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USA had two more practices today, 11:30 and 5:30. Between the two sessions, most of the players lounged around in the stands at the main arena watching other teams train. Later that night, a number of them got involved in a determined effort to disprove a "proof" that 2=1. Now we know what top players do the night before a big match!

The focus of the day was to prepare for their big preliminary second division matches. All four of these matches were "must" wins – both USA teams would have to win their groups to make it to the first division knockout match. (See Team Format.) Here’s a preview.

USA Men are currently ranked #36 in the world, and are seeded second in their group. Their world-ranked players (at these Worlds) are David Zhuang (109), Eric Owens (254) and Barney J. Reed (394). Mark Hazinski and Ashu Jain, who finished second and fifth in the team trials, are unranked.

Their first team match will be against Nigeria at noon on Monday. Nigeria, #41 in the world, is seeded third in the group. Their best player is Segun Toriola (136), a mid-distance looper. Their #2 player is Sao Ayemjuba (179). Little is known about their #3 and #4 players, Monday Merotohum and Saraju Saka, both unranked.

Their second match will be 12:30 PM on Tuesday against the group’s top seed, Indonesia, #27 in the world. Here we have a break – their best player, Anton Suseno, a chopper ranked 138 in the world, is not here. Playing for Indonesia is Deddy Da Costa (242), Ismu Harinto (300), and M. Azinuddin and Yon Mardiono, both unranked. Although he is ranked lower than Da Costa, Harinto, a controlling two-winged looper and counterdriver, is probably their best player.

USA Women are currently ranked #33 in the world, and are seeded first in their group. Their world-ranked players (at these Worlds) are Chang Gao Jun (35), Jasna Reed (125), Tawny Banh (144), Virginia Sung (191) and Simone Yang (203).

Their first team match will be against Macao at 5:30 PM on Monday. Macao, #50 in the world, is seeded third in the group. Their players are Iok Sim Wong (346), Choi Chi Wong (351), Lai Wa Lim (364) an Sut Fei Tam (unranked).

Their second match will be at 10:00 AM on Tuesday against the group’s second seed, Israel, #35 in the world. Israel only has three women here – Marina Kravchenku (75), Sarit Hosse (224) and Iulya Dagtiar (291). The key here is Kravchenku, a close to the table shakehand blocker/hitter with pips on the backhand. For Israel to win, they likely would need Kravchenku to win two, including an upset over Gao.

Knockout stage

If USA men should win their group, they will play either South Korea, Hong Kong or Poland in the playoff for the first division. We don't yet know who the women would play.

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