Chapter Summaries

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.

The second day of the T2 event ended with Zhu Ding qualifying for the semifinals after Morad was disqualified, leaving Chinese players in three of the four semifinal spots. Wang Chao and Lin Zijun discussed their upcoming match, each sincerely insisting the other would win and even revealing their weaknesses.

• Lu Feiyang swept Christian Hart 4–0, while Hart offered little resistance after securing a quarterfinal place.
• Zhu Ding led Morad 2–0 before Morad lost his temper, shoved his coach, and was disqualified.
• The semifinals were set as Wang Chao versus Lin Zijun and Zhu Ding versus Lu Feiyang, with three Chinese players in the final four.
• Wang Chao told Zhu Ding he had no idea how to defeat Lin Zijun, while Lin Zijun told Zhuang Huishen that Wang Chao’s varied styles made him difficult to analyze.
• Wang Chao approached Lin Zijun, and the two exchanged compliments, predicted each other’s victory, and shared their tactical weaknesses.

Wang Chao and Lin Zijun began their semifinal by testing the weaknesses they had supposedly revealed to each other, trading points through unconventional attacks. After discovering neither had truly been fooled, they ended the warm-up and prepared to compete seriously.

• Players who overheard Wang Chao and Lin Zijun discussing their weaknesses recorded the information and expected to use it against them.
• The Chinese national team gathered to watch Wang Chao face Lin Zijun in the semifinal, a match with major implications for Chinese table tennis.
• Lin Zijun used fast, unconventional backhand attacks to take the first two points from Wang Chao.
• Wang Chao adapted with heavy topspin attacks and won the next two points, tying the score at 2:2.
• Wang Chao and Lin Zijun realized they had each tested the other's supposedly revealed weaknesses, smiled at one another, and began the serious match.

Wang Chao used careful probing, explosive attacks, and court intimidation to take a 4:2 lead over Lin Zijun. Lin Zijun struggled to counter Wang Chao’s power, while Wang Chao’s roars left him visibly rattled.

• Wang Chao served long to Lin Zijun’s backhand, then pushed through a series of cautious exchanges until he launched a fierce attack and won the point, taking a 3:2 lead.
• Wang Chao roared after winning, and several observers in the Imperial Capital reacted to his unusually aggressive display.
• Wang Chao and Lin Zijun entered a long rally, each using distinct variations and calculations to keep the other from finding an opening.
• Wang Chao exploited Lin Zijun’s lack of strength with repeated explosive loops, forcing a weak high return before smashing it to make the score 4:2.
• Wang Chao roared at Lin Zijun three times after the point, and Zhu Ding explained to Lu Feiyang that Wang Chao was intimidating him.

Wang Chao exploited Lin Zijun’s reliance on short-ball backhand twists and his limited power on long-ball attacks to win the first game 11:5. The chapter left the Chinese coaches reconsidering their outdated assumptions about the new generation of players and Wang Chao’s ability to find tactical flaws on his own.

• Lin Zijun grew tense after Wang Chao roared at him, and Wang Chao used deep balls to keep him from attacking comfortably.
• Grasshopper explained the players’ supposed serving strategies, while Yi Jing described how the new generation relied on backhand play and stayed close to the table.
• Wang Chao repeatedly sent long balls to Lin Zijun’s backhand and avoided giving him short balls there or long balls to his forehand.
• Wang Chao exposed Lin Zijun’s real weakness: his over-the-table backhand twist worked best on short balls, while his long-ball attacks lacked killing power.
• Wang Chao won the first game 11:5, leaving the capital’s coaches surprised that he had uncovered a flaw they had missed.

Wang Chao ruthlessly exploited Lin Zijun’s faltering mentality in the second game, taking a commanding lead as Lin’s play and confidence collapsed. The chapter left Wang Chao intent on crushing Lin’s fighting spirit before he could reach his full potential.

• Lin Zijun opened the second game with a short backspin serve, and Wang Chao seized the initiative with precise short play and a series of attacks to win the point.
• Lin Zijun lost another point in a long rally, then ran around the table to unleash a forced loop that Wang Chao blocked and redirected beyond his reach.
• Wang Chao celebrated loudly and kept roaring, further unsettling Lin Zijun as the score widened to 5:0.
• Lin Zijun sent an ultra-high toss serve long and out, making the score 6:0 and prompting the commentators to declare that his mentality had collapsed.
• Big shots watching from the capital recognized that Wang Chao was deliberately breaking Lin Zijun’s confidence rather than seeking a fair, evenly matched contest.