Paul Drinkhall has a chance to compete against the best players in Europe after being called into the Top 16 event.

The withdrawal of Germany’s Timo Boll means Paul is promoted from first reserve and will compete in Baku from February 6 to 8.

Liam Pitchford is now the first reserve player and will also travel to Azerbaijan.

The 16 players will be drawn into groups of four, with the top two advancing to the knockout stages.

The field is headed by Germany’s Dimitrij Ovtcharov and Marcos Freitas of Portugal, both of whom Paul beat in his run to the final of the Russian Open in November, which sealed a place in the ITTF Grand Finals the following month.