(by Steve Hopkins)

China holds the top three spots to start 2023 with Fan Zhendong, Ma Long, and Wang Chuqin holding those positions (in that order).  Tomokazu Harimoto has dropped two placed to fourth and Truls Moregard has held the fifth position.

The next five are Liang Jingkun, Hugo Calderano, Lin Yun-Ju, Darko Jorgic, and Dang Qiu.  Qiu has slid ahead of Ovtcharov (No. 11) as Germany’s top player – Franziska (No. 13) has slid ahead of Timo Boll (No. 15) as Germany’s third highest ranked player.

USA’s Kanak Jha is No. 19, his highest World Ranking.  Making room for Jha in the top 20 was Karlsson (now No. 20), Kallberg (now No. 22), and Filus (dropping 15 places to No. 35).  The second highest ranking for a US male is Jishan Liang at No. 217.  Kai Zhang is No. 225, and Nikhil Kumar is No. 231.

China holds half of the Top 10 spots on the Women’s Rankings, including the top four places (Sun Yingsha, Chen Meng, Wang Manyu, and Wang Yidi).  Japan’s Hina Hayata and Mima Ito are No.s 5 and 6.  Ying Han of Germany is the top European at No. 10.  Puerto Rico’s Adriana Diaz dropped one spot to No. 12.  USA’s Lily Zhang has moved up two spots to No. 22.

USA’s Amy Wang rose three spots to No. 64, and Sarah Jalli continues to move up the board with a 5-spot jump up to No. 96.

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