LIEBHERR Men's World Cup
Magdeburg, Sunday 31st October 2010
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| WANG Hao once again the LIEBHERR men's World Cup champion Photo By: Guido Schiefer |
China’s WANG Hao won the LIEBHERR Men’s World Cup title for the third time in his career by clinching the prestigious crown in the German city of Magdeburg on Sunday 31st October 2010.
Seeded no.3, at the semi-final stage the reigning World champion beat the host nation’s Timo BOLL, the no.1 seed, before overcoming compatriot, ZHANG Jike, the no.3 seed in the final.
It was the seventh time that 26 year old WANG Hao had competed in the event as opposed to 22 year old ZHANG Jike who was making his debut.
“ZHANG Jike has made a great deal of progress in the past year”, said WANG Hao. “He just needs more experience.”
WANG Hao now joins Vladimir SAMSONOV of Belarus with three career wins in the event, one behind Chinese national team colleague MA Lin.
“I hope to play in the World Cup again next year”, concluded WANG Hao. “I would like to try to match MA Lin’s record.”
Third place in the event went to Timo BOL , he beat Japan’s Jun MIZUTANI in the Play-Off match; the Japanese star having lost a titanic semi-final struggle against ZHANG Jike; a contest in which he led by three games to nil and held two match points in the sixth game.
Semi-Final
WANG Hao (CHN) bt Timo BOLL (GER) 11-8 11-5, 9-11, 11-8, 11-3
ZHANG Jike (CHN) bt Jun MIZUTANI (JPN) 11-13, 10-12, 7-11, 11-9, 11-5, 14-12, 11-4
Third Place
Timo BOLL (GER) bt Jun MIZUTANI (JPN) 11-7, 11-7, 8-11, 10-12, 11-9, 9-11, 11-7
Final
WANG Hao (CHN) bt ZHANG Jike (CHN) 8-11, 11-8, 12-10, 11-9, 11-9
