Site Products
2019 World Tour Qatar Open Recap

2019 World Tour Qatar Open Recap

(by Steve Hopkins / Photo by ITTF)

Doha, Qatar was host this week to the Seamaster 2019 ITTF World Tour Platinum Qatar Open.  The only player in the top 16 in the world that did not attend was Fan Zhendong (World No.1).  Xu Xin (World No. 2) was the top seed of the tournament and Lin Gaoyuan was second.

In the top half of the draw, Xu Xin advanced easily to the semifinals with wins over Korea’s Lim, Japan’s Oshima, and Patrick Franziska of Germany.  That same half of the draw also included fourth seeded Timo Boll and Ma Long who has been brilliant since returning from an injury.  Boll and Ma faced each other in the round of 16, and Ma Long dominated (4-0).  Ma Long then defeated Jun Mizutani 4-0 to reach the semifinals and then eliminated the top seed with a 4-2 win over Xu Xin in the semifinals.

The bottom half of the draw included Gaoyuan, Harimoto, Ovtcharov, Jingkun, and Calderano.  Gaoyuan eventually outlasted the group, but not before being pushed to a seventh game twice.  Dimitrij Ovtcharov fell to Taipei’s Lin Yun-Ju in the round of 16.  Calderano was upset in his first match – losing to Belgium’s Cedric Nuytinck 4-2.  Harimoto dominated Liang Jingkun with a 4-0 win, but then lost to Sweden’s Mattias Falck.  Falck overcame China’s Zhou Qihao 4-2, and then dispatched Nuytinck 4-2, before overcoming Harimoto 4-3.  Falck fell just short in the semifinal winning the first two games before falling down 3-2.  But then finding himself tied 10-10 in the seventh game – only to fall just short.  Gaoyuan advanced to face Ma Long in the final.

Gaoyuan started strong, winning the first two games of the final.  However, Ma Long closed out the match with four straight wins.  The Qatar Open title goes to Ma Long – who is clearly back from his injury and once again one of the top players in the world.

The Chinese contingent dominated the women’s event.  Six of the final eight players were Chinese, as well as all four of the semifinalists.  The final match was Wang Manyu over Liu Shiwen 4-2.  Wang was the fourth seed, but was dominant in all five matches, including three wins over Chinese players (and victories over the top two tournament seeds).

Latest News

Serve Into the Body

July 11, 2025
WAIT FUNCTION: Serve long serve to elbow, Robot plays topspin to Backhand, Backhand spin block down the line.… Read More

Playing Kids

July 8, 2025
(By Larry Hodges) Let’s face it; they’re probably faster than you. They might have a coach working with… Read More

#2 A Skill That Is Likely To Score – Backhand Down The Line

July 7, 2025
[[Feature] [Special Feature] American Stars! Jha’s Strengths #2 A Skill That Is Likely To Score – Backhand Down… Read More

United States Smash: Tight Scores and a Big Upset in Early Action

July 7, 2025
(by Steve Hopkins, photo WTT) Action is underway in the main round of the United States Smash, the… Read More

MLTT Featured Team: Bay Area Blasters

July 6, 2025
(by Steve Hopkins, photo MLTT) The Bay Area Blasters plan to blast through the upcoming Major League Table… Read More

WAB CLUB FEATURE: Calgary United Sports Table Tennis Association

July 6, 2025
(by Steve Hopkins) Established in 2002, Calgary United Sports Table Tennis Association (CUSTTA) is Alberta’s largest Table Tennis… Read More

Butterfly Players Shine at the 2025 US National Table Tennis Championships

July 6, 2025
(by Steve Hopkins, photo USATT) The 2025 U.S. National Table Tennis Championships is one of the premiere annual… Read More

US Nationals Recap

July 6, 2025
(by Steve Hopkins) The US National Table Tennis Championships is in the books.  One of America’s premiere events… Read More
View All News

Get the latest from Butterfly

Stay “In The Loop” with Butterfly professional table tennis equipment, table tennis news, table tennis technology, tournament results, and We Are Butterfly players, coaches, clubs and more.