(by Steve Hopkins)

Among the top stories in the World Rankings is that Fan Zhendong is now only 760 points ahead of second place.  He’s had an amazing run, and it doesn’t look like it will end this year – but for the first time in four years, the distance between Fan and second place could be achieved in a single, high-value tournament.

It is also getting crowded at the top for Team China as they hold the top three spots (Fan Zhendong, Wang Chuqin, and Ma Long), then Tomokazu Harimoto is No. 4 ahead of Liang Jingkun (No. 5), then Hugo Calderano an No. 6 followed by Lin Gaoyuan at No. 7.  The Top 10 is then rounded out with Lin Yun-Ju, Dang Qiu, and Truls Moregard.  Lin Gaoyuan should pass Calderano in the next rankings as Gaoyuan won his match in Durban today – moving up to the Final 8 (while Calderano fell in the opening round of this high-point value event).  This could mean China will hold 6 of the top spots by this time next week.

Moregard dropped three spots, but all of the players in the Top 10 previously are still in the Top 10.  Quadri Aruna also tumbled a few spots – dropping 4 spots to No. 16.  That drop moves China’s Lin Shidong up to No. 15 – his highest ranking to date.  Timo Boll has been idle with an injury and has fallen 13 spots to No. 31.  Egypt’s Omar Assar jumped up 4 spots to No. 30.

For TeamUSA, Kanak Jha’s absence from competitive play this year has taken its toll.  He dropped 54 spot to No. 93.   Jishan Liang moved up four spots to No. 199.  The rest of the US players are outside of the world’s top 250.  Hopefully Kanak will be back this Winter to make a push back towards the World’s Top 20.

On the Women’s side, China now holds the top 6 spots (Sun, Wang, Wang, Chen, Chen, Qian). Mima Ito is No. 7 and the top non-Chinese player, and Ying Han (Germany) is No. 9 and the top European player.  Adriana Diaz of Puerto Rico is No. 13.  Lily Zhang is up two spots to No. 22.

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