Tianhe Gymnasium, Guangzhou-CHN Total Prize Money : US$1,500,000 Tournament website : https://bwfworldtourfinals.bwfbadminton.com/ Competition Schedule : - Wednesday (12th December) : Group-Stage Matches Session 1 (11.00am local time) | Session 2 (06.00pm) - Thursday (13th December) : Group-Stage Matches Session 1 (11.00am local time) | Session 2 (06.00pm) - Friday (14th December) : Group-Stage Matches Session 1 (11.00am local time) | Session 2 (06.00pm) - Saturday (15th December) : SEMIFINAL 1 (11.00am) & SEMIFINAL 2 (06.00pm) - Sunday (16th December) : FINAL (01.00pm) Daily Order of Play/Result/LiveScore : https://www.tournamentsoftware.com/sport/tournament.aspx?id=F0D25C8F-6A9A-49DE-97FC-E58E3DB74CF1 KNOCK-OUT DRAW will be conducted on 14th December 2018 (after last tie of group stage matches is completed) LIVE STREAMING : - BWF Youtube (started from day-1 tournament) : https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChh-akEbUM8_6ghGVnJd6cQ - http://sportstream365.com/other - https://smashnation7.com/ - http://www.justfun.live/channeltypes/Badminton Guangzhou time : https://www.worldtimezone.com/time/wtzresult.php?CiID=3539&forma=Find Time 2017 WINNERS : https://bwf.tournamentsoftware.com/...A21F55-CAD5-4CF4-A60F-A7E06E0DEAAD&d=20171217 MS - Viktor Axelsen (DEN) WS - Akane Yamaguchi (JPN) MD - Marcus Fernaldi Gideon/Kevin Sanjaya Sukamuljo (INA) WD - Shiho Tanaka/Koharu Yonemoto (JPN) XD - Zheng Siwei/Chen Qingchen (CHN) GROUP STAGE DRAW : https://bwfworldtourfinals.bwfbadmi...2018/12/10/world-champions-in-group-of-death/ Offering the biggest total prize money in badminton history, the season-ending World Tour Finals takes place in one of China largest and metropolitan cities, Guangzhou that intended to showcase full-packed badminton action as culmination to conclude twelve-month of numerous tournaments in BWF World Tour, a replicate of Dubai Superseries Finals. The question has emerged, is it the truly reflection to define eight outstanding players/pairs in 2018 instead of the regular participants who's playing so many tournaments diligently in one year calendar? Like or dislike, pros and cons, badminton fans will witness and keep guessing who can lift the magnificent trophy - replica of Canton Tower - in Tianhe Gymnasium on Sunday? Men’s Singles World number one and reigning world champion Kento Momota is absolutely the overwhelming favourite to affirm his status as the best MS in current generation, a sterling achievement along 2018. 28 years old Chou Tien Chen tops Guangzhou Race ranking, an outcome for his non-stop, tirelessly participation in 16 tournaments to maintain his position, bagged 3 titles in this year and several runner-up and semifinal outings. Similar case with rank number 3, Tommy Sugiarto who played 17 tours with one title in Thailand Super 300 and runner-up twice in Super 500 level. Other contenders, All England Champion Shi Yuqi, the resurgent Son Wan Ho and Indonesian ace Anthony Ginting who made big headline in CHN Super 1000. The most surprising representative in this category none but Thai young talent, Kantaphon Wangcharoen who never won any title in BWF World Tour this season. Last entry Sameer Verma who grabbed Guangzhou ticket dramatically through his persistence to win IND Open recently. The Japanese star Momota should have no problem to clear his group stage hurdles while group A will serve intriguing plot where all four players have equal chance to progress. Women’s Singles The eight qualifiers are not far with BWF world ranking to describe WS depth and competitiveness. The strongest favourite, two-time winner Tai Tzu Ying quality will be tested by her familiar foes, she conceded retirement at semifinal of HKG Open last month due to injury. The fully-fit Taiwanese skillful player will be unbeatable as she displayed to clinch six titles. Two Japanese starlets, Nozomi Okuhara and newly crowned All Japan Champioships winner Akane Yamaguchi will be her closest rival alongside Pusarla Sindhu and Ratchanok Intanon. Local hopeful Chen Yufei who ended long wait WS title for China in Fuzhou Open will be extra motivated yet under pressure to deliver her finest form in front of home fans. Two Pan American shuttlers who make history, being first timer in Guangzhou Finals. Zhang Beiwen is invited to replace three-time World Champion Carolina Marin then He Bingjiao who also declined the invitation due to injury. Tai is favoured to top group A while the runner-up position will be hunted by Sindhu, title-holder Yamaguchi or the darkhorse Zhang BW. Both Okuhara and Chen YF are group B front-runners considering their strong showing recently. Men’s Doubles The men to beat Gideon/Sukamuljo will undergo another mission to complete their wonderful season with nine titles, let alone World Championships, the only major target that still elusive for them to accomplish. Slim chance for other competitors to spoil the party, practically the Minions are above the class over the rest. China up and coming pair, French Open champion Han CK/Zhou HD are the only opponent that had overcame the Minions in last two encounters. Chinese Taipei secures two spots in this discipline, a surprising fact pointing out Liao MC/Su CH occupy third rank in Guangzhou race despite they never topped podium in this season. A quite tough to predict group B outcome, two-time World Champion Ahsan/Setiawan will be challenged by two Taiwanese tandems plus Endo/Watanabe. Women’s Doubles Top-three Japanese combinations in Guangzhou Race, current world number one Fukushima/Hirota must face strict regulation and can't meet the criteria as only 2 representatives per nation that allowed to taking part. The Olympic Champion Matsutomo/Takahashi and World Champion Matsumoto/Nagahara will be Japan backbone to continue their hegemony and stamp authority in this season. They should be wary about the reviving Korean duo Lee SH/Shin SC who presented solid performance lately. Host China who’s represented by Chen/Jia and Du/Li still look bleak and far from convincing, an unprecedented setback following their long domination since 80’s era. Bulgarian Stoeva sisters create giant leap of their career to secure their spot in this top-flight tournament and no impossible for them to make it into final four. Mixed Doubles China trump card, the invincible duo Zheng SW/Huang YQ have sensational achievement since their partnership late 2017. Pocketing seven titles BWF World Tour to complete World Championships and Asian Games gold medal, undeniable feat they’re the best mixed doubles pair at the moment. All England winner Watanabe/Higashino and Thailand dynamic duo Puavaranukroh/Taerattanachai are expected to trouble the world number one. English pair, Ellis/Smith who sneaked out as last minute entry, thanks to their successful in Glasgow to disappoint another potential pair Tang CM/Tse YS. Group B provides exciting duels that may spring upsets. DAY-1 ORDER OF PLAY (Wednesday, 11.00am & 06.00pm, 2 courts) : https://www.tournamentsoftware.com/...D25C8F-6A9A-49DE-97FC-E58E3DB74CF1&d=20181212
First day, Order of play 12 December 2018 is out: https://bwfworldtourfinals.bwfbadminton.com/results/3317/hsbc-bwf-world-tour-finals-2018/2018-12-12
I thought I was counting it wrong and kind of hoping it would be 3 group stages and the final.. but knowing BWF, I supposed you're right. They'd want to have the "best" commentators for the final to commentate on the "Best of the Best players" final.
wtf @ men's group: A: chou,shi yuqi,son wan ho,anthony ginting and then B: kento,tommy,kanthapon,samer lol..who made the draw....
Based on my calculation on World Ranking, Han/Zhou just need to finish third in the group stage to overtake Liu/Zhang as the CHN MD2. Liu/Zhang will lose about 5000 points since they were runner up last year and his rank will drop. @yuquall , are you ready with this fact?
Yes, please, I want to see that. But, can Li/Liu beat Han/Zhou? Winning one match in group stage will put you at least the third place on the final standing, unless special circumstances where three players/pairs have one point each.
I just hope there is no 'match fixing' from China... The last match between Li/Liu and Han/Zhou was...as HKV said.
I thought that HKV's tweet was Li/Liu vs He/Tan? Well it's their match, they can do whatever they want really. Spending much energy on each other or "saving" some when they should be defeating the other two pairs in the group to get through to SF.
I am more interested to see whether Li/Liu will lose to minions again. Another loss and surely breakup?Someone got to be the scapegoat This is putting shame to ChinaMD having this kind of H2H. Never happened in history. Its like CaiFu having 1-8 against Lee/Jung lol. So i actually think LiuZhang will regain their MD2 status by mid to end next year just because they didnt have 1-8 H2H. Propesterous in MD terms. Never had it been this large when WR1 vs WR2 as long as they have been..
If Liu/Zhang performs greatly next year, they can regain that status back. But, MD is very erratic. We don't know what happened next year. Let's just wait and see. Heck, I can't even guarantee Li/Liu's position and status.