Tom JARVIS delivered one of the standout performances of the ITTF World Championships Finals Doha 2025, pulling off the biggest upset of the tournament so far with a dramatic 4-3 victory over No.10 seed Dang QIU (11-9, 11-9, 11-8, 9-11, 1-11, 6-11, 11-8).
Tom JARVIS: “I’ve been watching Dang QIU for years. He’s a European champion and is someone all of us from Europe look up to, and you see the hard work he puts in. I don’t really know how to go into these matches. I had a lot of chat with my coaches and the sports psychologist, just trying not to think about who I’m playing and just trying and do what I can do, and only focus on that, and then whatever happens, happens. My heart was in my throat at 3-0, and then I got smacked around for two sets. But yeah, to come back strong in the seventh, it was amazing. I knew I just had to try and find what had been working so well in the first three games. And I knew that if I played my highest quality, then he would have problems. So, I was only trying to think about that and trying to deliver. It has been an absolute dream. I’ve been watching the World Championship since like 2009. I used to sit with my brother watching all the matches, and to be part of this is amazing. Thank you for your support. I was just a little kid from Skegness. I picked up the sport and fell in love with it. If I can do it, you can too.”
Coming into the match as a clear underdog, JARVIS faced a major challenge in QIU, 2022 European champion from Munich. But from the very start, it was JARVIS who dictated the pace. With aggressive and fearless play, he raced to a commanding 10-3 lead in the first game. Although QIU responded with a flurry of points to narrow the gap to 10-9, JARVIS held his nerve to secure the opener.
Currently ranked World No.143, the Englishman seemed inspired by the big stage. With a combination of smart tactics and relentless energy, he claimed the next two games, edging ever closer to a stunning upset.
QIU, however, wasn’t done yet. Drawing on his experience and resilience, he mounted a comeback in the fourth game and continued his charge to win the fifth and sixth in dominant fashion, completely flipping the momentum.
With the match tied at 3-3, it all came down to a decisive final game. Refusing to let the momentum slip away for good, JARVIS reset mentally, brought renewed intensity to the table, and played his best table tennis of the match just when it mattered most.
With that final push, JARVIS sealed an unforgettable win.
