(by Steve Hopkins) As we start the last month of the year, Fan Zhendong has cemented himself at the top of the rankings.  In fact, after winning the World Championships, Fan (at 12645) has a 2135 point lead over second place Ma Long and the separation between Ma Long (10510) and third place Xu Xin […]

(by Steve Hopkins) When was he last time THAT happened? When was the last time Fan Zhendong won a World Championship?  For a player who currently tops the ITTF rankings and who has seemingly won just about every title there is, it may be surprising that Sunday was the first Singles World Championship for Fan.  […]

(by Steve Hopkins) The penultimate day has come to an end, and all that is left of the World Table Tennis Championships is four Finals which will begin on Monday at 1p local time.  Here is the Day 6 Update: Fan Zhendong continued to live up to his billing as the tournament’s top seed (and […]

(by Steve Hopkins) The Alameda Ping Pong Gym is a new club in the Bay Area.  It offers 10 tables and lots of space with newly-renovated lighting and flooring.. With its location on Lincoln Avenue, the Alameda Ping Pong Gym is conveniently located for players on the East side of San Francisco Bay.  Alameda is […]

(by Steve Hopkins) When was the last time that Timo Boll, one of the world’s most popular players, faced a crowd dominated by cheers for his opponent.  That was the case today in Houston as USA’s Kanak Jha.  Boll, currently World No. 11, has consistently been one of the top players in the World, and […]

(by Steve Hopkins) Wow.  Just freaking WOW. If you aren’t watching the World Table Tennis Championships, you should tune in to the livestream and catch the action on Saturday.  Here’s what you missed today: USA’s Kanak Jha is through to the Final 16.  Jha faced off against a very tough defensive player, Germany’s Ruwen Filus, […]

(by Steve Hopkins) The events in Houston have now been narrowed from a field of 128 to the top 16.  Thanksgiving Day was Day 3 of the World Table Tennis Championships and there was action in all five events. In Men’s Singles, Fan Zhendong and Wang Chuqin both pressed forward with 4-0 wins and now […]

(by Steve Hopkins) Thanksgiving Day had hardly started, and Lily Zhang had yet another reason to give thanks –  a Mixed Doubles win with partner Lin Gaoyuan that launched the pair into the Round of 16.  Zhang and Gaoyuan are one of the two China/USA pairings honoring the 50th Anniversary of Ping Pong Diplomacy, and […]

(by Steve Hopkins) Day 2 Highlights: USA’s Kanak Jha dominated Andrej Gacina to win his second match and advance to the Final 32.  Jha was the only American to make the Round of 64.  Jha may benefit from an upset today, as Korea’s Lee Sangsu fell to Belgium’s Martin Allegro – meaning Jha’s next match […]

(by Steve Hopkins) The opening day in Houston saw Round of 128 action in both Men’s and Women’s Singles. In Men’s Singles, Kanak Jha was the lone US player to advance (Nikhil Kumar fell 3-4 to Monteiro, and Kai Zhang fell 0-4 to Alto).  Jha topped  Korea’s World No. 43 An Jaehyun in a tight […]