Being able to win doesn't mean you are on the same technical level as the opponent. Being able to keep the rally going (and the shuttle in court) can sometimes be enough, and especially on lower levels there's quite a few 'runners' who themselves have fairly limited technique and no dangerous shots but keep the opponent on court until they run out of steam or just make mistakes due to inconsistency.
While THW is not a passive player, he has bad technique for someone in the World's Top 20. Way too much panhandle. Similar to Lee Dong Keun and some Korean MD players - in fact Yoo Yeon Seong is one of them, but in MD it's not as much of a factor with much less lateral movement and no need to cover the net after your smash.
In MS, however, it's an important factor as it severely limits your options in the deep forehand corner and round-the-head position when you have little time. One of the reasons LD is so hard to read is his overhead technique - he almost always has his racket turned in such a way that he can play the shuttle to any position on the court.
My view is that THW has technical ability in that he is able to execute quality shots like many other top-class players. That's why he is able to defeat so many other quality players on route to today's final, even the promising KM who is ranked higher. That's why he could even beat LD and LCW on a good day.
I don't like his strategy of prolonging the games to wear down his opponents, although he is relatively fit. This is evidenced in the 3-gamers he has to endure in every match of this AE:
[TABLE="class: ruler matches player"]
Match overview
Export Calendar [TR]
[TD][/TD]
[TD]Time[/TD]
[TD]Draw[/TD]
[TD="colspan: 3"][/TD]
[TD]Score[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD="align: right"]Duration[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="bgcolor: transparent"]
[TD][/TD]
[TD="class: plannedtime, align: right"]Wed 3/9/2016 4:20 PM[/TD]
[TD]
MS[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]
[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]-[/TD]
[TD]
[/TD]
[TD]21-14 19-21 13-21[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD="align: right"]1:12[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="bgcolor: transparent"]
[TD][/TD]
[TD="class: plannedtime, align: right"]Thu 3/10/2016 12:15 PM[/TD]
[TD]
MS[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]
[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]-[/TD]
[TD]
[/TD]
[TD]21-10 12-21 19-21[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD="align: right"]1:07[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="bgcolor: transparent"]
[TD][/TD]
[TD="class: plannedtime, align: right"]Fri 3/11/2016[/TD]
[TD]
MS[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]
[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]-[/TD]
[TD]
[/TD]
[TD]19-21 21-15 21-16[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD="align: right"]1:20[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="bgcolor: transparent"]
[TD][/TD]
[TD="class: plannedtime, align: right"]Sat 3/12/2016[/TD]
[TD]
MS[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]
[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]-[/TD]
[TD]
[/TD]
[TD]15-21 21-14 21-14[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD="align: right"]1:15[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="bgcolor: #F8F8F8"]
[TD][/TD]
[TD="class: plannedtime, align: right"]Sun 3/13/2016[/TD]
[TD]
MS[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]
[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]-[/TD]
[TD]
[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD="align: right"][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]
And in his game against Vittinghus, instead of attacking his backhand, THW tried to wear out V with clears to his strong forehand and put pressure on himself. His game plan did not work well until he changed to attacking V's backhand more.
In today's final, both LD and THW are left-handers, so there is no distinct advantage. But THW must capitalize on his 'superior' fitness to make LD work for his returns, push LD to the four corners and try to finish off with his very useful smash or delicate drops.
Of course LD will not make it that easy for THW to control him and therein lies the excitement of the cat-and-mouse game, a game of split-second decisions and changes. LD instead will try to control THW. But to win THW must use his superior fitness and agility to finish off LD fast, and not try to prolong the game unnecessarily to a decider.
The physical chess game between these two countrymen will bear no affection for each other in today's MS final. It will be THW's most memorable trophy if he wins. For LD it will be just another win but it is important for his world ranking before the Rio Olympics.