Liam PITCHFORD is enjoying being back on the table after injury and is ready to take on the best in Europe at the China Construction Bank Europe Top 16 Cup in Montreux (to be played on Saturday 25th and Sunday 26th February). The England No 1 has had an arm injury and during his absence from the table has also been looking after his mental health.
He returned at the WTT Contender Amman last week and says he has rediscovered his enjoyment of the sport and his drive to compete.
In Amman he came from 2-0 and a match point down to defeat China’s YAN Sheng in the first round before exiting in a close match against Yan’s compatriot LIN Shidong in the last 16.
Pitchford said: “I’m in a much more positive mindset than I was at the end of last year. It’s been good for me to be away from the table for a while and assess things and it’s given me a new drive.
“Last year I put too much pressure on myself and wasn’t enjoying it. In Amman I felt a lot better than at the end of last year.
“I wasn’t expecting much because I’ve not really been able to practise and I haven’t played matches for a while. To come back from 2-0 and a match point down and win that match shows I’ve still got the fight in me.”
PITCHFORD will be aiming to improve on his previous best Top 16 performances when he reached the quarter-finals in both 2020 and 2021.
“I didn’t play the Top 16 last year through injury so it’s a good chance to go back and have a shot at these guys. They are the big names and I’m in that company. I want to be out there and I want to win. I’ve got a chance to do some hard work in the next 10 days or so before going there and that puts me in a good place and there’s more of a chance now I’m in a better mindset. The first match is the most important to get into the tournament and start on the front foot and take it from there “explained PITCHFORD.
In Men’s event top seed is Truls MOREGARD followed by Darko JORGIC of Slovenia Dang QIU and Dimitrij OVTCHAROV of Germany Kristian KARLSSON of Sweden Liam PITCHFORD of England Andrej GACINA of Croatia Simon GAUZY of France Marcos FREITAS of Portugal WANG Yang of Slovakia Robert GARDOS of Austria Jonathan GROTH of Denmark Joao GERALDO of Portugal Elias HARDMEIER of Switzerland and Emmanuel LEBESSON of France.
