(by Steve Hopkins)

Early action is underway at the Asian Cup in Shenzhen, China. Unlike the Pan American Cup, the top seeds start in groups (and are not seeded automatically into the Main Draw).  This can make for some exciting matches early on, as players get used to the conditions – perhaps before reaching their full potential or full efforts, which we’ll see in the final days.

World No. 1 Lin Shidong won his opening match over Wong Chun Ting of Hong Kong 3-0.  Some of the other top seeds have not had it as easy, however.  World No. 2 Wang Chuqin found himself down 1-2 against Iran’s Noshad Alamiyan, and the two were tied 10-10 in a fourth game battle that could have resulted in an upset.  However, Chuqin fought through the fourth game to win 12-10 and then closed out the fifth game for the narrow 3-2 win.  Fourth seed, Tomokazu Harimoto was not as lucky as he had a surprise loss to Huang Youzheng, one of China’s rising stars who won multiple youth titles but is now a 19 year old upstart on the world tour.  Their group includes Oh Jungsung of Korea and Nima Alamian of Iran – perhaps four tough players with only two to advance out of the group.

Two other early upsets to report as well.  Jan Woojin of Korea was the top seed in Group 6, but he fell 2-3 in his opening match to Feng Yi-Hsin of Taipei.  And Kazakhstan’s Kirill Gerassimenko upset the top seed in Group 8, Kao Cheng-Jui of Taipei.  With the No. 8 and No. 9 seeds both in Group 8, and Gerassimenko playing well – that is another group with three strong players with only two able to advance.

There are two more days of these matches, with group play finishing on Friday.  The elimination matches will be played this weekend.

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