Date : 06 May 2009
Asian C'ship: Crunch Time For Big Names
	Some of the most important battles in the 2009 Asian Championship take place in the Chinese town of Tangshan on May 7, deciding the fate of many big names.
	In a crunch match, talented Chinese Yu Delu goes up against Lim Chun Kiat of Singapore in a clash that will decide the winner of the Group B. The loser will have to settle for the runner-up place from the group. The top two players from each of the eight groups qualify for the knockout last 16 stage draw for which takes place on May 7 evening. Former Asian champion Issara Kachaiwong of Thailand faces Indian ace Manan Chandra in the only remaining match of Group C with the winner finishing top in the final group standings. Both Issara and Chandra have yet to lose a match in the tournament. Lai Chee Wei of Malaysia is all set to make it to the next round after springing two major surprises in Group D, beating former Chinese professional Tian Pengfei and former world championship runner-up Saleh Mohammed of Afghanistan. However, Saleh and Tian Pengfei face off in the only remaining match of the group on May 7 with the winner marching into the next round. Both have lost one match apiece and won three in the tournament, so far. Fung Kwok Wai of Hong Kong China, a quarter-finalist at the last year's Asian Championship, meets Mei Xiwen of China in a battle that will decide the winner and runner-up of Group F. While Shi Hanqing of China has already captured the top spot in Group G, but for Thailand's former world and Asian champion Ratchapol Pu-Ob-Orm an important tussle against Mohammed Sajjad of Pakistan looms. The winner of Ratchapol-Sajjad battle will take the second place in the group and march into the next stage. Likewise, Mohammed Mustafa Shehab of the United Arab Emirates and Au Chi Wai of Hong Kong China take on each other that will decided the Group H winner and runner-up. The Group A meeting between top seeded Aditya Mehta of India and Mohammed Al Joakar of the United Arab Emirates will be of little consequence the two have already been assured of number one and two spots in the group, respectively. Reigning Pakistan champion Mohammed Asif has already topped Group E with host country's Cao Xinlong taking the second spot. Please click here for latest group charts