Who will win the 2015 WTTC?

I am feeling excited to, I think the next World Tours of Kuwait and Qatar will show who is reaching best performance for the worlds to. I have voted Ma Long. I know Fan Zhendong defeated him recently however I think this has to be Ma Long's time!

Xu Xin could be a dark horse.

Unless Timo Boll has to play against Ma Long, he has a good chance of winning this WTTC.

Unlikely prediction, I know but I think that he's going to do everything in his power for this one because it is likely his last chance. In the match vs. ZJK in the 2014 World cup, it's quite clear that he is close to the level of the Chinese. The only player against whom Timo seems chanceless at times is Ma Long. I think that he can take care of FZD and perhaps even XX. Against ZJK it's difficult but not very unlikely and against ML it's quite unlikely.

The problem that many forget is that he has to play against Liu Guoliang, the master tactician as well. LGL saved ZJK in the 2012 team WTTC by telling him to play backhand down the line, which allowed him to win the deciding set by getting a 6-0 lead. Timo had levelled it from 2-0 to 2-2.

Ma Long was kind of nervous in the 2013 WTTC and LGL saved him from very likely defeat against Timo again. You saw what happened to ML when he didn't get coaching in his match against Wang Hao.

Otherwise I think that Ma Long has the best chance of winning because of his improved nerves unless he meets ZJK, after that it's more 50-50 . If XX or FZD can take care of ZJK, ML would most likely win but I believe in Timo Boll!!!

Well I am not sure if 4 players from one country can participate. If so still the answer is not easy. Surely it will be somebody from China. Of course ZJK is unpredictable and can be beaten by anyone, also maybe FZD while he is young and quite often wins barely in first rounds can be beaten. But I do not remember when was last time Ma Long or Xu Xin lost to non chinese player.
So the question is who out of this 4 players can win it.
XX - rather no, his ranking is very high because he participated in a lot of torunaments, but I really doubt he has positive score against Ma Long or ZJK
ZJK - possible, but as I mnetioned before he is really unpredictable, anyway seeing his last performance I am not that sure if he is the one
ML - he is getting older and more nervous especially when playing against ZJK. I hope he can win but last time he lost twice to FZD and also his nervous against ZJK is not helping
FZD - he has evertyhing to take it, maybe he needs more experinece. Surely he has motivation. But I think he said after last WTC when he was not playing very well that this is a big tournament and he was little bit nervous.
It is hard to vote I would say
ML - 33%
ZJK - 33%
FZD - 33%

Sali said:

Well I am not sure if 4 players from one country can participate. If so still the answer is not easy. Surely it will be somebody from China. Of course ZJK is unpredictable and can be beaten by anyone, also maybe FZD while he is young and quite often wins barely in first rounds can be beaten. But I do not remember when was last time Ma Long or Xu Xin lost to non chinese player.
So the question is who out of this 4 players can win it.
XX - rather no, his ranking is very high because he participated in a lot of torunaments, but I really doubt he has positive score against Ma Long or ZJK
ZJK - possible, but as I mnetioned before he is really unpredictable, anyway seeing his last performance I am not that sure if he is the one
ML - he is getting older and more nervous especially when playing against ZJK. I hope he can win but last time he lost twice to FZD and also his nervous against ZJK is not helping
FZD - he has evertyhing to take it, maybe he needs more experinece. Surely he has motivation. But I think he said after last WTC when he was not playing very well that this is a big tournament and he was little bit nervous.
It is hard to vote I would say
ML - 33%
ZJK - 33%
FZD - 33%

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Yes they can, even 5 can play. Check last WTTC, all the semifinalist from china, and one more (Yan An) lost in quarterfinal.

MDanielCRO said:

Yes they can, even 5 can play. Check last WTTC, all the semifinalist from china, and one more (Yan An) lost in quarterfinal.

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It was 6, Fan Zhendong played but lost 0-4 to Zhang Jike in the 3rd round.

i am undecided between FZD and ML.both so powerful,so elegent...

Guys, for real, I believe, Fan Zhendong has NO CHANCE, I repeat - NO CHANCE of beating Ma Long, Xu Xin or Zhang Jike in the WTTC..
I believe these three players are saving their best tactics to beat Fan Zhendong for WTTC and for OG, so the only chance for FZD to win WTTC is, that he will not meet any of these, that they will be eliminated earlier, which is veeery very unlikely. Of course, it can happen, but I believe Timo Boll or Dimitrij Ovtcharov would not lose to FZD at this stage.
So - for me its Zhang Jike! Even though I will hope that Ma Long can do a miracle, I know that semifinal is the most he can achieve here.
Zhang Jike can lose in tournament like this only if he gets injured. If Zhang gets injured, maybe the miracle will happen and Ma Long wins.
At this big stage, I tell you this: 1st Zhang Jike, 2nd Ma Long, 3rd Xu Xin, 4th FZD. As easy as this it is.
FZD will lose to any of above him, Xu Xin will lose to any of above him and Ma Long will lose to ZJK. Thats it, that is what I believe

Michal_Z said:

Guys, for real, I believe, Fan Zhendong has NO CHANCE, I repeat - NO CHANCE of beating Ma Long, Xu Xin or Zhang Jike in the WTTC..
I believe these three players are saving their best tactics to beat Fan Zhendong for WTTC and for OG, so the only chance for FZD to win WTTC is, that he will not meet any of these, that they will be eliminated earlier, which is veeery very unlikely. Of course, it can happen, but I believe Timo Boll or Dimitrij Ovtcharov would not lose to FZD at this stage.
So - for me its Zhang Jike! Even though I will hope that Ma Long can do a miracle, I know that semifinal is the most he can achieve here.
Zhang Jike can lose in tournament like this only if he gets injured. If Zhang gets injured, maybe the miracle will happen and Ma Long wins.
At this big stage, I tell you this: 1st Zhang Jike, 2nd Ma Long, 3rd Xu Xin, 4th FZD. As easy as this it is.
FZD will lose to any of above him, Xu Xin will lose to any of above him and Ma Long will lose to ZJK. Thats it, that is what I believe

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I second this opinion, I think FZD will be world champion but he is unlikely to beat any of ML, ZJK or XX in such an important event like WTTC unless the others are in terrible form or are injured, his time hasn't come yet. For me a slight favourite is ZJK, proven time and again can withstand amazing pressure especially in tight situations in big individual events followed by ML and then XX, who plays who and the order in which it happens in the WTTC (or may not happen) is quite important actually... Still my personal favourite will be Xu Xin, the last elite penholder, just one more individual gold and then a grand slam would do wonders for this classic style of play.

UpSideDownCarl said:

Because it is in China 6 players from China will be able to play. All other countries can have up to 5 entries. The host country gets one extra.

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If so I believe we can see Fang Bo and maybe Liang Jingkun. Fang Bo can be really competitive. I will surprised if I see non chinese player in semis. I think besides chinese the only players who can reach semis are Dima, Mizutani and Freitas.

Sali said:

If so I believe we can see Fang Bo and maybe Liang Jingkun. Fang Bo can be really competitive. I will surprised if I see non chinese player in semis. I think besides chinese the only players who can reach semis are Dima, Mizutani and Freitas.

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I wouldnt even include freitas...

Fan Zhendong is definitly one of the favourites this year. Fang Bo is the underdog. And perhaps Yu Ziyang can cause some upsets. And Ma Long, Zhang Jike and Xu Xin speaks for himselves

Michal_Z said:

Guys, for real, I believe, Fan Zhendong has NO CHANCE, I repeat - NO CHANCE of beating Ma Long, Xu Xin or Zhang Jike in the WTTC..
I believe these three players are saving their best tactics to beat Fan Zhendong for WTTC and for OG, so the only chance for FZD to win WTTC is, that he will not meet any of these, that they will be eliminated earlier, which is veeery very unlikely. Of course, it can happen, but I believe Timo Boll or Dimitrij Ovtcharov would not lose to FZD at this stage.
So - for me its Zhang Jike! Even though I will hope that Ma Long can do a miracle, I know that semifinal is the most he can achieve here.
Zhang Jike can lose in tournament like this only if he gets injured. If Zhang gets injured, maybe the miracle will happen and Ma Long wins.
At this big stage, I tell you this: 1st Zhang Jike, 2nd Ma Long, 3rd Xu Xin, 4th FZD. As easy as this it is.
FZD will lose to any of above him, Xu Xin will lose to any of above him and Ma Long will lose to ZJK. Thats it, that is what I believe

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Well, you forgot Ma Long is random under pressure soaybe he will get caught by Fan Zendong in the semi final who knows. And will Zhang Jike lose again against Yu Ziyang? Most likely not but you never know whats gunna happin.

Amayzde said:

Fan Zhendong is definitly one of the favourites this year. Fang Bo is the underdog. And perhaps Yu Ziyang can cause some upsets. And Ma Long, Zhang Jike and Xu Xin speaks for himselves

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We don't know yet if Fang Bo or Yu Ziyang will be there. FZD and Ma Long are sure to be there. I think we can expect Zhang Jike and Xu Xin without many doubts. And there will be 2 more players (maybe you're right and it will be them but it can be others or just one of them).

UpSideDownCarl said:

A side note: in the last 2 WTTC Men's Singles events, the only Chinese player to get knocked out by a non-Chinese player was Chen Chi who was beaten by Timo Boll in the Quarter Finals of the 2011 WTTC. All other Chinese players lost to a CNT teammate.

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Don't forget, Kenta Matsudaira killed Ma Lin in the WTTC 2013 in round of 32 i think. (unless Ma lin doesn't count as a CNT player anymore)

i think internally in the chinese team no one want to meet fzd. he is young, powerful and hungry and still not this nervouse guy. he's head is strong like zjk and he like these situations. i think fzd will be the strongest contender to the titel against zjk.