The Chinese Rio 2016 Olympic champion has won the tournament on six occasions including wins in 2009, 2011, 2013 and 2015. 

In 2013 he won the competition twice when it was held in both Changchun and Suzhou.

Ma, who is also the reigning world champion, arrives at the tournament at the Sichuan Provincial Gymnasium in good form after winning last week's Japan Open in Tokyo, another event on the ITTF World Tour.

Awaiting him in round one is Japan's Kenta Tazoe.

China is the world's dominant country in table tennis and Fan Zhendong, the world number two and reigning champion at the tournament, will be another key player.

Fan lost to Ma in the World Championships final in Düsseldorf earlier this month and will be hoping to gain revenge.

He opens his campaign against Asuka Machi of Japan in round one.

Another Chinese player, World Championships bronze medallist Xu Xin, will also compete on home soil and opens his account against Frenchman Emmanuel Lebesson.

There is also a strong host nation contingent in the women's singles event with Ding Ning hoping to retain her title.

Ding won the crown last year to claim the second China Open success of her career, after also prevailing in 2014.

The Olympic champion and world number one will play Haeun Yang of South Korea in round one.

Ding's fiercest challenge could come from Liu Shiwen, the current world number two.

Liu, who partnered Ding as China won team gold at Rio 2016, will open her account against Yu Fu of Portugal.

The 2015 China Open champion Zhu Yuling will be hoping to regain her crown.

The local hero takes on Honoka Hashimoto of Japan in round one.

Action is due to begin tomorrow with the tournament set to conclude with finals on Sunday (June 25).