The first of the men’s semi-finals pitted Japan against Chinese Taipei. These two met in Stage 1a Group 2, where it was the Japanese team who came out on top 3-0 (3-1, 3-1, 3-0).
Japan’s world number three, Tomokazu Harimoto, came to the table first where he lined up against world number seven, Lin Yun-Ju, of Chinese Taipei.
Knowing how much was on the line, it was Lin who settled best and took the opening game 11-5 before Harimoto bounced back to take the second 11-9. The third game proved to be the closest, however, having defended a game point at 9-10, Harimoto won back-to-back points to take the game 12-10 and establish a 2-1 lead.
Getting his nation over the line was a mighty fight for Harimoto however. Finding himself 0-3 and 3-6 down, he turned it around to lead 10-7 before being pegged back to 10-10. Having unsuccessfully converted three match points, he took his fourth to win the game 12-10 and the match 3-1.
Sora Matsushima (JPN) and Feng Yi-Hsin (TPE) were next up. Matsushima came into the match ranked 65 places above his opponent as world number eight, yet the 19-year-old didn’t have it all his own way until be made the break from 7-7 to 10-7 and took the opening game at the second opportunity: 11-8.
The second game followed a very similar pattern as it too ended 11-8 to Matsushima as he took the initiative when it mattered most. Now fully in control, the Japanese player rattled through the third game to take it 11-4 and give Japan a 2-0 lead.
Knowing his nation needed him to win in order to stay in the match and give themselves any chance of reaching the final, Kuo Guan-Hong lined up against Shunsuke Togami with Chinese .
The 17-year-old equipped himself well in the first two games, however found himself on the wrong end of the scoreline in both – 11-8, 11-9, before Togami won the third 11-5 to see his nation into the final 3-0.
The second semi-final saw France take on defending champions China in a repeat of the 2024 men’s final. In order to reach a second consecutive final for the first time, France would need to do something they’ve never managed in World Team Table Tennis Championships history – beat China.
World number one, Wang Chuqin, led out the Chinese team with Flavien Coton first up for France as both players arrived at the table to tremendous support inside OVO Arena Wembley.
Coton, who had defeated Hugo Calderano in France’s quarter-final, gave a good account of himself in the opening exchanges however it was his opponent who progressed to an early lead. At 9-5 up, it looked like Wang would wrap up the first game until the Frenchman won consecutive points to pull himself back into it at 9-8. The first game point went to Wang at 10-8, however Coton denied both in making it 10-10 before having one of his own at 11-10. The pair traded game points until Wang was able to convert to take the first game 15-13.
The second game ebbed and flowed in much the same way that the first did, with neither player able to press home an advantage despite gaining multiple point leads at different times. Wang was the first to reach game point at 10-8, yet was unable to take either as the Frenchman made it 10-10. Coton couldn’t convert his at 11-10 as the game continued at 11-11, but could next time around as he took the game 13-11 to make it all square at 1-1.
The third game had a near identical feel, except it was Coton who was able to earn the first game point at 10-9. He took the game at the first time of asking to give himself the lead in the match 2-1. Wang opened up a 6-2 advantage in the fourth game and, with the momentum behind him was able to even things up at 2-2 by taking the game 11-4.
After the uncharacteristically quick and one-sided fourth game, the deciding fifth was as close as the first three. Wang earned match point at 10-8 and got the match over the line as Coton sent it long.
Lin Shidong and Felix Lebrun were next up to the table as the match continued in a nip and tuck close fashion. Having opened up a lead, Lebrun was able to stay ahead before earning and converting the first game point of the match to take it 11-9. A series of epic rallies kick-started the second game which got up to speed immediately.
Neither player was dropping their standard, nor were they giving anything to their opponent – every point won had to be earned – as, once again, Lebrun moved to game point at 10-6. Lin saved the first and second to make it 10-8 before the Frenchman took a timeout. Lin took the first point back to make it 10-9 before Lebrun got it over the line to make it 2-0.
A timeout at 7-6 to Lebrun set up a battle to the game’s finale. Lin made it 9-9 before Lebrun earned and lost match point. Having been unable to take the first, Lebrun took his second, winning the game 12-10 and the match 3-0.
The third match of this semi-final saw Liang Jingkun face off against Alexis Lebrun, with the Frenchman looking to emulate his brother’s performance and result.
He did so in emphatic fashion in their opening game which he won 11-3, and their second as he raced to a 5-0 lead. He extended this lead to 9-1, before earning game point at 10-1 which he converted to take a 2-0 lead in the match.
Liang came back fighting in the third game as he opened up a 5-2 lead before Lebrun battled back to 5-4. The Chinese player taking a timeout to try to halt the Frenchman’s comeback charge. The game remained close after the break, Lebrun drawing level at 8-8 then 9-9, before opening up match point at 10-9 which he was unable to take. His second came at 12-11 but once again he couldn’t convert it. Having also had a number of game points, Liang was able to get on the board at 2-1.
He maintained this momentum in the fourth game to make it 10-3, before a remarkable comeback ensued as Lebrun brought it back to 10-10. Once again Liang earned game point, this time taking it to make it 2-2.
From match point down in the third twice, Liang found himself match point up in the fifth following a service fault from Lebrun. Marking the comeback from 2-0 down, Liang won 2-3 to and give China the advantage in the match 2-1.
As the match ticked over two hours, Wang Chuqin and Felix Lebrun prepared to return to the table for the fourth match of this epic semi-final.
After some ferocious rallies got the fourth match up and running, it was Wang who was able to make the pivotal breakthrough as he took the opening game 13-11.
The second game was just as close, but this time it was Lebrun who was in control as the game reached its conclusion. The Frenchman able to close out the game 11-9 and draw the match level at 1-1.
The third game replicated the second in many ways but with the reverse in score as Wang took it 11-9. The players once again gave the packed crowd plenty to cheer for, whether they were supporting France, China or a neutral.
Wang was able to close out the match win for himself (3-1) and his team (3-1), as he led China through to yet another final where they would face Japan.