02 Apr 2019

Elevated to top spot one year ago in April 2018, one year later without a break, for the 13th consecutive month, the name of China’s Fan Zhendong appears at the head of the men’s world rankings.

Once again he is listed ahead of colleagues Xi Xin and Lin Gaoyuan with Japan’s Tomokazu Harimoto and Germany’s Timo Boll the next in the order of merit.

by Ian Marshall, Editor

It is immediately below where there is movement, Korea Republic’s Lee Sangsu and Brazil’s Hugo Calderano change places. Lee Sangsu now stands at no.6, Hugo Calderano at no.7.

One step higher for Lee Sangsu, it is the same for Japan’s Koki Niwa, he is now listed at no.8; however, the name next in the order of merit is the player to make the most significant advance. China’s Liang Jingkun, like his illustrious higher rated colleagues bound for the Liebherr 2019 World Championships, climbs from a previous career best of no.13 to a new career high of no.9.

Similarly, immediately below there is progress for most worthy names; Korea Republic’s Jang Woojin and China’s Ma Long, both advance one place. Jang Woojin stands at no.10; Ma Long at no.11 one ahead of Germany’s Dimitrij Ovtcharov, previously listed at no.14.

Making way; Japan’s Jun Mizutani drops from no.10 to no.13, Hong Kong’s Wong Chun Ting from no.8 to the no.14, one rung ahead of Liam Pitchford. The climb of two places means the Englishman occupies the highest ranked position of his career.

Progress for Liam Pitchford, further down the order the names of Slovenia’s Darko Jorgic, Belgium’s Cédric Nuytinck, Croatia’s Tomislav Pucar and Slovakia’s Wang Yang stand out as does that of Russia’s Alexander Shibaev.

Darko Jorgic moves from no.54 to no.41, Cédric Nuytinck from no.68 to no.55, Wang Yang from no.71 to no.57. It is similar for Tomislav Pucar, who excelled at the recent Seamaster 2019 ITTF World Tour Platinum Qatar Open, he moves from no.70 to no.58. Likewise, Wang Yang advances from no.71 to no.57, Alexander Shibaev from no.79 to no.65.

Progress for European players, there is also notable progress for Latin America; Brazil’s Thiago Monteiro climbs from no.104, to no.91, Ecuador’s Alberto Miño from no.95 to no.108, Argentina’s Horacio Cifuentes from no.112 to no.100. However, none can match China’s Zhou Qihao; he moves from no.100 to no.77.

Climbing the ladder, alas for six players in the top 100 names, there is a drop of over 20 places. China’s Zhou Yu falls from no.43 to no.69, Croatia’s Andrej Gacina from no.61 to no.85; Hong Kong’s Ho Kwan Kit from no.56 to no.79; similarly Ukraine’s Kou Lei drops from no.46 to no.68, Russia’s Kirill Skachkov from no.53 to no.75 and Germany’s Ruwen Filus from no.38 to no.59.

Tuesday 2nd April: Complete World Rankings

World Ranking Fan Zhendong