Note: the season final was referred to as BWF World Tour Finals (from 2018) and BWF Super Series Masters Final (2008-2017), as well as HSBC World Tour Final. From 1983 to 2001 the season finals were called The World Badminton Grand Prix Finals. Get more like this, subscribe to the Global Badminton Community Newsletter

2022 Bangkok AND 2021 Bali: Viktor Axelsen, Denmark

The 2022 Super Series finals were moved from Guangzhou to Bangkok. 

Viktor Axelsen won the BWF Super Series final for the fourth time and for the second time in a row.

The semifinals were a showdown between:
– Anthony Ginting overcame Jonatan Christie of Indonesia 21-15/11-21/21-18
– Axelsen faced Kodai Naraoka of Japan and won 21-23/21-19/21-18

In the final the tall Dane overpowered Ginting winning in straight sets 21-13/21-14  

The BWF World Tour Finals 2021 for men’s singles badminton took place in Bali, Indonesia. 

Following the initial group stage, the semifinals were played as follows:
– Konvolut Vitidsarn of Thailand overcame Lee Zia Jia of Malaysia in two sets
– Lakshya Sen of India lost to Viktor Axelsen of Denmark in straight sets. 

Denmark’s Viktor Axelsen won the final in straight sets against Konvolut Vitidsarn from Thailand.  This was Viktor Axelsen’s third BWF tour final win. He also won in Dubai in 2016 and 2017.  

P.S. Have you heard about his new book? 

2020 Thailand:  Anders Antonsen, Denmark

The BWF World Tour Finals 2020 took place in Pak Kret, Thailand. 
Following the initial group stage, the semifinals turned out to be between players from just two countries. Namely Denmark and Chinese Taipei. 

• • Semifinal 1: Viktor Axelsen, Denmark defeated Chou, Chinese Taipei in straight sets

• • Semifinal 2: Anders Antonsen, Denmark overcame Wang Tsu-Wei, Chinese Taipei

The final was fought between Denmark’s two highest-ranked badminton players. Following an exhilarating match, Anders Antonsen came out victorious, winning the season final in 3 sets. (read this about Anders Antonsen moves to Dubai)

2019 China:  Kento Momota, Japan

The BWF World Tour Finals 2019 took place in Guangzhou, China.

In the semifinals, Kento Momota won in straight sets against Wang Tzu-Wei of Chinese Taipei. In the other semifinal, Anthony Ginting of Indonesia overcame Chen Long of China.

Ginting won the first set of the final, but superstar Kento Momota prevailed by winning the next two sets. This was Kento Momota’s second tour final win. He also won in Dubai in 2015. 

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2018 China:  Shi Yuqi, China

The BWF World Tour Finals took place in Guangzhou, China in 2018.

In the first semifinal, Shi Yuqi ousted Sameer Verma in three close sets. In the second semifinal showdown, Japan’s Kento Momota swiftly exited Son Wan-ho of South Korea in two sets.

The final came down to a much-awaited match between Shi Yuqi and Kento Momota. Following an impressive performance, Shi Yuqi emerged victorious after winning by a big margin in straight sets.

2017 and 2016 Dubai, UAE:  Viktor Axelsen Denmark

Viktor Axelsen won the super series final in Dubai in 2016 and 2017.

In 2017 Axelsen lost to Shi Yuqi in the group stage but won in two sets against Shi in the semifinal. In the second semifinal, Son Wan-ho battled Lee Chong Wei. The latter won and faced Viktor Axelsen in the final.
In a well-played final, the 8th-seeded Dane overcame the 4th-seeded Malaysian in three sets.

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Unusually, in 2016 three European badminton players made it to the season final; Denmarks 1st seed Jan Jørgensen, 5th seed Viktor Axelsen, and 6th seed Marc Zwiebler from Germany. Following the group stage, the semifinals were a match between Tian Houwei from China and Jan Ø. Jørgensen in one semifinal. In the second tour season final, Viktor Axelsen faced Son Wan-ho from Korea. Axelsen won in two sets and Tian Houwei in three.

Denmark’s future badminton superstar won the title after three sets of good badminton.

2015 Dubai, UAE:  Kento Momota, Japan

The 2015 BWF Super Series Final took place at Hamdan Sports Complex in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

As always, 8 players qualified for the tournament. Following the group stage, four players were ready to play semifinals. 1st seed Chen Long, China, lost to 4th seed Viktor Axelsen in the first semifinal. In the second semifinal, 2nd seed Momota overpowered 3rd seed Jan Ø. Jørgensen from Denmark.

Winning the final against his Danish opponent, Kento Momota his first BWF Super Series Final Title in 2015.

2014 Dubai, UAE: Chen Long, China

In the 2014 BWF Super Series Final, eight players qualified to compete. 1st seed Chen Long came into the tournament as the favorite to win the whole thing. And he did not disappoint.

In the semifinal, Chen Long won against Srikanth Kidambi of India in straight sets. The other semifinal was a match between two Danes. Hans-Kristian Vittinghus ousted Jan Ø. Jørgensen in straight sets.

At the group stage, Chen Long beat HK Vittinghus in three sets. But in the final, there was never any doubt about the outcome. Chen Long won his second tour final in 2 sets. (He also won in Shenzhen in 2012.)

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2013 Malaysia:  Lee Chong Wei, Malaysia

In Kuala Lumpur (KL), Malaysian badminton fans hoped to see local hero and 1st seed Lee Chong Wei on top of the podium. LCW, as he is affectionately referred to, did the deed.

In the group stage, Lee Chong Wei won all 3 matches. He played a very close group match (23-21, 24-22) against Jan Ø. Jørgensen of Denmark. The semifinal draw set LCW up against the Danish opponent once again. This time the Malaysian superstar left no doubt. He won comfortably in two sets.

In the second semifinal, Tommy Sugiarto of Indonesia came up against Kenichi Tago of Japan. Sugiarto won the semifinal in three sets and was ready to face Lee in the final.

Playing in front of a large number of Malaysian badminton fans, LCW showed his best skills and won the final, and thereby the season final, for the fourth time. (To this day, Lee Chong Wei is still the only player to have won the super series final four times.)

2012 Shenzhen: Chen Long, China

Chen Long finished in first place on the group stage and drew Hu Yun from Hong Kong in the first semifinal. A match he won in straight sets.  The second semifinal was a match between Denmark’s Hans-Kristian Vittinghus and Du Pengyu of China.  The Chinese player won and was ready for an all-Chinese final.

In the final, Chen Long didn’t have much trouble and won in straight sets. 

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2012 Liuzhou, China:  Lin Dan, China

Lin Dan faced Peter Gade of Denmark in the semifinal. A match he won in two sets. The other semifinal was between Lee Chong Wei of Malaysia and Chen Long of China. As it happened, the final was to be a battle between two top Chinese players. Lin Dan proved his strength by winning the final against Chen Long in straight sets.

2008-2010 3 consecutive wins for Lee Chong Wei of Malaysia
2008: Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia
2009: Johor Bahru, Malaysia
2010: New Taipei, Taiwan

In 2010, Lee Chong Wei faced Boonsak Ponsana in the semifinal. The other semifinal was against Denmark’s Peter Gade and China’s Chen Long. Having won his semifinal, Lee Chong Wei massacred Peter Gade in the final to win his third super series final in a row.

In 2009, Lee Chong Wei was up against Denmark’s Peter Gade in the semifinal. The other semifinal was a match between Bao Chunlai of China and Park Sung-hwan of Korea. In the final LCW beat Park Sung-hwan to win his second super series title.

In 2008, Lee Chong Wei was very convincing, winning his semifinal against legendary Taufik Hidayat of Indonesia. The other semifinal was a match between Peter Gade of Denmark and Sony Dwi Kuncoro of Indonesia. The Dane and LCW were to play for the title. Lee won by a huge margin.

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