Other Events | 17 Aug 2018
PITCHFORD beat MA Long to create the biggest shock of the year
Photo: ITTF
Seamaster 2018 ITTF World Tour Asarel Bulgaria Open in Panagyurishte
England’s Liam PITCHFORD caused the biggest shock of the year and recorded the biggest win of his life in the opening round of the Men’s Singles Event at the Seamaster 2018 ITTF World Tour Asarel Bulgaria Open in Panagyurishte.Liam presently listed at no.48 on the Men’s World Rankings beat China’s MA Long, the no.3 seed, the player who has won every major title the sport has to offer. Liam Pitchford prevailed in seven games (7-11, 9-11, 14-12, 13-11, 7-11, 13-11, 11-6).
The opening two games MA Long appeared in control but the fact Liam Pitchford won the third and fourth games by the minimal margin and then repeated the feat in the sixth, gave the young man from the East Midlands a massive injection of confidence.
“I’m over the moon, just feeling very happy! I knew that this was his first match of the tournament, so I knew that he might have some difficulties to get his game on. He has also just recovered from some injuries, so I went in thinking that I could win; there is no point going in against the Chinese players thinking that you are going to lose, so I tried to be active and attack him straight from the beginning. I missed a couple of good chances in the opening games but even though I was trailing two-nil and 4-8 in the third game I just stayed in there and did my best. I tried to as much as possible play backhand to backhand and switch to forehand when I could. I’m just really, really happy! I think that in the beginning I was trying to win the points too early against him a lot of the time. Thus I tried to slow down the tempo and play my game and spin the ball on the table. He might have not been in his best shape this being his first tournament of the season but it was nonetheless a great win. I’m just happy that I’m through to the next round.” Liam Pitchford
Austria’s Daniel HABESOHN beat Denmark’s Jonathan GROTH, the no.8 seed (9-11, 11-8, 13-11, 11-13, 11-8, 5-11, 11-8), Masataka MORIZONO won the all Japanese battle accounting for Jin UEDA, the no.11 seed (9-11, 11-6, 11-9, 12-10, 7-11, 11-4).
Germany’s Dimitrij OVTCHAROV accounted for Paul DRINKHALL (11-9, 8-11, 11-6, 11-7, 11-8); China’s XU Xin overcame Slovakia’s WANG Yang (11-3, 11-4, 11-1, 8-11, 11-4).
In the Women’s Singles competition Japan’s Mima ITO, Hina HAYATA and Miyu KATO all suffered at the hands of Chinese qualifiers. Mima ITO, the no.2 seed was beaten by WANG Yidi (11-2, 7-11, 11-3, 13-15, 11-6, 11-3), Hina HAYATA, the no.5 seed lost to LIU Xi (11-6, 11-7, 9-11, 11-4, 11-3). Likewise, by the very narrowest of margins, Miyu KATO, the no.7 seed, experienced defeat when facing LIU Gaoyuan (4-11, 12-10, 9-11, 11-5, 5-11, 11-7, 11-9).
Kasumi ISHIKAWA, the top seed, beat Britt EERLAND of the Netherlands (11-8, 11-4, 11-4, 11-6); Miu HIRANO, the no.3 seed, overcame Russia’s Polina MIKHAILOVA (11-7, 11-4, 11-9, 11-7), Hitomi SATO, the no.4 seed, ended the hopes of Korea Republic’s PARK Joohyun (6-11, 12-10, 11-8, 10-12, 11-5, 11-8).
