(by Steve Hopkins, photo by ITTFWorld)

The ranking points system can be confusing – and adjustments made during COVID complicated it further.  This week, there were some major changes in the World Rankings – changes that were largely due to COVID adjustments expiring.  For instance, this is the first week where results of the Olympics (held in the Summer of 2021) do not affect the rankings.

Fan Zhendong has maintained his incredible lead (he has 8325 points and second place has only 4765).  Last week’s dominant No.2 has fallen to fourth – as Ma Long’s flawless Olympic performance officially drops out of his points totals.  Wang Chuqin has moved up one spot to No. 2 and Tomokazu Harimoto is now in third.  The next three spots are unchanged for Calderano, Moregard, and Liang Jingkun.  Dang Qiu moved up one spot to No. 8, Lin Gaoyuan is back in the Top 10 (at 9), and Lin Yun Ju is 10th.

Other major movers – Ovtcharov has dropped four spots to No. 14, while Lin Shidong has risen another 4 spots to 15th. Alexis Lebrun has moved up five spots to No. 22.  Xiang Peng is up 6 spots to No. 24.  Benedikt Duda has risen nine spots to No. 26.  USA’s top player is Kanak Jha at 38th.

There is less effect in the Women’s rankings as the seven of the top 8 players are from China.  Mima Ito is the first non-Chinese player at No. 6.  Hayata and Germany’s Han are numbers 9 and 10.  Adriana Diaz is 14th and Lily Zhang is No. 23.  USA’s Amy Wang has risen 9 spots to No. 60.

Expect more changes later this month as the WTT Champions series heads to Xinxiang, China next week. Nine of the World’s Top 10 players will be competing.

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