(by Steve Hopkins)
China’s Lin Shidong is the biggest mover this week as he jumped up five spots into the Top 10. Shidong leaped over Lin Gaoyuan (and Tomokazu Harimoto and Lin Yun-Ju and Patrick Franziska and Truls Moregard). Shidong’s jump is based upon the strength of his win in Macao a week ago, and he will be present in Beijing next week for the China Smash so he will have opportunity to continue this run.
Wang Chuqin remains in first place, with a comfortable 1600 point lead over Fan Zhendong in second. Zhendong has a similar lead over third (a 1300 advantage over Hugo Calderano). Liang Jingkun is No. 4, followed by Felix Lebrun, Ma Long, Lin Shidong, Lin Gaoyuan, Tomokazu harimoto and Lin Yun-Ju. Ma Jinbao and Kanak Jha are are No. 64 and No. 69 – USA’s top two ranked players – both Jinbao and Jha are competing in the China Smash starting this Thursday.
Almost no movement in the Women’s rankings as Miwa Harimoto is up one spot and Shin Yubin is down one spot (swapping the No. 7/8 positions). All of the rest of the Top 10 are the same – Sun Yingsha, Chen Meng, Wang Manyu, Wang Yidi, Hina Hayata, Chen Xingtong, Harimoto, Yubin, Mima Ito, and Cheng I-Ching. Puerto Rico’s Adriana Diaz is just one space outside the Top 10, and at No. 11, she is the top non-Asian player in the Rankings. USA’s Lily Zhang (No. 27) will be competing next week in the China Smash.
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