Top seeds in trouble!

Well who saw this coming? Chen Meng is down 1-3 to Qian Tianyi and the 16th seed is the one looking like sealing the deal here! Her off the net shots have dominated the world no.1, who really needs to pull herself together to have any chance of progressing!

For the top seed it is a similar situation – Sun Yingsha is now 1-2 (11-7, 9-11, 9-11) down versus 13th seed He Zhuojia. Are we about to see a double upset in the Chinese domestic?

Tianyi hits back, Sun starts well

Its a double domestic for the Chinese, as Qian Tianyi hit back against Chen Meng and has now a 2-1 (7-11, 11-8, 12-10) lead over the world no.1 athlete.

Over at the table, Sun Yingsha has just won her first game against compatriot He Zhuojia (11-7) and will look to push on from this to complete a swift win.

Ito claims epic win, Chen in control

In an epic conclusion, Mima Ito secured a momentous win over Cheng I-Ching (10-12, 11-6, 7-11, 11-4, 4-11, 11-3, 12-10), with the contest lasting over 56 minutes. Both athletes were in complete tandem against each other, winning a game each but the momentum of the sixth game for Ito secured the seventh and the match.

“I lost to her at Austria Open so I really wanted to win this time. Actually I performed normally. I had my chances today. It was really tough to lose. Mima Ito is very strong. I can feel she makes changes every time I play against her.” Cheng I-Ching

The world no. 1 Chen Meng is in fine form over at table 2, winning the first game 11-5 against Chinese compatriot Qian Tianyi.

Decider begins for Cheng and Ito

Japan’s Mima Ito has swung this match back and forth between her and Chinese Taipei’s Cheng I-Ching enough times to call it a pendulum – with a 3-3 score, the decider has begun.

Ito has looked the stronger of the two athletes on the counter attack, but Cheng is picking her moments to strike back at will. Who goes through to the quarter-finals?

Feng exits, Ito and Cheng battle

Chen Xingtong has completed a comprehensive 4-0 (11-3, 11-7, 11-9, 11-5) win over Feng Tianwei which means after Ding Ning’s exit yesterday, another major veteran has just been eliminated from the Grand Tour Finals.

“Feng has been making progress in recent times. She played really well in the previous encounters with my teammates Zhu Yuling and Chen Meng. I did not expect that I could take the match 4-0. I was prepared that today’s match could go into the deciding games.” Chen Xingtong

Meanwhile, Mima Ito and Cheng I-Ching are now locked at 2-2, with neither athlete in the mood to give up or back off – are we headed to a decider?

Favorites make stumbling start

Singapore’s Feng Tianwei will need to pull her socks up going forward today, as she lost the first two games to China’s Chen Xingtong (11-3, 11-7).

Over at table 2, Japan’s Mima Ito also lost the early lead against Chinese Taipei’s Cheng I-Ching, who surprised her by winning the game 12-10, having been 9-10 down. Having the levelled the scores since then (11-6), will Ito make a proper comeback?

Ready for the Grand Finals?