points) overtakes colleagues Fan Zhendong (1,050 points), Ma Long (1,031 points) and Lin Gaoyuan (600 points); all who to date have made three appearances.
Fan Zhendong and Ma Long remain in second and third positions but it is a drop of one place for Lin Gaoyuan; he is now in fifth spot behind Japan’s Tomokazu Harimoto (675 points), beaten in Geelong by Xu Xin at the semi-final stage.
Tomokazu Harimoto has completed the five appearance criteria as have the next in line, all notably present in Australia. Korea Republic’s Jang Woojin occupies the no.6 spot (574 points), followed by Brazil’s Hugo Calderano (538 points) and Lim Jonghoon (446 points). They are followed by Japan’s Jun Mizutani (425 points), Germany’s Patrick Franziska (422 points) and Lee Sangsu, like Lim Jonghoom from Korea Republic (419 points).
Notably, China’s Liu Dingshuo, the runner up in Geelong, is listed at no.14 (363 points), Japan’s Yuya Oshima, the player he beat in the semi-finals at no.16 (266 points). Yuya Oshima has now appeared in six tournaments this year, for Liu Dingshuo it is four in number.
Likewise, but not to the same extent as with Xu Xin, there is progress for China’s Liu Shiwen, on the Women’s Singles Standings. Successful in Geelong, she climbs one place to no.2 (1,294 points), conversely Japan’s Kasumi Ishikawa drops one position to no.3 (1,239 points). Wang Manyu, not on duty in Australia, continues to lead (1,525 points).
Present in Australia, Mima Ito is at no.4 (788 points), followed by China’s Ding Ning (700 points). Likewise competing in Geelong, Korea Republic’s Suh Hyowon is at no.7 (547 points), Chinese Taipei’s Cheng I-Ching at no.9 (431 points) and Singapore’s Feng Tianwei at no.12 (399 points). Next on the list is the Japanese trio of Hitomi Sato (374 points), Saki Shibata (350 points) and Miu Hirano (347 points). Korea Republic’s Jeon Jihee completes the top 16 names (300 points).
Pertinently, of those who competed in Australia, all have now completed the five appearance requisite; the only exception is Ding Ning, she has four appearances against her name.
Meanwhile, on both the Men’s Doubles and Mixed Doubles Standings, the name of the Korea Republic’s Lee Sangsu is listed at the top of the order. He appears alongside the players with whom he won in Australia; the former with Jeoung Youngsik (807 points), the latter with Jeon Jihee (413 points).
Runners up in Australia, Japan’s Masataka Morizono and Yuya Oshima reserve the no.5 spot (307 points) on the Men’s Doubles Standings, colleagues Jang Woojin and Lim Jonghoon, semi-finalists are in second place (494 points). Also, present in Australia and ever more a potent force, Chinese Taipei’s Liao Cheng-Ting and Lin Yun-Ju appear at no.8 (239 points).
Next in line to Lee Sangsu and Jeon Jihee stand the names of colleagues Lim Jonghoon and Yang Haeun (300 points), the silver medallists in Geelong.
Top places for the winners in Australia, it is the same on the Women’s Doubles Standings; Japan’s Hina Hayata and Mima Ito head the list (413 points). Jeon Jihee and Yang Haeun, the pair they beat at the semi-final stage are also in a strong position; they appear at no.3 (551 points).
There are now four tournaments remaining on this year’s Seamaster ITTF World Tour calendar, the next is the Asarel Bulgaria Open in Panagyurishte which starts with qualification on Tuesday 14th August.
Seamaster 2018 ITTF World Tour: Latest Standings (Monday 30th July)