by Ian Marshall, Editor
Now 31 years old, Dimitrij Ovtcharov very much sets the standard in a competition that witnesses a line-up change.
Notably several illustrious names are missing from the previous week’s tournament. Timo Boll, the winner, does not compete, the reason being that during the same week, the Bundesliga Play-Off matches will take place.
Opportunity for rising generation
It is an opportunity is for aspiring German teenagers to measure their stature.
Felix Köhler, Tobias Sältzer and Tayler Fox in addition to Kay Stumper make their debuts. The name to note is undoubtedly that of Kay Stumper, the winner at the 2019 Europe Top 10 in Noordwijk; the question posed is as to whether he can step one level higher, as did the player last week whom he faces in round one. The 17 year confronts, Steffen Mengel, the surprise runner up some seven days ago.
Leading names
Also, making his first appearance is 19 year old Kanak Jha from the United States, set the join TTF Liebherr Ochsenhausen for the 2020-2021 season; he is the no.2 seed and confronts Tayler Fox in round one.
Semi-finalist in the first edition, beaten by Steffen Mengel but the surprise quarter-final winner against Dimitrij Ovtcharov, Qiu Dang is the no.3 seed. He is followed by Ecuador’s Alberto Miño, three times crowned South American champion.
Steffen Mengel, Tobias Hippler, Meng Fanbo and Cédric Meissner complete the top eight names.
Schedule change
New names entering the arena, also from the third week there will be a new schedule; the tournament will be played over a three day period. At the conclusion of the series, the leading eight players, including one wild card, will compete in a special staged event to bring matters to a conclusion.
Organised by the Borussia Düsseldorf Table Tennis Club in liaison with the German Table Tennis Association (DTTB), starting at 9.30 am each day, all matches are broadcast live using three cameras.
Owing to COVID-19,spectators on site are not allowed on site.
Live Broadcast:
Düsseldorf Masters – Second Tournament
Monday 8th June: Round One (matches in chronological order – seeding in brackets)
09.30 Tobias Hippler (6) v Felix Köhler
10.00 Qiu Dang (3) v Kirill Fadeev
10.30 Alberto Miño (4) v Gerrit Engemann
11.00 Fanbo Meng (7) v Tobias Sältzer
11.30 Dimitrij Ovtcharov v Nils Hohmeier
12.00 Steffen Mengel (5) v Kay Stumper
12.30 Kanak Jha (2) v Tayler Fox
13.00 Cédric Meissner (8) v Thomas Keinath
Play in continuous, times stated are the earliest the match will be played
Tuesday 9th June
09.30 Quarter-Finals
To be advised: Semi-Final & Final