Chapter Summaries

Wang Chao outmaneuvered Qin Huachang during the national team’s roster meeting, securing a Hong Kong Open spot while Luo Jiu was ruled out. The coaches finalized the Hong Kong lineup and began assigning entries for the China Open, where Wang Chao also tried unsuccessfully to claim a spot.

• Wang Chao argued that Luo Jiu was too caught up in Happy Ping Pong to compete at the Hong Kong Open, and Zhu Zeshi backed him up.
• Coach Cheng Aimin volunteered Gao Mingyuan for Hong Kong, prompting other coaches to register Liang Kunpeng, Lu Feiyang, Xiao Fei, and Lin Li.
• Wang Chao asked for a Hong Kong spot after Cai Guodong confirmed Lin Li, frustrating Qin Huachang and adding another contender to the lineup.
• Wang Chao teased Qin Huachang by suggesting Fan Xiaodong join the Hong Kong roster, and Qin Huachang angrily told him to get lost.
• The coaches began assigning China Open entries, with Qin Huachang nominating Sun Tianlong and Wang Chao nominating Luo Jiu.
• Wang Chao offered to enter the China Open, but Cai Guodong rejected his request and told him to sit in the corner.

Wang Chao traveled with the Chinese Table Tennis team to Hong Kong for the Open, where Lin Li asked him for advice about his playing style. After arriving, the team met Hong Kong star Weng Chunting and discussed the formidable field of competitors awaiting them.

• On the bus, Lin Li told Wang Chao that Qin Huachang had sent him to ask for help overcoming a playing bottleneck, and Wang Chao promised to review his match footage after the tournament.
• Wang Chao privately decided Lin Li had reached his limit and offered help only to keep things cordial.
• The Chinese Table Tennis team arrived in Hong Kong, where Cai Guoqiang and Hong Kong's number-one player, Weng Chunting, welcomed them.
• Weng Chunting joked that the crowded field might keep him from reaching the main draw, making the players laugh before they began discussing the tournament.
• The team reviewed rival associations' predictions, including England's hopes for Pike, Brazil's confidence in Hook, and Bay Island's claim that Lin Zijun was aiming for the championship.

At the Hong Kong Open draw ceremony, Brazilian reporter Tavares tried to get players to name Hook the tournament’s most terrifying competitor. Instead, players repeatedly chose Wang Chao, and Hook himself named other players before Tavares was left questioning Brazil’s expectations.

• Tavares interviewed Li Zhengzhi, who chose Lin Zijun and warned that Hook was prone to choking in major tournaments.
• An England player cited elaborate statistics to argue that Hook was likely to choke, while Hans Bayer named Wang Chao and Lin Zijun as the most terrifying competitors.
• Pike also chose Wang Chao, citing his T2 title and Unrivaled talent, and Asian players including Lin Zijun, Xiao Fei, and Lin Li likewise praised him.
• Lu Feiyang, Zhang Benkuang, and Mizutori Hato each gave their own comic answers when Tavares asked who was most terrifying.
• When Tavares finally asked Hook, Hook chose Sun Tianlong, then Lin Zijun, because they had eliminated him in previous tournaments.

The Hong Kong Open draw placed Wang Chao in the qualifiers, where he was grouped with world No. 21 Zou Zhengyu. Wang Chao arrived for his first match to find a crowd of top players watching, then took the court against an unknown opponent.

• The tournament assigned the top-ranked players to eight main-draw sections and drew the other direct entrants into their groups, creating several high-profile clashes.
• The organizers divided 217 qualifiers into 32 round-robin groups, with only one player from each group advancing to a knockout stage for the final 16 main-draw places.
• Wang Chao found Zou Zhengyu in Group 13, while Gao Mingyuan and Lu Feiyang were drawn together in Group 21 and several other groups also featured notable rivalries.
• Wang Chao arrived at Table 13 with He Jingping and saw numerous main-draw players and coaches gathered to watch him.
• He Jingping worried that Wang Chao might hide his strengths, but Wang Chao said he would play normally and was not afraid of being studied.
• After another match ended, Wang Chao took the court to face an unknown player.

Wang Chao faced Portuguese veteran Antonio in an international match and dominated him with fast, close-table attacks rather than the delicate short-ball play Antonio expected. Wang Chao won all four games 11:1, and Antonio withdrew after the match.

• Antonio expected Wang Chao to exploit short balls, but Wang Chao opened by looping Antonio’s short pushes and winning the first two points.
• Wang Chao kept Antonio in close-table rallies, then used a long serve to set up a power loop and take a 4:0 lead.
• Wang Chao won the first game 11:1, and He Jingping handed him a banana and told him to take it easy.
• Wang Chao won the next three games just as easily, refusing Antonio’s attempts to play short and even struggling to give away a point.
• Antonio lost all four games 11:1 and announced his withdrawal immediately after the match.

After the other players withdrew, Wang Chao cleared his remaining group opponents and faced Zou Zhengyu for the final qualifying match. Zou Zhengyu entered the match knowing it might be the last international appearance of his career, while Yan Ping'an and Fang Xiaobo anxiously watched.

• Antonio withdrew, prompting two more players to leave the group, and the umpire agreed to let Wang Chao play his matches first.
• Wang Chao defeated the Danish veteran in thirty minutes, and the veteran withdrew afterward.
• Mizutori Hato and Uncle Bai urged the umpire to send Zou Zhengyu out to face Wang Chao, and Zou Zhengyu asked Wang Chao not to go easy on him.
• As Zou Zhengyu prepared to serve, he reflected on his fading career and his plan to retire at thirty after one final year of competition.
• Zou Zhengyu saw Yan Ping'an and Fang Xiaobo watching tensely, hoping Wang Chao would lose so their friend's career would not end that day.

Wang Chao exploited Zou Zhengyu’s forehand weakness and retreating style to defeat him 4:0 in an internal match. Zou Zhengyu fought through the final game and embraced Wang Chao afterward, leaving the players to suspect that the match had been his last before retirement.

• Wang Chao targeted Zou Zhengyu’s forehand and repeatedly opened space on the opposite side, taking the first game 11:2.
• Wang Chao continued to exploit Zou Zhengyu’s backhand obsession and retreating position, winning the next games 11:3 and 11:5.
• Yan Ping'an urged Zou Zhengyu to retire if he could not beat Wang Chao, but Zou Zhengyu returned to the court to finish the match.
• Wang Chao defeated Zou Zhengyu 4:0, with Zou Zhengyu scoring more points in each game as he kept fighting.
• Zou Zhengyu shook hands with Wang Chao and embraced him, while Bayer asked Xiao Fei whether Zou Zhengyu was going to retire.

The qualifying groups concluded, revealing several advancing players and exposing Liang Kunpeng’s growing doubts about his game. After the draw paired the thirty-two survivors for a knockout round to decide entry to the main draw, players trained late into the night while Wang Chao slept soundly.

• Wang Chao beat the young Kimchi Country player 4:0, securing first place in Group 13.
• Lu Feiyang beat Gao Mingyuan in a deciding game despite Gao holding two match points, then received a harsh reprimand from Zhu Zeshi.
• Morad swept Chinese player Sun Zhongwen 4:0, and Zhang Benkuang narrowly beat Sissifield 4:3 to advance as group leader.
• Qiu Shang finished tied with Fretas at five wins and one loss, but advanced by winning their head-to-head match, while Liang Kunpeng finished outside the top three and reconsidered his tactics.
• The organizers drew sixteen knockout pairings for the next morning, and many players returned to practice; Lu Feiyang trained with Zhu Zeshi while Wang Chao went to sleep.

The Hong Kong Open qualifiers ended, and the main draw began with Wang Chao facing Mizutori Hato. The chapter left them at the start of their match, with both players determined to win for their own reasons.

• Morad threw his paddle at Zhang Benkuang, received a red card and warning, then came back from 1-2 down to win 4-2 and eliminate him.
• The qualifiers ended, and the draw placed Mizutori Hato against Wang Chao in the first round of the main draw.
• Morad's performance against Zhang Benkuang convinced spectators that he might be Old Wa's direct disciple, making his upcoming match against Weng Chunting a major talking point.
• The main draw began with commentary and livestreams, and Wang Chao versus Mizutori Hato drew most of the audience's attention.
• Wang Chao recalled Mizutori Hato's insults toward Luo Jiu and resolved to take him on, while Mizutori Hato entered the match determined to win so he could return home without fear of his haters.
• The referee tossed the coin, and Wang Chao and Mizutori Hato began their match.

Wang Chao faced Mizutori Hato in a Hong Kong Open match, revealing his improved power and over-the-table skill as he took the first two points. The chapter left Wang Chao leading 2:0 after Mizutori Hato fought desperately to save a spectacular rally.

• Mizutori Hato served long to Wang Chao's forehand, and Wang Chao answered with a powerful loop to win the opening point.
• Mizutori Hato and Wang Chao traded seven short balls before Mizutori Hato changed the rally with a flick.
• Wang Chao countered with a high-speed backhand flick into Mizutori Hato's wide backhand angle, then struck toward the forehand.
• Mizutori Hato chased the ball down and returned it with a desperate side-chop, but Wang Chao looped the next shot wide.
• Mizutori Hato threw his racket at Wang Chao's final shot but could not return it onto the table, leaving Wang Chao ahead 2:0.

Wang Chao used his short game and powerful attacks to take a 3:0 lead over Mizutori Hato, breaking through Hato’s signature Super Cut. Hato answered with a violent flick and won a mid-to-long-distance rally, narrowing the score to 3:2.

• Wang Chao and Mizutori Hato exchanged short balls until Hato lifted one to bait Wang Chao into a flick.
• Hato countered Wang Chao’s flick with his signature Super Cut, but Wang Chao attacked and moved him from side to side to win the point and lead 3:0.
• Mizutori Hato unleashed a violent flick against Wang Chao’s short serve and scored, making it 3:1.
• Mizutori Hato used a deceptive long serve to start a mid-to-long-distance rally, and he won after six consecutive exchanges to make the score 3:2.

Wang Chao defeated Mizutori Hato 4:1 at the Hong Kong Open, revealing the strength of He Jingping’s tactical system. Mizutori Hato left the match realizing that Wang Chao might join the list of top Chinese players he had to avoid, leaving him unsure where he could compete.

• Wang Chao repeatedly neutralized Mizutori Hato’s serves and attacks, building a 6:2 lead as Mizutori Hato struggled to keep up with their rapid exchanges.
• Wang Chao eliminated Mizutori Hato 4:1, taking the fifth set 11:1 after Mizutori Hato won the fourth amid a desperate counterattack and several lucky points.
• Mizutori Hato swore to win an Open championship to erase the humiliation of his defeat.
• Mizutori Hato reconsidered Wang Chao’s prospects after recalling that Xiao Fei and Lin Li had named him as a terrifying opponent and realizing the Chinese coaching staff might be backing him to win titles.
• Mizutori Hato feared that avoiding Wang Chao, Luo Jiu, and Sun Tianlong would leave him with few tournaments to enter, and wondered whether he should play in European club leagues instead.

Wang Chao watched the first-round matches as the upper and lower halves produced both expected wins and major upsets. Morad eliminated Hong Kong star Weng Chunting, then celebrated so wildly that he disrupted He Junjie's match at the neighboring table.

• Xiao Fei, Yan Ping'an, Bayer, Lin Zijun, Wang Chao, Zhu Shixian, and Michel advanced from their groups, while Lu Feiyang narrowly beat Li Zhengzhi in a deciding game.
• Zhu Zeshi reprimanded Lu Feiyang for playing in a confused way after his difficult win, and Wang Chao passed by without listening.
• Wang Chao watched Hook defeat Qiu Shang 4–1 and concluded that Qiu Shang struggled against powerful one-shot attacks.
• Morad upset Weng Chunting, provoking a loud reaction from the Hong Kong crowd.
• Morad celebrated by kicking apart eight barriers, startling He Junjie and causing him to lose a point in his own match.

Morad was allowed to continue after apologizing for his outburst, and the Hong Kong Open’s round of sixteen produced a wave of upsets. Yan Ping'an defeated Xiao Fei, Fang Xiaobo beat Lin Li, and K. Michel eliminated Lu Feiyang, leaving Wang Chao increasingly worried about the state of Chinese table tennis.

• Officials withdrew Morad’s suspension after Weng Chunting forgave him, though they required him to apologize publicly and pay a fine.
• The first-round results set the round-of-sixteen matchups, including Morad against He Junjie and Hook against Pike.
• Yan Ping'an played with desperate intensity and defeated Xiao Fei 4–2, advancing to the quarterfinals.
• Fang Xiaobo defeated Lin Li 4–2, and the upset unsettled Wang Chao.
• K. Michel beat Lu Feiyang 4–2, prompting Wang Chao to realize that something was seriously wrong.

Wang Chao defeated Zhu Shixian 4:0 by attacking through his backspin, proving that his offense had surpassed the chopper’s defenses. After the morning matches, Wang Chao and He Jingping were pulled into Cai Guodong’s smoke-filled room, where the Chinese table tennis leaders had gathered.

• Wang Chao set aside his concerns about the Chinese team’s losses and focused on facing Zhu Shixian.
• Wang Chao used heavy loops and a powerful backhand flick to break through Zhu Shixian’s chopping defense and win the points decisively.
• Zhu Shixian lost 0:4 to Wang Chao, then went to find Li Zhengzhi.
• Wang Chao left the arena with He Jingping after the morning matches ended.
• Cai Guodong’s colleagues pulled Wang Chao and He Jingping into a smoke-filled room where the team leaders were gathered.

Wang Chao refused Cai Guodong’s attempt to push him into using underhanded tactics, then agreed to take responsibility for holding the line in exchange for a guaranteed World Cup singles slot. The draw results eased the team’s immediate fears when Pike swept Hook, though Wang Chao’s path remained uncertain.

• Qin Huachang held Wang Chao in the smoke-filled room while Cai Guodong and the other officials discussed the team’s poor position in the Hong Kong Open.
• Cai Guodong urged Wang Chao to use the deceptive style he had played with last year, but Wang Chao insisted he would compete openly and honorably.
• Cai Guodong offered Wang Chao a singles slot in this year’s World Cup if he agreed to hold the line, and Wang Chao accepted.
• Cai Guodong received the results: Bayer defeated Lin Zijun 4-3, Pike swept Hook 4-0, and Morad eliminated He Junjie.
• The officials learned that Hook had played disastrously against Pike, committing errors in both attack and defense.

Wang Chao learned that Hook had been eliminated and prepared to face Bayer in the quarterfinals while the coaches debated strategy. As Wang Chao’s match began amid Europe’s hopes of a championship, he studied Bayer’s strengths and wondered how to play against him.

• Wang Chao recognized that accepting responsibility had earned him the coaches’ trust and goodwill, then learned the quarterfinal matchups, including his own match against Bayer.
• Mizutori Hato publicly accused the Chinese coaching staff of using inhumane training methods, and his coach warned that he had further damaged his career prospects.
• Mizutori Hato blamed reporters for provoking his remarks and decided he would rather lose to Sun Tianlong than face Luo Jiu or Wang Chao.
• Yan Ping'an lost 1:4 to Michel, and Fang Xiaobo lost 2:4 to Wolf, eliminating the remaining Chinese veterans.
• Morad faced Pike as Wang Chao began his quarterfinal match against Bayer, while European players and coaches gathered to support Bayer.
• Wang Chao recognized Bayer as a polished, formidable opponent and was still considering his strategy as the referee prepared to start play.

Wang Chao chose to face Bayer head-on rather than use evasive tactics, while Bayer opened with a carefully prepared attack that won the first point. He Jingping recognized that Wang Chao was still trying to counterattack and would keep pressing forward, leaving the match set for a fierce clash.

• The coaching staff disagreed with He Jingping about how Wang Chao should play and left the decision to Wang Chao.
• Bayer won the coin toss and served first, while fans around the world anticipated the match.
• Wang Chao flicked Bayer's reverse-spin serve, signaling that he intended to challenge Bayer directly.
• Bayer anticipated the flick and counter-looped wide to Wang Chao's backhand after European coaches and players had pooled their research on Wang Chao.
• Wang Chao switched the racket from his left hand to his right and returned the ball, but Bayer attacked repeatedly and won the point, making the score 1:0.
• He Jingping explained to Qin Huachang that Wang Chao had been pressing toward the table to prepare a counterattack and remained committed to going head-to-head with Bayer.

Wang Chao took an early lead in his semifinal against Bayer, but Bayer anticipated his attack and drew him into a long-distance power rally to win the next two points. As the European coaches celebrated their strategy, He Jingping refused Cai Guodong’s request to intervene, leaving the match at 2:0 for Bayer.

• Bayer served to Wang Chao’s middle, and Wang Chao attacked with a backhand twist before launching a series of powerful shots that put Bayer under pressure.
• When Wang Chao stepped back to smash a slightly high return, Bayer retreated early and countered with a heavy forehand drive loop.
• Wang Chao backed away and traded loops with Bayer, then made an error five shots later, leaving Bayer ahead 2:0.
• European players and coaches applauded Bayer’s tactics, while the Chinese coaching staff grew tense.
• Cai Guodong asked He Jingping whether to call a timeout, but He Jingping refused to let him interfere with his coaching.

Wang Chao fell behind Bayer as the coaches debated whether he should change tactics, but He Jingping defended his freedom to play his own way. After Bayer returned a penalty point with a deliberate serve, the two tested each other in short exchanges, and Bayer won the rally by smashing Wang Chao’s weak return.

• Qin Huachang urged He Jingping to make Wang Chao use Sun Tianlong’s tactics against Bayer, but He Jingping argued that Wang Chao should be trusted to choose his own style.
• Bayer extended his lead to 4:0, and Wang Chao closed his eyes before receiving serve; the referee penalized him a point, but Bayer deliberately served into the net to return it, making the score 5:1.
• Wang Chao and Bayer began a series of short exchanges over the table to test whose touch was superior.
• Wang Chao seized a subtle opening with a backhand twist, but Bayer anticipated it and countered with a powerful Forehand Loop.
• Wang Chao stayed close to the table and tried to control Bayer’s attack, but his return became a high ball that Bayer smashed to take the score to 6:1.