Wang Chuqin had played against Captain Long many times, yet he still harbored fear in his heart.
Even though he had defeated Brother Long just half a month prior to win the championship at the Macau Champions and the team simulation trials, he could not afford to let his guard down in the slightest.
That was because Captain Long was a player built for major tournaments; the higher the stakes, the more exceptional his mental fortitude, allowing him to perform far beyond his usual level.
As the first game got underway, Ma Long opened by controlling Wang Chuqin's forehand short and ripping crosscourt, varying the spin on his serves significantly. Wang Chuqin attempted to respond with short pushes and backhand banana flicks. Yet when it came to battling for control, no one in the modern era could compare to Ma Long, who took a 4-2 lead out of the gate.
Ma Long then aggressively targeted Datou's forehand short, seizing the gap when Datou was recovering his position to suppress Datou's shot quality with speed and middle-court attacks, extending his lead to 7-4.
But Datou was young, possessed incredible coverage speed, and commanded a massive table area. He closely tracked Captain Long's tactical shifts, fighting back to level the score at 9-9!
In the scramble for the crucial points, Datou decisively seized the initiative on his serve, scoring directly with a backhand banana flick to take the first game 11-9.
At the start of the second game, Captain Long actively adjusted his…
Chapter 416