Chapter Summaries

Wang Chao used Bayer’s tactical pressure to identify and correct flaws in his game, choosing to develop his own style rather than imitate Sun Tianlong. After losing the first game, he continued adapting, leaving Bayer increasingly troubled as the match went on.

• Qin Huachang and Zhu Zeshi worried that Bayer’s detailed tactics had exposed Wang Chao, while Wang Chao’s short flick earned him a point at 6:3.
• Wang Chao realized Bayer had revealed several flaws in his habits and resolved to use the match as a whetstone to improve his own style.
• Wang Chao lost the first game 11:5, and He Jingping encouraged him without giving tactical instructions.
• Bayer predicted Wang Chao’s flat smash at the start of the next game and countered it for the opening point.
• Wang Chao continued changing his instinctive habits, while Bayer recognized that his opponent was steadily repairing his flaws and becoming harder to read.

Wang Chao overcame Bayer in the Hong Kong Open quarterfinals after falling behind 2:0, using relentless rallies to exhaust his opponent and win 4:2. His victory sent him into the semifinals as a dark horse and prompted Cai Guodong to promise him a chance to compete for a place among Chinese table tennis's core players.

• Bayer narrowly won the second set, but Wang Chao stayed cheerful and began the third set with varied attacks.
• Wang Chao took control of the third set as Bayer's stamina faded, then won it 11:5 after scoring six consecutive points.
• Wang Chao defeated Bayer 4:2 and advanced to the Hong Kong Open semifinals, while Pike eliminated Morad 4:1 in the other quarterfinal.
• Cai Guodong praised Wang Chao in a televised interview and said he could enter the core roster if he won the Open.

After Bayer’s loss, the Europeans’ alliance weakened as England focused on Pike’s semifinal against Wolf. Wang Chao practiced with Lu Feiyang and reassured him before the men’s singles semifinals began.

• Rohlskov gathered European coaches and players to discuss their chances against Wang Chao, but Persson and Michel arrived with little confidence after Bayer’s defeat.
• England’s head coach skipped the meeting to train Pike for his semifinal against Wolf, exposing a rift between England and Germany.
• Chinese coaches accused Wang Chao of deliberately tiring Bayer out, though Wang Chao insisted he had simply played an honest match.
• Wang Chao found Lu Feiyang distracted and learned Zhu Zeshi had ordered him into intensive training after his recent losses.
• Wang Chao promised to support Lu Feiyang and practiced attacking exchanges with him until the men’s singles semifinals began.

Pike defeated Wolf 4:1 in a hard-fought semifinal, strengthening England’s claim to a place among Europe’s top table tennis nations. After a ten-minute break, Wang Chao and Swedish player K. Michel entered the court, with Michel looking ready to fight.

• Pike dominated the first two games as Wolf struggled to contain his powerful attacks.
• Wolf changed tactics and jerseys, using his unusual submarine serve to win the third game 11:9.
• Pike adapted to Wolf’s serves and won the match 4:1 after thirty-five minutes.
• England fans celebrated Pike’s victory and declared that he could challenge Bayer and help change the balance of world table tennis.
• Wang Chao and K. Michel stepped onto the court, and Michel appeared determined to fight for his life.

Wang Chao exploited Michel’s height and weaknesses to take the first two points with deceptive serves. Having gained the heart of a king after his comeback against Bayer, Wang Chao entered the match ready to use every strategy, and Michel faced a newly sharpened opponent.

• The chapter described Germany’s depth and Sweden’s reliance on Michel, who hoped to defeat Wang Chao and become a national and European hero.
• Wang Chao opened with a spinless short serve that Michel pushed long, then scored again with a fast topspin serve to Michel’s forehand.
• Michel grew frustrated that Wang Chao’s serves thwarted his plan to fight desperately and make the match a heroic loss.
• Wang Chao reflected on how his comeback against Bayer had helped him cast off self-imposed restrictions and gain the heart of a king.
• Wang Chao decided to use tactical variation against Michel rather than risk a needless head-on contest.

Wang Chao dominated Michel 4:0, leaving Michel convinced that his playing style had reached a dead end. After the match, Michel called Old Wa to revisit advice he had rejected three years earlier: changing his forehand rubber to short pips.

• Wang Chao countered Michel’s powerful loops with effortless, varied returns and took a 3:0 lead, convincing Persson that Michel could not win.
• Michel fought desperately, but Wang Chao won the match 4:0 in thirty minutes and left the court thinking about Pike.
• Michel, exhausted and hurt by how little he had challenged Wang Chao, asked Persson for privacy and called Old Wa.
• Michel recalled rejecting Old Wa’s advice three years earlier to change his forehand rubber to short pips, then reflected on his stalled career and weak forehand control.

Michel recognized that his forehand looping style was holding him back and accepted Old Wa’s offer to retrain him with short pips and a new tactical system. Meanwhile, the Hong Kong Open final began with Pike under intense pressure to win against Wang Chao.

• After reflecting on his match against Wang Chao, Michel realized Old Wa had correctly identified his forehand’s weaknesses three years earlier.
• Michel asked Old Wa for guidance, and Old Wa invited him to visit and explained that he would train him to use short pips for fast attacks.
• Michel considered how unconventional equipment and rubber changes had helped Luo Jiu, Old Wa, and Morad, and questioned his own rigid ideas about table tennis.
• As the Hong Kong Open final approached, European fans and coaches feared the consequences of Wang Chao winning after the coaches had helped him improve.
• Pike arrived with flaming red hair, visibly tense, and shook hands with Wang Chao before the final began.

Wang Chao faced Pike in the final and lost the opening point to Pike’s unusual, powerful backhand technique. The Chinese coaching staff trusted Wang Chao’s judgment, though the chapter left the match still underway at 1:0.

• Wang Chao lost the coin toss, and Pike opened with a serve to Wang Chao’s backhand corner.
• Wang Chao twisted the return toward Pike’s forehand, but Pike anticipated the direction and countered with his distinctive forward-contact backhand twist.
• Pike sustained the attack with a heavy counterloop, forced Wang Chao to retreat, then sent a fast angled return that made Wang Chao sprint to save the ball.
• Wang Chao flicked Pike’s next shot back near the net, but Pike moved around the table and flicked into the opposite wide angle to win the point, making the score 1:0.
• The Chinese coaching staff reflected on their earlier misjudgment of Wang Chao and chose to trust his strategy after He Jingping reported that Wang Chao knew how to play.

Wang Chao and Pike battled through a close first game, each using his strengths to seize points while struggling to contain the other's attacks. Wang Chao won the game 12:10, leaving their tightly matched contest unresolved.

• Wang Chao fooled Pike with repeated returns and a deceptive short serve, taking a 2:1 lead.
• Wang Chao repeatedly targeted Pike's weak forehand and extended his lead to 3:1.
• Pike used heavy sidespin serves and his powerful backhand to bring the score back to 3:3.
• Wang Chao and Pike traded points as neither could consistently impose his strategy, and Wang Chao took the first game 12:10.

Wang Chao defeated Pike 4:3 in the Hong Kong Open final after patiently weathering Pike’s aggressive play and letting his opponent’s stamina and confidence run out. He claimed the title and returned to the Chinese team, where Cai Guodong praised him for understanding and executing a patient, rigorous style of play.

• Pike used risky attacks and fortunate points to take the second and third games, then Wang Chao’s varied offense crushed him 11:3 in the fourth.
• Pike rallied to win the fifth game 11:9 and took a 3:2 lead, leaving him one game from the title.
• Wang Chao kept the sixth game close until Pike faded after 6:6, then won 11:6 to force a deciding game.
• Wang Chao overwhelmed Pike 11:1 in the final game but gave him one point, then won the match 4:3.
• Wang Chao shook hands with Pike and returned to the Chinese team, where Cai Guodong patted him on the shoulder and praised him.

After losing the Hong Kong Open final to Wang Chao, Pike admitted that Chinese table tennis remained dominant, while Wang gave a brief formal interview. Wang then learned that Spade Q needed him back for a crucial Table Tennis Super League derby against Jiangcheng University Club.

• Pike said he had given everything against Wang Chao and believed Chinese table tennis remained invincible, comparing his defeat to past losses against Sun Tianlong.
• Chinese coaches recognized that Wang Chao’s steady, orthodox play had left Pike with the same despair he had felt against Sun Tianlong.
• Wang Chao thanked the organizers and coaches after the Hong Kong Open final, and the tournament ended.
• Fan Xiaoxian told Wang Chao that Spade Q had been shut out by Fire Phoenix Club and faced a difficult Super League season without him.
• Fan Xiaoxian urged Wang Chao to return for the February 19 match, and he learned Spade Q would face Jiangcheng University Club in a city derby.

Wang Chao returned to Spade Q and assessed his teammates before their upcoming Super League match against Jiangcheng University. After discovering that Wu Li’s exceptional resilience could fuel further growth under intense training, Wang Chao agreed to train with him and began preparing the team for the match.

• Fan Xiaoxian asked Luo Jiu which team he would support, and Luo Jiu said he would play only if Wang Chao did not.
• Fan Xiaoxian offered Wang Chao a bonus to appear in Spade Q’s match, and he agreed.
• Wang Chao arrived at Spade Q’s base and beat Geng Shuai 11-3 in a practice game.
• Wang Chao then beat Wu Li 11-0 and learned that Wu Li had stagnated because Geng Shuai could no longer provide enough training pressure.
• Wang Chao recognized Wu Li’s unusual ability to endure pressure and promised to train with him.
• Wang Chao asked Fan Xiaoxian for Jiangcheng University’s match information so they could plan for the next day.

Jiang Tiansheng learned that Wu Li had joined Spade Q and angrily blamed Fan Xiaofan and Wang Chao for disrupting the training plan he had devised for Wu Li. After watching Wu Li struggle in his first Super League match, Jiang Tiansheng prepared to confront the club, but Fan Xiaofan asked him to wait and watch their match against Shandong Province Power Club.

• Jiang Tiansheng learned from Luo Zhihong that Wu Li had left the city team to play in the Table Tennis Super League with Spade Q.
• Jiang Tiansheng called Fan Xiaofan and demanded an explanation for signing Wu Li, whom he had planned to train personally.
• The chapter recounted how Jiang Tiansheng had served for thirteen years as a national-team sparring partner before becoming head coach of the Hubei Provincial Team.
• Jiang Tiansheng watched footage of Wu Li losing badly in singles and struggling in doubles with Geng Shuai against Magic City Fire Phoenix.
• Jiang Tiansheng decided to call Fan Xiaofan again and speak with Wang Chao, but Fan called first and urged him to wait for Spade Q's away match against Shandong Province Power Club in four days.

Fan Xiaofan relayed Wang Chao’s assessment to Jiang Tiansheng, who appeared to accept his advice about Wu Li. At Sequoia Stadium, Spade Q and Jiangcheng University Team prepared for their match, with Wang Chao choosing a lineup strategy that could give Wu Li a chance to prove himself.

• Jiang Tiansheng hung up after Fan Xiaofan described Wu Li’s condition, and Fan Xiaofan called Wang Chao to report what had happened.
• Wang Chao reassured Fan Xiaofan that Wu Li would not lose and that the next match would show Jiang Tiansheng what he wanted to see.
• Fan Xiaofan negotiated an even split of ticket revenue with Jiangcheng University Team as Sequoia Stadium filled with fans and reporters.
• Luo Xiaoyu and Zhou Tingfang set aside their rivalry and cheered together for Spade Q.
• Spade Q listed Geng Shuai, Wang Chao, and Wu Li, while Jiangcheng University Team listed Wang Bo, Duan Changying, and Ma Angxing.
• Wang Chao chose second singles and trained with Wu Li in doubles, while Spade Q planned to use Geng Shuai in the fourth match.

Black Spade Q surprised Jiangcheng University by putting Geng Shuai in the first singles match and Wang Chao in doubles, disrupting Wang Bo’s plan to provoke Geng Shuai. After Duan Changying beat Geng Shuai, Xiao Guohua became convinced Wang Chao intended to cripple a Jiangcheng player and warned Wang Bo to stay composed.

• Black Spade Q’s local fans outcheered Jiangcheng University’s supporters, while Luo Jiu stayed at the national team’s training base and went to the hospital with He Jingping after developing a runny nose.
• Jiangcheng University planned to use Wang Bo against Geng Shuai so Wang Bo could provoke him before the doubles match, but Black Spade Q announced Geng Shuai as its first singles player and Wang Chao for doubles.
• Duan Changying defeated Geng Shuai 4–2 after Geng Shuai recovered from a one-sided opening game and won two games, surprising Jiangcheng University with his resilience.
• Xiao Guohua decided Wang Chao must be planning to injure a Jiangcheng doubles player, and he warned Wang Bo not to let the match affect his mentality.
• Wang Bo accepted Xiao Guohua’s warning and took the court expecting Wang Chao to humiliate him.

Wang Chao swept Wang Bo 4:0 in a subdued singles match, leaving Xiao Guohua anxiously waiting for the psychological tactic he expected. The doubles match then began with Wang Bo and Ma Angxing facing Wang Chao and Wu Li, as Ma Angxing confidently prepared to receive Wang Chao’s serve.

• Wang Bo hesitated over his serves, and Wang Chao quickly took a 4:0 lead by exploiting his weak short returns.
• Wang Chao won the first game 11:1, then defeated Wang Bo 4:0 in twenty minutes, giving him a point in the first and last games with suicide serves.
• Xiao Guohua struggled to understand Wang Chao’s approach while Wang Bo reassured him that his mentality remained good.
• Wang Bo rallied Ma Angxing before the doubles match against Wang Chao and Wu Li, while Jiang Tiansheng watched to see whether Wu Li had changed.
• Wang Chao let Wu Li call the coin toss, then Ma Angxing confidently took the receiving role, believing his Eagle Eye talent would help him handle the serve-and-receive battle.

Wang Chao and Wu Li took a 3:0 lead over Ma Angxing and Wang Bo by turning their attempts to target Wu Li into chances for his explosive attacks. The match continued with Wang Bo struggling to handle Wu Li’s power, while Ma Angxing’s cautious play failed to stop the pair.

• Wang Chao served short backspin, and Wu Li ran to the corner to blast Ma Angxing’s return past Wang Bo, giving Spade Q the first point.
• Wu Li raced back to return Ma Angxing’s deceptive short ball, and Wang Chao blocked Wang Bo’s flick into an unreachable corner to make it 2:0.
• Ma Angxing served a deceptive long Bullet Serve toward Wu Li’s backhand, but Wu Li anticipated it and blasted another explosive topspin.
• Wang Chao chopped Wang Bo’s counter-loop back, Ma Angxing returned a weak chop, and Wu Li blasted past Wang Bo again to make it 3:0.
• Wang Bo wondered why Wu Li kept getting opportunities to attack despite their plan to target him.

Wang Chao and Wu Li overwhelmed Jiangcheng University in doubles, with Wang Chao directing play and Wu Li attacking with his forehand. After Spade Q won the match, Wang Chao took Wu Li to practice while Geng Shuai faced Duan Changying, leaving their reason for practicing unclear.

• Wang Bo realized Wang Chao was setting up attacks for Wu Li, who used his forehand to power-loop the ball while following Wang Chao’s instructions.
• Wu Li’s relentless attacks helped Spade Q win the first game 11:5, drawing applause for his stamina and unusual playing style.
• Wang Chao began attacking Ma Angxing’s softer balls in the second game, and Spade Q won 11:2 before sweeping the doubles match.
• The host announced Geng Shuai versus Duan Changying for the fourth match, leaving Spade Q facing the prospect of a deciding match.
• Wang Chao skipped watching Geng Shuai’s match and took Wu Li to practice at a nearby table, insisting that the practice was necessary.

Tavares recorded Wang Chao brutally outplaying Wu Li during practice, while Jiang Tiansheng recognized that the session might be Wang Chao’s way of training him. After Geng Shuai lost 0–4 to Duan Changying, Spade Q’s aging roster faced an uncertain future, and Wu Li said he would do his best.

• Tavares, hoping to repair his reputation, filmed Wang Chao and Wu Li’s practice session at Sequoia Stadium.
• Wang Chao overwhelmed Wu Li with relentless attacks, winning every point and drawing the spectators’ attention away from the official match.
• Tavares viewed the footage as a rare chance to reveal He Jingping’s system, while Jiang Tiansheng realized Wang Chao was training Wu Li rather than acting out a grudge.
• Duan Changying defeated Geng Shuai 4–0, and Geng returned to encourage Wu Li to help carry Spade Q forward.
• The players reflected on Spade Q’s aging roster and the likely overhaul after the spring season, and Wu Li said he would do his best.

Wu Li overwhelmed Ma Angxing’s technical control with relentless power and stamina, taking the first two points of their deciding game. After Ma Angxing’s serve was read and attacked, Wu Li served long, and Ma Angxing’s heavy loop unexpectedly put him in a favorable position as the rally continued.

• Ma Angxing won the toss and opened with a wide forehand serve, but Wu Li changed direction explosively and won the point with a fourth consecutive violent loop.
• Ma Angxing switched to short serves and pushes, then flicked Wu Li’s slightly high return deep to the backhand baseline.
• Wu Li retreated across the table and struck a heavy forehand loop, then won another point with three more violent loops to lead 2:0.
• Wu Li served long, and Ma Angxing retreated and ripped a heavy topspin loop, accidentally choosing a shot that exploited Wu Li’s difficulty against high-quality attacks.