Europe Smash 2026, Malmö, 8/8-16

[kindof99]

Sora is starting to build some serious mental resilience, if he keeps it up he might become unstoppable

Don't you see CNT and other players have been finding ways to beat him? Let's see whether he can still performance well being studied.

 

[ThePongCommenter]

Don't you see CNT and other players have been finding ways to beat him? Let's see whether he can still performance well being studied.

It is not like they are just starting their studies on Sora lol

 

[pongfugrasshopper]

WS R32
Kihara WR30 (WC) 3-2 CXT WR5 (4) (-10, 10, -10, 3, 7)
G5 53, 55, 106, 107, 117

Nagasaki WR20 3-0 Winter WR8 (7) (7, 7, 3)
G3 51, 52, 62, 63, 113

Those doubters should be silenced now.

---

https://www.tabletennisdaily.com/forum/topics/wtt-contender-taiyuan-2025.36976/post-518539
https://www.tabletennisdaily.com/forum/topics/thread-about-japanese-players.38013/post-555503

https://www.tabletennisdaily.com/forum/topics/wtt-champions-doha-2026-jan-7-11.38644/post-559276


https://www.tabletennisdaily.com/fo...asian-cup-2026-haikou-2-4-8.38624/post-563448

https://www.tabletennisdaily.com/fo...s-to-call-it-a-rivalry-1135.35128/post-564877


https://www.tabletennisdaily.com/fo...ash-2026-singapore-2-19-3-1.38748/post-565517

They both have high ceilings but low floors and inconsistent performances. They all start from scratch in 2027 in the race towards LA2028, but they're going to have to consistently perform better to have a chance at an Olympic spot. The golden generation have dominated the past 2 Olympic cycles. We haven't seen that dominance from the Miyus.

 

[ThePongCommenter]

Choker Togami as usual

 

[Grahf]

lets see if I get my predictions (SF are still Bo5 right? lmao):

Alexis Lebrun 3 - 2 Lin Shidong (but maybe Alexis loses his head half match)

Sora Matsushima 3 - 1 Zhou Qihao (just like yokohama, I truly believe ZQH cant handle Sora at all)

And the one with 2 of the players I really enjoy watching play:

Hugo Calderano 3 - 1 Anders Lind (hope they go to a decider!!!)

Almost perfect by 1 game less on ZQH, and crazy that he could not close the 9-7 at 2-2, a lot of pressure on him

 

[ThePongCommenter]

Smart Togami at 1-2 10-9...

 

[zeio]

MS R16
Togami (13) 2-3 Harimoto (4) (-12, 7, -10, 9, -9)
G2 75 Togami served off the table, 85
G3 107, 109 TO for Togami, 1012
G4 20, 21 Togami served off the table, 23, 33, 34 Togami served off the table, 35, 45, 46, 76, 78, 98, 99, 119
G5 20 TO for Harimoto, 23 sideline edge for Harimoto, 24, 44, 45 Togami served below the table, 55, 56, 66, 67, 77, 78, 88, 89, 99, 911

Two major factors behind the win, Harimoto's serve and Togami's serve. Couldn't have done it without both.

 

[zeio]

They both have high ceilings but low floors and inconsistent performances. They all start from scratch in 2027 in the race towards LA2028, but they're going to have to consistently perform better to have a chance at an Olympic spot. The golden generation have dominated the past 2 Olympic cycles. We haven't seen that dominance from the Miyus.

Which is what I wrote back in 10/2025 and guess who didn't agree?

They won't start from scratch, as their current points don't expire all at once but gradually. And that's why I wrote that they could perform similarly if given more chances, and guess who didn't agree?

 

[biaxialerzug]

When I remember Ma Long, Xu Xin and Fan Zhendong I think of pure dominance, power and consistency. Back then there were just a few games where ML und FZD struggled against non Asian player. But most of the games they were so dominant and without unforced errors, it was so hard for all others to beat them. And, most important, they were „hungry“ for every title, regardless how many titles the already won.
I think these are the factors missing at the moment when you watch LSD, WCQ and other CNT players.
But this is just my opinion as I only watch them occasionally.

 

[pongfugrasshopper]

Which is what I wrote back in 10/2025 and guess who didn't agree?

They won't start from scratch, as their current points don't expire all at once but gradually. And that's why I wrote that they could perform similarly if given more chances, and guess who didn't agree?

You have to earn the chance. You know all too well that Champions tournaments have an NER limit of 4 and Smash tournaments have an NER limit of 6. That's on them to try and position themselves to get to top 4/6 by the end of 2026 so they can play in those high level tournaments. They are both very good players, but they're competing against the likes of Hina, Odo, and Hashimoto who are ahead of them ranking wise. I mean I know you don't like Hina and Satsuki, but they are the ones winning tournaments this year apart from Miwa among the Japanese women.

 

[NextLevel]

You have to earn the chance. You know all too well that Champions tournaments have an NER limit of 4 and Smash tournaments have an NER limit of 6. That's on them to try and position themselves to get to top 4/6 by the end of 2026 so they can play in those high level tournaments. They are both very good players, but they're competing against the likes of Hina, Odo, and Hashimoto who are ahead of them ranking wise. I mean I know you don't like Hina and Satsuki, but they are the ones winning tournaments this year apart from Miwa among the Japanese women.

This reminds me of a compatriot of mine who keeps saying Quadri needs to retire. In his view, the upcoming juniors don't get chances because of Quadri. The idea that the upcoming juniors are simply not as good as he is despite exposure never gets serious consideration...

 

[JustANoob]

When I remember Ma Long, Xu Xin and Fan Zhendong I think of pure dominance, power and consistency. Back then there were just a few games where ML und FZD struggled against non Asian player. But most of the games they were so dominant and without unforced errors, it was so hard for all others to beat them. And, most important, they were „hungry“ for every title, regardless how many titles the already won.
I think these are the factors missing at the moment when you watch LSD, WCQ and other CNT players.
But this is just my opinion as I only watch them occasionally.

Yea its kind of weird to realize those guys were some exceptional talent above talent, and that the chinese training is not more advanced than any of the rest. The current chinese players have the unfortunate fate to live/play in the shadow of those legends.

 

[NextLevel]

Yea its kind of weird to realize those guys were some exceptional talent above talent, and that the chinese training is not more advanced than any of the rest. The current chinese players have the unfortunate fate to live/play in the shadow of those legends.

Europe was also relatively weak and this compounded the problem. I love Boll, but his style while leaving him the best on Europe fell apart too often arguably because of his injuries but also because of imposing power. Whether it is the ball or not, the current European generation is more physical in how it attacks.