The stage was set for World No.1 Wang Chuqin to claim his third consecutive WTT Champions Macao title, but his dreams were dashed on Saturday in a shocking semifinal upset. Lin Shidong, fresh off an impressive run in Almaty, outplayed the two-time champion, winning 4-1 (11-7, 11-6, 7-11, 11-6, 11-9) and leaving the crowd at the Macao East Asian Games Dome stunned.
Wang Chuqin, who had cruised through the earlier rounds without dropping a game, struggled to find his rhythm in the semifinal. Lin, on the other hand, looked unstoppable, having already taken down Tomokazu Harimoto and Lin Yun-Ju in the previous rounds. The young Chinese star took control early in the match, outpacing Wang with a combination of precise shots and relentless focus.
Lin Shidong’s Remarkable Form
Brimming with confidence after winning three titles in Almaty, Lin Shidong entered the semifinal with momentum and carried that through against the World No.1. Speaking after the match, Lin reflected on his performance:
I think the key today was staying focused on each point, no matter what the score was. Whether I was leading or losing, I kept my concentration and didn’t let up," Lin said.
His discipline paid off, as he banked his first-ever victory over Wang Chuqin and continued his streak of wins over World No.1 players, adding this to earlier successes against Fan Zhendong.