Recaps

Wang Chao and Tang Yuanyuan advanced through the Olympic mixed doubles bracket, while Wang Chao helped Lin Zijun prepare for his match against Daehan Minguk’s veteran pair. The Tang Dynasty Combination reached the final, but Wang Chao’s uneven play left observers puzzled and Lin Zijun convinced that Wang Chao had sacrificed his own preparation to help him.

• The Bay Island Combination and the Tang Dynasty Combination advanced to the quarterfinals, while Hook’s Brazilian pair upset the Beautiful Country Combination before losing to Germany.
• Wang Chao agreed to practice with Lin Zijun and helped him prepare for Kim Bong and Kim Jong, despite Tang Yuanyuan questioning his decision.
• Lin Zijun defeated Kim Bong and Kim Jong 3:0, then stayed to watch Wang Chao and Tang Yuanyuan beat Ichikawa Mima and Niuwa Xiaoxi 3:1.
• Wang Chao told reporters that mixed doubles was improving worldwide, prompting International Table Tennis Federation officials to reconsider whether they needed to suppress the event.
• The Bay Island Combination and the Tang Dynasty Combination swept their semifinal opponents 3:0, setting up a final between the two Asian favorites.
• Fans criticized Wang Chao’s inconsistent play against France, while Lin Zijun believed Wang Chao’s help had hurt his own performance.

Before the Olympic mixed doubles final, Wang Chao trained in unusual ways, first racing Gao Mingyuan and then focusing on powerful attacks. In the final against Lin Zijun and Zhen Jing, Wang Chao scored with a daring prediction against Lin Zijun’s Super Speed, leaving He Jingping and Cai Guodong wondering how he had done it.

• During practice, Wang Chao ignored Cai Guodong’s tactical advice and challenged Gao Mingyuan to a running contest, eventually outrunning him and winning the point.
• Wang Chao stopped running around after He Jingping warned him to consider Tang Yuanyuan, but he began trying to overpower opponents with forehand shots instead.
• The German Combination defeated the French Combination 3:1 to win the mixed doubles bronze medal.
• Tang Yuanyuan and Wang Chao faced Lin Zijun and Zhen Jing in the Olympic mixed doubles final, with Lin Zijun serving first.
• Tang Yuanyuan attacked Lin Zijun’s serve, and Wang Chao anticipated Lin Zijun’s Super Speed counter and returned the ball twice to give the Tang Dynasty Combination a 1:0 lead.
• He Jingping questioned how Wang Chao had seen Lin Zijun’s movement, while Cai Guodong noticed Wang Chao’s change but chose to keep watching.

Qin Huachang stayed offline during the Olympic mixed doubles final, leaving fans without his commentary as Wang Chao and Tang Yuanyuan faced Lin Zijun and Zhen Jing. Wang Chao appeared to read Lin Zijun’s movements and test a new approach, while Sun Tianlong prepared to study the recorded match ahead of a possible singles encounter.

• Qin Huachang’s family stopped him from streaming the late-night Olympic matches, and Silver Ball Dance announced that fans should not wait for his broadcast.
• Wang Chao’s short push forced Zhen Jing into a high return, which Tang Yuanyuan attacked before Lin Zijun countered at the table.
• Wang Chao thrust his racket toward Lin Zijun’s counterdrive but missed, letting the Taiwan Island Combination tie the score at 1:1.
• Wang Lu and He Jingping suspected that Wang Chao had read Lin Zijun’s movement rather than guessed, and they wondered why he was showing new techniques.
• Sun Tianlong skipped the match and asked He Jingping to record it so he could review Wang Chao’s condition while continuing his Olympic training.

The Tang Dynasty Combination challenged Lin Zijun’s Super Speed head-on, while Wang Chao tested his ability to read and respond to Lin Zijun’s attacks. The score reached 2:2, and Chinese coaches confirmed that Wang Chao could see Lin Zijun’s movements but still could not move fast enough to return them.

• Wang Chao served to Zhen Jing, whose cautious receive gave Tang Yuanyuan chances to attack, and Wang Chao used a Great Python Turn to win the point for a 2:1 lead.
• Tang Yuanyuan kept power-looping against Lin Zijun, prompting Lin Zijun to decide he would become even faster rather than let the Tang Dynasty Combination break through his strongest point.
• Wang Chao used a Sneak Long Serve, and Zhen Jing retreated and guided the ball back safely before Tang Yuanyuan attacked again.
• Lin Zijun countered Tang Yuanyuan’s power loop with extra force, and Wang Chao retreated but could not reach the ball, tying the score at 2:2.
• He Jingping and Wang Lu confirmed that Wang Chao could read Lin Zijun’s movements, though his speed still fell short, and they wondered how his renewed abilities would fare against Luo Jiu and Sun Tianlong.

Lin Zijun and Zhen Jing struggled against Wang Chao and Tang Yuanyuan’s varied tactics, but Lin Zijun rallied after realizing he could play freely. The score reached 3:3, and Lin Zijun became convinced Wang Chao had changed his approach to protect and motivate him.

• Wang Chao countered Lin Zijun’s power loop with a simplified Super Speed Defense Mode, giving the Tang Dynasty Combination a 3:2 lead.
• Lin Zijun attacked with all his strength, but Wang Chao retreated and returned a sharply angled slice that Zhen Jing barely saved.
• Tang Yuanyuan attempted a female version of the Great Python Turn, stumbled, and then Lin Zijun jumped to drive her return short and fast, tying the score at 3:3.
• Zhen Jing encouraged Lin Zijun to play freely, and he calmed down and accepted that losing was not the worst outcome.
• Lin Zijun concluded that Wang Chao was using new tactics to protect him from opponents copying his old method and to push him to keep improving.

The Tang Dynasty Combination defeated the Taiwan Island Combination 3:0 to win the Olympic mixed doubles gold, and Wang Chao’s rise to world number two drew attention at the men’s singles draw. The draw placed Sun Tianlong in Luo Jiu’s half, leaving him on course to face Luo Jiu before any possible final.

• Lin Zijun and Wang Chao turned the final point of the third game into a playful rally, and the Tang Dynasty Combination beat the Taiwan Island Combination 3:0 to claim gold.
• The Silver Ball Dance website announced that Qin Huachang would stream Sun Tianlong’s men’s singles final if he reached it, and Qin Huachang persuaded his family to let him commentate.
• The Olympic schedule moved on to the doubles events, while fans gathered to watch the men’s singles draw.
• The rankings showed Wang Chao in second place, just over ten points behind Luo Jiu, while Sun Tianlong had fallen to fourth.
• The draw placed Luo Jiu and Sun Tianlong in the top half and Wang Chao in the bottom half, meaning Sun Tianlong would have to face Luo Jiu before reaching a possible final.

Luo Jiu and Sun Tianlong won the Men's Doubles gold medal after defeating Germany and Sweden, while Germany took bronze. With the doubles events concluded, the story left the athletes and fans anticipating the singles competitions beginning the next day.

• Mexico's men's and women's doubles pairs were eliminated, while the quarterfinals narrowed the remaining teams to the leading associations.
• Luo Jiu and Sun Tianlong defeated Wolf and Qiu Shang 3-1, and Morad and Michel edged Zhang Benkuang and Utada Seiya 3-2 to reach the Men's Doubles final.
• Wang Chao brought Lin Zijun in as a practice partner, and Lin Zijun helped Sun Tianlong and Luo Jiu uncover weaknesses before the final.
• Wolf and Qiu Shang beat Zhang Benkuang and Utada Seiya in a deciding game to win the Men's Doubles bronze medal.
• Luo Jiu and Sun Tianlong defeated Morad and Michel 3-0 to claim the Men's Doubles gold medal, and Chinese players stood as their national flag rose.
• Foreign fans turned their attention to the singles events, which were due to begin the following day.

The men's singles round of sixteen was set after several upsets, including Zhang Benkuang defeating Michel, while Luo Jiu repeatedly left the Olympic Village instead of training. Cai Guodong worried about Luo Jiu's upcoming match against Morad, but He Jingping remained confident despite admitting he did not know how Luo Jiu had been preparing.

• The men's singles draw saw Sissifield, Gananaka, Kazik, Ochomirov, and Michel eliminated, while Zhang Benkuang's victory over Michel established him as a rising elite player.
• The round-of-sixteen lineup was finalized on December 15, with Luo Jiu scheduled to face Morad the next day.
• Luo Jiu left the Olympic Village after dinner again, continuing his pattern of returning in the early hours instead of training.
• Cai Guodong asked He Jingping whether Luo Jiu would be ready for Morad, whose coach and mentor Old Wa had joined the Swedish team.
• He Jingping said Luo Jiu wanted to win but admitted he did not know how Luo Jiu had trained, prompting Cai Guodong to warn him to keep a close eye on Luo Jiu.
• After Cai Guodong left, He Jingping stopped Wang Chao's practice and asked him to discuss Luo Jiu with him because he was worried.

Wang Chao explained how he helped Fan Xiaoxian join the Olympic trip and persuaded He Jingping to let Luo Jiu spend time with her and train with Wu Li. Luo Jiu crushed Morad 4:0, and Sun Tianlong then revealed his peak form against Zhang Benkuang, declaring that his final four career matches would show the world his invincibility.

• Wang Chao told He Jingping that Fan Xiaoxian’s support had reignited Luo Jiu’s ambition, and He Jingping approved Luo Jiu’s leave and gave him signed leave slips.
• Luo Jiu defeated Morad 4:0 in the men’s singles round of sixteen, playing with unusual passion and demonstrating that he had improved since the World Table Tennis Championships final.
• He Jingping watched Luo Jiu’s victory with relief, while Cai Guodong also relaxed after seeing that Luo Jiu had not neglected his training.
• Sun Tianlong began his round-of-sixteen match against Zhang Benkuang by fighting at full intensity, startling Wang Chao with evidence that he had returned to peak form.
• Sun Tianlong resolved to use his final four career matches to demonstrate his full strength and declare his time of invincibility.

Sun Tianlong dominated Zhang Benkuang in the Round of 16 while revealing a more aggressive side, and Wang Chao explained why he and Luo Jiu were playing freely. Wang Chao prepared for his upcoming match, leaving his own intentions and whether he would reveal anything new unanswered.

• Sun Tianlong defeated Zhang Benkuang 11–1 in the third game as spectators watched his forceful attacking play.
• Luo Jiu told Fan Xiaoxian that Sun Tianlong was enjoying his final matches and had finally begun playing freely, then joked about his coming match against Sun Tianlong.
• Wang Chao told Qiu Yinong that Sun Tianlong and Luo Jiu were showing their hands without relying on tricks, and predicted their semifinal would be decided mainly by fundamentals.
• Wang Chao said he expected to lose to Sun Tianlong and privately intended to concede if they met, while explaining that he no longer felt driven to win a Grand Slam.
• As Sun Tianlong's match neared its end, Wang Chao left to warm up before his own match and told Qiu Yinong he would find out whether Wang Chao had something new to show.

Wang Chao defeated Zhu Shixian 4–0, using relentless power loops to reveal that his strength, explosiveness, and speed had all improved. The match left Luo Jiu, Sun Tianlong, and the Chinese coaching staff aware that Wang Chao had closed the gap in basic attributes.

• Zhu Shixian chose long backspin serves and tried to extend rallies, but Wang Chao attacked quickly and took the opening points.
• Wang Chao repeatedly power-looped through Zhu Shixian's chops, landing four consecutive full-power shots and raising the score to 6–0.
• Wang Chao won the first three games 11–1, 11–3, and 11–4 before shutting Zhu Shixian out 11–0 in the fourth.
• The audience criticized the match as too simple, while knowledgeable observers recognized Wang Chao's improved strength, explosiveness, and speed.
• Luo Jiu, Sun Tianlong, He Jingping, and Cai Guodong noticed Wang Chao's faster footwork and understood that his basic attributes had improved across the board.

The Olympic men's singles quarterfinals began, with Luo Jiu defeating Arul and Sun Tianlong crushing Pike. Sun Tianlong then asked Qin Huachang not to livestream his likely final, but after his teacher insisted, he promised to give everything to win.

• Luo Jiu beat Arul 4–0 after turning their match into a fierce forehand duel, then boldly claimed he would win the championship and teased Sun Tianlong and Wang Chao.
• Wang Chao felt relieved to see Luo Jiu acting like his old, carefree self again.
• Sun Tianlong defeated Pike 4–0, with Pike refusing to accept Sun's attempted gift of a point.
• Sun Tianlong called Qin Huachang and asked him not to livestream the final because he was not confident of winning.
• Qin Huachang insisted he wanted to watch Sun Tianlong compete, and Sun Tianlong agreed to give everything he had to win.

Wang Chao swept Bayer, and Lin Zijun narrowly defeated Hook to complete the men’s singles semifinals, which would pit Luo Jiu against Sun Tianlong and Wang Chao against Lin Zijun. That night, Luo Jiu enlisted Wang Chao to help him prepare for Sun Tianlong, while Hook offered to help Sun Tianlong simulate Luo Jiu, revealing that he wanted revenge and hoped Sun would achieve a Double Grand Slam.

• Wang Chao defeated Bayer 4–0 in thirty-two minutes, leaving Europe without a semifinalist.
• Lin Zijun beat Hook 4–3 after Hook fell apart in the final game, securing a place in the semifinal against Wang Chao.
• Chinese table tennis officials concluded that Lin Zijun won because he adjusted his mentality better under pressure than Hook did.
• The men’s singles semifinals were set as Luo Jiu versus Sun Tianlong and Wang Chao versus Lin Zijun, prompting International Table Tennis Federation officials to call for further reform.
• Luo Jiu asked Wang Chao to help him practice for Sun Tianlong, and Wang Chao agreed while joking that they would both win.
• Hook contacted Sun Tianlong and offered to simulate Luo Jiu, admitting he wanted revenge and hoped Sun would fulfill his Double Grand Slam dream.

Wang Chao and Luo Jiu trained together while discussing Sun Tianlong’s strength ahead of Luo Jiu’s match against him. Hook helped Sun Tianlong study Luo Jiu’s habits, leaving Luo Jiu unaware that his opponent was preparing with detailed information about him.

• Wang Chao visited his mother, Wang Mei, and Tony teacher, then joined Luo Jiu for a late-night training session.
• Wang Chao dominated their practice match as Luo Jiu joked, complained, and admitted he could not beat his junior brother.
• Luo Jiu accidentally revealed that Hook knew Wang Chao would surrender if he faced Sun Tianlong, then sneezed repeatedly while Hook sneezed in a separate training hall.
• Hook demonstrated Luo Jiu’s playing habits for Sun Tianlong and said Sun Tianlong was stronger than Luo Jiu.
• Wang Chao told Luo Jiu that Sun Tianlong had recovered and was likely at his peak, explaining why defeating him required more than matching his raw ability.
• Luo Jiu suspected Wang Chao was trying to unsettle him, unaware that Hook had already helped Sun Tianlong analyze his game.

Luo Jiu and Sun Tianlong began their Olympic Men's Singles semifinal, trading relentless attacks in a first game that reached 6:6. Sun Tianlong then resolved to target Luo Jiu specifically, while Qin Huachang watched anxiously from afar as the Qin and Zhu schools’ disciples fought.

• After losing the Women's Singles semifinal, Jin Ling stayed to watch the Men's Singles match and considered retiring to become a coach.
• He Jingping told Luo Jiu to risk his life, and Luo Jiu and Sun Tianlong each claimed to be eighty percent confident before the semifinal began.
• Luo Jiu and Sun Tianlong traded aggressive attacks, and Sun Tianlong took a 6:4 lead with five consecutive powerful loops.
• Luo Jiu rallied through an exhausting long-distance exchange and pulled the score level at 6:6, collapsing to his knees after his final shot.
• Sun Tianlong admired Luo Jiu's effort and prepared to target him specifically, while Qin Huachang secretly watched and rooted for the Qin school.

Sun Tianlong exploited Luo Jiu’s backhand weakness by repeatedly suppressing it and refusing to attack when Luo Jiu tried to break the stalemate. Luo Jiu lost the point and fell behind 8:6, leaving Sun Tianlong in control of the tactical battle.

• Luo Jiu and Sun Tianlong shifted from fierce attacks into a long exchange of short pushes aimed at each other’s backhands.
• Sun Tianlong recognized that Luo Jiu’s forehand loop powered his overall system and used backhand suppression to prevent Luo Jiu from attacking.
• Luo Jiu deliberately popped up two returns to tempt Sun Tianlong into attacking, but Sun Tianlong calmly pushed both balls short and prolonged the rally.
• Luo Jiu finally swung wildly to end the stalemate, giving Sun Tianlong the point and a 7:6 lead.
• Luo Jiu served a Bullet Serve, and Sun Tianlong drove him away from the table with five explosive loops before dropping the sixth ball short to make it 8:6.

Sun Tianlong dominated Luo Jiu 4:0 in the Olympic men's singles semifinal by relentlessly targeting his backhand, securing a place in the final. Wang Chao decided he would avoid facing Sun Tianlong and considered losing to Lin Zijun instead.

• Sun Tianlong repeatedly pinned Luo Jiu's backhand and won the first game 11:6 after Luo Jiu's attempts to change tactics failed.
• Wang Chao recognized Sun Tianlong's simple strategy of suppressing Luo Jiu's fundamental weakness and decided to warm up for his own match.
• Sun Tianlong defeated Luo Jiu 11:4, 11:2, and 11:1, advancing to the final with a 4:0 victory.
• Wang Chao planned to lose to Lin Zijun rather than face Sun Tianlong in the final.
• Sun Tianlong gave Luo Jiu a point at 10:0 in the last game, while Hook worried that Luo Jiu might learn of his betrayal.

Lin Zijun fought Wang Chao with everything he had, but Wang Chao repeatedly intercepted his Super Speed Defense returns and won the opening point. He Jingping worried that Wang Chao would throw the semifinal, and Cai Guodong learned why He Jingping had asked him to help intervene.

• Lin Zijun abandoned his plan to merely make the match respectable and decided to fight desperately, serving a deep Bullet Serve to Wang Chao.
• Wang Chao repeatedly shoved back Lin Zijun's lightning-fast returns, forced him into a high ball, and won the point to lead 1:0.
• The coaches and audience wondered how Wang Chao had countered Lin Zijun's Super Speed Defense Mode, while He Jingping admitted that he did not know Wang Chao's new technique.
• He Jingping asked Cai Guodong to help him stop Wang Chao from throwing the match, and Cai Guodong realized He Jingping had brought him over to lend authority.
• The chapter revealed that Sun Tianlong had warned He Jingping that Wang Chao might throw the match and had asked him to prevent it without exposing Sun Tianlong's involvement.
• Lin Zijun continued to rely on Super Speed Defense Mode and served another baseline Bullet Serve.

Wang Chao used varied attacks to beat Lin Zijun in the first three games, while Lin Zijun mistook his restraint for an effort to protect his dignity. He Jingping suspected Wang Chao was deliberately throwing the match, and the fourth game reached 10:10 as he waited for proof.

• Wang Chao countered Lin Zijun's Super Speed Defense Mode, and Lin Zijun shifted to blocking while Wang Chao attacked without finding a decisive finish.
• Wang Chao won the first game 11:8 as He Jingping searched for signs that he was deliberately losing.
• Lin Zijun decided Wang Chao was keeping the match close to protect him and smiled at Wang Chao, making He Jingping more convinced they had colluded.
• Wang Chao told He Jingping he was trying new things, then won the second game 11:9 and the third 11:7.
• He Jingping watched the fourth game closely as the score reached 10:10, while Qin Huachang was also nervous watching from afar.

Wang Chao defeated Lin Zijun 4:0 in the semifinal, reaching the final against Sun Tianlong instead of throwing the match. He realized Sun Tianlong wanted him to compete honestly and resolved to face him despite his earlier oath.

• Qin Huachang watched Wang Chao play and recognized that his strength, speed, reactions, and explosiveness had steadily improved.
• Wang Chao disrupted Lin Zijun’s timing with a sudden pause before a power loop, winning the fourth game 12:10 and the match 4:0.
• He Jingping was stunned that Wang Chao had won, then celebrated his disciple’s place in the final.
• Wang Chao recalled his oath not to face Sun Tianlong and his doubts about whether throwing a match would truly honor him.
• Seeing Sun Tianlong encourage him from the stands, Wang Chao decided to follow his heart and meet him in the final.

Liu Wen defeated Shen Sha to win the Olympic Women's Singles title and decided to keep playing, while the Olympic Men's Singles final between Wang Chao and Sun Tianlong was about to begin. Qin Huachang opened his livestream despite collapsing after watching Wang Chao's previous match, and the referee tossed the coin to start the final.

• Luo Jiu confronted Hook after learning Hook had exposed Wang Chao's plan, and the two made up after a night of drinking and fighting.
• Liu Wen defeated Shen Sha 4-0 in the Women's Singles final, then told Wang Wendong she would postpone retirement and pursue the missing World Cup title.
• Wang Mei remained relaxed before Wang Chao's final while Geng Shuai and Wu Li felt nervous, and the arena introduced Wang Chao and Sun Tianlong.
• Qin Huachang watched Wang Chao defeat Lin Zijun, suffered a medical emergency, and later insisted on livestreaming the Olympic final despite his family's worries.
• Qin Huachang muttered curses about Wang Chao as the referee tossed the coin before the Men's Singles final.

Wang Chao faced Sun Tianlong in the final, where Lin Zijun realized Wang Chao could now see a coin’s orientation and had gained exceptional speed and power. After a prolonged opening rally, Wang Chao won the first point, showing that Sun Tianlong no longer held a power advantage.

• Wang Chao let Sun Tianlong call the coin toss, and Lin Zijun recognized the hesitation as proof that Wang Chao could see which side of the coin was facing up.
• Sun Tianlong opened with a carefully placed short backspin serve, and he and Wang Chao traded short pushes for twenty-eight shots.
• Sun Tianlong pushed long to Wang Chao’s backhand, and Wang Chao took the initiative with a powerful backhand topspin.
• Wang Chao and Sun Tianlong traded explosive loops until Wang Chao’s Great Python Turn forced Sun Tianlong into a defensive position.
• Sun Tianlong chased Wang Chao’s angled shots and fell to the floor, but Wang Chao fired a return into the wide backhand corner to win the point 1–0.

Sun Tianlong and Wang Chao traded a spectacular second point, with Sun Tianlong unveiling a risky close-to-the-table sidespin chop and Wang Chao surviving through speed and precise judgment. Sun Tianlong won the point to tie the score at 1:1, but Qin Huachang feared Wang Chao had already surpassed his disciple in several key abilities.

• Sun Tianlong changed tactics after Wang Chao returned his short serve, using a fast backhand block to send the ball deep to Wang Chao's backhand.
• Wang Chao and Sun Tianlong traded fast attacks until Sun Tianlong countered Wang Chao's powerful forehand loop with a close-to-the-table sidespin chop.
• Wang Chao chased the sharply changing ball beyond the table and returned it with a long, slow chop to buy time and regain his balance.
• Sun Tianlong pushed the ball back instead of attacking, and the rally reset as the scoreboard reached 1:1.
• Qin Huachang concluded that Sun Tianlong would probably lose, believing Wang Chao had surpassed him in touch, power, movement speed, and reaction speed.

Wang Chao took a 2:1 lead after standing his ground to return Sun Tianlong’s backhand killing shot, and Qin Huachang recognized that Wang Chao had overcome his remaining weaknesses. Qin Huachang predicted a straight-set sweep before his health forced him off the livestream, while Sun Tianlong felt a sudden pain in his heart as the match continued.

• Wang Chao and Sun Tianlong traded rapid close-to-the-table attacks as Sun Tianlong revealed a high-quality backhand twist and later unleashed his powerful backhand loop.
• Wang Chao stayed near the table and returned Sun Tianlong’s backhand killing shot, then finished the rally to take a 2:1 lead.
• Qin Huachang declared that Wang Chao’s strength had reached completion and speculated that Wang Chao had acquired Extreme Speed Talent and might eventually gain other talents.
• Qin Huachang became distressed and physically unwell, and Qin Zhenyu tried to take him to the hospital.
• Qin Huachang returned to the microphone and insisted that the match would end in a straight-set sweep before coughing and losing his strength.
• Sun Tianlong felt his heart contract violently as the match continued, while the venue crowd remained unaware of Qin Huachang’s condition.

Wang Chao widened his lead over Sun Tianlong by countering his experiments with relentless hard power, leaving Sun Tianlong unable to find a workable solution. At 5:2, Sun Tianlong abandoned his textbook approach and began playing wildly.

• Sun Tianlong switched to chopping, but Wang Chao patiently pinned his backhand and forced him into a desperate, nearly miraculous sidespin chop that still lost him the point, making the score 3:1.
• Sun Tianlong tried to slow the match by retreating, but Wang Chao used Lin Zijun's acceleration tactic and kept attacking until the score reached 4:1.
• Zhu Zeshi asked He Jingping whether Wang Chao could win, and He Jingping reassured him that the championship was likely in the bag and Wang Chao could complete a record-fast Grand Slam.
• As the score reached 5:2, Sun Tianlong abandoned his orderly textbook style because his usual principles could not overcome Wang Chao, and he began fighting wildly.