World No. 1 Ma Long is the poster boy for table tennis and continues to push the boundaries of the game worldwide.

Arguably the most successful player on the ITTF Tour, the Olympic champion has occupied either the number one or two spot in the world rankings for seven consecutive years.

With another season drawing to a close, can Long continue his exceptional form or will his dominance finally be challenged by one of his compatriots?

Here, Sport360 looks at three players who have the chance to take Long’s world No. 1 spot.

FAN ZHENDONG (China) – WORLD NO. 2

At 19, Zhendong is one of the most highly rated players to come out of China since Long.

Already ranked world number two, Zhendong has the potential to dominate the sport in the years ahead, with his playing style often compared to that of his countryman.

Wins at the China and Japan Open this year have seen the gap between Zhendong and Long reduced to just 149 points, meaning a frenetic fight for the world number one spot is in sight with three tournaments remaining.

However, with only one win from their nine previous meetings, Zhendong will need to be at his best if he is to usurp his rival.

XU XIN (China) – WORLD NO. 3

A former world number one, Xu Xin is one of the few young Chinese stars to play with the penhold grip.

The 26-year-old has been a sparkling presence on the ITTF Tour and, alongside Long, is considered one of the most influential players in the game.

In his 24 encounters against Long, the world number three has beaten his compatriot eight times – with two of the last games falling in Xin’s favour.

ZHANG JIKE (China) – WORLD NO. 4

A former Olympic and world champion, Zhang currently occupies the number four spot and is regarded as the best pressure player on Tour.

28-year-old Zhang – a former world number one – holds the best record against Long out of any of the current players on the circuit.

In their 18 games, he’s won six – the most recent a defeat in the final of the Rio Olympics.