Finally, after 15 years of watching grainy illegal copies of this match (and even those were nerve-rendingly exciting), it is great to see quality versions released. Schlager performed beyond the beyond to win this World Championship, beating the finest of the Chinese superstars (Wang Liqin and Kong Linhui), and beating in the final the greatest ever modern chopper, who was in the form of his life. Having personally watched all the Worlds videos since 1987, if Hollywood wanted to make a TT movie, 2003 would be the one it would pick.
While I'm generally speaking very good at analyzing matches, to this day I still can't(and I don't think anyone can) logically explain how schlager managed to win the WC in 2003. Everything just came together at the perfect moment.
I think he was just more composed than everyone. He recognized the moment, the atmosphere. He was even tempered and did not let the crowd overhype him. When he won a game he did not over-celebrate. He knew there was more work to be done. Kong caught fire in games 5 and 6, but it still felt like a mountain to climb for him in 7 because of how composed Schalger was. Schlager takes an excellent timeout at 5-3 in game 7 since he notices Kong catches fire again. In deuce Schlager maintains composure and doesn't try to overdo anything. When the flip kill is there, he takes it. He doesn't try to do too much when Kong serves short underspin. He let's Kong make the error since all the pressure is on him. He does not let the net ball get to him. More than anyone, Schlager simply respected the moment in time and played to his strengths.
Fun fact: Schlager told me that it was love. He met the love of his life and felt a sense of security, a lack of pressure... this sense that no matter what happened on the table, he had love waiting at home for him and this freed him up in a way that he had never experienced before. While I am paraphrasing a bit based on memory... you might be happy to know that Bettina and Werner are still together to this day and have two lovely kids. 8>)
@@AdamBobrow Interesting! I talked to him a few years before at the 99 world cup where I was a volunteer, he seemed to be such a nice guy. Most players actually were really nice, especially Samsonov though. And Waldner was...very Waldner at the bar and the party at the end of the tournament. If I remember correctly it was the birthday of.....marie svensson at the day of the party. Great memories! Netherlands hosted the world cup, european championships and the top 12 with a few years which is something that will likely never happen again.
2024 First time watching this. That crowd is electrifying. The fact that someone other than a Chinese player became world champion was a monumental task.
So interesting to see how much Kong Linghui was reliant on forehand. He was always flirting with stepping around on the serve receive. But, I guess when you have an offensive equipment with a light weight backhand rubber, you are able to accelerate that offensive forehand rubber that much more. Does anyone know if he played with carbon on one side late in his career?
I think the reason is because of the rotation in most of Werner's serves, it is much easier to receive with the forehand, many players at that time performed this movement to receive, chiquita was not widely used yet
@@kioka2 what role do you think equipment (grippy rubbers) play in the ability/development of chiquita flip ... or is it just a cultural type of development in the metagame? I am asking because I play with a super passive/defensive backhand Mark V
Its funny that both Kong and Werner fought again this same year in another tournament, and Kong lost again, despite him leading 3-1 this time :o Edit: I misremembered, it happened in 2004 lol
Priceless, as the atmosphere was so electric. It's not often that you hear the crowd applaud so much.
Finally, after 15 years of watching grainy illegal copies of this match (and even those were nerve-rendingly exciting), it is great to see quality versions released.
Schlager performed beyond the beyond to win this World Championship, beating the finest of the Chinese superstars (Wang Liqin and Kong Linhui), and beating in the final the greatest ever modern chopper, who was in the form of his life.
Having personally watched all the Worlds videos since 1987, if Hollywood wanted to make a TT movie, 2003 would be the one it would pick.
Beautiful comment
please you make it. i wanna see it
You are right.
20 years ago but I still get goosebumps.
Schlager is the best table tennis player in 2003. It is amazing that Austria population is about 9 million.
While I'm generally speaking very good at analyzing matches, to this day I still can't(and I don't think anyone can) logically explain how schlager managed to win the WC in 2003. Everything just came together at the perfect moment.
I think he was just more composed than everyone. He recognized the moment, the atmosphere. He was even tempered and did not let the crowd overhype him. When he won a game he did not over-celebrate. He knew there was more work to be done. Kong caught fire in games 5 and 6, but it still felt like a mountain to climb for him in 7 because of how composed Schalger was. Schlager takes an excellent timeout at 5-3 in game 7 since he notices Kong catches fire again. In deuce Schlager maintains composure and doesn't try to overdo anything. When the flip kill is there, he takes it. He doesn't try to do too much when Kong serves short underspin. He let's Kong make the error since all the pressure is on him. He does not let the net ball get to him. More than anyone, Schlager simply respected the moment in time and played to his strengths.
Fun fact: Schlager told me that it was love. He met the love of his life and felt a sense of security, a lack of pressure... this sense that no matter what happened on the table, he had love waiting at home for him and this freed him up in a way that he had never experienced before. While I am paraphrasing a bit based on memory... you might be happy to know that Bettina and Werner are still together to this day and have two lovely kids. 8>)
@@AdamBobrow Interesting! I talked to him a few years before at the 99 world cup where I was a volunteer, he seemed to be such a nice guy. Most players actually were really nice, especially Samsonov though. And Waldner was...very Waldner at the bar and the party at the end of the tournament. If I remember correctly it was the birthday of.....marie svensson at the day of the party. Great memories! Netherlands hosted the world cup, european championships and the top 12 with a few years which is something that will likely never happen again.
@@AdamBobrow What a precious and thrilling info !
Being born in 2007, I have no idea what was so special about the 2003 wttc. Can anyone explain?
2024 First time watching this. That crowd is electrifying. The fact that someone other than a Chinese player became world champion was a monumental task.
again. 2003 the most exciting world championship to watch. you can watch it over and over again.
It was a legendary match and I still remember it well
Да полные стадионы. И непотдельная любовь к теннису.. Шлагер невероятный игрок.. доказавший что умение , а не набитость яв -ся основой в теннисе.
Без набитости тоже никуда. Навык только практикой дается.
What a great match, nerve-wracking!
The tension and the adrenaline are incredible..
since 20 years in WTTC... Schlager probably hopes the chinese keep winning :D
Csodálatos győzelem, Karsai Feri bácsi edzővel. ❤🙂🏓
Классный матч, такие интересные качели, вернер молодец холодный расчёт
So interesting to see how much Kong Linghui was reliant on forehand. He was always flirting with stepping around on the serve receive. But, I guess when you have an offensive equipment with a light weight backhand rubber, you are able to accelerate that offensive forehand rubber that much more. Does anyone know if he played with carbon on one side late in his career?
I think the reason is because of the rotation in most of Werner's serves, it is much easier to receive with the forehand, many players at that time performed this movement to receive, chiquita was not widely used yet
@@kioka2 what role do you think equipment (grippy rubbers) play in the ability/development of chiquita flip ... or is it just a cultural type of development in the metagame? I am asking because I play with a super passive/defensive backhand Mark V
Awesome Werner!
シュラガーも孔も予測に基づく合理的なプレーをするから見ていて楽しい
Вот это борьба! Не то что сейчас! Шлагер - последний европейский чемпион!
Schlager means hit. Thats definitly true. The pure hit. King Schlager … The exchange of blows at 12:25 is unbelievable
😍
crazy to think that werner was the last non chineese world champion and it happend 5 years before my birth
現代卓球の礎となった2選手
That time schlager is nobody while kong linghui is olympic champinship
Very excited
Its funny that both Kong and Werner fought again this same year in another tournament, and Kong lost again, despite him leading 3-1 this time :o
Edit: I misremembered, it happened in 2004 lol
Kong's Waterloo, his career most painful lost I guess
This was all out war
thats it, last european hero ever since. tourney of a lifetime. Werner did it, and how!
와..진짜 흥미진진한 경기였다 ㅋㅋㅋㅋ
Kong Linghui the King