(by Steve Hopkins, photo WTT)
Shidong started Sunday’s Final strong, winning the first three games. Kallberg was stronger as the match went on, falling just short in the third game, winning the fourth, and losing the last game at 8. The WTT Champions Series event in Frankfurt featured two hot players in the Final, and the winner was the best player in the World right now. Shidong has had an amazing run all the way to No. 2, and if fortunes don’t change quickly for Chuqin, Shidong may reel in that large lead and compete for the top spot. Don’t count out Fan Zhendong either, as he has taken these last few months after the Olympics slowly – we may see a burst from Fan entering 2025 as well.
Kallberg’s run included wins over Truls Moregard in their Semifinal match, and the biggest story of the tournament may be his 3-0 stomping of World No. 1 Wang Chuqin. But despite the surprising run, its still Shindong that claims the biggest prize of the week in Frankfurt.
The WTT Finals starts a week from Wednesday in Japan. We’ll see all of the world’s top players in action.
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