The wait is nearly over! From March 11-16, table tennis fever will take over Chongqing as WTT Champions Chongqing 2025 Presented by AITO lights up the Huaxi LIVE Yudong Arena. With the first WTT Champions event of the season upon us, anticipation is at an all-time high. Featuring 32 Men’s and Women’s Singles superstars, the tournament promises six days of exhilarating battles on the iconic Infinity ∞ Arena.
Can Wang Chuqin Reclaim His Throne?
A major storyline heading into the event revolves around the top of the Men’s Singles rankings. Lin Shidong, fresh off his Singapore Smash 2025 triumph, has taken over the World No.1 spot, ending Wang Chuqin’s reign that lasted nearly a year.
Wang, the runner-up in Chongqing last year, returns with only one goal in mind—to reclaim the title. However, his road to victory won’t be easy. Lin Shidong has been unstoppable in recent months, boasting two WTT Grand Smash victories and also two WTT Champions titles. Their growing rivalry sets the stage for an electrifying showdown.
Can Anyone Stop Sun Yingsha?
The queen of the WTT Champions stage, Sun Yingsha, returns as the defending champion, aiming for her sixth title. With her exceptional performance in last year’s Chongqing edition and her recent triumph at Singapore Smash, she enters the tournament as the clear favorite.
However, challengers are ready to dethrone her. Wang Manyu, the WTT Champions Frankfurt 2024 winner, seeks consecutive titles, while Wang Yidi, a former WTT Champions Frankfurt champion, aims to end her 16-month title drought. Chen Xingtong and Miwa Harimoto, both former finalists, are also determined to make their mark.
Former Champions Seeking Redemption
Tomokazu Harimoto, the WTT Champions ESS 2022 winner, started the season strong with a victory at WTT Star Contender Doha 2025. However, after a shocking early exit at Singapore Smash, he’s eager to bounce back in Chongqing.
Meanwhile, Lin Yun-Ju, the WTT Champions Frankfurt 2023 champion, is looking to reignite his 2025 campaign. And who could forget Felix Lebrun and Satsuki Odo? Their underdog triumphs in Montpellier last season prove that surprises are always in store at WTT Champions events.
Rising Stars and Newcomers Ready to Shine
Four players are set to make their WTT Champions debut in Chongqing, each hoping to leave a lasting impression.
Kuai Man (Host Wildcard): The rising Chinese star stunned the world by reaching the Women’s Singles final at Singapore Smash 2025. Now, she looks to carry that momentum into her first WTT Champions appearance.
Chen Yuanyu (Host Wildcard): The 19-year-old Chinese prodigy enters the Men’s Singles draw after securing his first WTT Series title at WTT Contender Muscat 2025.
Kanak Jha (WTT Nomination): Returning to Chongqing after nine months, Jha is in peak form, having reached the last 16 at Singapore Smash 2025 and won the ITTF Pan American Cup.
Maria Xiao (WTT Nomination): The Spanish player, a WTT Feeder Series event winner, is stepping up to the WTT Champions level, ready to make an impact.
Other Key Storylines to Follow
Several players who have come close to WTT Champions glory in the past are back for another shot at the title:
Hugo Calderano, Lin Gaoyuan, Dang Qiu, and Anton Källberg have all reached a WTT Champions final before. Can they finally secure the crown?
Alexis Lebrun is riding high after breaking into the World Top 10 following his Singapore Smash semifinal run. After an early exit in Chongqing last year, he is out for redemption.
Bernadette Szocs and Hana Goda have consistently performed well at this level. Goda, still just 17, aims to recover from consecutive round-of-32 exits and make another deep run.
A Tournament of High Stakes
Reserved for the best of the best, WTT Champions events feature the Top 30 players in the world, plus two wildcard entries per category. With a massive $800,000 prize pool and up to 1000 ITTF Table Tennis World Ranking points up for grabs, every match in Chongqing will be fiercely contested.
As the first WTT Champions event of 2025, this tournament will set the tone for the season. Who will rise to the occasion? Who will falter under pressure? We’re about to find out.
Get Ready for WTT Champions Chongqing 2025!
Source of the header photo: WTT