WTT Champions Chongqing 2025 - 11-16 Mar 2025

[NextLevel]

Someone needs to out together a 2025 WCQ highlights video. It could have feats in it for forehand footwork that might draw new fans to the sport.

 

[NetProphet]

They need to bring back the footwork camera. They had it 5 yrs ago at the world's, just a camera under the table looking directly at their feet, it was absolutely fascinating!

 

[Tony's Table Tennis]

Someone needs to out together a 2025 WCQ highlights video. It could have feats in it for forehand footwork that might draw new fans to the sport.

some LSD fan club boss needs to work on more recruitment too and make more LSD videos

against LYJ, the fans was cheering for LYJ
against WCQ, the fans was cheering for WCQ
doesn't make sense why LSD fans are so quiet

 

[Metaxa]

Many times when WCQ is in trouble, he would start using his hidden serves.

There is no doubt during open play, he is a very strong player. So to me... why don't he just win during open play and why needing to get those extra advantages by using tricks.

This!
True indeed. Mind you, his FH service starts from the corner of the table. Except when he struggles. Then disappear his legs pretty much completely beside the table with all the benefits.

 

[rpb23]

He beat the top 3 Chinese mostly because of his insane footwork. Don’t confuse the cause and effect

Beating top 3 Chinese occasionally is not a big deal considering Ryu was a top 20 player himself and his high-risk all-out playing style. If Ryu was on he could be unstoppable like he did in the Olympic he won. Of course, his playing style was not sustainable long time.

 

[NetProphet]

some LSD fan club boss needs to work on more recruitment too and make more LSD videos

against LYJ, the fans was cheering for LYJ
against WCQ, the fans was cheering for WCQ
doesn't make sense why LSD fans are so quiet

There are just less of them because he's new?
I suspect WCQ and LYJ have built up their fan base over years and in a few more years LSD will have his also.

 

[rpb23]

Has someone finally matched Ryu for footwork? I was thinking this watching him play Harimoto but it is a real question.

As for explosively stepping around launching a huge wide cross-court forehand loopkill with full body motion, WCQ can match Ryu if not more impressively. However, as for fast springing from backhand position to cover wide forehand corner, no one does it better than Ryu as this is life saver for a penholder who doesn't have RPB.

 

[rpb23]

This is the point that the naysayers ignore
Despite WCQ supposed advantage he wins only 6/10 of his serves, there's been matches where Truls and Harimoto didn't score more than 3/10 on their own serves Vs WCQ. This lends more credence to the fact that he's actually a better receiver and 1st 3-5 balls specialist than arguably everyone out there on their best days.

Good point.
Notice, during the whole tournament, WCQ rarely used his controversial hook-serve, at least, I didn't see it once.
His overall play is so much better than everyone else, focusing on his serve is really a knit-picking.

Using his big head to hide his serves, the same criticism was also raised towards the goat ML in the past by fans.

 

[rpb23]

FWIW, WCQ's current achievements show that LGL was right about him being "眼高手低/high expectations but low skills" in his debrief at the end of Day 2 of the selection trial for WTTC 2017.

Can't find the highlight reel where he said it.

榜样!刘国梁借科龙鼓励小将：拿出野心抢班夺权 (Role model! Liu Guoliang encourages young players by citing [Zhang Ji]Ke/[Ma] Long: show your ambition to seize power)
https://sports.sina.cn/others/pingpang/2017-02-12/detail-ifyamkzq1245698.d.html

LGL bullshits a lot with his big mouth. He criticized WCQ 'high expectations but low skills' but he also encouraged players like WCQ to be ambitious to challenge the established top players. Isn't high expectations the similar as ambitious?
in 2017, WCQ was not really low skill player as he was able to beat top tier players in a few internal competitions which reasonably fueled his 'high expectations'.

Regardless, that was 2017, now it's 2025. More progress has been made during the 8 years to WCQ's game and he almost has elevated to the so called 'unplayable' status when he is on.

Back then, LYJ, WCQ and Tomo popped up around the same time with the same fan fare and expectations. Years passed, all three didn't disappoint but it's clear which one has stoop up at the top of the three.

The challenge for WCQ (believe it or not, even at this 'unplayable' level, he still has weak spot) is how to sustain his playing level consistently and over the long run. He can learn a lot on this department from his elder bro ML.

 

[rpb23]

There are just less of them because he's new?
I suspect WCQ and LYJ have built up their fan base over years and in a few more years LSD will have his also.

It takes time to build up fan base, LSD will have his time as he is still very young among all superstars.
But for true TT fans, I believe LSD has already left big impression for his awesome backhand and 3D play style. At least, I'm very impressed by his play style.

 

[zeio]

Spread wings and fly high...
Ping Pong OK 4-Piece Meal for ¥29.9...

莎莎代言鸡翅根 (Shasha becomes spokesperson of KFC)
https://tieba.baidu.com/p/9580658933

Still hides the ball when it gets tight though...

这是个好事啊，孙颖莎绝对听了网友的意见，现在发球没有鸡翅手了 (This is a good thing. Sun Yingsha has definitely listened to the opinions of netizens. Now she doesn't have chicken wing hand when serving)
https://tieba.baidu.com/p/9565337068

 

[Tony's Table Tennis]

It takes time to build up fan base, LSD will have his time as he is still very young among all superstars.
But for true TT fans, I believe LSD has already left big impression for his awesome backhand and 3D play style. At least, I'm very impressed by his play style.

well, the pros side is, you don't get harassed in China by Chinese fans.

Facebook

www.facebook.com

Here is WCQ that got "touched".
Chinese fans are very upset that some fans touch they idols and demand to maintain a respectable distance when asking for photos or autographs.

You can clearly see WCQ is not comfortable in this clip.

body guards will be needed the rate these fanboys culture continues

 

[zeio]

FWIW, WCQ's current achievements show that LGL was right about him being "眼高手低/high expectations but low skills" in his debrief at the end of Day 2 of the selection trial for WTTC 2017.

Can't find the highlight reel where he said it.

榜样!刘国梁借科龙鼓励小将：拿出野心抢班夺权 (Role model! Liu Guoliang encourages young players by citing [Zhang Ji]Ke/[Ma] Long: show your ambition to seize power)
https://sports.sina.cn/others/pingpang/2017-02-12/detail-ifyamkzq1245698.d.html

Dug it out. LGL even said WCQ should've moved to the WT...

A Hupu user re-posted that video after WCQ 2-4 Moregard...

斯帝卡V乒乓 刘国梁直通赛后讲话，有趣有料有哲理!
https://v.qq.com/x/page/o0374z1irn3.html

刘国梁: 机会是自己抢来的，不是我给的。年轻球员有野心，有拼劲的只有樊振东
https://m.hupu.com/bbs/627452811-36.html

 

[ThePongCommenter]

well, the pros side is, you don't get harassed in China by Chinese fans.

Facebook

www.facebook.com

Here is WCQ that got "touched".
Chinese fans are very upset that some fans touch they idols and demand to maintain a respectable distance when asking for photos or autographs.

You can clearly see WCQ is not comfortable in this clip.

body guards will be needed the rate these fanboys culture continues

There is security at all WTT events in the arena, unfortunately the freaks will oftentimes find out the players' hotel and hang out there and try to stalk them in the lobby or outside on the street.

 

[Tony's Table Tennis]

There is security at all WTT events in the arena, unfortunately the freaks will oftentimes find out the players' hotel and hang out there and try to stalk them in the lobby or outside on the street.

yep
players can't go out wondering about (for example, by snacks/food), too much fans waiting in and outside the hotel.
pretty much always the case with every WTT event in China.

One of my players step out to buy food and was surrounded by over 10 girls and wanting autograph, the coach took a photo and was laughing. But that it gets to a stage where you can't laugh any more

Germany and Japan is also a TT mad country, but the local fans there are more respectable to pros.

 

[zeio]

Now Harimoto says the same thing about WCQ as well, confirmed by TV Tokyo.

日本のエース・張本智和 vs 卓球帝国 左のエース・王楚欽！ペースを奪い返せずベスト4で敗退｜WTTチャンピオンズ重慶2025
https://youtu.be/mnQZijmWpAU?t=37

松島(輝空)ほど速くない
ラリーで5球．6球までいければ勝てる

(Not as fast as Matsushima (Sora)
If you can get to 5 or 6 shots in a rally, you'll win)

 

[rpb23]

Now Harimoto says the same thing about WCQ as well, confirmed by TV Tokyo.

日本のエース・張本智和 vs 卓球帝国 左のエース・王楚欽！ペースを奪い返せずベスト4で敗退｜WTTチャンピオンズ重慶2025
https://youtu.be/mnQZijmWpAU?t=37

(Not as fast as Matsushima (Sora)
If you can get to 5 or 6 shots in a rally, you'll win)

Sora is faster than WCQ? Doesn't pass my eye test.

However, I agree with Tomo's claim that if you can get 5 or 6 shots in a rally with WCQ, you have a good chance winning the rally. Actually that's what happened in the first game on the recent encounter they met and Tomo edged out WCQ. Unfortunately for Tomo, WCQ had a good coach in Wang Hao at his corner. Starting from the second game, WCQ played with more shot games, either with short push of long push disrupting Tomo's rhythm forcing him to initiate the topspin which resulted a miss or weak return. Essentially, Tomo couldn't comfortably half-step away from the table ready to counter WCQ's topspin attack. Tomo never had a chance after that.

The solution for Tomo obviously is also improving his short games and initiating more quality attacks in case of a long push, both of which are not easy tasks.

At this stage, WCQ is clearly an overall stronger player which doesn't mean Tomo has little chance against him.

 

[ThePongCommenter]

Germany and Japan is also a TT mad country, but the local fans there are more respectable to pros.

Not sure if you can say it out loud here, but it's definitely true. Chinese fans have much less sense of personal boundaries and respect, I know several CNT players who can't stand them but can't say that out loud, there are probably many more...

 

[NextLevel]

Now Harimoto says the same thing about WCQ as well, confirmed by TV Tokyo.

日本のエース・張本智和 vs 卓球帝国 左のエース・王楚欽！ペースを奪い返せずベスト4で敗退｜WTTチャンピオンズ重慶2025
https://youtu.be/mnQZijmWpAU?t=37

(Not as fast as Matsushima (Sora)
If you can get to 5 or 6 shots in a rally, you'll win)

This is just athlete's pride speaking, Lin Shidong is probably the best rally player in the world now and we saw what happened

 

[Half Long]

There are just less of them because he's new?
I suspect WCQ and LYJ have built up their fan base over years and in a few more years LSD will have his also.

Also happened vs LJK. Pretty sure it was all toxic WCQ fans cheering against LSD so that their idol could get back to #1 in rankings.