It’s gold for the Japanese duo! (2017 Düsseldorf)

Runners up two years ago in Suzhou, Japan’s Maharu Yoshimura and Kasumi Ishikawa have won the Mixed Doubles title at the Liebherr 2017 World Championships in Düsseldorf, as the no.6 seeds overcame Chinese Taipei’s Chen Chien-An and Cheng I-Ching in a proper seven game finale (8-11, 8-11, 11-8, 10-12, 11-4, 11-9, 11-5).

It was a narrow success for the winners, the seventh game itself saw the entire match’s tension encapsulated. Yoshimura and Ishikawa won the first three points, before Chen and Cheng called a “Time Out”. The pairs changed ends with the Japanese pair leading 5-0, which turned out to be a major advantage that was never relinquished. At 10-3, Yoshimura and Ishikawa held seven match points – at the third attempt they made sure Japan were winners for the eighth time in the Mixed Doubles event at a World Championships.

No luck for Liu, as Zhu reaches final! (2017 Düsseldorf)

What an incredible seven games we have just witnessed here in Germany! This all-Chinese affair could not have been more topsy turvy, as Zhu Yuling defeated Liu Shiwen 4-3 (10-12, 11-9, 7-11, 11-8, 8-11, 11-9, 11-5) after some of the best table tennis ever played!

The third seeded Zhu faced Liu, who was seeded 2nd. Liu went ahead 1-0, 2-1, and 3-2 during the run of the match, and yet it was all about the consistent recoveries by Zhu Yuling. The 22-year-old will now make her first ever World Championships final in the women’s singles event, where she will take on Ding Ning. 

Ding beats rising star Hirano (2017 Düsseldorf)

The top seed from China was faced with a daunting challenge of the 8th seeded Miu Hirano, quite possibly the best of the new generation. But the Queen of Hearts was up to it, as she coasted to a 4-1 (11-4, 11-8, 11-5, 5-11, 11-5) win and the final. 

Racing to a 3-0 lead, Ding Ning established her command on the match very early on, giving young Hirano no place to hide. But this Japanese speedster was not one to run away, as she recorded an impressive 11-5 win in the fourth game. It was to be in vain, as Ding finished off the match with an impressive forehand in the fifth and final game.

What a comeback by Xu!(2017 Düsseldorf)

It has been a Chinese classic as the third seeded Xu Xin came back from 0-2 and then 2-3 to beat 33rd seed Lin Gaoyuan 4-3 (10-12, ,9-11, 11-6, 11-9, 7-11, 11-6, 11-10).

Xu recovered from 5-10 down in the seventh game to win 12-10 against compatriot Lin. It all had looked over when Xu served a fault at 5-9, gifting Lin his match points. But it was the day of the Cloudwalker, as he found his ability to comeback into the match and how.

“I’m very thankful for the ball and for the table. The last round really depend on one’s will power. My tactics are not as advanced as Lin Gaoyuan. His playing methods are faster and he adapts to to the new balls better. I used a method where I mess up the opponent’s rhythm.” Xu Xin

Niwa eliminates Ovtcharov! (2017 Düsseldorf)

Tenth seed Koki Niwa has eliminated the host nation’s hopeful in a stunning 4-3 (11-13, 11-9, 11-13, 12-10, 11-5, 9-11, 11-9) win over Dimitrij Ovtcharov here in Germany.

Seeded 5th, Ovtcharov – quarter-finalist at Rio 2016 Olympic Games – could not handle the seemingly high-octane stance that his Japanese opponent took in the match. Having lost two out of the first three games, Niwa was not expected to make such a comeback, but once he was on top, there was no room left for Ovtcharov to exploit. 

Top seeds reach final (2017 Düsseldorf)

Masataka Morizono and Yuya Oshima have shown everyone the reason behind their top seeding, as they saw off Jeoung Youngsik and Lee Sangsu in a clinical display (11-3, 6-11, 11-8, 8-11, 11-3, 11-6).

The Japanese duo faced 4th seed Youngsik and Sangsu with no fear, and took on their fast rallies with utmost vigor. Despite going in at 2-2 during the fifth game, it was the Korea Republic pair which lacked momentum, and that came to be the main reason for Morizono and Oshima’s win.  

Chen and Cheng upset the running order! (2017 Düsseldorf)

What a start to the day we have had here in Düsseldorf, Germany! The World Championships are nearing their conclusion and the upsets keep coming as we have just witnessed Chen Chien-An and Cheng I-Ching defeat Wong Chun Ting and Doo Hoi Kem to reach the finals!

The 2nd seeds Wong and Doo have been a shining light in this tournament, and were favorites to reach the final. However, the Hong Kong China duo were defeated in a seven-game thriller by their Chinese Taipei opponents who, seeded 5th, showed some real mettle. Starting their 4-3 (11-7, 5-11, 11-5, 11-6, 5-11, 5-11, 11-9) win in style, it was only Chen and Cheng made sure the mini-comeback by Wong and Doo in the latter half of play was not completed – and that took some doing.