(by Steve Hopkins, photo WTT)
A changing of the guard in Beijing as Lin Shidong topped Ma Long 4-3 to claim the $100,000 first prize (along with the 2000 ITTF ranking points). Shidong fell behind 1-3, but dominated the final three games to secure the win. Ma Long had only lost one game in his five matches on the way to the Final, but this was a grueling week with tough competition and the younger (19 years old) Shidong seemed to get stronger as the match progressed. That Shidong comeback included scoring the final seven in a row that took him from down 4-8 to closing out the match 11-8.
Things are getting crowded at the top of the ITTF rankings as Wang Chuqin lost early. Fan Zhendong should maintain his No. 2 position, but the China Smash finalists Lin Shidong and Ma Long should both move up in the rankings. It is tough to follow the rankings as points are a cumulative total of the last year and each week new current event finishes add points while points from “old” events drop off. After Chuqin and Zhendong, the next five players may all be within a few points – Calderano, Jingkun, Lebrun, Ma Long, and Lin Shidong.
Women’s singles went to Sun Yingsha 4-2 over Wang Manyu (top seed over second seed). Men’s Doubles went to Wang Chuqin and Liang Jingkun, Women’s Doubles went to Qian Tianyi and Chen Xingtong, and Mixed Doubles went to Lin Shidong and Kuai Man.
The next major event on the tour is the WTT Champions Montpellier which will start on October 22.
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