Chou Tien Chen Upsets Shi Yu Qi to Reach All-Taiwan Semifinal at China Open

In a stunning upset at the China Open, Chou Tien Chen triumphed over world No. 1 Shi Yu Qi, marking a significant milestone in his career. The Taiwanese veteran, aged 36, overcame a challenging start to secure a 21-14, 12-21, 21-15 victory in the men’s singles quarterfinals of the BWF World Tour Super 1000 event.

Chou's win not only ended a nine-match losing streak against Shi but also ensured that Taiwan would have a representative in the men’s singles final, eliminating China from contention in this category. In the semifinals, Chou will face fellow Taiwanese player Lin Chun-Yi, who defeated China’s Weng Hong Yang in straight games, 27-25, 21-14.

The match began with Shi taking an early lead, going up 13-6 in the first game. However, Chou displayed remarkable resilience, turning the tide with a 15-1 run to clinch the opening game. Although Shi bounced back to take the second game 21-12, Chou regained his composure in the deciding game, taking an 11-7 lead at the interval and maintaining control to finish off the match with a decisive smash.

Chou's performance at the China Open has been a strong response to his early exit at the Japan Open, where he lost in the first round. His journey in Changzhou has included victories over notable players such as Canada’s Brian Yang and Japan’s Kodai Naraoka, culminating in this impressive win against Shi.

Meanwhile, Lin Chun-Yi's victory over Weng was marked by a dramatic first game where he saved multiple game points before securing a hard-fought win. With two major titles already this season, Lin aims to continue his success against Chou in the upcoming semifinal.