Site Products
QIU, Dang

WTT Finals: A Pair of Day 2 Upsets

(by Steve Hopkins)

Each of the World’s Top Four advanced into the Quarterfinals at the WTT Finals, but only two reached the Semis. World No. 3 Ma Long and World No. 4 Liang Jingkun both fell in their Thursday Quarterfinal matches.

Liang Jingkun had a fast start in today’s second match – an 11-2 absolute domination over Dang Qiu.  But Qiu turned up the intensity in the second game and edged out a 14-12 win to even the score.  The momentum shifted again, as Jingkun pulled ahead in the middle of the third game and logged another easy win at 11-6.  But the final two games went to Qiu – another tight 11-9 win, and an easier final game victory at 11-6.  Germany’s Dang Qiu advances.

The second upset came in the later matches (two singles matches were played today in the morning, then doubles, and then the other two quarterfinal singles matches were played late in the afternoon).  Before today, Ma Long had owned Lin Gaoyuan winning all ten of their previous ten meetings.  Gaoyuan finally that puzzle, with a 3-2 win today.  The two traded wins with Gaoyuan winning the first, third, and fifth games.  Only two of the games were tight – with three of the games ending with lopsided scores.  Lin Gaoyuan wins 3-1 (4, -5, 9, -9, 5).

Quadri Aruna reached the Quarterfinals with a 3-2 upset of Hugo Calderano.  Aruna advanced to face Fan Zhendong – but was unable to keep his run going as today’s match was an uncompetitive 0-3 loss.  Zhendong dominated the match from the start winning at 6, 9, and 4.

The last match of the day was Wang Chuqin versus Tomokazu Harimoto.  The two traded blows through most of two games – but Wang Chuqin won both.  The first game was 10-10 before Chuqin pulled ahead.  The second game was 8-8 before Chuqin won the final three points.  After both of the first two games went his way, Chuqin easily closed out the match with an 11-6 win in the final game.

In Singles action on Friday, Chuqin will face Dang Qiu, and Fan Zhendong will face Lin Gaoyuan in the Semifinals.

In Doubles, Fan Zhendong and Wang Chuqin advanced to the Semifinals with a win over Hong Kong’s Ho and Wong. The World (singles) No. 1 and No. 2 will face Lin Gaoyuan and Lin Shidong who topped Germany’s Franziska/Ovtcharov team 3-1.   The Lebrun brothers also advanced, winning 3-0 over Singapore’s Pang and Quek.  Their opponents will be Xiang Peng and Yuan Licen – a lesser known Chinese team who upset Japan’s team of Shunsuke Togami and Yukiya Uda 3-2.  Not unlike the Singles, the Semifinals in Doubles is now down to three Chinese teams and a lone European squad.

Semifinal action will resume on Friday – we’ll have more updates soon.

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

Latest News

MLTT Featured Team: Chicago Wind

July 14, 2025
(by Steve Hopkins, photo MLTT) The Chicago Wind plan to blow over competition in the upcoming Major League… Read More

Wang Chuqin and Zhu Yuling

July 13, 2025
(by Steve Hopkins) Wang Chuqin made quick work of Tomokazu Harimoto in the Men’s Singles Final of the… Read More

WAB CLUB FEATURE: California Table Tennis

July 13, 2025
(by Steve Hopkins) Nestled in Rosemead, California, at the heart of the San Gabriel Valley near Los Angeles,… Read More

United States Smash: Harimoto and Chuqin to Clash in Finals

July 13, 2025
(by Steve Hopkins) Fans in Las Vegas were treated to two epic Semifinal matches on Saturday at the… Read More

United States Smash: Semifinals

July 13, 2025
(by Steve Hopkins) When all was said and done, it was the top three seeds (and the sixth… Read More

Nishant Lebaka – Forehand Smash with Short Pips

July 13, 2025
(by: Bowmar Sports) In this Butterfly Training Tips, Nishant Lebaka is executing the Forehand Smash with short pips… Read More

Serve Into the Body

July 11, 2025
WAIT FUNCTION: Serve long serve to elbow, Robot plays topspin to Backhand, Backhand spin block down the line.… Read More

Playing Kids

July 8, 2025
(By Larry Hodges) Let’s face it; they’re probably faster than you. They might have a coach working with… Read More
View All News

Get the latest from Butterfly

Stay “In The Loop” with Butterfly professional table tennis equipment, table tennis news, table tennis technology, tournament results, and We Are Butterfly players, coaches, clubs and more.