The first stage of the China Table Tennis Super League kicked off in Changsha on Monday, featuring a highly anticipated matchup between Shanghai's world number six, Fan Zhendong, and Shandong's world number one, Wang Chuqin.
In their third encounter this year, Fan continued his upper hand with a 2-1 lead in their head-to-head record. The match opened with a nail-biting first game where Fan saved three game points to secure a narrow 16-14 victory.
Wang bounced back in the second game, dominating with an impressive 11-3 win, leveling the match at one game each. However, Paris Olympics champion Fan rallied in the third game, claiming an 11-7 win.
The fourth game was a tense battle, with Fan edging out Wang 12-10 to take the match 3-1. This victory leveled the overall tie at 1-1. Ultimately, Shandong triumphed over Shanghai with a 3-2 scoreline, advancing to the semifinals.
The intense competition highlights the rising talent and fierce rivalries in the league, setting the stage for an exciting journey towards the championship.
Reference(s):
Fan Zhendong beat Wang Chuqin 3-1 in Shanghai & Shandong encounter
cgtn.com
