Ma Long defeated Sweden’s Mattias Falck 4-1 in Budapest to claim a third consecutive world singles title, the first man to do so since Zhuang Zedong in 1965.
Nine returns each, one decisive point
The Hungexpo held 6,000 spectators as Ma Long, the eleventh seed, took the opening games 11-5 and 11-7. Falck, Sweden’s first men’s finalist since Jan‑Ove Waldner in 1997, then stormed the third 11-7 — the first game he had ever taken off Ma Long.
The fourth game locked at 9‑9. A marathon rally of nine returns apiece followed before Ma Long won the point, saved a game ball, and converted 11‑9 for a 3‑1 lead.
He raced to 5‑0 in the fifth, absorbed a brief Falck rally to 4‑4, then pulled clear. The match ended 11‑5 when Falck smashed into the net.
A reign rebuilt from injury doubt
Only weeks earlier Ma Long’s participation had seemed remote after more than six months out with a knee injury. A Qatar Open win in March signalled his return; in Budapest he became only the third man ever to win three straight world singles titles, joining Victor Barna and Zhuang Zedong.
“I think this is a special celebration for me and I just want to enjoy this moment for now,” he told reporters. “I want to thank my Chinese fans and also the foreign fans for their support.”
He had dropped no more than one game in any match all tournament, and collected his twelfth career world crown. The sport’s most decorated Olympian had quietly added another chapter.
