The prospect of a new World No.1 is on the cards and it will all come down to the 2023 ITTF World Table Tennis Championships Finals in Durban.
Week 21 of the ITTF Table Tennis World Rankings are now out and the reign of Fan Zhendong at the top of the ladder continues. But this all could change next week.
There are 2000 points sitting up top for the champion in Durban, putting three men in contention to claim the title of World No.1 in seven days time. Dominating the global standings and poised to grasp the No.1 position next week is the Chinese triumvirate of Fan Zhendong, Wang Chuqin and Ma Long.
Fan Zhendong has made himself at home at the top of the pecking order. The reigning World champion currently boasts an impressive 137 consecutive weeks at the No.1 spot, meaning you have to wind back the clock to March 2020 to find him not sitting on the throne. All-in-all he has notched up 205 total weeks as the world's best player.
Wang Chuqin could be well on his way to upstaging Fan Zhendong on the global ladder.
For the longest time Fan was seemingly untouchable at the top. However, by the beginning of 2023 new threats had emerged and the crown did not look so secure on his head. Fan responded to the challenge in brutal fashion, picking up the Men's Singles titles at Singapore Smash and WTT Champions Xinxiang on the trot.
The No.1 position was saved. But once again this week in Durban it is under attack. The biggest challenge to the throne will come from Wang Chuqin.
Wang first broke in to the Top 100 in the middle of 2018. His rise was consistent and rapid and by the first rankings publication of 2020, Wang was at No.12. Jump forward on the calendar to the present day and the left-handed superstar is currently enjoying a career high ranking at World No.2. The top spot is well within his sights.
The other player in contention is the GOAT himself, Ma Long.
Could taking back the No.1 title be the perfect swan song for Ma Long?
Throughout his career, Ma has spent a whopping 256 weeks at the No.1 spot; it's his second home. But the legend has been away from home for a long time. Ma Long hasn't had the No.1 title next to his name since 2017. While often sitting comfortably at No.2 in that time, the last step to the top has remained elusive.
There is one question on everyone's mind; can Ma Long pull one more rabbit out of his hat and retake the World No.1 spot for what could be the last time?
The path for each player to the top of the heap is clear. Wang Chuqin needs to take 825 more points than Fan. For Ma Long the road is more winding, requiring 1475 points more than Fan and 650 more than Wang.
And for Fan Zhendong himself? Well, he just has to make sure none of the above happens and securing a consecutive world title would do the trick nicely.
