Recaps

Qin Huachang recounted how Sun Tianlong endured years of training and repeated defeats by Wang Wendong before finally overcoming him and becoming dominant. He explained that story to Wang Chao to show how unfairly quickly Luo Jiu and Wang Chao seemed to reach heights that had taken Sun Tianlong fifteen years to attain, then left Wang Chao wondering what he meant to say.

• Qin Huachang described Sun Tianlong’s rise from an overlooked player, his victories at the France Open and Swiss Open, and his repeated defeats by Wang Wendong in major tournaments.
• Sun Tianlong lost to Wang Wendong in the Olympic final, suffered a mental collapse, and later told Qin Huachang he wanted to retire.
• Qin Huachang urged Sun Tianlong to try one last time at the World Cup, where Sun defeated Wang Wendong 4–0 before Wang Wendong retired.
• Wang Chao inferred that Wang Wendong had deliberately lost the match to help Sun Tianlong stand tall before the next era of Chinese table tennis.
• Qin Huachang said he resented how quickly Luo Jiu and Wang Chao seemed to reach a level that Sun Tianlong had taken fifteen years to achieve, then Wang Chao asked what he was trying to say.

Qin Huachang admitted that guilt over ruining Fan Pingnan’s career had changed his coaching philosophy, then realized Fan Pingnan had arranged for his younger brother, Fan Xiaodong, to become his disciple. After Qin brought Fan Xiaodong and Wang Chao toward the national team, Wang Chao stayed behind only briefly in Jiangcheng City before setting off with Qin for the capital.

• Qin Huachang told Wang Chao that his arrogance and belief in hard training had led him to damage Fan Pingnan, and admitted he had come to Jiangcheng City specifically to recruit Wang Chao.
• Wang Chao met Fan Xiaodong at the station, learned that Fan Pingnan had opened a table tennis club with money Qin had secretly provided, and deduced that Fan Pingnan had arranged for his brother to join Qin.
• Qin Huachang realized Fan Pingnan did not hate him and broke down crying on the train as he understood that Fan Pingnan had entrusted his younger brother to him.
• Qin Huachang presented Fan Xiaoxian with a national team call-up for Wang Chao to compete in the Sakura Country T2 Diamond event, and she agreed to let him go.
• Fan Xiaodong played the Spade Q trainees Lu Jia, Gao Ming, and Tian Zhengguang, overwhelming them before Wang Chao left with Qin Huachang for the capital.

Wang Chao arrived at the National Team training base, where He Jingping welcomed him as a disciple and Zhu Zeshi gave him a key to an apartment. The coaches then required Wang Chao to defeat one of the team’s main players to earn a place on the First Team and represent China at the T2 Diamond Series, and he chose Bai Feng.

• Wang Chao reunited with He Jingping, who gave him his coaching notes, while Luo Jiu presented him with his Asian Cup gold medal.
• Zhu Zeshi thanked Wang Chao for helping his family by giving him a key to an Imperial Capital apartment.
• Wang Chao ate with the group and entered the training hall, where Cai Guodong and the National Team’s main players awaited him.
• Cai Guodong announced that Wang Chao had to beat one of the main players to join the First Team and compete in Sakura Country; a loss would place him on the Second Team.
• Wang Chao considered the five players and chose Bai Feng for the assessment match.

Wang Chao chose Bai Feng for a match, and Bai Feng prepared for the challenge by studying his playing style and predicting his opening serve. As the match began, Bai Feng correctly anticipated Wang Chao’s Sneak Long Serve and was ready to counter it.

• Wang Chao selected Bai Feng as his opponent, and the national team gathered to watch their match.
• Bai Feng recalled his path from a young penhold player to a national team main player after helping develop the Penhold Backhand Loop.
• Bai Feng explained that he hoped to defeat Lin Li and become the leading figure of the new generation of Chinese penhold players.
• After Coach Wang Lu warned him that Wang Chao might choose him, Bai Feng studied recordings of Wang Chao’s matches and predicted his first serve.
• Qin Huachang refereed as Bai Feng let Wang Chao serve first, and Wang Chao opened with a Sneak Long Serve to Bai Feng’s backhand.

Wang Chao exploited Bai Feng’s unstable footwork and predictable power attacks to take a 4:0 lead during their training match. Bai Feng remained unaware of the coaches’ disappointment as Wang Chao surprised him with an over-the-table attack.

• Wang Chao returned Bai Feng’s opening attacks until Bai Feng’s footwork failed, winning the first point.
• Wang Chao controlled the next rally with changing placements and a short drop, taking a 2:0 lead.
• Wang Chao read Bai Feng’s serve and attacked, while Bai Feng’s repeated blasts ended with him launching the ball into the air and nearly falling into the table.
• Bai Feng paused to compose himself, then served long again, expecting Wang Chao to rally patiently.
• Wang Chao stepped over the table and flicked Bai Feng’s serve past him, bringing his lead to 4:0.

Wang Chao defeated Bai Feng 11:7 after testing his fundamentals against the national-team mainstay. Bai Feng could not understand how he had lost, and Wang Lu told him that Wang Chao had figured him out.

• Wang Chao traded long rallies with Bai Feng, showing that his fundamentals were nearly on par with the experienced player.
• Wang Chao won points by drawing Bai Feng into rallies and using his short game and baseline placement to set up attacks.
• Bai Feng repeatedly unleashed powerful loops, but Wang Chao kept returning them and won several points through placement and Bai Feng’s loss of balance.
• Bai Feng came alive during the close exchange of points, but Wang Chao ultimately won the game 11:7.
• Bai Feng asked Wang Lu why he had lost, and Wang Lu explained that Wang Chao had completely figured him out.

Wang Chao defeated Bai Feng by predicting and exploiting his stubborn, impulsive tactics, then impressed the coaches with his match reading and broader strategic insight. The coaches named Wang Chao’s exceptional talent “Unrivaled,” leaving him recognized as a new kind of talent in Chinese table tennis.

• Wang Chao predicted Bai Feng’s opening attack, weathered his fierce early shots, and built an initial four-point lead.
• Wang Chao changed tactics throughout the match, drawing Bai Feng into short-ball exchanges and winner-takes-all shots that suited Wang Chao’s plans.
• Bai Feng followed Wang Chao’s provocations and failed to recover the gap, losing the match in frustration.
• Cai Guodong praised Wang Chao’s strength, tactical execution, and mental resilience, while warning that Bai Feng held grudges.
• The coaches debated how to describe Wang Chao’s talents, citing his precision, insight, foresight, and ability to read players.
• Cai Guodong named Wang Chao’s talent “Unrivaled,” and He Jingping praised the name.

Wang Chao traveled to Sakura Country for the T2 Diamond Match and discovered that other players were watching and challenging him because the tournament booklet had inflated his profile and named him a favorite. Zhang Benkuang warned him that someone may have deliberately made him a target of public criticism, leaving Wang Chao suspicious of a setup.

• Ge Miao led the Chinese delegation to Sakura Country, where Wang Chao learned that Zhu Ding had taken the spot originally meant for Liu Shu and that Lu Feiyang wanted to challenge him on Liu Shu's behalf.
• After arriving, Wang Chao met a blond European player with an unusual but high-quality paddle, then received a wordless challenge from a Kimchi Country player.
• Wang Chao noticed competitors watching him, while Lin Zijun glanced his way but left without speaking to him.
• Zhang Benkuang introduced himself in Chinese and explained that he had been born in China before his father moved to Sakura Country and chose Sakura Country nationality for him.
• Zhang Benkuang told Wang Chao that the tournament booklet gave him a five-page profile, dubbed him the Unrivaled Divine Dragon, and listed him among the favorites; he warned that someone might be targeting Wang Chao through exaggerated praise.

Wang Chao studied the T2 Diamond Match booklet, which introduced the tournament’s unusual rules and heavily promoted him as the leader of China’s new Six Little Dragons. After judging the field and reflecting on future rivals, he concluded that only Wu Li and Fan Xiaodong seemed truly formidable, leaving the tournament matches to begin the next day.

• Wang Chao, Zhu Ding, and Lu Feiyang read the T2 booklet and learned that most of the world’s top-ranked players had skipped the tournament.
• The booklet ranked Wang Chao first among China’s new Six Little Dragons and named Mizutori Hato and Lin Zijun as leading title favorites.
• Wang Chao identified Morad, Li Zhengzhi, Christian Hart, and Yoshikawa Hiroshi among the other tournament participants.
• Wang Chao dismissed most of the Six Little Dragons as unimpressive and judged Wu Li and Fan Xiaodong to be the only players he had encountered with exceptional future potential.
• Zhu Ding asked Wang Chao what he thought of the Six Little Dragons, and Wang Chao kept his opinions to himself.

The T2 Diamond Match began with an explanation of its unusual rules and a draw that set the opening matchups. Wang Chao was paired with Zhu Shixian, while Lu Feiyang and Zhu Ding drew their own opponents ahead of the afternoon’s competition.

• Yoshikawa Dai Moku introduced T2’s Eagle Eye replay system and its time limit, which forced unfinished matches into the unpredictable Fast 5 format.
• Lu Feiyang asked Wang Chao to play quickly if they met, after Coach Ge Miao had previously stopped him from holding a practice match against Wang Chao.
• Mizuhara Koai and Hayakawa Junko drew the first players for each quarter: Lin Zijun, Zhu Shixian, Zhuang Huishen, and Zhu Ding.
• Hayakawa Junko drew Wang Chao for Quarter 2, pairing him with veteran defender Zhu Shixian and delighting Zhu Shixian.
• Lu Feiyang drew into Quarter 3 against Zhuang Huishen, while Mizutori Hato drew Zhu Ding for Quarter 4, exciting the Sakura Country crowd.
• The remaining draws placed Zhang Benkuang, Yoshikawa Hiroshi, Christian Hart, Sissifield, and Morad into the bracket, and the players prepared for the afternoon matches.

Lin Zijun overwhelmed Li Zhengzhi in the first round, using precise short-table control to neutralize the Japanese penhold player’s attacks and win in four games. His effortless victory left the watching professionals impressed, and Cai Guodong compared him to Sun Tianlong.

• Li Zhengzhi won the right to serve, while commentators and Chinese officials disagreed about how strong he and Lin Zijun were.
• Lin Zijun read Li Zhengzhi’s opening Reverse Spin serve and won the first game 11:3 by preventing him from starting a long rally.
• Lin Zijun continued to control Li Zhengzhi’s high-toss serves with precise short balls and chops, taking the second and third games 11:2.
• Zhu Shixian advised Li Zhengzhi to slow the match and try to reach Fast5, but Li Zhengzhi refused and played the final game even faster.
• Lin Zijun avoided a shutout before Li Zhengzhi served an unforced error, and Lin Zijun won the fourth game 11:1 to eliminate him.
• After spectators recognized how dominant Lin Zijun had been, Cai Guodong said the young player had the air of Sun Tianlong.

Wang Chao faced Zhu Shixian, a world-ranked chopper from Kimchi Country, and quickly took the lead after punishing his surprise long serve. Zhu Shixian settled into a careful chopping strategy, but Wang Chao calmly returned every ball short and kept their rally going.

• Li Zhengzhi urged Zhu Shixian to win, and Zhu confidently promised to defeat Wang Chao.
• Yi Jing and Grasshopper speculated on Coach He Jingping's influence over Wang Chao and Luo Jiu, while He Jingping took credit for Luo Jiu's rubber change during a tile game with Qin Huachang.
• Zhu Shixian won the serve and opened with a surprise long ball, which Wang Chao killed to lead 1–0.
• Zhu Shixian switched to a short backspin serve and resolved to play steadily, but Wang Chao returned it short again and again.
• Zhu Shixian varied his spin and length to provoke an attack, but Wang Chao kept pushing the ball short through a twenty-three-shot rally.

Wang Chao outlasted Zhu Shixian in a tense short-ball exchange, then used Zhu’s hesitation to take control and score with a powerful attack. Zhu called a timeout, but Wang Chao continued to expose the limits of his defensive game, leaving the score at 3:0.

• Zhu Shixian and Wang Chao traded short chops for an extended rally as Zhu fought to remain patient and the timer continued to run down.
• Wang Chao deliberately returned one ball slightly high, baiting Zhu Shixian into a flick that struck the net and gave Wang Chao a 2:0 lead.
• Zhu Shixian called a timeout to regain his composure, then hesitated against Wang Chao’s fast long serve to his forehand and could only chop it back.
• Wang Chao attacked Zhu Shixian’s return with repeated heavy loops and scored through him, making it 3:0.

Wang Chao defeated Zhu Shixian 11:9 in a long first game, using pressure and drawn-out rallies to wear down the older chopper. As the match shifted to Fast5, Zhu Shixian realized Wang Chao had also used the first game to drain his stamina, leaving him furious and dizzy before the next game.

• Wang Chao built a 4:0 lead as Zhu Shixian repeatedly struggled to decide whether to attack or chop.
• Zhu Shixian steadied himself and traded points with Wang Chao, bringing the score to 9:6 after fifteen exhausting minutes.
• Zhu Zeshi explained to He Jingping that Wang Chao’s early tactics had forced Zhu Shixian to keep adjusting his thoughts and emotions.
• Wang Chao won the first game 11:9, and Yoshikawa Dai Moku announced that they would move directly to Fast5 because time was running short.
• Li Zhengzhi suggested Zhu Shixian could have lost the first game sooner to save his strength, prompting Zhu Shixian to realize Wang Chao had made him expend stamina and leaving him enraged and dizzy.

Wang Chao defeated Zhu Shixian 4:0 by exhausting him mentally, disrupting Yoshikawa Dai Moku’s plans for the tournament schedule and publicity. After Mizutori Hato publicly mocked Zhu Ding ahead of their match, Wang Chao asked Zhu Ding how he planned to play, and Zhu Ding answered with a powerful attack in practice.

• Wang Chao’s strategy wore down Zhu Shixian’s concentration, and Zhu Shixian lost the second, third, and fourth games as Wang Chao swept him 4:0.
• The players recognized Wang Chao as a major championship contender, while Yoshikawa Dai Moku realized the audience was discussing Wang Chao’s victory instead of the Women’s Singles matches.
• Cai Guodong discussed how Yoshikawa Dai Moku’s attempt to use Wang Chao’s expected loss against him could instead give Wang Chao valuable publicity.
• Mizutori Hato gave an interview mocking Zhu Ding and predicted he would beat him 4:0 in under twenty-four minutes.
• Wang Chao asked Zhu Ding how he would play against Mizutori Hato, and Zhu Ding responded by blasting a returned high ball with a powerful forehand.

Lu Feiyang dominated Zhuang Huishen in the T2 Diamond Invitational, winning four straight games and revealing himself as a contender for the championship. Zhuang Huishen accepted the loss and told Lin Zijun that Wang Chao and Lu Feiyang could challenge Mizutori Hato for the title.

• Zhuang Huishen opened against Lu Feiyang with a fast Bullet Serve, but Lu Feiyang returned it aggressively and won the first point.
• Lu Feiyang outlasted Zhuang Huishen in a powerful mid-table rally to take a 2:0 lead, then used a Bullet Serve and a sharp block to extend it to 4:0.
• Zhuang Huishen tried changing tactics, but Lu Feiyang defeated his patience, defense, and attacking power alike.
• Lu Feiyang won four straight games, 11:6, 11:5, 11:3, and 11:1, ending the match in sixteen minutes.
• Zhuang Huishen reassured Lin Zijun that he was fine and said Wang Chao and Lu Feiyang could contend with Mizutori Hato for the championship.

After Lu Feiyang’s interview made foreign fans believe he was Huaping’s championship leader, Zhu Ding faced Mizutori Hato amid the Sakura Country crowd’s overwhelming support. Wang Chao feared Zhu Ding could not overcome Mizutori Hato and wondered how Lu Feiyang might fare against him in a possible semifinal.

• Lu Feiyang gave a boastful interview that contradicted his rehearsed modest remarks and claimed he would defend Huaping’s honor.
• Zhu Zeshi and the other coaches watched Lu Feiyang’s interview, while foreign headlines mistakenly portrayed him as Huaping’s strongest entrant.
• Mizutori Hato entered to roaring cheers before his match against Zhu Ding, and Lu Feiyang called him a clown.
• Wang Chao worried that the home crowd’s support had strengthened Mizutori Hato’s already formidable presence and would put crushing pressure on Zhu Ding.
• Wang Chao recalled that Zhu Ding had refused to discuss strategy after learning there was no reliable way to beat Mizutori Hato, though Zhu Ding had practiced with fierce determination.
• As the match began, Wang Chao considered how Lu Feiyang could defeat Mizutori Hato if they met in the semifinals.

Zhu Ding faced Mizutori Hato in the first round of the T2 Diamond Match, while his supporters worried about the psychological toll of another crushing defeat. Mizutori Hato dominated the opening points with showy shots and taunts, taking a 3:0 lead as Zhu Ding continued to attack without showing his feelings.

• Zhu Zeshi insisted on watching Zhu Ding's match against Mizutori Hato, while Cai Guodong and Wang Lu worried about how Zhu Ding would handle the matchup.
• He Jingping flew to Sakura Country to support Zhu Ding, but Zhu Ding did not know he was in the audience.
• Mizutori Hato used a high-toss serve and varied defensive shots to win the first point, then celebrated theatrically as Zhu Ding remained expressionless.
• Mizutori Hato delayed his next serve, returned Zhu Ding's two powerful attacks with an improbable sidespin shot, and took a 2:0 lead.
• Zhu Ding kept attacking during the first extended rally, but Mizutori Hato eventually blasted through him to make the score 3:0.

Zhu Ding endured Mizutori Hato’s taunts and overwhelming play until seeing He Jingping in the stands renewed his resolve. Though Mizutori Hato took the first three games, Zhu Ding fought back fiercely in the fourth, leaving the match ongoing as Mizutori Hato grew impatient.

• Mizutori Hato defeated Zhu Ding 11:2 in each of the first two games, then shut him out 5:0 in the Fast 5 third game.
• Zhu Ding spotted He Jingping in the stands and regained his confidence, resolving to fight to the end.
• Zhu Ding returned Mizutori Hato’s attacks in the fourth game, but Mizutori Hato won the first two points after lengthy rallies.
• Mizutori Hato grew frustrated with Zhu Ding’s resilience and served a Sneak Long Serve.

Zhu Ding defeated Mizutori Hato after the Japanese player’s recurring back injury forced him to retire, then mocked him during a post-match interview. The chapter left Zhu Ding’s team and the officials reacting to his taunts, while the author announced a temporary change to the update time.

• Zhu Ding tied the score at 2:2 when Mizutori Hato froze and let a shot pass, then Mizutori Hato appeared to injure his waist during the next rally.
• Wang Lu, Qin Huachang, Zhu Zeshi, and Cai Guodong discussed Mizutori Hato’s back injury and his reputation for nightlife as he received treatment.
• Mizutori Hato’s injury flared up again after play resumed, and he was carried off, giving Zhu Ding the match as Yoshikawa Dai Moku announced his victory.
• Sakura Country’s online users attacked Mizutori Hato after a photo surfaced of him walking with a woman the night before the match.
• Zhu Ding used his interview to ridicule Mizutori Hato’s promised 4:0 win, his elimination, and his claim about wearing underwear while playing.
• Zhu Zeshi said he would criticize Zhu Ding for his remarks, and the author announced that the next update would come at five in the afternoon.

After Zhu Ding defeated Mizutori Hato, the remaining quarterfinalists were decided, and Wang Chao watched Lin Zijun face Zhang Benkuang to study a likely semifinal opponent. Zhang Benkuang took the first point with an aggressive backhand-flick duel, then used his notorious three-stage roar to unsettle Lin Zijun.

• Zhu Ding defeated Mizutori Hato but could not find He Jingping afterward, while Wang Chao followed the morning’s remaining matches.
• Morad upset Sissifield 4–3 and claimed the final quarterfinal spot, completing the matchups for the next round.
• Wang Chao focused on Lin Zijun’s quarterfinal against Zhang Benkuang, expecting he might face Lin in the semifinal.
• Zhang Benkuang served short to Lin Zijun and challenged him to a rapid backhand-flick exchange, winning the opening point when Lin sent the ball into the net.
• Zhang Benkuang roared three times after the point, and Lin Zijun visibly reacted to the unpleasant noise.

Zhang Benkuang took a commanding lead over Lin Zijun by using his roars to disrupt Lin Zijun’s mentality. After Lin Zijun fell behind, he slapped himself during a timeout to regain his composure, leaving the match poised for a possible turnaround.

• Zhang Benkuang repeatedly roared after scoring, unsettling Lin Zijun and taking the first two points.
• Zhang Benkuang anticipated Lin Zijun’s long serves and attacked first, winning the first game 11:5 and the second 11:4.
• Lin Zijun fell behind 1:4 in the third game and called a timeout without seeking help from Zhuang Huishen.
• Lin Zijun slapped himself repeatedly during the timeout to force himself to calm down, astonishing the spectators and the Chinese table tennis officials watching remotely.
• Lin Zijun opened his eyes when the timeout ended, while the chapter left the match still underway.

Lin Zijun overcame his slump and defeated Zhang Benkuang, leaving Yoshikawa Hiroshi to face Wang Chao as Sakura Country’s last remaining player. Wang Chao took an early lead while Yoshikawa Dai Moku’s rigged coin toss and biased refereeing began to interfere with the match.

• Lin Zijun countered Zhang Benkuang’s attacks, rallied past him, and won the match 4:2 after taking both fast5 games.
• Wang Chao worried that Lin Zijun’s recovery would make their possible meeting more difficult, while Yoshikawa Dai Moku fretted over Sakura Country’s tournament collapse.
• Before Wang Chao and Yoshikawa Hiroshi’s match, Yoshikawa Hiroshi pleaded for friendship, and Wang Chao hinted that he would take something from him at the table.
• The referee secretly signaled the coin toss to Yoshikawa Hiroshi, who won the serve, but Wang Chao noticed the cheating.
• Yoshikawa Hiroshi twice flicked Wang Chao’s short pushes into the net, giving Wang Chao a 2:0 lead.
• After Wang Chao briefly bounced the ball before serving, the referee wrongly accused him of delaying and showed him a yellow card, as Yoshikawa Dai Moku watched with satisfaction.

Wang Chao faced Yoshikawa Hiroshi amid biased refereeing and hostile home spectators, using patient, controlled play to turn the match into a one-sided shutout. He led 6:0 as the Chinese coaches recognized how deliberately he was managing both the match and Yoshikawa’s nerves.

• Coach Ge Miao signaled that she would withdraw the Chinese teams if the tournament officials interfered, but Wang Chao told her not to make a fuss.
• Wang Chao and Yoshikawa Hiroshi exchanged short balls until Wang Chao seized a weak return and scored to lead 3:0.
• The referee twice faulted Wang Chao’s serve, so Wang Chao switched to a high toss and used steady loops to exhaust Yoshikawa Hiroshi before attacking his wings.
• Yoshikawa Hiroshi tried a Sneak Long Serve, but Wang Chao read it and blasted a winning loop to make it 5:0.
• Yoshikawa Hiroshi served a high-toss ball with a feint, but Wang Chao attacked again and extended his lead to 6:0.
• Cai Guodong, Wang Lu, and the other coaches praised Wang Chao’s calm strategy for avoiding unnecessary risks and exploiting Yoshikawa Hiroshi’s nervousness.

Wang Chao endured the referee’s blatant efforts to help Yoshikawa Hiroshi, then used Eagle Eye arbitration to overturn a false call and shut him out. Yoshikawa Hiroshi lost 32:0, while Wang Chao’s victory left him a public laughingstock.

• The referee repeatedly interrupted Wang Chao’s serves with dubious calls, while Yoshikawa Hiroshi grew increasingly frustrated and the score reached 8:0.
• After the referee wrongly awarded Yoshikawa Hiroshi a point on Wang Chao’s edge ball, Wang Chao requested Eagle Eye arbitration.
• The replay confirmed the ball had clipped the table’s edge, voiding the referee’s call and restoring the score to 9:0.
• Wang Chao won the first two games 11:0, while the referee’s delays pushed the match into the fast5 stage.
• Wang Chao won the final two games 5:0, finishing with a 32:0 shutout as Yoshikawa Hiroshi left the court pale and unsteady.