WTT Champions Doha 2026 Jan 7-11

[zeio]

Sora is a nepo-baby?

Even Matsushima knows his Chinese nickname 少爺/young master when asked by Chinese media.

【オフショット】#松島輝空 を労う#戸上隼輔 & #篠塚大登！ カメラに撮られていることに気づき一同大爆笑！｜ITTF混合団体ワールドカップ2025
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oIhivX5-EHk

 

[NetProphet]

Looking at men's semi-final:
LSD vs. JWJ, JWJ has been in good form throughout the tournament. Against Truls, even his backhand looked impressive. But that's against Truls. Now he will meet someone who truly is a backhand monster in LSD. JWJ's journey likely will end there.
Tomo vs, LYJ. Tomo has been in a tear with newly crowned WTT final champion. You can say with WCQ's absence due to injury, he is the favorite against anyone. However, his opponent LYJ is in even more impressive form whose shots are crispy, powerful with precision. What's more, by sweeping an upcoming star Sora, JYL showed a rare form of aggression and desire to win. This will be a hard battle. Tomo still holds a slight edge. But I'm rooting for LYJ and betting it's about time a talented player like him to win a major title. Plus, if LYJ does pass Tomo he very likely will meet LSD who has claimed fame at the expense of LYJ for several times. If LYJ can finally beat LSD, his trophy will carry more weight than usual.

Oooh!
Interesting to read your thoughts on the tournament so far and also your projections for what lay head but there is a lot in there I wouldn't have agreed with.

I thought Tomo held a very big edge v LYJ and was sure he'd dispatch him easily but in fairness you got that one right!
The other semi final was an equal surprise for me so well done Jang Woojin!

What's your prediction for the final?

 

[Kopp]

I always mistook the shout, I thought it was LYJ 😂 I'm rooting for him, but I think JWJ is going to win.

 

[Gozo Zyreruna]

张宇镇在2026年突然练就了一手强劲的反手击球。在WTT多哈站的比赛中，他以4比2击败了世界排名第二的林时东。在现代职业乒乓球比赛中，采用横拍式握拍的球员，如果反手击球力量不足，将会处于非常不利的地位。

Spoiler: Translation:

Jang Woo-jin suddenly developed a powerful backhand in 2026. In the WTT Doha tournament, he defeated world number two Lin Shi-dong 4-2. In modern professional table tennis, players using a shakehand grip are at a significant disadvantage if their backhand lacks power.

 

[John Birkin]

JWJ reported as switched to Tibhar K2 on BH. Has someone been getting to these players? Another one, although shy, brave enough to use his English in the interview. Great stuff from LYJ!

 

[NextLevel]

Sora is a nepo-baby?

How many nepo-babies you know are former world u15 champions, Japanese national singles champions and now Champions event winners and top 10 world ranked players?

You don't understand the lengths zeio will go to prosecute strongly held beliefs rven when all the evidence destroyed his argument a year ago. He would rather have you believe that every mistake and failure on the part of Sora points to some deeply held moral failing that makes Sora a persona non grata.

 

[John Birkin]

JWJ reported as switched to Tibhar K2 on BH. Has someone been getting to these players? Another one, although shy, brave enough to use his English in the interview. Great stuff from LYJ!

Sorry meant K3

 

[rpb23]

A great win by LYJ. Tomo played like Tomo but it's LYJ who outperformed him, especially after his time out. In the victory, LYJ showed unusual resiliency he's not known for. The first point after his TO in the 6th game, he tentatively chose a push against Tomo's serve resulting low quality shot and got an easy kill by Tomo. Just when we were worried about him yielding to the pressure, somehow, he regrouped and switched to aggressive mode. Notice, in stead of pushing or pivoting using backhand flip, he had at least 3 forehand fast loop against Tomo's serve to his forehand all resulting direct points. Through out this tournament, including the final match, his WCQ's like backhand rip down the line was impressive and devastating to the opponents.

Missed LSD vs. JWJ match. But by beating LSD, JWJ showed the supreme form. When he is really on, he is a threat to anyone on this planet.

Most fans probably didn't pick these two in the final. You have to admit they both in peak form truly deserving to be there. Who will come out on the top? Anyone's guess. But if LYJ can keep his aggression and resiliency, I'll give him some edge as he's a more balanced lefty player with more weapons in his toolbox.

 

[TampaBayTableTennis]

Unbelievable!!! Such amazing performances from Jang Woojin and Lin Jun Yu! Hard to pick that one with the way they are playing right now...

And very impressive from Zhu Yuling to push through that. Her game is amazing, will definitely study her more. Her destruction of Wang Yidi was really something. And Chen Xingtong made easy work of Kuai Man here.

I will pick... CXT and LYJ!

 

[NextLevel]

Unbelievable!!! Such amazing performances from Jang Woojin and Lin Jun Yu! Hard to pick that one with the way they are playing right now...

And very impressive from Zhu Yuling to push through that. Her game is amazing, will definitely study her more. Her destruction of Wang Yidi was really something. And Chen Xingtong made easy work of Kuai Man here.

I will pick... CXT and LYJ!

Those are my picks as well, though I have picked against Jang just about every time without any success and Zhu is clearly in form.

 

[piligrim]

All players take time out to get advice from coach. Only Harimoto talking without stop and coach listening )))

 

[NextLevel]

The match between Haromoto and LYJ was really scary. If table tennis is headed that way, we might have to find a way to make the ball spinnier or increase the net height. Seriously. It was like every ball was getting wounded with interest and countered with venom. Even more Dragonball Super worthy than the Felix- Harimoto match and that is saying something.

 

[NextLevel]

All players take time out to get advice from coach. Only Harimoto talking without stop and coach listening )))

You need to watch Anders more. He tells himself and the coach everything you need to know.

 

[TampaBayTableTennis]

ya i was going to say Anders timeouts are 1 minute of swearing at the world

 

[NextLevel]

ya i was going to say Anders timeouts are 1 minute of swearing at the world

Anything he does, I just boomba...

 

[dewnyc]

The crowd applause sounds like golf clapping in the WS final lol. The low turnout throughout the tournament feels like COVID times.

 

[M51]

How many nepo-babies you know are former world u15 champions, Japanese national singles champions and now Champions event winners and top 10 world ranked players?

Good point. Or is it?

Every now and then a nepo baby will prove themself competent. Worthy, even.

Sora Matsushima is very talented. I'm not so sure he likes table tennis, though.

 

[kindof99]

All players take time out to get advice from coach. Only Harimoto talking without stop and coach listening )))

coaching the coach

 

[Janard]

ZYL very cautious not to let the mics pick up her conversation during the breaks lol

 

[ThePongCommenter]

The crowd applause sounds like golf clapping in the WS final lol. The low turnout throughout the tournament feels like COVID times.

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