A 5-0 whitewash against the United Arab Emirates yesterday put Malta on top of Group B on 12 points and therefore still very much in contention.

However, they have completed all their four matches – two wins and two losses – while all depends now on today’s matches in the Group involving China and Australia, who are also both still very much in contention.

Malta’s hopes now lie mainly on the scorelines of today’s two matches.

Yesterday Tony Drago and Alex Borg dominated their opponents, Mohammad Mustaffa and Mohammad al Joacker, winning the opening two singles, the doubles and the reverse singles in a very impressive performance.

In the match between China and Australia, which took over three hours to be completed, Ding Junhui and Linag Wenbo overcame 2010 world champion Neil Robertson and Steve Mifsud, of Maltese origin, 3-2. The result meant that both teams are now occupying joint second place in the Group B standings on nine points.