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2025 King Cup
December 26, 2025 – December 28, 2025 UTC+8
The 2025 Shenzhen Metro Tod King Cup International Badminton Open (Chinese: 2025深圳地铁TOD王杯国际羽毛球公开赛) was a professional exhibition badminton tournament held in Shenzhen, China, from December 26 to December 28, 2025. It was the second edition of the King Cup, an event founded by Chinese badminton legend Lin Dan to promote men’s singles badminton. The tournament featured eight invited men’s singles players competing for a total prize pool of CN¥3 million.
The 2025 King’s Cup witnessed a historic and emotional return, as Kento Momota stepped back onto the international stage following his 2024 retirement. In a poetic twist of fate, his comeback match pitted him against the ultimate challenge: World No.1 and reigning world champion, Shi Yuqi. While Momota ultimately fell in straight games (21-19, 21-15), he delivered a performance that reminded the world of his legendary skill, turning the match into a high-quality, era-spanning spectacle.
The defending champion, Anders Antonsen, returned this year and reached the final, only to be defeated by world No.1 and home favorite Shi Yuqi in straight games (22-20, 21-7). In the third-place playoff, Alex Lanier secured the victory over Jonatan Christie (21-17, 21-19).
Venue
The tournament was held at the Shenzhen Bay Sports Center in the Nanshan District of Shenzhen, China. Known as the “Spring Cocoon” for its distinctive architectural design, the venue is a major multi-purpose indoor arena capable of hosting large-scale international sporting events.
Competition Details
1. Rules & Regulations
This competition will be governed by the latest official Rules and Regulations of the Badminton World Federation (BWF).
2. Match & Scoring Format
All matches will be played as the best of three games.
- A game is won by the first side to score 21 points.
- If the score reaches 20–all, the side that first achieves a 2‑point lead wins the game.
- If the score reaches 29–all, the side scoring the 30th point wins the game.
3. Tournament Format
The competition will follow a knockout (single elimination) format.
4. Draw Procedure
The draw will consist of 8 positions with 4 seeded players. Seeding will be determined by the BWF World Ranking as of Tuesday, 16 December 2025.
- The top 4 ranked players will be seeded 1 through 4.
- Seed 1 will be placed at Position 1.
- Seed 2 will be placed at Position 8.
- Seeds 3 and 4 will be randomly drawn to Position 3 or 6.
- The non‑seeded players will be randomly drawn into the remaining positions.
- Players from the same Member Association will be drawn by lot into opposite halves of the draw.
Participants
The event features an invitational field of eight elite men’s singles players.
Confirmed Players:
- Anders Antonsen (Denmark) – Defending Champion
- Jonatan Christie (Indonesia)
- Alex Lanier (France)
- Jason Teh (Singapore)
- Victor Lai (Canada)
- Shi Yuqi (China)
- Kento Momota (Japan)
- Liu Yangmingyu (China)
1. Anders Antonsen (Denmark)
- Status: Defending Champion & The Tactician
- 2025 Season Highlights:
- Winner: French Open (Super 750), Indonesia Open (Super 1000).
- Runner-up: Thailand Open.
- World Ranking: Consistent Top 5 presence throughout the year.
- Player Narrative: Antonsen returns to Shenzhen as the man to beat. His 2025 season has been defined by tactical maturity; he has successfully evolved his game from purely defensive rallying to controlling the front court. As the inaugural King Cup winner, he has the psychological edge of knowing exactly what it takes to win in this unique format.
2. Jonatan “Jojo” Christie (Indonesia)
- Status: The In-Form Challenger
- 2025 Season Highlights:
- Winner: Korea Open (Super 500), Denmark Open (Super 750), Hylo Open (Super 500).
- Key Victory: Defeated Antonsen in the Korea Open final, sparking their late-season rivalry.
- Player Narrative: Christie is arguably the most dangerous player in the second half of 2025. His physical conditioning is at its peak, allowing him to grind down opponents in long rallies before unleashing his signature overhead smash. He arrives in China looking to capitalize on his momentum from the European leg of the tour.
3. Alex Lanier (France)
- Status: The European Prodigy
- 2025 Season Highlights:
- Winner: 2025 European Championships (Gold Medal), Orleans Masters.
- Breakthrough: Cracked the World Top 10 for the first time in March 2025.
- Player Narrative: At just 20 years old, Lanier has transitioned from “rising star” to a genuine title threat. By becoming the 2025 European Champion, he proved he can handle championship pressure. His game is built on deceptive net play and a fearlessness that often rattles veteran opponents. He is the wildcard who could upset the favorites.
4. Jason Teh (Singapore)
- Status: The Comeback Kid
- 2025 Season Highlights:
- Winner: Thailand Masters (Super 300), Korea Masters (Super 300).
- Resilience: Broke a mid-season “lean spell” to win the Korea Masters in November, proving his mental toughness.
- Player Narrative: Teh has had a rollercoaster 2025, bookended by two brilliant title wins. His victory in Korea just last month (November 2025) suggests he is peaking at the right time. A relentless runner with a solid defense, Teh thrives when opponents underestimate his ability to return the shuttle.
5. Victor Lai (Canada)
- Status: The Giant Killer
- 2025 Season Highlights:
- Historic Achievement: Won a Bronze Medal at the 2025 World Championships (Paris), becoming the first Canadian men’s singles player to do so.
- Runner-up: Canada Open (Super 300).
- Player Narrative: The biggest surprise of the 2025 season. A university student who balances textbooks with elite badminton, Lai shocked the world by defeating former World Champion Loh Kean Yew en route to his historic bronze in Paris. He plays with a “nothing to lose” freedom that makes him incredibly dangerous in a knock-out format like the King Cup.
6. Shi Yuqi (China)
- Status: Defending World Champion & Home Favorite
- 2025 Season Highlights:
- Winner: BWF World Championships (Paris), China Open (Super 1000).
- Runner-up: BWF World Tour Finals.
- World Ranking: Reclaimed World No. 1 spot following the World Championships.
- Player Narrative: Shi Yuqi enters the King Cup carrying the weight and pride of the host nation. As the reigning World Champion, he is the undisputed “boss” of the current circuit. His aggressive yet composed playstyle has reached a new peak in 2025, and playing in front of a home crowd in Shenzhen makes him the arguably strongest contender for the title. He is not just here to compete; he is here to defend China’s honor.
7. Kento Momota (Japan)
- Status: Former World No. 1 & Two-Time World Champion
- Player Narrative: The inclusion of Kento Momota brings a legendary aura to the tournament. While he may not possess the explosive speed of his younger years, his courtcraft and anticipation remain unrivaled. His 2025 campaign has been about “smart badminton,” using his experience to dismantle impatient opponents. For Momota, the King Cup is a chance to remind the world that class is permanent and that he can still tangle with the very best.
8. Liu Yangmingyu (China)
- Status: 2025 World Junior Champion & The Prodigy
- 2025 Season Highlights:
- Winner: BWF World Junior Championships (Gold Medal).
- Player Narrative: The wildcard of the tournament, Liu Yangmingyu represents the future of Chinese badminton. Earning his spot by dominating the junior circuit this year, he brings an unknown quantity to the draw that makes him dangerous. He plays with the fearless energy of a rookie who has nothing to lose, and his speed is expected to test the stamina of the veteran players. He is looking to replicate the path of Lin Dan by making a statement on the big stage early in his career.
Draw
Quarter-finals
| # | Player 1 | Player 2 | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| QF 1 | Shi Yuqi | Kento Momota | 21-19, 21-15 |
| QF 2 | Alex Lanier | Victor Lai | 21-14, 21-19 |
| QF 3 | Jason Teh | Jonatan Christie | 21-18, 13-21, 21-23 |
| QF 4 | Liu Yangmingyu | Anders Antonsen | 21-9, 14-21, 15-21 |
Semi-finals
| # | Player 1 | Player 2 | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| SF 1 | Shi Yuqi | Alex Lanier | 21-15, 21-17 |
| SF 2 | Jonatan Christie | Anders Antonsen | 13-21, 20-22 |
Third-place Match and Final
| Round | Player 1 | Player 2 | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3rd Place | Alex Lanier | Jonatan Christie | 21-17, 21-19 |
| Final | Shi Yuqi | Anders Antonsen | 22-20, 21-7 |
Prize Money
The total prize money for the 2025 tournament is CN¥3,000,000. This is one of the highest prize pools for an independent exhibition event in badminton. The distribution sees the winner claiming CN¥1.2 million.
Exchange rates are estimated based on December 2025 market rates (approx. 1 CNY = 0.14 USD / 0.58 MYR).
| Achievement | Prize Money (CNY) | Prize Money (USD) | Prize Money (MYR) |
| Champion | ¥ 1,200,000 | $ 169,700 | RM 698,600 |
| Runner-up | ¥ 600,000 | $ 84,850 | RM 349,300 |
| Third Place | ¥ 350,000 | $ 49,500 | RM 203,770 |
| Fourth Place | ¥ 250,000 | $ 35,350 | RM 145,550 |
| 5th – 8th Place | ¥ 150,000 | $ 21,210 | RM 87,330 |
| Total Pool | ¥ 3,000,000 | $ 424,240 | RM 1,746,600 |
Tournament Schedule
| Date | Round/Match | Start Time (UTC+8) |
|---|---|---|
| Friday, December 26 | Quarter-finals 1. Alex Lanier vs. Victor Lai 2. Liu Yangmingyu vs. Anders Antonsen 3. Shi Yuqi vs. Kento Momota 4. Jason Teh vs. Jonatan Christie | 18:40 |
| Saturday, December 27 | Exhibition match, semi-finals 1. Peter Gade / Victor Lai vs. Kento Momota / Jason Teh 2. Shi Yuqi vs. Alex Lanier 3. Anders Antonsen vs. Jonatan Christie 4. Lin Dan / Bao Chunlai vs. Cai Yun / Fu Haifeng | 18:30 |
| Sunday, December 28 | Third-place match, final, exhibition match, and closed by awards ceremony | 18:30 |
Where To Watch Live
The 2025 King Cup will be live streamed for free on tournament’s official YouTube channel.