Liam Pitchford has risen to a career high No 39 in April’s ITTF world rankings.

The Chesterfield player rises from No 44 and surpasses his previous highest of No 44 in November 2014.

Sam Walker is also at a new high of No 111, up from his position of No 119 last month, but Paul Drinkhall has slipped three places to No 68.

Further down the rankings, there are also career highs for David McBeath (266), Helshan Weerasinghe (371) and Tom Jarvis, who is in the top 400 for the first time at 372.

In the women’s rankings, national champion Tin-Tin Ho back into the top 200 at No 199 – one place above her previous career high from February 2015. Kelly Sibley remains English No 1 at 168 on the world list.