The world number 15 won his opening match against Finland's Benedek Olah in straight games 11-3, 11-6, 11-6, 13-11 after he received a bye in the first round in Doha.

Tomorrow he faces the world number 65 Jakub Dyjas of Poland for a spot in the semi-finals - the round that guarantees a second chance at qualifying.

The losing semi-finalists and finalist in each of the three knockout brackets will enter a second stage bracket, with the winner getting the final quota spot.

Winners of the three knockout brackets will qualify for Tokyo 2020.

Although Pitchford progressed as expected, world number 21 Quadri Aruna of Nigeria was knocked out in his opening match against world number 185 Russian Vladimir Sidorenko, with the underdog defeating the Commonwealth Games silver medallist 3-11, 13-11, 6-11, 11-9, 11-4, 11-7.

Austria's Robert Gardos, ranked 24th in the world, progressed to tomorrow's rounds after comfortably defeating Yemen's Ebrahim Abdulhakim Gubran 11-2, 11-9, 11-6, 11-3.

In the women's singles, Dutch world number 28 Britt Eerland won her quarter-final today 11-6, 8-11, 11-8, 13-11, 11-6 against Thailand's Orawon Paranang.

Ukraine's world number 32 Margaryta Pesotska is into her semi-final too following an 11-6, 6-11, 11-3, 9-11, 11-5, 11-5 victory over Britain's Ho Tin-Tin.

Thailand's world number 40 Suthasini Sawettabut made it through too after an 11-3, 11-9, 11-8, 5-11, 11-9 defeat of Sweden's Christina Kallberg.

Tomorrow will determine the first four Olympic qualifiers for Tokyo 2020 in the women's finals, with the three men's qualifiers being determined on Tuesday (March 16).