Table tennis: Swinging the racket billions of times, achieving a grand slam

Chapter 289 WTT Fukuoka Finals, Victory! Super Grand Slam Nine Tournament Progress, +1!

"Zhang Benjun, that was just done!"

Sakura Toyama held up her support sign and shouted in a high-pitched voice.

The JK skirt and butterfly headband kept swaying in front of Takashi Toyama's eyes.

"Chen Jin, keep it up!"

The girls in Hanfu, not to be outdone, shouted with all their might.

Her wide sleeves fluttered, and her gilded gold ornaments reflected an eerie light under the lamplight.

The two women turned to look at each other, their gazes meeting like the clash of swords, sparks flying.

The cheers and encouragement grew louder and louder, each person focused solely on suppressing the other.

This damned competitive spirit is really tormenting Takashi Toyama, who's caught in the middle.

Takashi Toyama covered his ears tightly with both hands and curled up into a ball, but he could not withstand the two women's ear-piercing voices.

"Help~"

Takashi Toyama cried out silently in his heart, his face already masked with pain.

After a while.

The two women finally screamed until their voices cracked, and they were almost out of breath, unable to continue.

Only then, with no clear winner, did the game end in a stalemate.

"Cough cough cough..."

Yuanshan Ying coughed a few times.

I unscrewed the water bottle and moistened my lips and throat, which felt like they were about to burst into flames.

And the other side.

The girl in Hanfu also had a flushed face and popped a loquat throat lozenge into her mouth.

Turned his head.

Looking at each other again.

It was like Mars colliding with Earth.

Sakura Toyama took a deep breath, looking just like a landlady about to unleash a lion's roar.

As a result, before he could unleash the spell, Takashi Toyama interrupted his casting.

"elder sister."

Takashi Toyama gently tugged at Sakura Toyama's hair. "Is Harimoto about to lose?"

Sakura Toyama turned around abruptly, her fierce eyes looking as if she wanted to devour someone: "Bullshit!"

"Zhang Benjun can definitely turn the game around!"

Her anxiety meant she had guessed correctly… Takashi Toyama muttered to himself, “The point difference in the first three games was so large that even a layman like me could see it.”

"You know nothing!"

Sakura Toyama tried her best to defend herself, saying, "This is called putting yourself in a desperate situation to survive."

Upon hearing this, Takashi Toyama simply smiled.

My gaze shifted to the screen.

At that moment, the camera focused on Tomokazu Harimoto.

Tomokazu Harimoto and Kunifumi Tase sat side by side on a sofa in the rest area.

With one hand on Zhang Ben's shoulder, Tasei Kunifu patiently analyzed the situation and the card-drawing tactics.

In reality, they are all old clichés, nothing more than "pay attention to the connection", "keep an eye on the middle position", and "fight for the kill".

Faced with a monster like Chen Jin, any tactic seems utterly futile.

Zhang Benzhihe listened attentively while tilting his head back to drink water.

Out of the corner of my eye, I caught a glimpse of the scoring screen.

0: 3.

The scarlet numbers, like sharp blades, pierced my pupils with a bloody glare.

If they lose just one more game, they'll be completely out of the running for the championship.

Playing on home soil, they carry the hopes of the fans.

For Tomokazu Harimoto, this is both immense pressure and a driving force for his continued efforts.

"No matter what, we must not give up."

Zhang Benzhihe tightened his grip, making the mineral water bottle crack loudly. "Even if I lose, I'll lose standing up!"

His dark eyes gleamed with fighting spirit.

Witnessing Tomokazu Harimoto's resolute gaze as he faced death on the screen, Takashi Toyama felt a chill run down his spine.

A strong opponent is not scary.

The most terrifying thing is losing the courage and determination to face powerful enemies.

Although Zhang is a naturalized player, one can see the spirit of Bushido in his eyes.

Takashi Toyama was immediately filled with awe and respect.

The initial underestimation had completely vanished.

“Time!”

As the referee's reminder sounded.

Watching Tomokazu Harimoto walk onto the field, his back was lonely yet resolute, much like an ancient warrior going to the battlefield alone.

Toyama Takashi silently thought to himself, "Just got it."

Back on the field.

Zhang Ben's fighting spirit was rekindled, and he exuded a murderous aura.

Pick up the racket and wipe it gently.

His expression was filled with a devoutness akin to offering sacrifices.

In contrast, Chen Jin remained calm and composed, like an ancient well, undisturbed by any ripples.

0: 0.

Toyohisa Harimoto stood at the front of the table, toying with the white ball in his hand, his body slightly turned to the side, glancing sideways at Chen Jin.

Then, he bent down.

He paused for a moment.

Gently toss the ball upwards.

At the same time, rotate your waist and hips, drawing back the racket like drawing a bow.

The white ball, at its highest point, loses momentum and begins to fall.

Tomokazu Harimoto twists his waist and thrusts his hips, using his body's center of gravity to press down on the arc.

The moment the ball touches the wrist, it flips.

"laugh!"

A white shadow flashed by, like Li Xunhuan's unerring throwing knife.

A surprise attack on Chen Jin's forehand corner.

Straight line to lengthen!

This shot was short, fast, and quite daring and risky.

However, the bigger the waves, the more expensive the fish.

Moreover, as it turns out, Zhang Ben's risky choice was not wrong.

Chen Jin guessed that Zhang Ben might steal a longer route, but he didn't expect Zhang Ben to dare to steal a straight route.

Caught off guard, he lunged for the ball with his forehand.

But it was still half an inch too slow.

The edge of the racket barely touched the white ball before it was knocked away.

1: 0.

"Wow!!!"

Seeing Zhang Ben score with his serve, the entire stadium erupted in excitement, raising their arms in cheers.

Sakura Toyama jumped up excitedly.

"It's only been one point, is it really necessary to be so excited?"

Takashi Toyama was somewhat speechless.

Of course, he also understood Sakura Toyama's feelings.

Throughout the three games, Tomokazu Harimoto was almost entirely dominated by Chen Jin.

Having finally won a point, we must make a concerted effort to build momentum.

"Da da da, da da da..."

There was silence.

Tomokazu Harimoto picked up the ping-pong ball, and in the two or three seconds before serving, his mind raced: "Short ball or long ball?"

"After successfully stealing a forehand from Chen Jin on the last ball, Chen Jin will definitely be on guard."

"Therefore, it's best to serve a short ball."

"But Chen Jin might think the same way."

Zhang Benzhihe's eyes darkened. "Since that's the case, let's use the same trick again."

I made up my mind.

歘!
The ball moved like lightning, hurtling in a straight line.

But this time, Tomokazu Harimoto miscalculated.

Chen Jin anticipated his prediction and started moving ahead of time the moment he served.

A diving forehand followed by a counter-loop.

The racket sliced ​​through the air, producing a sharp whistling sound, like an invisible sword aura.

Even his wrist movements included some feints.

It's just a fleeting moment.

The ping-pong ball, spinning intensely, flew towards Tomokazu Harimoto's left side of the table.

Judging from Chen Jin's backswing, it seemed like he was going to hit a cross-court shot, but Zhang Benzhihe was just about to hit a quick forehand shot.

Unexpectedly, the prediction was wrong.

The white ball curls into an arc, like a rainbow piercing the sun, flying straight towards us.

Zhang Ben hurriedly returned to defend, but couldn't save the ball in time.

1: 1.

"Playing psychological tactics in front of Chen Jin is clearly not going to work."

Tomokazu Harimoto shook his head.

Followed by.

Switch sides and serve.

Hook your hand.

Short on the lower side.

Zhang Ben took a step forward and then twisted the ball with his backhand.

The red rubber sheet, flashing with a blood-red light, swirled the white ball and slashed towards Chen Jin's center.

The ball chased after him, and their forces were evenly matched.

Although Chen Jin managed to turn sideways and counter-attack with his forehand, he was unable to suppress Zhang Ben's backhand topspin loop.

The ball went out of bounds.

1: 2.

"Choo-hoo!"

"Zhu--"

Tomokazu Harimoto roared and punched, his momentum unstoppable.

The audience erupted in cheers once again.

Chen Jin remained calm and did not change his serve, sticking to his hook shot.

Same action, same landing point.

Seeing this, Zhang Ben couldn't help himself and tried to use the same trick again, adding twisting and pulling.

He frowned as soon as he made a move.

"With Chen Jin's shrewdness, how could he possibly reveal such an obvious flaw?"

Zhang Ben immediately realized, "This serve is definitely a trap."

It was as fast as lightning.

They changed tactics midway, switching from twisting to sticking.

The moment he touched the ball, Tomokazu Harimoto realized: "It really is a topspin."

If he had continued to add spin, the ball might have already gone out of bounds by now.

"You reacted pretty quickly!"

Seeing that Zhang Ben hadn't fallen for the trick, Chen Jin inwardly praised him.

With a backhand flick, he tore it apart with increased force.

Zhang Ben stepped back half a step, seized the landing point, and used a backhand to defend.

"Snapped!"

"Snapped!"

"Snapped!"

……

Chen Jin stood firmly at mid-to-close range and unleashed a series of rapid backhand rips.

With swift movements and immense power, one strike after another came like a dam bursting, leaving no room for maneuver, firmly suppressing Zhang Benzhihe on the left side of the table.

Feeling the opponent's attack, which was like the Eighteen Subduing Dragon Palms, the palm force was fierce and continuous. Zhang Benzhihe could not defend against it and could only retreat continuously to deflect the force and struggle to hold on.

He knew it too. The situation was too passive; continuing would only lead to a slow death.

However, Chen Jin's backhand close-to-the-table quick rip, with its power, speed, spin, and placement, combined perfectly, left him with no chance to counterattack.

Fortunately, Zhang Ben's defensive skills are strong, especially against strong opponents.

At this moment, all he could do was pray that Chen Jin would make a mistake.

Unfortunately, things did not go as planned.

Chen Jin didn't even suddenly change direction; relying solely on the terrifying power and speed of his backhand quick rip, he managed to break through Zhang Ben's defense in just five or six rounds.

2: 2.

The score is tied again.

"Once Chen Jin gets a foothold, his backhand close-to-the-table rip is faster, more powerful, and has more spin than Felix's."

Zhang Ben reached out and touched the table. "This style of play is too passive. We still need to find the right spot to hit the ball and move Chen Jin around."

"Stay calm and don't rush!"

"still have a chance!"

"Hoo ho ho..."

Zhang Benzhihe jumped up and down a few times.

Serve while leaning over.

Stealing growth!

However, the landing point has changed.

The ball flew like a bullet, suddenly attacking Chen Jin's backhand baseline.

It has a slight edge.

Although Chen Jin managed to return the ball, the quality was clearly not high.

Zhang Ben seized the opportunity, how could he let it slip by?

He channeled his power into his right arm, his momentum seemingly capable of splitting the heavens.

In an instant, the racket in his hand transformed into a ghost-headed blade filled with endless killing intent, whipping up a spray of bloody light as it slashed down furiously.

"Snapped!"

The sound of the ball hitting the ground was deafening.

This goal is a must-win!

"Wow--"

Sakura Toyama screamed excitedly.

But the next second, it came to an abrupt end.

The scream turned into regret: "Huh? Sigh..."

Her mood fluctuated so rapidly, like a rollercoaster, that she almost had a heart attack.

It turned out that Zhang Ben had hit the ball too hard and it went out of bounds.

At this critical moment, such a fatal mistake occurred. Tomokazu Harimoto looked remorseful, stuck out his tongue, and glanced back at Kunifu Tadase.

"It's ok."

Kunifumi Tase encouraged him, "Stay calm, don't rush."

2: 3.

With a determined look in his eyes, Tomokazu Harimoto continued with his long-ball tactics.

A surprise attack on the middle lane.

This time, however, they didn't have the same luck as the previous game.

Chen Jin anticipated and captured it.

Turn sideways in advance and then accelerate straight ahead.

"Snapped!"

The white ball transformed into a streak of light, gliding past Tomokazu Harimoto's backhand position and flying out from under his arm.

4: 2.

The score gap widened.

Zhang Ben was already somewhat discouraged after failing to capitalize on his previous serve.

But now, Chen Jin has seen through it.

Morale plummeted.

Seeing this, Kunifumi Tasei stood up, gestured, and asked for a pause.

This pause is simply to delay the game.

Its impact on the course of the game is negligible.

Pause back.

Tomokazu Harimoto regained some of his fighting spirit.

But soon, Chen Jin perfectly neutralized several of Chen Jin's attacks.

The score gap continued to widen.

5: 2.

2: 6.

2: 7.

8: 2.

……

Even with Tomokazu Harimoto's good mindset, he couldn't help but feel restless and agitated.

Every time we lose a goal, we look up to the sky in frustration.

They were getting increasingly anxious when they made their moves, and they were making more and more mistakes.

10: 3.

Chen Jin took the lead and secured the game point.

It is also the championship point for the 2024 WTT Fukuoka Finals.

The serve remains with Tomokazu Harimoto.

There was total silence.

Everyone held their breath, staring intently at Tomokazu Harimoto.

Sakura Toyama clasped her hands tightly to her chest, her expression tense, having already prayed to all the gods and Buddhas in the world.

Infected by this atmosphere, even Takashi Toyama felt a little short of breath.

"Whoo~"

Zhang Benzhihe practiced breathing exercises to adjust his breathing.

Sweat poured down his forehead, trickling down his cheeks and gathering at his chin.

"Gulu!"

He had already prepared to serve, but suddenly raised his hand to signal and stood up straight.

He hopped around in place and bounced a few times.

Only then did he bend down again.

The hand holding the white ball was trembling slightly, but Tomokazu Harimoto finally tossed the ball high into the air.

High toss serve.

The forehand is short.

Chen Jin stepped forward and quickly chopped the ball at the baseline.

Tomokazu Harimoto slides to the side, creates space, lowers his waist to prepare for the shot, and unleashes a powerful forehand smash.

Since we're already so far behind and a loss is inevitable, we might as well go all out instead of being timid!
Even if you lose, lose with your head held high!
"Snapped!"

Zhang Benzhihe's explosive side-step attack was imbued with a fearless and resolute spirit.

His strength and speed were far beyond his normal range.

This ball, like a meteorite breaking through the atmosphere, carried an unparalleled aura of destruction as it hurtled towards Chen Jin.

"Fuck!"

Chen Jin's expression changed slightly, his pupils suddenly contracted, and he hurriedly stepped back from the stage.

"This ball..."

Chen Jin was still shaken and had lingering fears. "Luckily I dodged quickly enough, otherwise if it had hit my eye, I would have gone blind."

My mind hasn't changed.

The referee announced, "11:3, Chen Jin wins!"

The moment the ping-pong ball hits the ground.

In an instant, all the lights in the venue turned on.

The disappointment on Toyama Sakura's face was clearly reflected.

"Lost?"

Sakura Toyama was completely disoriented, seemingly unable to believe what she was seeing was real. "Zhang Benjun actually lost?"

Her eyes were red-rimmed, her teeth were tightly clenched around her red lips, and she tasted a faint metallic taste of blood on her tongue.

"elder sister."

Takashi Toyama said softly, "Zhang Ben seems to be more accepting of failure than you are."

Admittedly, this match changed some of his prejudices.

Table tennis is just as exciting as baseball.

In fact, when it comes to the contest of strength and speed, skill and variation, adaptability and psychology, table tennis is clearly superior.

A duel between masters, a battle of seconds, makes it even more thrilling once you get involved.

at the same time.

Chen Jin and Zhang Benzhihe, who were fighting for their lives on the field just a second ago, instantly shed all their fierceness the moment the match ended.

They smiled at each other, shook hands, and embraced.

"Congratulations!"

Zhang Ben sincerely congratulates you.

"Thank you."

Chen Jin smiled and nodded.

……

2024年11月24日16时36分。

Kitakyushu Municipal Gymnasium.

WTT Fukuoka Grand Finals.

Men's Singles Champion.

Chen Jin!

(End of this chapter)