Alexander Yao Photo By: Dave Hernandez/The Triangle

After the 11:00 A.M. matches concluded there are only eight players remaining.

The last four competitors to make the field are No. 3 seed De Cong Tran (NY), No. 5 seed Trevor Runyan (CA), No. 5 seed Razvan Cretu (PA), and No. 2 seed Joseph Cochran (IN).

Tran defeated No. 9 seed Amaresh Sahu in straight sets (11-8)(11-2)(11-7)(11-4).

Runyan won in five sets over No. 9 seed Alexander Yao (13-11)(4-11)(11-6)(11-9)(11-8).

Cretu, who is the only competitor from Philadelphia got his opening match out of the way dispatching of No. 9 seed Wally Green (NY) in straight sets (11-6)(11-3)(11-3)(11-5).

“Its a relief,” Cretu said. “I was a little nervous there at first. This is a very important competition. I’m glad I got by the first one.”

Cretu, who became a U.S. citizen in 1991 after growing up in Romania says there aren’t many good players around Philadelphia.

“I train in the gym and play on the robot but its not the same [as playing top quality competition],” Cretu said.

Cochran advanced with a straight set win over No. 17 seed Joseph Goldstein (11-8)(11-9)(11-4)(11-5).

Four matches will take place at 2:00 P.M.

John Leach vs. Samson Dubina on Table 1

Shashin Shodhan vs. Tahl Leibovitz on Table 2

Tran vs. Runyan on Table 3

Cretu vs. Cochran on Table 4

Two of these remaining eight will move into the round robin event, which will take place on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.