WTT Singapore Smash 2025 (30 Jan ~ 9 Feb 2025)

[JackJohnson]

Coach Liu Zhiqiang must be happy with LJK now

 

[backspacer]

Not a single hook serve from WCQ against LJK? Is he scared of getting faulted?

 

[turbozed]

These WCQ fangirl reactions are somehow very compelling. I know it's not exactly love for the sport, but the tension and emotion in the arena has something of a cult like quality about it.

Absolutely bizarre and an interesting study in human behavior.

 

[nablaz]

Great win for LJK, battling it out against not only his opponent, but a whole stadium rooting against him!

 

[backspacer]

LJK is a grafter.

 

[turbozed]

Does anyone else think Liang Jingukn is playing particularly well?

Of course the next round will show whether that's the case or not but right now I have him reaching the final...

Great call, my man.

LJK really is one of the most resilient players out there. Bends but doesn't break.

 

[dingyibvs]

These WCQ fangirl reactions are somehow very compelling. I know it's not exactly love for the sport, but the tension and emotion in the arena has something of a cult like quality about it.

Absolutely bizarre and an interesting study in human behavior.

Well, you have to look from their perspective. For most of them, since before their birth, just about all major tournament finals have been between two Chinese players. If they just root for China, there would be no stakes in the most important match. Having a hierarchy to their fandom gives them a stake in every game.

 

[dingyibvs]

Great win for LJK, battling it out against not only his opponent, but a whole stadium rooting against him!

Yeah he played really well, some real clutch shots at the end! WCQ played like a teenager, eager to finish points at the end of sets and end up missing if not outright whiffing on relatively easy balls.

 

[turbozed]

Well, you have to look from their perspective. For most of them, since before their birth, just about all major tournament finals have been between two Chinese players. If they just root for China, there would be no stakes in the most important match. Having a hierarchy to their fandom gives them a stake in every game.

I think that's one factor, but there's probably more going on. I've noticed a lot of Vietnamese fans who have jumped on the ShaTou bandwagon and show as much zeal as Chinese fans.

Might have to do with social media and TikTok turning these two specifically into idols with a reach that goes beyond national pride. I don't particularly dislike it, but it says something about human nature that these cults of personality are what people gravitate towards.

 

[nablaz]

Well, you have to look from their perspective. For most of them, since before their birth, just about all major tournament finals have been between two Chinese players. If they just root for China, there would be no stakes in the most important match. Having a hierarchy to their fandom gives them a stake in every game.

Still, it must have been tough in LJK's boots... A whole stadium is cheering not only at every point you opponent makes, but also at every attack you miss, every push you misjudge, even at serves you put into the net...

I was sure he was a goner after the 6th set, but he proved he is a real fighter: he managed to stay cool minded in the end and bring it home, which is, again, impressive in my point of view.

 

[Tony's Table Tennis]

WCQ must retire thread by zeio coming soon?

 

[NetProphet]

Great call, my man.

LJK really is one of the most resilient players out there. Bends but doesn't break.

Wow, some tension at the end there.
It could have gone either way and both would have been worthy finalists but LJK showed some real composure when it mattered and WCQ was again, at times just slightly off in the mental capacity and it cost him.
Taking nothing away from LJK, he would have known he needed his best to progress and he was focused the entire time.
Very happy for him.
I do think the final is a foregone conclusion now tho. I couldn't see anyone other than full power WCQ being able to beat Lin Shidong.
He might not drop a single game en route to the title is my next bold prediction!

 

[nablaz]

Well, that timeout was definitely something! 😅

 

[SFF_lib]

My prediction. WIth WCQ out

LSD will win all three champs - single, mixed double and mens double

 

[Janard]

I applaud LJK's bravery.

If LSD wins this Smash, will he displace WCQ as #1?

 

[SFF_lib]

I applaud LJK's bravery.

If LSD wins this Smash, will he displace WCQ as #1?

Yup WCQ could beat LSD but LJK can't. WCQ's not consistent since Olympic.

Alexis has disappointingly lost so fast. His performance varies like day and night

 

[NetProphet]

Yup WCQ could beat LSD but LJK can't. WCQ's not consistent since Olympic.

Alexis has disappointingly lost so fast. His performance varies like day and night

I don't think itb as about his performance really but his inability to cope with the performance from the other side of the table.
He has a ceiling and LSD is above it but I don't think there's more than 5 players who (on form) you would reliability expect to give LSD a real game. 3 of them are Chinese, 2 of them weren't there and the French and Japanese players definitely left their best performances at home and went out early.
LSD is brutally consistent and making the game look easy at the moment. It's not often we see the game played like this, it's a joy to behold really.....

 

[Tony's Table Tennis]

Yup WCQ could beat LSD but LJK can't. WCQ's not consistent since Olympic.

Alexis has disappointingly lost so fast. His performance varies like day and night

that broken racket was something hey
more damaging than Hayata's injury imo

 

[Brs]

WD F was match of the tournament so far.

So many empty balls all day today. Serves and empty pushes too. MD Semi with Lebruns was full of them, also LSD vs Alexis so many empty serves, and now this WD F.

Seems to work I guess, why not?

 

[Tony's Table Tennis]

I am so looking forward to KM and LSD winning, so both wins 3 titles and really expect zeio to start a WCQ and SYS must retire thread.

nothing better than a new year, and 2 new players taking the titles