Most Improved Table Tennis Player of 2016

[keenansouthall]

Hi everyone! With 2016 coming to a fast end, who do you think was the most improved player of the year (on a professional level)? Do you think it's young Harimoto winning the WJTTC? Or maybe even Tristan Flore having an awesome Korean open?

Heres some examples to kick off:

• Tomokazu Harimoto
• Tristan Flore
• Benedikt Duda
• Emmanuel Lebesson
• Jakub Dyjas
• Hugo Calderano
• Jeoung Youngsik
• Sam Walker
• Fan Zhendong

I'd love to hear everyone's opinions and happy holidays and happy new year!

 

[ridderz65]

Emmanuel Lebesson

 

[Suga D]

While i have to agree that Lebesson's performance has been quite impressive and no one expected him snatching the title, but he's been giving many players ranked above him a very hard time in the past, so i would say even though his win came out of the blue the MIP this year actually has been Benedikt Duda.

He went from 130 to 43 (!!) WRL.
Nobody has made a bigger step, no Calderano, no Dyjas, no One.

http://www.mytischtennis.de/public/...zuender--39--im-dualen-system-machen-hoffnung

Peaceful Holidays to you too.

 

[UpSideDownCarl]

While i have to agree that Lebesson's performance has been quite impressive and no one expected him snatching the title, but he's been giving many players ranked above him a very hard time in the past, so i would say even though his win came out of the blue the MIP this year actually has been Benedikt Duda.

He went from 130 to 43 (!!) WRL.
Nobody has made a bigger step, no Calderano, no Dyjas, no One.

http://www.mytischtennis.de/public/...zuender--39--im-dualen-system-machen-hoffnung

Peaceful Holidays to you too.
[Emoji

I say the most improved playa is Suga D.

 

[Dan]

I think all players mentioned have made good progress especially with Flore's performance against Ma Long, wow!

Yes I completely agree with you Suga. Last year in 2015 I saw Duda at the Swedish Open and he struggled a lot. This years Swedish Open he looked so much better and after looking at his huge jump in the World Rankings it seems his game has clicked. We should set up a poll of the top 10 most improved players of 2016 and users can vote.

1) Harimoto
2) Flore
3) Duda
4) Lebesson
5) Jakub
6) Hugo Calderano
7) Jeoung Youngsik
8) Sam Walker
9) Fan Zhendong
10) Other post below

Is that a worthy list to use guys, who have I missed?

 

[Yecats Encerwal]

I think all players mentioned have made good progress especially with Flore's performance against Ma Long, wow!

Yes I completely agree with you Suga. Last year in 2015 I saw Duda at the Swedish Open and he struggled a lot. This years Swedish Open he looked so much better and after looking at his huge jump in the World Rankings it seems his game has clicked. We should set up a poll of the top 10 most improved players of 2016 and users can vote.

1) Harimoto
2) Flore
3) Duda
4) Lebesson
5) Jakub
6) Hugo Calderano
7) Jeoung Youngsik
8) Wong Chun Ting
9) Fan Zhendong
10) Other post below

Is that a worthy list to use guys, who have I missed?

I think Sam Walker has had a fantastic year, although his ranking hasn't climbed as much as he may have hoped.

His performance vs Yuya Oshima was outstanding at WTTC and his results seem to be stabilising in general. Probably won't be long until he reaches the top 100. Whether he deserves to be on the list, I don't know

 

[Dan]

I think Sam Walker has had a fantastic year, although his ranking hasn't climbed as much as he may have hoped.

His performance vs Yuya Oshima was outstanding as WTTC and his results seem to be stabilising in general. Probably won't be long until he reaches the top 100. Whether he deserves to be on the list, I don't know

Excellent shout! I replaced Wong Chun Ting with Sam Walker.

Everyone happy with that? Shall we go with this top 10?

 

[UpSideDownCarl]

Excellent shout! I replaced Wong Chun Ting with Sam Walker.

Everyone happy with that? Shall we go with this top 10?

A poll sounds good. Go for it. Put it in.

 

[Suga D]

Excellent shout! I replaced Wong Chun Ting with Sam Walker.

Everyone happy with that? Shall we go with this top 10?

Great idea. Lovely.
Sam Walker has played extraordinarily well this year too, with many surprising wins.

I say the most improved playa is Suga D.

hahahaaaa. Thanks a lot my friend, but i think NL deserves this crown for consolidating his 2000 pts.
@NL: Watchout Buddy, i´m after that title. Next year will be my year...
[Emoji12]
Just jokin´
I guess it would already be an improvement to finally manage to upload a Vid.

Stay well everyone and stay safe.

 

[Mumon]

Excellent shout! I replaced Wong Chun Ting with Sam Walker.

Everyone happy with that? Shall we go with this top 10?

What about Truls Moregard? That Kid is improving crazy-fast

 

[Falkengott]

This year I am very happy with the big winners of the seaso, Jakub Diyas is my favorite player of the German league and he made a big step this year, also in the world rankings. As German I am also proud on Benedikt Duda, he also improves himself very much. And my absolute favorite player Fan Zhendong could close the gap to MA Long, in my opinion, but Ma Long still is the best of cuz.
But its also so insane what Tomokazu Harimoto is already able to play with his age. I already saw him many months ago where he played a strong tournament and lost against Ma Long, in that game, he had no chance, for sure, but he could make some points against the world no 1, which were incredible. There I saw him the first time. Months ago I had forgetten him, but when I saw the Junior World Championships and when I saw him, I could remember him and I was shocked (in a positive way), again, how he were playing. His title as youngest Junior World Champion was well deserved. Thats why he is absolutely the big winner of the season for me

 

[NextLevel]

People missing (Duda is hard to beat):

Groth, Nuytinck, Gnanasekaran.

 

[Shuki]

I nominate boogar.

on second thought, I nominate a poll of most improved TTD player of the year.

 

[Boogar]

I nominate boogar.

on second thought, I nominate a poll of most improved TTD player of the year.

I feel honored Shuki but you probaly only think so because of my terrible consistency

 

[sanavasaraja]

While i have to agree that Lebesson's performance has been quite impressive and no one expected him snatching the title, but he's been giving many players ranked above him a very hard time in the past, so i would say even though his win came out of the blue the MIP this year actually has been Benedikt Duda.

He went from 130 to 43 (!!) WRL.
Nobody has made a bigger step, no Calderano, no Dyjas, no One.

http://www.mytischtennis.de/public/...zuender--39--im-dualen-system-machen-hoffnung

Peaceful Holidays to you too.

^ Very much this. From a national B-team player to the first garde in one year. Wow! Bonus points for not choosing Tenergys but playing with Victas (afaik). Freacking hipster!


Also congrats to finnish #1 Benedek Olah on closing in on the worlds Top 50 in November. He had a considerable chance of beating Timo Boll in the quarter finals!<silently waving="" a="" blue="" and="" white="" flag=""></silently>

 

[NextLevel]

^ Very much this. From a national B-team player to the first garde in one year. Wow! Bonus points for not choosing Tenergys but playing with Victas (afaik). Freacking hipster!


Also congrats to finnish #1 Benedek Olah on closing in on the worlds Top 50 in November. He had a considerable chance of beating Timo Boll in the quarter finals!<silently waving="" a="" blue="" and="" white="" flag=""></silently>

Ah, yes, I knew I was missing someone. Olah could definitely be a winner as well.

 

[countrybread]

Jeong Youngsik had an impressive latter part of the year. He was indispensable to the Korean Olympic team as he won all his games except against the Chinese team. Even then he was the only one to win any sets during that match. He defeated Liam Pitchford in the singles, but had the misfortune to be in the same draw as Ma Long. Even then he gave the dragon fits and severe stress to his coach.

He continued his strong run in the Grand Prix by defeating quality players such as Chuang Chih Yuan and the formidable Jun Mizutani. Halted, again, by Ma Long. During the interview he only gave Jeong faint compliments. Perhaps not too eager to give Jeong any hope? And Jeong Youngsik accomplished all this with his trademark stiff mechanics, skinny physique, and underrated backhand.

Clearly, he has emerged as the best and most consistent player in Korea. All they need is another great player to emerge to replace Joo Saehyuk. Otherwise they'll continually remain in 4th place. Kim Minseok, where are you?

 

[Dan]

Great submissions for most improved player. I was really impressed with Mattias Karlsson's performance at the Swedish Open in 2016. He seems to be maintaining momentum in the French League this season to. He has improved a lot!

 

[PiZa]

My vote also for Mattias Karlsson.

 

[Ilia Minkin]

Jeong Youngsik had an impressive latter part of the year. He was indispensable to the Korean Olympic team as he won all his games except against the Chinese team. Even then he was the only one to win any sets during that match. He defeated Liam Pitchford in the singles, but had the misfortune to be in the same draw as Ma Long. Even then he gave the dragon fits and severe stress to his coach.

He continued his strong run in the Grand Prix by defeating quality players such as Chuang Chih Yuan and the formidable Jun Mizutani. Halted, again, by Ma Long. During the interview he only gave Jeong faint compliments. Perhaps not too eager to give Jeong any hope? And Jeong Youngsik accomplished all this with his trademark stiff mechanics, skinny physique, and underrated backhand.

Clearly, he has emerged as the best and most consistent player in Korea. All they need is another great player to emerge to replace Joo Saehyuk. Otherwise they'll continually remain in 4th place. Kim Minseok, where are you?

+1 for Youngsik, I like his style very much. Lee Sangsu is also steadily climbing the rankings. I think that if Jang Woojin (still very young!) can make a breakthrough, Koreans will have a massive dream team.