Killerspin’s Chen Qi was the engineer as he assumed the role of team captain to clinch the Men’s Doubles title in partnership with Ma Long at the German Open in Berlin on Sunday 21st March 2010.

Runners up at the Panasonic China Open in 2007 and semi-finalists one year ago at the Harmony China Open, Chen Qi and Ma Long beat compatriots Hao Shuai and Zhang Jike in five games to secure the top prize.

Chen Qi and Ma Long won 11-8, 12-10, 11-7, 4-11, 15-13.

The Master

Undoubtedly, Chen Qi has proved himself a master in the art of doubles in recent years.

Partnering Ma Lin he won gold in the Men’s Doubles title at the 2004 Athens Olympic Games and in 2005 at the Liebherr World Championships in Zagreb.

Furthermore, two years later in Yokohama, he was once again on the top step of the Men’s Doubles podium when at the H.I.S. World Championships he partnered Wang Hao to gold.

First Three Games

The first game saw Chen Qi and Ma Long establish a narrow lead, it was a lead they never relinquished; however, in the second game they trailed 8-10 before winning four points

in a row to achieve success.

Winning the first two games was clearly a confidence booster, in the first game they had established a narrow lead; in the third game they did the same. It was a lead they never relinquished to move one game away from victory.

Hiccup

However, in the fourth game Hao Shuai and Zhang Jike responded; they barely put one foot wrong and won the game with consummate ease.

The match deficit had been reduced to two games.

Fifth Game

A reverse but it proved not to be terminal; in the fifth game, Chen Qi and Ma Long moved ahead 6-4, Hao Shuai and Zhang Jike elected for a “Time Out”. They kept fighting but at 10-8 it was two match points to Chen Qi and Ma Long, both were saved; then at 10-11 it was game point to Hao Shuai and Zhang Jike.

Chen Qi and Ma Long saved the game point and at 12-11 had a third opportunity; again they could not convert. At 12-13 it was game point again to Hao Shuai and Zhang Jike, again level; then 14-13 to Chen Qi and Ma Long; this time converted.

It was gold for Chen Qi and Ma Long.