ITTF WTTTC Finals London 2026, 4/28-5/10

[Ninja26Go]

Just play Wang Hao, ML and Xu Xin if anyone is worried.

 

[NextLevel]

It’s not over yet, it’s never over until the last point of the last match is played.

Don’t overreact on one single win or loss no matter how impressive it was. It’s just one point still

True, but it is hard to overreact when your #1 chokes. Just like Alexis yesterday and juat like when he lost to Iran (Alamian), he ruined the team. The worst thing was the way he did it. If he had been outplayed completely, the team would have been ready to fight. But the way he lost, he gave them hope and then it all collapse and they had to adjust to the changes. Against underdogs, they folded vs Iran (different players but similar conundrum). Now against China?

 

[RefereeNumber2]

The emotions from China at the end show how difficult this run was. France and Japan especially seems like they should be able to consistently challenge the CNT mens team going forward.

However, while this team was certainly more vulnerable than any other in recent memory, I wonder if the group stage format led us to overestimate the vulnerability. Usually China would not face such strong teams as South Korea and Sweden in the early stages of a tournament, and would have more time to play into some form. Especially since Liang Jingkun and Lin Shidong were both coming in with little match fitness.

 

[NextLevel]

I’m going to miss LJK when he retires. He had said this would be his last Teams championships. I’ve seen his comebacks since many years ago (and more than once), but this tournament will go down as his greatest legacy.

He’s also very much loved by fans in China too. His nickname (besides Big Fatty) is Sweetie (甜甜). He will be really missed

While I am disappointed, Ultimately I am happy for him. Probably the most ridiculously criticized player for all rhe wrong reasons by armchair experts. That you reverse 3-0 Alexis and Tomo in back to back games is impressive. Those kids must havw scheduled sessions with their psychologists already.

 

[vvk1]

Blame the zyre 03 rubber on his backhand, Hari's back hand counter kept hitting the net in the last set.

Someone forgot to tell Harimoto that to get the most of Zyre one must use it on a 5ply allround wood blade...

 

[Matteones]

I am only connecting now to confirm that Japan lost. And they did, 3-0 starting with a comeback from Liang Jingkun. I think hope of defeating them died with Alexis tactical suicide.
Kudos to LJK, I haven't seen his match with Harimoto but he can retire now, knowing he's going to enter pingpong history as the comeback legend.

 

[kindof99]

While I am disappointed, Ultimately I am happy for him. Probably the most ridiculously criticized player for all rhe wrong reasons by armchair experts. That you reverse 3-0 Alexis and Tomo in back to back games is impressive. Those kids must havw scheduled sessions with their psychologists already.

It actually made sense that LJK kept coming back. He is a spin oriented player, and it takes time for him to engage the full body for creating hugely spinny balls. At the end of his match against Harimoto, it is all spin that worked Harimoto clueless. Harimoto should have tried more long serves, more rallies. except of pushing and trying to block or counter. If he flipped more or served more, the results might be different.
I think sometimes Harimoto was just too full of himself, even in the time out. Did he even listen to his coach? I just saw him talking all the time, coaching the coach.

 

[piligrim]

Did he even listen to his coach? I just saw him talking all the time, coaching the coach.

I also always pay attetion on this, He is only player who coaching coach. All other players listening to coach and not talking. Only Harimoto talking non stop. Even between points he shouting something to his coach

 

[zeio]

Before WTTC 2026
JPN: We will defeat CHN!

During Stage 1A
JPN: We got defeated by GER!
KOR: We defeated CHN!
SWE: We also defeated CHN!

After Stage 1A
JPN: Will we even get our chance?

JPN: Cunning CHN!
CHN: 🥳

 

[job59]

Well, that and a bit of help from Alexis not putting away that high return at 2-0 10-9. That wasn't LJK willpower, at that level, that was an unfortunate gift from his opponent. LJK did well to manage the comeback, but it shouldn't have been allowed in the first place.

I hope Alexis recovers from it and takes it as a lesson rather than as a trauma. He has to fix these issues to go higher.

For me, the (too) high level of adrenaline was another reason, Alexis finally couldn’t fight back. All the team was showing muscles, dominant attitudes. You don’t get those hormones out in minutes.

 

[zeio]

2026/4/28 <- Day 1 of group stage

Harimoto is not always the nexus around which decisions on whom to pick are made. IfAnd the onus to defeat Harimoto is on Wang Chuqin and Lin Shidong. They're the ones that'd play Harimoto and Matsushima. After all, they're the top two players. Liang Jingkun is there for stability, leadership ( oldest in the team) and familiarity. Yes, his performances have been below his lofty standards, but the team thinks when things get gritty and tough, they can depend on his experience than the inexperience of someone like Ruibo at these high stakes events.

請受小弟一拜

 

[FIXPOINT]

ITTF WTTC Finals London 2026 Stage2 WT Final

ITTF WTTC Finals London 2026 Stage2 MT Final

 

[zeio]

Well, that and a bit of help from Alexis not putting away that high return at 2-0 10-9. That wasn't LJK willpower, at that level, that was an unfortunate gift from his opponent. LJK did well to manage the comeback, but it shouldn't have been allowed in the first place.

I hope Alexis recovers from it and takes it as a lesson rather than as a trauma. He has to fix these issues to go higher.

Still, it was a direct/indirect result of LJK's tenacity. LYJ admitted the urge to kill the point got the better of him against Harimoto and that cost him the match. That's a sign of cowering away from the difficult situation.

WCQ also said a big part of the reason he overcame Matsushma at World Cup 2026 was also due to his tenacity and how he would've given up in the past.

 

[oophyte]

Did anyone else feel like LJK vs Tomokazu was more like the women's TT than men's? 80% of it was BH to BH and both sides stuck close to the table. I get that the peak meta in the modern game seems to centre around varying between the opponent's BH corner and middle, but these 2 really take it to the extreme.

Speaking of the women, I doubt anybody expected that the women of CNT would struggle so much more than the men's team, given their group stage losses and their poor individual world rankings coming into this event.

 

[oophyte]

2026/4/28 <- Day 1 of group stage

請受小弟一拜

I guess we shouldn't have doubted the man nicknamed 梁满局 (Mr. Decider Liang)

 

[Gozo Zyreruna]

coming soon...
Loki LJK ALC World Team Championship edition with LJK name in 18k gold plating on the handle.

 

[mikeytt]

Back from the event, the matches were crazy and the atmosphere was great,I was able to watch from r16 to semis. the seating arrangement was pretty poor though if you were stuck on the lower section you couldn’t see anything as the seats weren’t elevated enough.

 

[zeio]

It actually made sense that LJK kept coming back. He is a spin oriented player, and it takes time for him to engage the full body for creating hugely spinny balls. At the end of his match against Harimoto, it is all spin that worked Harimoto clueless. Harimoto should have tried more long serves, more rallies. except of pushing and trying to block or counter. If he flipped more or served more, the results might be different.
I think sometimes Harimoto was just too full of himself, even in the time out. Did he even listen to his coach? I just saw him talking all the time, coaching the coach.

Seeing Kishikawa didn't call the TO last time at ATTC 2025, he's like the coaches that are no good at coming up with solutions on the spot that Mizutani criticized in an old interview with Table Tennis Kingdom. In comparison, DHK actually agreed with a fan comment on calling the TO late at WTT Montpellier 2025 and Zhang Rui called TO early this time here and still the same outcome, but perhaps not calling it early the last time and losing in the end has a lasting/cascading effect on subsequent matches.

Mizutani has also touched on how Harimoto is too self-centered on executing his own tactics (can't find the original post, probably on MyTT). Perhaps he felt the coaches couldn't help him out that he has turned into this. Remember he once said he used to argue a lot with his dad over the FH issue/FH-oriented game (can't find the original post, probably on MyTT).

 

[Takkyu_wa_inochi]

LJK make a great comeback yday but its more Alexis losing than LJK winning IMO.
LJK proved his resilience and mental abilities but his overall level seems lacking

its a big mistake to expose LJK to potentially 2 singles losses. as we know that WCQ is vulnerable to Sora.

I think Harimoto will win easily to LJK and if Sora is on fire, we will have Japan ahead 2-0 and China under extreme pressure, and Japan will take the title

Looks like China is shooting itself in the foot.

Didn’t age well

In the end Harimoto shoot himself and his whole team down the drain

 

[zeio]

Just most felt China is in her most vulnerable state for a very long period, and they even lost twice in group stage, almost unheard of. Yet, in the final facing the strongest Japanese team in recent years, the result is still a resounding 3:0, as if life is just as usual.

French team should feel a little ease after seeing Japan just got swept by the team the French almost beat.

If JPN faced FRA and came out on top, then maybe they could've put up a better fight against CHN. Things were relatively easier/untested for JPN in the KO stage, and LJK 3-2 A. Lebrun had probably planted the seed of doubt in each of their mind (psychological suggestion) - can I overcome that LJK if it were me?