Darius Knight fell to a shock defeat as the six English players competing at the GAC Group 2012 ITTF World Tour German Open got off to a shaky start.
Knight, who was facing world number 766 Ewout Oostwouder (NED), did lead 2-1 but found himself having to level at 3-3 to force a decider with the Dutch player. Oostwouder, who will be facing England as part of the Netherlands team coming to Portsmouth in November, then fought his way to an improbably victory by claiming the final game 11-8.
This now gives Knight a mountain to climb to reach the main stage as he must beat group favourite Pavel Platonov convincingly to progress.
The other Englishmen in Bremen had varied results. While England regulars Paul Drinkhall, Liam Pitchford and Andrew Baggaley were all victorious in their opening fixtures, there were double defeats for both David McBeath and Gavin Evans in their singles campaigns.
Tomorrow the doubles competition will also begin as the English contingent hope to forage forward on two fronts in Europe.
GAC Group 2012 ITTF World Tour German Open Results
Men’s Singles Qualifying
Group 3:
Paul Drinkhall bt Frederick Jost (GER) 4-1 (11-9, 11-8, 9-11, 11-9, 11-4)
Group 21:
Andrew Baggaley bt Kristian Kobes (SVK) 4-1 (11-7, 11-2, 11-9, 9-11, 11-7)
Group 25:
Yevhen Pryshchepa (UKR) bt David McBeath 4-2 (4-11, 13-15, 11-9, 11-9, 11-5, 11-2)
Quentin Robinot (FRA) bt David McBeath 4-1 (11-9, 16-18, 11-7, 11-2, 11-6)
Group 27:
Grigory Vlasov (RUS) bt Gavin Evans 4-1 (11-7, 9-11, 11-3, 11-8, 11-3)
Cedric Nuytinck (BEL) bt
Gavin Evans 4-2 (8-11, 12-10, 11-9, 11-3, 7-11, 11-8)
Group 29:
Ewout Oostwouder (NED) bt Darius Knight 4-3 (9-11, 11-7, 4-11, 11-8, 11-8, 7-11, 11-8)
Group 30:
Liam Pitchford bt Salvador Uribe (MEX) 4-0 (11-5, 11-7, 11-8, 11-4)
Boy’s Under-21s
Qualifying Group 9:
Yuto Higashi (JPN) bt David McBeath 3-0 (11-8, 11-9, 11-4)
Frederick Jost (GER) bt David McBeath 3-2 (3-11, 9-11, 11-4, 11-2, 11-8)
Qualifying Group 11:
Hunor Szocs (ROU) bt Gavin Evans 3-2 (5-11, 11-6, 11-13, 13-11, 11-6)
Benjamin Brossier (FRA) bt Gavin Evans 3-2 (9-11, 11-8, 11-7, 11-13, 11-4)