WTT Champions Japan 2025 - 7-11 Aug 2025

[Robin0910]

@TensorBackhand , President of the Harimoto Haters Club, your comments are welcome in the moment.

USATT 1800 just won a WTT Champions 🫢

 

[NextLevel]

Any idea if the Nittaku balls and tables have helped with Harimoto win against WCQ. How do the Nittaku balls and tables compared to DHS, Double Fish, Joola and Tibhar?

If they had played an event just before and transitioned to new tables here it would be a bigger deal. But by the finals, while I hate the Nittaku ball with a passionate think the DHS balls and DFish balls are better, at this stage, having beaten so many players, it will only be a factor if the players discuss it as one later. Its not like seamless ball or slipper table and in general, a lot of Nittaku stuff is Japanese DHS.

 

[quanghuysk]

For real I was expecting a toilet break from Harimoto after WCQ but a medical timeout was completely unexpected from him. Whether he was faking his injury I don’t know.

He also had problem with his thig yesterday but didn't call Med TO. I think he just saved it for today, smart move

 

[pongfugrasshopper]

two crab style players. probably the 2 crabbiest players in the world.

I prefer WCQ style, more of a Muhammad Ali style in and out float like a butterfly sting like a bee

Crab style, FTW!

 

[zeio]

Hayata vs Harimoto Miwa, G5 2:4: MTO, please.
Harimoto Tomokazu: Shame on you!

2 days later...

Harimoto Tomokazu vs WCQ, G6 4:2: MTO, please.
World: Fucking genius!

WTT CS Yokohama 2025 - the most melodramatic WTT event yet

MS F
Harimoto (3) 4-2 WCQ (2) (9, 5, 8, -9, -11, 4)

MS SF
Jha 1-4 Harimoto (3) (-5, -8, -4, 8, -8)

https://www.tabletennisdaily.com/forum/topics/tokyo-2020-2020-7-24-8-9.23698/post-349765

Tokyo 2020:
FZD: Goes to the locker room with QZJ before G4.
Fans: That is gross.

ML: Goes to the locker room with QZJ before decider.
Fans: That is class. 🤣

Rio 2016:
ML: Goes to the locker room with LGL after trailing 0-2.
JYS: Loses the next 4 games. 😭

 

[NextLevel]

Any idea if the Nittaku balls and tables have helped with Harimoto win against WCQ. How do the Nittaku balls and tables compared to DHS, Double Fish, Joola and Tibhar?

I hear the Nittaku balls are more spinier that DHS and Double Fish but what about the tables. Is Nittaku tables grippy like DHS and Double Fish or are they slippery like Joola and Tibhar?

Nittaku balls are definitely not spinnier and in my opinion they require more power to get good effect. I really think they should be taken off thr market but Nittaku has the reputation of quality so...

 

[JackJohnson]

If they had played an event just before and transitioned to new tables here it would be a bigger deal. But by the finals, while I hate the Nittaku ball with a passionate think the DHS balls and DFish balls are better, at this stage, having beaten so many players, it will only be a factor if the players discuss it as one later. Its not like seamless ball or slipper table and in general, a lot of Nittaku stuff is Japanese DHS.

This is the first time in awhile where both the match ball and table is Nittaku. Usually it’s either DHS and Double fish sponsoring the ball or the tables and not both at the same time like Nittaku for this event.

There hasn’t been any events recently where WTT have used Donic tables. I wonder if the Donic tables are grippy or slippery.

 

[turbozed]

Damn that was amazing.

With the Wang Hao drama, and after getting straight whooped by WCQ recently 0-4, I didn't think Harimoto would come out and take a clean victory from WCQ like that.

Pretty incredible that we have now two mens' players that can legitimately challenge the top tier Chinese players in HT and Hugo. The void left behind by the best generation of ML and FZD is really looking very big now.

Credit to WCQ for trying, and usually succeeding, in being the last line of defense. But seems like way too much pressure going forward if he's not going to get more help from his teammates.

Damn WCQ looks so sad during this award ceremony. Sucks seeing a guy this talented have to be so upset only getting second at a Championship event. Tough having to carry all that weight.

 

[rpb23]

One thing surprised me the most about Tomo's play today is he endured so will against WCQ's loop attack and so many shots with pace and placement. Usually one, two or three loop will win WCQ the point against any other opponent, but not to Tomo today. Frankly, that surprised WCQ caused him broken form and awkward position,, and lots of missed shots.
Sustaining relentless attacks from players like WCQ itself is inhuman like. You have to be in the zoom to react that fast with precision.

 

[d3nium]

Any idea if the Nittaku balls and tables have helped with Harimoto win against WCQ. How do the Nittaku balls and tables compared to DHS, Double Fish, Joola and Tibhar?

I hear the Nittaku balls are more spinier that DHS and Double Fish but what about the tables. Is Nittaku tables grippy like DHS and Double Fish or are they slippery like Joola and Tibhar?

Nittaku balls are the best in the world, and i hear the tables are mid way grippy/slippy.

 

[Robin0910]

Hayata vs Harimoto Miwa, G5 2:4: MTO, please.
Harimoto Tomokazu: Shame on you!

2 days later...

Harimoto Tomokazu vs WCQ, G6 4:2: MTO, please.
World: Fucking genius!

WTT CS Yokohama 2025 - the most melodramatic WTT event yet

MS F
Harimoto (3) 4-2 WCQ (2) (9, 5, 8, -9, -11, 4)

MS SF
Jha 1-4 Harimoto (3) (-5, -8, -4, 8, -8)

https://www.tabletennisdaily.com/forum/topics/tokyo-2020-2020-7-24-8-9.23698/post-349765

Not exactly the same.

Tomokazu was up 4-2 in game 6 when calling that medical timeout.
Hayata was down 4-2 in the deciding game. And even worse, she had her coach help her while Miwa was waiting there completely alone.
In Tomokazu’s case Wang Hao was waiting with Wang Chuqin together and could talk to him in the meantime.

 

[vvk1]

Nittaku balls are the best in the world, and i hear the tables are mid way grippy/slippy.

Nittaku balls feel harder and heavier and harder to spin than anything else and seem to disadvantage spinny loopers, imo.

 

[Lazer]

Almost no difference at all between DHS DJ40 and Nittaku premium...

Cheers
L-zr

 

[Sriver1]

I don't understand how Wang Chuqin can serve illegally and doesn't get faulted. He claims to be the best server, but he's a cheater.

 

[Takkyu_wa_inochi]

Harimoto in great form !! It’s gonna be a revenge match against Wang Chuqin again I think

Harry Motter ‘s magic worked again !
So glad !!! What a fantastic match. Superb attitude from the first to last point !!!

lost so many times to WCQ including 0-4 2 weeks ago at US Smash in their last encounter …

So 7 (!!) years later Harimoto beats another Olympic champion to clinch the Japan Open again

 

[kindof99]

WCQ's usually reliable vicious backhand is off, pressure got him. He is a human after all.

It’s obvious that HT changed paces to cause WCQ’s errors.

 

[Robin0910]

After been as number 1 for a few months, everyone is paying close attention to him and finally LSD's vulnerability has been exposed. He will suffer defeat like today more often until Chinese coaches figure out a way help him.

Good news from China that FZD is back in the hunt for LA Olympic and that's a big relief especially LSD started showing regression. Compared to women's team, Chinese men's team is vulnerable.

Can you give me the source that says FZD is aiming for LA 2028?

 

[d3nium]

Nittaku balls feel harder and heavier and harder to spin than anything else and seem to disadvantage spinny loopers, imo.

Probably why i like them then. My game is power over spin. I guess these things are all subjective.

 

[lightspin]

I guess this is a lesson to coaches all around the world: do not upset Harimoto or show disrespect either purposefully or inadvertently. He played out of his mind in the finals.

 

[zeio]

Any idea if the Nittaku balls and tables have helped with Harimoto win against WCQ. How do the Nittaku balls and tables compared to DHS, Double Fish, Joola and Tibhar?

I hear the Nittaku balls are more spinier that DHS and Double Fish but what about the tables. Is Nittaku tables grippy like DHS and Double Fish or are they slippery like Joola and Tibhar?

Miwa said the table was slow.