BEIJING, Jan. 20 (Xinhua) -- China's Wang Liqin, Ma Lin and Wang Hao who occupy the top three places on the ITTF men's world ranking, and compatriot Chen Qi, the man in sixth spot, all suffered defeats in the third round of the men's singles event at the Croatian Open in Zagreb on Friday, the sport's world governing body ITTF said on its website on Saturday

Wang Liqin and Ma Lin both lost to national team colleagues; the former to Ma Long, the latter to Hao Shuai. Meanwhile, Wang Hao was beaten by Werner Schlager and Chen Qi suffered at the hands of Ko Lai Chak.

Ma Long won 11-9, 8-11, 11-8, 11-7, 11-5 against the reigning World champion. Hao Shuai secured victory in six games against Ma Lin, winning 11-3, 4-11, 11-9, 11-8, 8-11, 11-5. Ko Lai Chak marched to success against Chen Qi 11-8, 6-11, 11-9, 7-11, 11-8, 11-2 whilst Schlager won it by 11-5, 9-11, 14-16, 11-8, 11-9, 11-4.

"I have been playing much better in the last few weeks," said Schlager. "So I am confident at the moment."

"Normally I don't like to play against Wang Hao's style becausehe has a strong forehand and his attacks from the backhand are very strange," said the Austrian star. "I received service much better than the last time we played; I was focused on the first ball and I tried to be aggressive so I think that was a key for myvictory."

For Ma Long it was yet another excellent result against Wang Liqin, the second time in five months that Ma Long had played WangLiqin on the ITTF Pro Tour and the second time that the eighteen year old had won.

He beat Wang Liqin in the men's singles event at the Volkswagen Open Singapore, the occasion, as in Zagreb, in the third round.

Meanwhile, Russia's Alexei Smirnov won over Austria's Chen Weixing to begin the year 2007 although the Russian is currently ranked thirteen places below Chen at number 25.

In the remaining three matches in the third round, normality returned to the world of table tennis. Vladimir Samsonov proved too consistent for South Korean Lee Jung Woo. The Belarus star controlled proceeding from start to finish.

"I didn't expect that I will win so easily because the last time when I played against him in the German Open in 2005 I won four-two; it was difficult match," said Samsonov after he straight games win, "Today I played very well and I felt a confident, I like playing in Zagreb, the crowd always supports me so I am enjoying here."

www.nike58.com