WTT Finals Hong Kong 2025, 12/10-14

[zeio]

I remember checking another butterfly website and got this

That was the case back on 2025/6/18.

https://web.archive.org/web/2025082...y.co.jp/players/detail/harimoto-tomokazu.html

 

[zeio]

40% of seats were empty for both WS and MS finals.

Harimoto said the G5 was the turning point and the extra match didn't affect him that much but actually helped him get used to the venue.

Harimoto keeps paying homage to FZD because he is his role model and wants to beat him again.

WTT香港總決賽｜張本智和四闖決賽終封王　力克莫利加特兌現承諾
https://www.hk01.com/即時體育/60303499/wtt香港總決賽-張本智和四闖決賽終封王-力克莫利加特兌現承諾

中國隊兩大人氣球手王楚欽與孫穎莎齊齊無緣今晚的決賽，紅館看台出現不少吉位，紅館約6成球迷。莫利加特是較多支持的一方，張本智和只有零星的日文打氣聲。

...

張本智和第四次打入WTT總決賽男單決賽，終捧盃而回，直言感覺難以置信，「我打過4次決賽，每次都想贏冠軍，無奈也是只差一點，今次終於贏冠軍當然十分高興。」張本晉級路上分別激戰菲歷斯勒邦（Felix Leburn）、林詩棟，他直言擊敗勒邦一仗至關重要。

張本智和在第五局一度在落敗邊緣，當局逆轉是勝負關鍵，「落後7：10是十分困難的局面，就如果該局失了將會是劣勢，當時我就專注一分一分打，堅定地相信自己，最後一步步扭轉局面。」

張本智和在四強與林詩棟激戰七局，莫利加特則不戰而勝，他坦言多打一場有利有弊，「體能當然有影響，但我比對手有多一場時間去適應場地，我認為多打一場的影響不大。」

WTT香港總決賽│張本智和奪冠模仿樊振東慶祝動作 下一目標：想再贏樊振東一次
https://www.stheadline.com/realtime-sport/3527043/WTT香港總決賽張本智和奪冠模仿樊振東慶祝動作-下一目標想再贏樊振東一次

張本：想再贏樊振東一次

張本智和在賽後受訪時，談及自己一直向樊振東學習：「我每次贏波都會做這個動作。我是想通過這種方式告訴他，我一直在向他學習。」而這名世界排名第5的好手在贏得個人首個WTT總決賽男單桂冠後，指自己真的好想和樊振東再打一場：「我在等着和他再次對決的那天。我特別想贏他一次，這是我一直以來的心願。」

 

[andymagata]

How many times do you guys usually watch a great match? I am thinking about the WS final, now I have the highlights on slow motion repeatedly and look at the way Man and Manyu play this game...I am in awe, I cannot understand how well they move around and how quickly they read play and how they are able to defend those out-of-the-world big forehands...2026 might be a big year for Man.

 

[NextLevel]

I remember checking another butterfly website and got this

Butterfly online is the American website and is not updated in a timely manner. Use Butterfly Japan or Butterfly Global.

 

[Oliverpool]

Okay. So why do you think he switched back?

I am not sure what he is using on his forehand now. But his forehand does seem stronger now especially in the rallies recently. Could be his focus on improving his forehand or
Maybe z03 if he did go
Back to it after dropping it initially? Before this tournament, he was blocking balls on his forehand flat. But this tournament he definitely seems to be countering or going over the ball when using his forehand to block. Does seem
Strange if he was still using d05. Anyway it’s just my guess. What do you think?

 

[Oliverpool]

How many times do you guys usually watch a great match? I am thinking about the WS final, now I have the highlights on slow motion repeatedly and look at the way Man and Manyu play this game...I am in awe, I cannot understand how well they move around and how quickly they read play and how they are able to defend those out-of-the-world big forehands...2026 might be a big year for Man.

I am sure that they both being in the CNT is the main reason for it. They probably train together a number of times. When you are familiar with your opponent, there tends to be more rallies.

 

[zeio]

【インタビュー】張本智和 年間王者に王手「4度目の正直。絶対に絶対に絶対に絶対に絶対に優勝するんだ」｜WTTファイナルズ香港2025
https://youtu.be/qY2SUn-nvPY?t=68

 

[zeio]

Tony Yue has slightly different numbers:
60% Mainland fans;
30% Hong Kong fans;
10% overseas fans.

WTT香港總決賽8.7萬人入場創紀錄　WTT行政總裁：首年已取得成功
https://www.hk01.com/即時體育/60303538/wtt香港總決賽8-7萬人入場創紀錄-wtt行政總裁-首年已取得成功

WTT香港總決賽的門票分別在本地及內地的售票平台發售，乒總主席余國樑指球迷比例為六成、三成、一成，內地球迷佔六成，三成是香港球迷，另外一成則是其他球迷，他認為這比例「健康」：「紅館正在火車站（紅磡鐵路站）旁邊，交通方便，有利更多球迷來看球。」

無綫7:30一小時新聞：宏福苑五級火　黃偉綸指將於大埔覓地建居屋　讓居民可原區安置｜中國再公布一批新檔案　證實侵華日軍發動細菌戰｜TVB News｜2025/12/13
https://youtu.be/6pAEY6aBVsQ?t=2261

Tickets for the last 3 days were sold out shortly.
40% Hong Kong locals;
50% Mainland tourists (妹仔大過主人婆);
10% overseas tourists.
Steve Dainton, WTT CEO: We've had very very good support from the government officials here, and much more than in some other places...
Tony Yue, HKTTA president: In the past, table tennis events were mostly held at the [Queen] Elizabeth Stadium. Moving to the Hung Hom Coliseum (de facto name of the Hong Kong Coliseum), such a huge venue with 10,000 seats, we were cautious at first, but after tickets went on sale, we felt the anticipation and got a big boost in confidence about holding the event. We will get in touch with the international bodies to have more events.

 

[zeio]

Where did the rest (40%) of the prize money go?

https://www.worldtabletennis.com/ev...Points and Prize Money Breakdown&eventId=3112
MS+WS+XD
(80000+44000+26000*2+18000*4+14000*8)*2+(14000+11000+8000*2+5500*2+4000*2)=780000

Points for 2024 expired last month. Why the point table is not there over at WTT site is anyone's guess.

2025 Week 47 – 18th November 2025
https://www.ittf.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/2025_47_SEN_MS.html
https://www.ittf.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/2025_47_SEN_WS.html
https://www.ittf.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/2025_47_SEN_MD.html
https://www.ittf.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/2025_47_SEN_WD.html

ITTF Table Tennis World Ranking Regulations (latest update: 22nd Apr 2025)
https://www.ittf.com/wp-content/upl...Tennis-World-Ranking-Regulations-20250422.pdf

 

[Metaxa]

I am not sure what he is using on his forehand now. But his forehand does seem stronger now especially in the rallies recently. Could be his focus on improving his forehand or
Maybe z03 if he did go
Back to it after dropping it initially? Before this tournament, he was blocking balls on his forehand flat. But this tournament he definitely seems to be countering or going over the ball when using his forehand to block. Does seem
Strange if he was still using d05. Anyway it’s just my guess. What do you think?

I briefly "analyzed" Truls' points. In the first set, Truls scored 8 points, 8 times on Tomo's forehand!!!...
In the second set, 5 of his 11 points were to/via Tomo's forehand. Third set = 5/9, fourth set = 8/12, fifth set = 5/12, sixth set = 2/2, or roughly 33 of his 54 points were scored on Tomo's forehand.

 

[NetProphet]

I briefly "analyzed" Truls' points. In the first set, Truls scored 8 points, 8 times on Tomo's forehand!!!...
In the second set, 5 of his 11 points were to/via Tomo's forehand. Third set = 5/9, fourth set = 8/12, fifth set = 5/12, sixth set = 2/2, or roughly 33 of his 54 points were scored on Tomo's forehand.

Meaning what exactly?

 

[blahness]

I briefly "analyzed" Truls' points. In the first set, Truls scored 8 points, 8 times on Tomo's forehand!!!...
In the second set, 5 of his 11 points were to/via Tomo's forehand. Third set = 5/9, fourth set = 8/12, fifth set = 5/12, sixth set = 2/2, or roughly 33 of his 54 points were scored on Tomo's forehand.

This is insufficient analysis, you have to see if it is on attack or defence. If he missed most of them on attack then there is a problem on his FH loop. But if it is on defence, it is more nuanced than that. Players generally prioritise guarding the diagonal corner since the straight is riskier to land. I saw Truls land a lot of very difficult FH pivot loopkills down the line, so Tomo missing the FH counter or block on those is more of a calculated decision rather than some kind of technical deficiency.

 

[joshmak10]

I’m too lazy to bring up a picture, but it did look like during Hong Kong that Tomo’s FH rubber sponge looked more red than pink and the sponge was thinner and topsheet thicker than the BH Zyre. So i’m not sure, could just be a trick to my eyes

 

[Metaxa]

Meaning what exactly?

Not that difficult to understand, I thought.

 

[Metaxa]

I saw Truls land a lot of very difficult FH pivot loopkills down the line, so Tomo missing the FH counter or block on those is more of a calculated decision rather than some kind of technical deficiency.

What is a calculated decision? No, no, for sure a technical deficiency. Tomo's forehand is already much better than last year, but it's sad to see that he still has no reaction when switching from backhand to forehand. You noticed it yourself! And Truls saw it clearly. And indeed, in my opinion, there is still far too much diagonal play. If you want to score unexpected points, a parallel ball is the best approach. If you don't score the point, it's definitely good preparation for your next ball.

 

[Lazer]

I briefly "analyzed" Truls' points. In the first set, Truls scored 8 points, 8 times on Tomo's forehand!!!...
In the second set, 5 of his 11 points were to/via Tomo's forehand. Third set = 5/9, fourth set = 8/12, fifth set = 5/12, sixth set = 2/2, or roughly 33 of his 54 points were scored on Tomo's forehand.

Its very difficult to perceive where Truls stroke will land, and on FH will need a little longer to react.
If you compare to Tomos previous match where he could just stand in on place (almost) and hit right back.
Tomo simply didn't have enough time to react.


Cheers
L-zr

 

[Metaxa]

Tomo simply didn't have enough time to react.


Cheers
L-zr

This! I noticed this when he was 13 years old. He is a great player, but he has a (natural) shortcoming, especially because he is BH-oriented. The problem is there and will always be there. It's not a problem of forehand > backhand, he's always on time and often even has an attacking response, but in the other direction he is (too) often unresponsive or too late. It's as if he doesn't expect (parallel) balls on his forehand.

 

[NetProphet]

Not that difficult to understand, I thought.

Ah, you started thinking. Maybe that's where you went wrong!
It means nothing.
Every point has to be analysed on the basis of the point progression and the shots before it that set up the winner.
One player hit x no of winners to player y's fh side. On its own that's a random and largely useless piece of information.
If your point is that Harimoto cannot defend his FH side then you'd be wrong.
Nobody can defend the FH side properly when they are previously pushed out of position or were forced to an error that popped the ball up (or otherwise) to leave a relatively easy winner.
But I don't know what your point is because you didn't make one, or clarify.

 

[Lazer]

This! I noticed this when he was 13 years old. He is a great player, but he has a (natural) shortcoming, especially because he is BH-oriented. The problem is there and will always be there. It's not a problem of forehand > backhand, he's always on time and often even has an attacking response, but in the other direction he is (too) often unresponsive or too late. It's as if he doesn't expect (parallel) balls on his forehand.

I don’t think so, it’s just so difficult to read Truls FH strokes.

Cheers
L-zr

 

[SorryForTheEdge]

Congratulations to Harimoto for winning first place. I tried his super zlc blade and it has amazing speed and control.