Stage 1 of the ITTF Men’s and Women’s World Cup 2025 has concluded in dramatic fashion at the Galaxy Arena in Macao, China with the tournament’s innovative format proving that every point truly counts, creating nail-biting finishes across multiple groups.
One of the day’s first upsets came in the Men’s Singles Group 6, where Japan’s Shunsuke Togami eliminated last year’s runner-up Lin Gaoyuan with a 2-2 draw. Despite dropping the first game, Togami’s superior record throughout Stage 1 proved enough to secure qualification.
The drama was perhaps best exemplified in the Men’s Singles Group 8, where Chinese Taipei’s Feng Yi-Hsin eliminated world number 6 and Paris 2024 Bronze Medallist Felix Lebrun by the narrowest of margins. Following identical 3-1 victories over Denmark’s Anders Lind, their head-to-head 2-2 draw saw Feng advance by just three points, having scored 41 to Lebrun’s 38 in their direct encounter.
In the Women’s Singles, a fascinating clash of styles saw chopper Suh Hyo Won draw 2-2 against Lily Zhang. Despite Zhang taking a 2-1 lead midway through the match, a critical lapse in the fourth game proved costly, with her 4-11 loss significantly altering the points ratio in Won’s favour. The result meant Won progressed to Stage 2 at Zhang’s expense, marking a remarkable turnaround for the 37-year-old who had previously never dropped more than a single game to Zhang in their previous encounters.
The day concluded with a classic encounter as the 2017 World Cup champion Dimitrij Ovtcharov booked his Stage 2 spot with a thrilling 3-1 victory over Chinese Taipei’s Lin Yun-Ju. The German veteran showcased his championship pedigree in a nail-biting contest, winning three deuce games (14-12, 8-11, 12-10, 15-13) in a match that had the capacity crowd on their feet. With both players producing exceptional shot-making at crucial moments, it was Ovtcharov’s experience that ultimately prevailed.
Following the conclusion of Stage 1, the draw ceremony for the knockout phase has revealed several compelling matchups that promise to deliver spectacular table tennis.
In the Men’s Singles, World Number 1 Lin Shidong will face Sweden’s Anton Kallberg, who famously defeated Liang Jingkun in last year’s edition and will be eager to repeat the feat. An intriguing European clash awaits as France’s Simon Gauzy meets Sweden’s Truls Moregardโremarkably their first encounter on the international stage. Meanwhile, Japan’s Shunsuke Togami, fresh from his upset over Lin Gaoyuan, will face China’s Liang Jingkun as he attempts to continue his giant-killing run.
The Women’s Singles draw has produced equally enticing matchups. Defending champion Sun Yingsha begins her title defence against Austria’s Sofia Polcanova, against whom she maintains a perfect 4-0 record. World number 2 Wang Manyu and world number 5 Miwa Harimoto will meet for the fifth time internationally, with Harimoto still seeking her first victory against the former world champion. Another fascinating contest pits Romania’s Bernadette Szocs against Brazil’s Bruna Takahashi in their fifth career meeting.
With the group stage now complete, the ITTF Men’s and Women’s World Cup 2025 moves into the knockout phase, where the intensity will only increase as the tournament’s best players battle for one of table tennis’ most prestigious titles. Keep up to date with all the action and catch matches live on the ITTF YouTube channel.