Andrew Baggaley turned in an eye-catching performance at the Czech Open for the second year in succession.

The Milton Keynes player was in fine form to reach the last 32 of the ITTF World Tour event in Olomouc, as he had last season.

The only British player in the event, Baggaley won his qualification group with a 4-2 (7-11, 13-15, 13-11, 11-4, 12-10, 11-2) win over the left-handed Slovakian Adam Brat, followed by beating another left-hander in Austrian David Serdaroglu 4-1 (12-10, 9-11, 11-7, 11-4, 11-6).

It put him into the last 64, where he faced South Korea’s Cho Eonrae, who had beaten him at the same event last year.

This time, in an epic encounter, Baggaley came from 7-5 down in the final set, taking the final six points to win an enthralling battle 4-3 (11-8, 8-11, 8-11, 12-10, 11-5, 10-12, 11-7)

against an opponent ranked No 108 in the world, but previously as high as No 19.

The last 32 match was against the No 1 seed Kenta Matsudaira from Japan, currently No 26 in the world and with a career-high of No 15.

In another spectacular encounter which went the distance, Baggaley led 3-2 but Matsudaira finally won 4-3 (9-11, 11-4, 11-6, 7-11, 8-11, 11-7, 11-2) in the clash of the round.

Baggaley said after the event: “It was very pleasing to hit top form at a World Tour Major event and play at a very high level at the start of the season.

“It was encouraging to beat Cho Eonrae who is proven at the highest level and be within a fraction of beating Kenta Matsudaira. Playing matches in the Polish Super League and regular training in China has certainly been very beneficial.”