(by Steve Hopkins, photo WTT)

Following a similar script to last week’s WTT event, there were a lot of surprises through the early and middle rounds – but the underdogs have failed to reach the Final.  The final day in Macao will be a battle between World No. 2 Wang Chuqin and World No. 4 Ma Long.  Wang Chuqin is still a rising player in China, while Ma Long is one of the most decorated players in the history of China (and the World).  Head to head, the two players have faced off eight times in major events, and Wang Chuqin has won 5 of those 8 matches.  He is the higher seed, and he has the advantage head-to-head, so Chuqin should have the advantage in the Final.

In the Saturday matches, Ma Long and France’s young star Alexis Lebrun traded games to a 1-1 tie.  But Ma Long took command in the third game, and didn’t let up until he secured the 4-1 victory.  In the other Semifinal, Wang Chuqin banked two tight 11-9 wins and then cruised to a 4-0 victory over Tomokazu Harimoto.

Regardless of which great Chinese champion wins on Sunday, the main story of Macao will be the upsets from the earlier rounds.  France’s Alexis Lebrun defeated World No. 6 Truls Moregard in the opening round before topping World No. 1 Fan Zhendong 3-2 in the Quarterfinals.  These two wins should catapult France’s two-time champion up the rankings – moving him inside the Top 20 (and close to No. 15).

The Final will be played on Sunday evening.

Visit ButterflyOnline.com for the latest table tennis news and results