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Sure, if that's what makes some people happy. The fact remains that no male player, not a single one, has accomplished what Ma Long has since the start of the sponge era. In the 80's thru mid-90's Chinese TT was relatively weak. I had a conversation with Jorg Rosskopf and he mentioned back then he and the other European players looked forward to playing against the Chinese (he called it hunting.)Ya, go bang your head in the link below. Anyone who hasn't lived through the era when World Championships meant something won't be able to tell.
https://bbs.hupu.com/27681912.html#171342
As for ML's historical status, it's a shame.
In a time when the WTTC doesn't exist anymore, he lacks the platform on which to shine.
Not to mention his current opponents, 40-year-old Boll, 15-year-old Harimoto...
Not even a stepping stone to ascendancy could be found.
Another minus for ML.
He's a next-in-line successor, waiting for the senior WH, and even the barged-in ZJK
to both recede, and only then, by his seniority, did he become the World No 1.
Being injured and not being able to play most of 2018, then coming back to win Qatar, runner up in Asia Cup (I believe it was a strategic loss to FZD as to not show all his cards in anticipation of a WTTC matchup), win WTTC, win China Open is simply not done. Some people think its routine. How well did ZJK recover from his injury to dominate again?