David McBeath in action in Zagreb (courtesy of ITTF)

Self-funded entry David McBeath took positive steps in Zagreb before falling to Czech player Tomas Tregler in the GAC Group 2014 ITTF World Tour Croatian Open main draw.

The England no. 8 overcame the odds in his opening qualifying group match to beat Serbia’s Bojan Crepulja (world rank 267) – a player nearly 100 places higher on the world ranking list to assume control of group 20. His 4-3 win wasn’t without drama though as the 22-year-old had to save two match points in the sixth end to ensure his chance of completing the upset 11-5 in the seventh.

Once he had defeated lower seed Matej Murat (CRO, unr) 4-0 to secure his place in the main draw he almost doubled his shock tally for the tournament by taking a commanding lead against world no. 203 Tomas Tregler.

The Hampshire player had secured the first two games and had chances in a 15-13 third game to take a 3-0 lead but couldn’t convert as the Czech player fought back. Another tight 12-10 game went the way of the central european in the fifth as he eventually wrapped up a 4-2 win to send McBeath home.

GAC Group 2014 ITTF World Tour Croatian Open Results:
Men’s Singles Qualifying Groups:
Group 20:
David McBeath (wr 367) bt Bojan Crepulja (SRB) 4-3 (6-11, 11-13, 12-10, 11-9, 7-11, 12-10, 11-5)
David McBeath bt Matej Murat (CRO, unr) 4-0 (16-14, 11-4, 11-8, 11-7)

Last 64:
Tomas Tregler (CZE, 203) bt David McBeath 4-2 (7-11, 6-11, 15-13, 11-8, 10-12, 11-7)