In the early hours of May 11, Beijing time, the 2026 London World Table Tennis Championships men’s team final concluded with a dominant 3-0 victory for China over Japan. Liang Jingkun, Wang Chuqin, and Lin Shidong each secured their matches, extending China’s remarkable run to 12 consecutive men’s team titles and marking the 24th overall championship for the Chinese men’s squad. Both the men’s and women’s teams claimed the Swaythling Cup and Corbillon Cup respectively, wrapping up a perfect campaign for China in London.
**Match 1: Liang Jingkun 3-2 Tomokazu Harimoto**
Liang Jingkun started slowly, dropping the first two games 8-11, 4-11 to Harimoto. Facing a 2-0 deficit, the Chinese star found his rhythm, winning the next two games 11-9, 13-11 to force a decider. In the fifth, Harimoto jumped to a 6-1 lead by aggressively attacking the short game before Liang could settle. Known for his dramatic comebacks, Liang refused to give up, dragging every rally into prolonged exchanges and clawing back to 5-8, prompting a Japanese timeout. After the break, Harimoto grew increasingly erratic, committing unforced errors as Liang scored five consecutive points to reach 10-8 match point. He sealed the game to take the crucial first point for China, easing pressure on Wang Chuqin.
**Match 2: Wang Chuqin 3-1 Sora Matsushima**
Wang Chuqin also struggled early, losing the first game 8-11 to Matsushima. He found his footing in the second, though his form wavered. Leading 9-8, he unleashed a brilliant cross-court forehand smash but then dropped two points. After saving a game point at 10-11, he converted his own at 12-10 to level the match. Wang dominated the third game with a 4-0 start, capitalizing on Matsushima’s errors and winning 11-2. In the fourth, Matsushima led 6-2 before Wang’s self-adjustment skills kicked in, pulling to 5-6 and forcing a Japanese timeout. The score tightened to 9-9 before Wang surprised his opponent with a sudden long push, followed by another point to seal the match 3-1.
**Match 3: Lin Shidong 3-1 Yukiya Uda**
Lin Shidong opened with an 11-9 win, then took control in the second game as Uda tried to attack early, but Lin absorbed the pressure and forced Uda into errors, winning 11-5. Although Uda pulled one game back, Lin quickly established an early lead in the fourth and closed out the final 11-9, capping the team victory.
With this clean sweep, China’s men’s team added another chapter to their legacy, lifting the Swaythling Cup for the 24th time and achieving an unprecedented 12th consecutive world title.
