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There's a closely bunched set of players starting at #4 in the world and ending at about #12. Here's how the group stacks up heading into the Paris Masters, a 1000-point tournament and the last of the year before the rankings for the World Tour Finals are set.
(For reference, #3 Karl Kaspar has 9720 points, and #13 Cristian Castelgali has 2810.)
4. Gilberto Chinaglia (ITA) - 5000 (10)
After last year's first-round crash-out in Paris, he has almost nothing to lose, so he should be safe.
5. Hamal Sbai (MAR) - 4775 (90)
A title at the Japan Open 500 (H) a few weeks back, followed by a QF appearance (180) at the Shanghai Masters (H), has put Sbai in a strong position.
6. Dick Blake (USA) - 4480 (90)
Recently finished as runner-up in the China Open (300) (H) and a quarterfinalist (180) in the Shanghai Masters (H) to recapture his position as the top American.
7. Stuart Pargeter (USA) - 4405 (10)
A run to the semifinals (180) of the China Open (H) and the Shanghai Masters (H) (360) have helped Pargeter maintain an inside track to a WTF berth.
8. Tristan Allende (USA) - 4340 (180)
Has been playing catch-up throughout hard-court season; wins at 250s in Atlanta and Winston-Salem led into a SF (720) at the US Open. He's also since been the runner-up (300) at the Japan Open (H) and a semifinalist (360) at the Shanghai Masters (H). Despite all that, he is obviously the most vulnerable, with the most points to defend and positioned at #8.
9. Gregory Mackenzie (USA) - 4125 (90)
Has a couple 500 SFs (180) since his SF run (720) at the US Open. Has a strong history at Paris, with SF and QF appearances 2 and 3 years ago.
10. Hugo Cordova (USA) - 4000 (10)
Has not done much since grabbing the title at the Shenzhen 250 (H), skipping both 500 opportunities since then.
11. Veini Aikio (FIN) - 3615 (360)
Aikio has skipped Paris and has a SF finish from last year coming off the books, so he is on the outside for the WTF.
12. Sushant Chiba (SRI) - 3570 (90)
Chiba has come on strong of late, with a title at the Open de Moselle 250 (I), a QF (180) at the Shanghai Masters (H), and a runner-up finish (300) at the Swiss Indoors 500, but he will need to make hay in Paris to leap into the Top 8.
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All in all, there may not be much movement after Paris. But this group, particularly the American-stacked #6-#10 range, is just so tightly packed!
As of this writing, everyone here has made the third round/round of 16, good for 90 points. Matchups of interest are Blake/Mackenzie, Chinaglia/Cordova, Pargeter/Chiba, Allende/Leo Kaspar (WC), and Sbai/Meiklejohn (15).
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