Seamaster 2019 World Tour Platinum LION Open

CITY: Sappora, Japan SITE: Hokkaido Prefectural Sports Center, 5-11-1-1, Toyohira, Toyohira-ku, Sapporo-shi, 062-8572, Japan DATE: 12 Jun - 16 Jun 2019 PLAYERS: 104 men 95 women 199 total COUNTRIES: 28 TABLES: 8 TABLE BRAND: Victas VF-25W BALL BRAND: DHS 40+ FLOOR BRAND: Super Weaving Surface (Red) MEDIA CONTACT: ITTF Media Officer: Seet Cheng Howe ([email protected])

Introduction

Welcome to the Seamaster 2019 World Tour Platinum LION Japan Open.

The LION Japan is a Platinum Series event on the ITTF World Tour, which is the former of the two tiers (Platinum & Regular).

The LION Japan Open is the third out of six Platinum Series, as the players fight for points to qualify for the season ending Seamaster 2019 ITTF World Tour Grand Final from 12-15 December.

There are five titles on offer: Men’s Singles, Women’s Singles, Men’s Doubles, Women’s Doubles & Mixed Doubles

This media kit is designed to provide an update on the Seamaster 2019 LION Japan Open. Enclosed are statistics and notes that will be of assistance during the tournament. Players’ biographies as well as statistical, historical and personal data can be found on ITTF.com. Please make player interview requests through a member of the ITTF and OC media staff located in the press room.

Key Dates/Times

12 June 2019, 09:00am @ Hokkaido Prefectural Sports Center – Qualification Day 1 13 June 2019, 10:00am @ Hokkaido Prefectural Sports Center – Qualification Day 2 14 June 2019, 10:00am @ Hokkaido Prefectural Sports Center – Main Draw Day 1 15 June 2019, 14:00am @ Hokkaido Prefectural Sports Center – Mixed Doubles Finals 16 June 2019, 10:00am @ Hokkaido Prefectural Sports Center – Finals

Schedule: Qualification | Main Draw

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Playing System

Men’s Singles: Main draw round of 32 16 seeded players + 16 players coming from the qualifications 88 players competing for 16 qualification slots in a Knock Out Format

Women’s Singles: Main draw round of 32 16 seeded players + 16 players coming from the qualifications 79 players competing for 16 qualification slots in a Knock Out Format

Men’s Doubles: Main draw round of 16 8 seeded players + 8 players coming from the qualifications 10 pairs competing for 8 qualification slots in a Knock Out Format

Women’s Doubles: Main draw round of 16 8 seeded players + 8 players coming from the qualifications 9 pairs competing for 8 qualification slots in a Knock Out Format

Mixed Doubles: Main draw round of 16 8 seeded players + 8 players coming from the qualifications 13 pairs competing for 8 qualification slots in a Knock Out Format

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Seamaster 2019 ITTF World Tour Events and Winners There has been 4 World Tour so far, 2 Platinum (, ), 1 Regular series (, ).

Type Location Men's Singles Women's Singles Regular Hong Kong CHN Yidi CHN Platinum China CHN Meng CHN Platinum Qatar MA Long CHN CHN Regular Hungary LIN Gaoyuan CHN CHN

Type Location Men's Doubles Women's Doubles Regular Hong Kong CHN LIN Gaoyuan CHN CHEN Ke CHN CHN Patrick Platinum China GER GER GU Yuting CHN CHN FRANZISKA Platinum Qatar HO Kwan Kit HKG WONG Chunting HKG CHN WANG Manyu CHN Regular Hungary LIANG Jingkun CHN CHN WANG Manyu CHN CHN

Type Location Mixed Doubles Regular Hong Kong LIN Yun-Ju TPE CHENG I-Ching TPE Platinum China LIN Yun-Ju TPE CHENG I-Ching TPE Platinum Qatar XU Xin CHN LIU Shiwen CHN Regular Hungary XU Xin CHN LIU Shiwen CHN

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Race to Seamaster 2019 ITTF World Tour Grand Finals

The players are all battling it out for points to secure their qualification to the Seamaster 2019 World Tour Grand Finals, 12-15 Dec 2019.

How does it work?

Men’s & Women’s Singles

Places available: 15 players with the most points from the Seamaster 2019 World Tour events, plus one host country player that meets the below criteria. If the player from the host association is already amongst the 15 invited players or does not meet the participation criteria, the 16th player in order will be invited. Criteria: Have to play in a minimum of 5 events

Men’s, Women’s & Mixed Doubles

Places available: 7 doubles pairing with the most points, plus one host country player that meets the below criteria. If the pair from the host association is already amongst the 7 invited players or does not meet the participation criteria, the 8th pair in order will be invited. Criteria: Have to play in a minimum of 4 events (playing together) Criteria: For XD, maximum of 1 pair per NOC

Full criteria: https://bit.ly/2QqmA3e

Points system (Platinum)

Full Points allocation: https://bit.ly/2C47sTR

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Current Race to World Tour Grand Final Standings (after HKG Open):

Men’s Singles Rank Events Player Country Points 1 4 LIN Gaoyuan CHN 1100 2 2 MA Long CHN 1000 3 3 XU Xin CHN 463 4 3 HARIMOTO Tomokazu JPN 425 5 4 FALCK Mattias SWE 264 6 4 LIANG Jingkun CHN 229 7 3 BOLL Timo GER 181 8 3 MIZUTANI Jun JPN 181 8 2 CHN 163 10 4 HKG 157 11 4 CHN 156 11 4 LIN Yun-Ju TPE 133 13 4 FRANZISKA Patrick GER 124 14 3 NIWA Koki JPN 116 15 4 GAUZY Simon FRA 107 16 3 CALDERANO Hugo BRA 106

Women’s Singles Rank Events Player Country Points 1 3 WANG Manyu CHN 863 2 2 CHEN Meng CHN 750 3 3 LIU Shiwen CHN 463 4 2 ITO Mima JPN 425 5 2 WANG Yidi CHN 383 6 2 ZHU Yuling CHN 325 7 3 CHN 300 8 3 SUN Yingsha CHN 256 9 3 CHN 189 9 3 SGP 189 11 2 CHENG I-Ching TPE 188 12 3 HIRANO Miu JPN 163 13 2 HE Zhuojia CHN 124 14 3 POLCANOVA Sofia AUT 114 15 3 CHEN Szu-Yu TPE 99 15 3 HKG 99

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Men’s Doubles

Rank Events Player Country Points 1 2 BOLL Timo / FRANZISKA Patrick GER 450 2 2 HO Kwan Kit / WONG Chun Ting HKG 350 3 2 LIANG Jingkun / LIN Gaoyuan CHN 219 4 1 LIANG Jingkun / XU Xin CHN 200 5 2 JANG Woojin / LIM Jonghoon KOR 175 6 2 JEOUNG Youngsik / LEE Sangsu KOR 150 6 1 MA Long / WANG Chuqin CHN 150 8 4 LIAO Cheng-Ting / LIN Yun-Ju TPE 113

Women’s Doubles

Rank Events Player Country Points 1 2 WANG Manyu / ZHU Yuling CHN 350 2 1 SUN Yingsha / WANG Manyu CHN 300 2 1 GU Yuting / LIU Shiwen CHN 300 4 1 CHEN Ke/MU Zi CHN 200 5 1 DING Ning / WANG Yidi CHN 150 6 3 DOO Hoi Kem / LEE Ho Ching HKG 113 7 1 CHEN Meng / SUN Yingsha CHN 100 7 1 JEON Jihee / YOO Eunchong KOR 100

Mixed Doubles

Rank Events Player Country Points 1 4 LIN Yun-Ju / CHENG I-Ching TPE 600 2 2 XU Xin / LIU Shiwen CHN 500 3 4 WONG Chun Ting / DOO Hoi Kem HKG 232 4 1 MORIZONO Masataka / ITO Mima JPN 150 5 4 HO Kwan Kit / LEE Ho Ching HKG 132 6 3 SZUDI Adam / PERGEL Szandra HUN 113 7 4 FLORE Tristan / GASNIER Laura FRA 107 7 4 FEGERL Stefan / POLCANOVA Sofia AUT 107

The full standings for the race to the 2019 ITTF World Tour Grand Finals can be found here: https://bit.ly/2HPzENg

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Japan Open Seeded Players & 2019 Stats

Men’s Singles 2019 WT Statistics May 2019 Players name Date of Birth Age Hand Grip Pl. Style Seed % Won Played Won WR FAN Zhendong CHN 22/01/1997 22 R Shakehand Attack 1 1 71% 7 5 LIN Gaoyuan CHN 19/03/1995 24 L Shakehand Attack 2 2 90% 20 18 XU Xin CHN 08/01/1990 29 L Penhold Attack 3 3 75% 12 9 HARIMOTO Tomokazu JPN 27/06/2003 15 R Shakehand Attack 4 4 75% 12 9 MA Long CHN 20/10/1988 30 R Shakehand Attack 5 5 100% 10 10 LIANG Jingkun CHN 20/10/1996 22 R Shakehand Attack 6 6 71% 14 10 CALDERANO Hugo BRA 22/06/1996 22 R Shakehand Attack 7 8 50% 6 3 JANG Woojin KOR 10/09/1995 23 R Shakehand Attack 8 9 40% 5 2 LEE Sangsu KOR 31/08/1990 28 R Shakehand Attack 9 10 0% 3 0 NIWA Koki JPN 10/10/1994 24 L Shakehand Attack 10 12 50% 6 3 MIZUATNI JUN JPN 09/06/1989 30 L Shakehand Attack 11 13 63% 8 5 OVTCHAROV Dimitrij GER 02/09/1988 30 R Shakehand Attack 12 15 50% 4 2 LIM Jonghoon KOR 21/01/1997 22 L Shakehand Attack 13 16 60% 10 6 WONG Chun Ting HKG 07/09/1991 27 R Penhold Attack 14 18 50% 8 4 JEONG Youngsik 20/01/1992 27 R Shakehand Attack 15 19 60% 5 3 LIN Yun-Ju TPE 17/08/2001 17 L Shakehand Attack 16 21 71% 14 10 * Seeding based on Jun WR List of players (Men): https://bit.ly/2KaCMGR Link to WT Stats: https://bit.ly/2Jj4jSG Link to WR (Men): https://bit.ly/2IsOITb Top seed (Fan Zhendong): - Fan Zhendong did not compete at the Japan Open in 2018 - He has won a title on Japan soil (2019 ITTF Asian Cup in ) but has not won a World Tour Title in 2019 - Fan has held the position of World number 1 for the last 14 months

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Women’s Singles

2019 Statistics Jan 2019 Players name Date of Birth Age Hand Grip Pl. Style Seed % Won Played Won WR DING Ning CHN 20/06/1990 28 L Shakehand Attack 1 1 71% 7 5 CHEN Meng CHN 15/01/1994 25 R Shakehand Attack 3 3 100% 10 10 WANG Manyu CHN 09/02/1999 20 R Shakehand Attack 4 4 86% 14 12 LIU Shiwen CHN 12/04/1991 27 R Shakehand Attack 5 5 73% 11 8 ZHU Yuling CHN 10/01/1995 24 R Shakehand Attack 2 2 75% 8 6 ISHIKAWA Kasumi JPN 23/02/1993 25 L Shakehand Attack 6 6 40% 5 2 ITO Mima JPN 21/10/2000 18 R Shakehand Attack 7 7 75% 12 9 CHENG I-Ching TPE 15/02/1992 27 R Shakehand Attack 8 8 63% 8 5 HIRANO Miu JPN 14/04/2000 18 R Shakehand Attack 9 9 63% 8 5 SUH Hyowon KOR 10/05/1987 32 R Shakehand Defend 5 10 50% 4 2 DOO Hoi Kem HKG 27/11/1996 22 R Shakehand Attack 11 12 33% 6 2 FENG Tianwei SGP 31/08/1986 32 R Shakehand Attack 10 10 55% 9 5 SHIBATA Saki JPN 25/08/1997 21 R Shakehand Attack 13 14 40% 5 2 SATO Hitomi JPN 23/12/1997 21 R Shakehand Defense 12 13 25% 4 1 CHEN Xingtong CHN 27/05/1997 21 R Shakehand Attack 14 15 55% 9 5 JEON Jihee KOR 28/10/1992 26 L Shakehand Attack 11 17 0% 3 0 * Seeding based on Jun WR List of players (Women): https://bit.ly/2Wwv8bM Link to WT Stats: https://bit.ly/2Jj4jSG Link to WR (Women): https://bit.ly/2N24B1C Top seed (Ding Ning): - Ding Ning did not compete at the Japan Open in 2018 - She has never won the singles title in Japan - Her last World Tour title came in in August 2018

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Prize Money Men’s Singles and Women’s singles: Winner: US$ 44,000 Runner-up: US$ 22,000 Semi finalist: US$ 10,600 Quarter finalist: US$ 5,900 Round of 16: US$ 3,300 Round of 32: US$ 2,050

Men’s, Women’s & Mixed Doubles: Winner: US$ 10,000 Runner-up: US$ 5,000 Semi finalist: US$ 2,500

Total: US$ 400,000

Past Winners

Men's Singles Venue Year Winner Runner Up Kitakyushu 2018 HARIMOTO Tomokazu JPN CHN Tokyo 2017 MA Long CHN FAN Zhendong CHN Tokyo 2016 FAN Zhendong CHN XU Xin CHN 2015 XU Xin CHN YOSHIMURA Maharu JPN Yokohama 2014 CHN MIZUTANI Jun JPN Yokohama 2013 SHIONO Masato JPN XU Chenhao CHN Kobe 2012 MIZUTANI Jun JPN OH Sangeun KOR Kobe 2011 KISHIKAWA Seiya JPN MIZUTANI Jun JPN Kobe 2010 BOLL Timo GER MIZUTANI Jun JPN Wakayama 2009 OH Sangeun KOR BAUM Patrick GER Yokohama 2008 CHN WANG Hao CHN Chiba 2007 WANG Hao CHN MA Long CHN Yokohama 2006 CHN WANG Hao CHN Yokohama 2005 BOLL Timo GER CHUANG Chih-Yuan TPE Kobe 2004 CHN WANG Hao CHN Kobe 2003 TIMO Boll GER OH Sangeun KOR Kobe 2002 KREANGA Kalinikos GRE CHUANG Chih-Yuan TPE Yokohama 2001 CHIANG Peng-Lung TPE JOO Saehyuk KOR Kobe 2000 WANG Liqin CHN MA Lin CHN Kobe 1999 SAMSONOV Vladimir BLR MA Lin CHN Wakayama 1998 CHN CHN Chiba 1997 WALDNER Jan-Ove SWE WANG Liqin CHN

Women’s Singles Venue Year Winner Runner Up Kitakyushi 2018 ITO Mima JPN WANG Manyu JPN Tokyo 2017 SUN Yingsha CHN CHEN Meng CHN Tokyo 2016 LIU Shiwen CHN DING Ning CHN Kobe 2015 CHEN Meng CHN ZHU Yuling CHN Yokohama 2014 FENG Tianwei SIN ISHIKAWA Kasumi JPN

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Yokohama 2013 FUKUHARA Ai JPN Moon Hyunjung KOR Kobe 2012 ESP KIM Kyungah KOR Kobe 2011 FENG Tianwei SIN FUKUHARA Ai JPN Kobe 2010 SIN ZHU Yuling CHN Wakayama 2009 PARK Mi Young KOR HIRANO Sayaka JPN Yokohama 2008 CHN CHN Chiba 2007 CHN CHN Yokohama 2006 WANG Yuegu SIN GUO Yan CHN Yokohama 2005 ZHANG Yining CHN GUO Yan CHN Kobe 2004 ZHANG Yining CHN CHN Kobe 2003 CHN GUO Yan CHN Kobe 2002 KIM Kyungah KOR STEFF Mihaela ROM Yokohama 2001 WANG Nan CHN KIM Kyungah KOR Kobe 2000 WANG Nan CHN CHN Kobe 1999 WANG Nan CHN KOYAMA Chire JPN Wakayama 1998 LI Ju CHN CHN Chiba 1997 USA HKG

Men’s Doubles Venue Year Winning Pair Kitakyushu 2018 JEOUNG Youngsik (KOR) LEE Sangsu (KOR) Tokyo 2017 MA Long (CHN) XU Xin (CHN) Tokyo 2016 MA Long (CHN) XU Xin (CHN) Kobe 2015 MA Long (CHN) XU Xin (CHN) Yokohama 2014 MIZUTANI Jun (JPN) KISHIKAWA Seiya (JPN) Yokohama 2013 UEDA Jin (JPN) YOSHIMURA Maharu (JPN) Kobe 2012 KIM Minseok (KOR) SEO Hyundeok (KOR) Kobe 2011 LIN Gaoyuan (CHN) WU Jiaji (CHN) Kobe 2010 MATSUDAIRA KENTA (JPN) NIWA Koki (JPN) Wakayama 2009 MIZUTANI Jun (JPN) KISHIKAWA Seiya (JPN) Yokohama 2008 Not Held (Team Event) Chiba 2007 WANG Liqin (CHN) CHEN Qi (CHN) Yokohama 2006 MA Lin (CHN) WANG Hao (CHN) Yokohama 2005 BOLL Timo (GER) SÜSS Christian (GER) Kobe 2004 YAN Sen (CHN) WANG Liqin (CHN) Kobe 2003 MA Lin (CHN) CHEN Qi (CHN) Kobe 2002 KITO Akira (JPN) TASAKI Toshiro (JPN) Yokohama 2001 MA Lin (CHN) WANG Hao (CHN) Kobe 2000 KONG Linghui (CHN) LIU Guoliang (CHN) Kobe 1999 MA Lin (CHN) QIN Zhijian (CHN) Wakayama 1998 MA Lin (CHN) (CHN) Chiba 1997 WANG Liqin (CHN) YAN Sen (CHN)

Women’s Doubles Venue Year Winner Kitakyushu 2018 GU Yuting (CHN) MU Zi (CHN) Tokyo 2017 CHEN Xingtong (CHN) SUN Yingsha (CHN) Tokyo 2016 DING Ning (CHN) LI Xiaoxia (CHN) Kobe 2015 (CHN) LIU Fei (CHN)

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Yokohama 2014 FUKUHARA Ai (JPN) WAKAMIYA Misako (JPN) Yokohama 2013 GU Yuting (CHN) ZHOU Xintong (CHN) Kobe 2012 WAKAMIYA MISAKO (JPN) FUJII Hiroko (JPN) Kobe 2011 WAKAMIYA MISAKO (JPN) FUJII Hiroko (JPN) Kobe 2010 ISHIGAKI Yuka (JPN) YAMANASHI Yuri (JPN) Wakayama 2009 HIRANO Sayaka (JPN) HIURA Reiko (JPN) Yokohama 2008 Not Held (Team Event) Chiba 2007 GUO Yue (CHN) LI Xiaoxia (CHN) Yokohama 2006 ZHANG Rui (HKG) TIE Yana (HKG) Yokohama 2005 BAI Yang (CHN) (CHN) Kobe 2004 GUO Yue (CHN) NIU Jianfeng (CHN) Kobe 2003 GUO Yue (CHN) NIU Jianfeng (CHN) Kobe 2002 JING Junhong (SIN) LI Jiawei (SIN) Yokohama 2001 KIM Bok Rae (KOR) KIM Kyungah (KOR) Kobe 2000 SUN Jin (CHN) YANG Ying 2 (CHN) Kobe 1999 SUN Jin (CHN) YANG Ying 2 (CHN) Wakayama 1998 LI Ju (CHN) WANG Nan (CHN) Chiba 1997 LEE Eun Sil (KOR) RYU Ji Hae (KOR)

Mixed’s Doubles Venue Year Winner Kitakyushu 2018 LIANG Jingkun (CHN) CHEN Xingtong (CHN)

Most Successful China Open Players

Tomokazu Harimoto (JPN) will be looking to defend his Men’s Singles title, and win it for the 2nd time. No men player has ever successfully defended his title. will be looking to repeat her 2018 success

Men’s singles – Timo Boll () – three, Wang Liqin (China) - two Women’s singles – Wang Nan (China) – four, Feng Tianwei (SGP) & Zhang Yining (CHN) - Three Men’s doubles – Ma Lin (China) – five. Partners all were Chinese - Chen Qi (2), Qin Zhijian (1), Wang Tao (1), Wang Hao (1) Women’s doubles – Guo Yue (China) - three. Partners all were Chinese - Niu Jianfeng (2), Li Xiaoxia (1)

Tournament Facts

• Held every year since it began in 1997 • 2018 was the second time since 2013 that both Men’s & Women’s Singles titles were won by a Japanese • No one has successfully defended their title for the Men Singles Event. • This will be the first time the Japan Open is held in Sapporo • Japan Open 2013 in Yokohama o The Men Singles Event was contested between two qualifiers, where Shiono Masato (JPN) emerged victorious over Xu Chenhao (CHN). • Ma Long and Chen Meng comes into this event with 10 win out of 10 matches in their respective events

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ITTF.com Make sure you follow the Seamaster 2019 ITTF World Tour – LION Japan Open on ITTF.com to obtain the following:

• Live streaming • Players Head to Head • Photos for editorial use • Upcoming ITTF calendar • Schedule: Qualification | Main Draw • List of Seeded Players: MS | WS | MD | WD | XD • ITTF Social media: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Weibo | Youtube • Everything you need to do with International !

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