Liam Pitchford beat upcoming Japanese star Hiroto Shinozuka to arrange a second-round conflict in opposition to world No 2 Wang Chuqin on the WTT Champions Frankfurt.
The English No 1 continued the great type that noticed him attain the ultimate within the WTT Contender Muscat earlier this month as he took on the 19-year-old world no 33.
Pitchford, at the moment ranked No 24, made a quick begin, going right into a 4-0 lead and taking the primary 11-4 with the minimal of fuss in opposition to an opponent who appeared a bit nervous early on.
The second was nearly a mirror picture of the primary because the left-handed Shinozuka took an early lead and prolonged it out to 10-2. If he thought that was unassailable, he was pondering once more by the point it bought to 10-8, however he did finally shut it out.
That late momentum stayed with Pitchford in recreation three, though he noticed his 6-1 lead whittled away to 10-8. The 2 recreation factors had been saved by Shinozuka as he confirmed good pace across the desk to remain in rallies earlier than Pitchford twice noticed his ultimate assault clip the web and go off.
One other recreation level got here and went however when Pitchford took his fourth probability, there was a way the match was now in his pocket.
So it proved as Pitchford opened up 4-0 and 10-3 leads earlier than sealing it on the third match level.
His match in opposition to Wang Chuqin within the final 16 might be at a time to be confirmed on Wednesday or Thursday.
The have met thrice beforehand, most just lately within the final 32 on the Singapore Smash final yr, and Pitchford has but to take a recreation off Wang.
Click here to follow the WTT Champions Frankfurt on the WTT YouTube channel.
End result
Males’s Singles
Spherical of 32
Liam Pitchford bt Hiroto Shinozuka (JPN) 3-1 (11-4, 8-11, 13-11, 11-5)
