The small entry at the GAC Group ITTF World Tour Chile Open has enabled England’s number 3 Darius Knight to progress to the last 32 after winning his qualifying group against two South American counterparts.

Knight’s toughest match came first when he had to battle to a seven-game victory against Brazil’s Gustavo Souza. The Brazilian took the first game 11-8 before Knight levelled with an identical scoreline.

However, Souza once again went ahead to lead 2-1. With the fourth game ultimately crucial, it was Knight who took it with a tight 12-10 success to level the scores once more. The pair then traded two more 11-8 games to set up the vital deciding game.

In yet another nail-biting game (no game was won by any greater scoreline than 11-8) Knight managed to hold his nerve and secure the crucial opening victory against his Brazilian opponent.

In his second match he then faced home-country Chile’s Gerardo Palma who proved no problem for the Londoner.

The comfortable 4-0 win was completed in double-quick time as a knock-out spot was sealed. There the difficulty level will be raised when Knight faces Japan’s Kazuhiro Chan (60).

Knight has also reached the last 16 of the men’s doubles with Scottish partner Niall Cameron. The pair defeated Argentinian’s Rodrigo Gilabert and Adriel Di Salvo in five games to secure their spot.

Despite trailing 2-1 at one stage, the British duo fought back to win both games four and five 11-9 to set up another difficult-looking match against Korean’s Lee Jung Woo (22) and Kim Dong Hyun (240).

Results:

Men’s Singles Qualifying Group 4:

Darius Knight bt Gustavo Souza (BRA, u/r) 4-3 (8-11, 11-8, 9-11, 12-10, 11-8, 8-11, 11-8)

Darius Knight bt Gerardo Palma (CHI, 1560) 4-0 (14-12, 11-8, 11-6, 11-8)

Men’s Doubles Pre-Round:

Darius Knight (ENG)/Niall Cameron (SCO) bt Rodrigo Gilabert/Adreil Di Salvo (ARG) 3-2 (6-11, 11-5, 8-11, 11-9, 11-9)