Wang Chuqin (Photo WTT)
Wang Chuqin has finally got his hands on the trophy that has eluded him. The world number one defeated Japan’s Sora Matsushima 9-11, 18-16, 11-8, 11-13, 8-11, 11-4, 11-8 in a men’s singles final of the highest order at the ITTF Men’s and Women’s World Cup Macao,
It was his first ever World Cup title at his third appearance and he delivered a moment that the audience has been waiting for all week.
The scoreline tells the story of a match that refused to follow a straight line. Matsushima took first game in extraordinary fashion, Chuqin took the second – battling all the way to 18-16 to level the match and shift the momentum.
However the young Japanese star continued to push Chuqin deep into every exchange, leading 3-2 and threatening to produce one of the greatest World Cup upsets. But Chuqin, showing the composure and quality that has defined his career, found another gear when it mattered most, bought the scoreboard to a tie break and closed out the deciding game to claim the title he has worked so long and so hard to win.
The road to the title carries the weight of two years of near misses. In 2024, Chuqin fell at the semifinal stage. In 2025, the same story.
Arriving in Macao, China this week, there was a sense that this was the year Chuqin would finally convert his world number one ranking into World Cup gold. He was pushed all the way, by Felix Lebrun in the Round of 16 and Darko Jorgic in the quarterfinals, the latter seeing Chuqin come from 1-3 down to win 4-3 in one of the most thrilling matches of the tournament.
And in the semifinal, he avenged his loss to reigning champion Hugo Calderano from last year, defeating the Brazilian 4-1 to set up tonight’s final. Every step of the way, Chuqin found a way through.
This World Cup title caps what has already been a defining year for Chuqin. Last year he claimed his first ever Men’s World Championships title, finally adding that crown to an already glittering career.
Now, with the World Cup title secured, Chuqin stands just one major title away from completing a career golden slam, one of the most coveted achievements in table tennis. The Olympic gold medal remains the missing piece, and with the LA 2028 Games on the horizon, Chuqin will have that target firmly in his sights.
Tonight, on the biggest stage of all, he delivered. The world number one is now the World Cup champion, and after the journey it has taken to get here, few titles in this sport could mean more to the young star.
