Christo Popov Stuns the World to Claim BWF World Tour Finals Crown
HANGZHOU — In one of the most remarkable underdog stories in badminton history, France’s Christo Popov defied the odds, the statistics, and a partisan home crowd to be crowned the 2025 BWF World Tour Finals Men’s Singles Champion.
By sweeping aside home favorite and World No. 1 Shi Yuqi in straight sets (21-19, 21-9) on Sunday, Popov etched his name in the record books as the first Frenchman ever to win the prestigious season-ending tournament.
From Underdog to Undefeated
Coming into the tournament, few pundits predicted a Popov victory. He arrived in China as a stark anomaly: he was the only Men’s Singles participant who had not won a BWF World Tour title throughout the 2025 season. Qualifiers are usually a collection of the year’s most dominant champions, yet Popov qualified on consistency rather than silverware.
However, the 23-year-old flipped the script immediately upon stepping onto the court. He silenced doubters by sweeping through the “Group of Death,” winning all three of his group matches to qualify for the knockout stages as the group winner.
A Weekend of Masterclasses
If the group stage was a statement, the knockout rounds were a revelation. Popov displayed a level of tactical maturity and physical dominance that left the world’s best scrambling.
- Semifinal: Facing Japan’s defensive wall, Kodai Naraoka, Popov remained patient yet aggressive. He edged a tight first game before completely dismantling Naraoka in the second, winning 21-19, 21-8.
- The Final: The atmosphere was electric as Popov walked out to face Shi Yuqi, the pride of the host nation. Unfazed by the chants supporting his opponent, Popov snatched a tense opening game 21-19. In the second game, the resistance from the Chinese star crumbled under Popov’s relentless pressure. The Frenchman surged ahead to take the game 21-9, sealing the match in under an hour.
The Biggest Payday
This victory marks the biggest title of Christo Popov’s career to date. Along with the trophy and the ranking points, he takes home a record-breaking winner’s check of $240,000.
Popov’s triumph in 2025 serves as a reminder that in the World Tour Finals, past form is secondary to present brilliance. The season is over, but the era of Christo Popov may have just begun.
