The five-time world and two-time Olympic champion is currently behind three compatriots - Shi Yuqi, Chen Long and Tian Houwei - at number 10 in the Race to Glasgow standings, but his progression through to the last-eight today has given him enough points to leapfrog at least one of them when the rankings are updated next Thursday (April 27).

The ranking list of that day will be used to determine the qualifiers for the World Championships, which are scheduled to take place at Glasgow's Emirates Arena from August 21 to 27.

A member association can field four players in a category if all four are ranked within the top eight, or three if they are ranked within the top 24.

Lin currently has 55,558 points, which puts him 3,232 points behind number eight Tian, 3,496 points behind number seven Chen and 8,825 points behind number five Shi.

The 33-year-old beat Zhou 21-14, 21-14 today and will now go onto face Chinese Taipei's Hsu Jen Hao in the quarter-finals.

Fifth seed Hsu overcame China's Gu Junfeng 21-12, 21-12 to book his place in the last eight. 

Second seed Tian is also through to the quarter-finals after defeating fellow Chinese Guangzu Lu 21-17, 21-13.

Next up for him is Chinese Taipei's Hsueh Hsuan Yi, an 8-21, 21-11, 21-17 winner at the expense of China's Zhu Siyuan.

In the women's singles draw, top seed Chen Yufei of China is through to the quarter-finals with a 21-10, 21-18 victory over Japan's Sayaka Takahashi.

Standing between her and a place in the last four is another Japanese competitor, Saena Kawakami, who defeated Chinese Taipei's Li Ting Peng 21-8, 21-11.

Second seed Aya Ohori is also through to the quarter-finals thanks to a 21-16, 21-15 win over China' Ji Shuting.

Awaiting her in the last eight is Ji's compatriot, Zhang Yiman, who overcame fellow Chinese Yaxin Wei 21-17, 23-25, 21-16. 

Action in Changzhou is due to continue tomorrow.