WORLD SENIORS – Big names hit the quarters

This year’s World Senior Championships have gathered some of the best former players ever in Helsingborg, Sweden. The proximity of Denmark may have had to do with it, but not only.  The top former Danes are there, but so are some of the legendary Indonesian stars.

After three days of competition and the quarter-final stage reached in most events – from group of 35+ all the way to players above 70, it seems like a handful of nations are making their mark. Germany and Japan, for instance, lead the number of qualifiers in the singles quarters with 17 players each. Then comes Denmark with 16 and England with 10. The latter, however, scoop most spots in doubles and mixed, with 44 pairs still in the draw for the neighbours from Denmark, while England has 42, Germany 25, and Japan 19. China had entered some participants, but none of them made it to actual tournament , leaving the Asian participation in the hands of Japan, some Malaysians, Indians and Thais.

Welcome back, Peter, Tony, Jens and the others…

One of the highlights of this edition will be the title played in the men’s singles +40, with no less than former World Champion Peter Rasmussen as top seed. The Dane has had a smooth tournament so far, winning all his matches in straight games, but things may spice up a bit with another former great from the Netherlands, Gerben Bruijtens as a quarter-final opponent. Other famous names like Jurgen Koch, Darma Gunawi or Fernando Silva will be hoping to play the great Dane for the title. Elsewhere, other former major stars have entered.  Anders Boesen or Stanislav Pukhov in MS35 for example. The match to watch on Thursday will feature top seed Tri Kushyaryanto / Hariyanto Arbi from Indonesian facing Jens Eriksen and Gregers Schytt – a mouth-watering meeting while Tony Gunawan and Flandi Limpele look like they should have no problem to win the title in the MD+40 competition.

All results HERE