Hangzhou, December 21 — World champions Kim Won-ho / Seo Seung-jae closed out a dominant season in style by lifting the men’s doubles title at the 2025 BWF World Tour Finals, defeating China’s Liang Weikeng / Wang Chang in straight games.
The Korean pair delivered a composed 21-18, 21-14 victory in the final, claiming their 11th championship together this season and underlining their status as the most consistent men’s doubles partnership of 2025.
Watch highlights of the final here:
The opening game was fiercely contested, with both pairs trading attacks and keeping the score tight until 12-all. Kim and Seo then found another gear, gradually pulling clear. Although Liang and Wang closed to 18-19, the Koreans shut the door with precise net play to take the first game.
In the second game, Kim/Seo surged to a 5-0 lead, controlling tempo and court positioning. A late rally by the Chinese pair briefly narrowed the gap, but the Koreans remained unfazed and sealed the match without allowing a full comeback.
The victory extended Kim Won-ho/Seo Seung-jae’s head-to-head streak to four straight wins over Liang Weikeng/Wang Chang. For Seo Seung-jae, the triumph carried added significance, marking his second World Tour Finals title, having previously won in 2023 with Kang Min-hyuk.
Individually, Seo’s trophy haul in 2025 now stands at 12 titles, including the Thailand Masters crown won earlier in February alongside Jin Yong.
Christo Popov Stuns Shi Yuqi to Win Men’s Singles Title
In the men’s singles final, Christo Popov produced the performance of his career to defeat world No.1 Shi Yuqi 21-19, 21-9, securing his first title of the 2025 season.
The victory came in Popov’s third final appearance of the year, following runner-up finishes at the Swiss Open and French Open. This time, the 23-year-old Frenchman made no mistake, delivering a calm and assertive display on the sport’s biggest year-end stage.
Shi Yuqi, the defending champion and a two-time World Tour Finals winner (2018, 2024), was unable to extend his legacy as uncharacteristic errors crept into his game, particularly in the second game.
The opening game was evenly matched, with neither player able to break away until 16-all. Popov then struck with a decisive three-point run. Shi saved one game point to close the gap to 19-20, but Popov held his nerve to take the opener.
Momentum swung fully in the Frenchman’s favor in the second game. After edging ahead 8-7, Popov reeled off a series of points, exploiting openings and forcing errors from Shi, who struggled to find rhythm. Popov closed out the match emphatically at 21-9.
The win marked Popov’s first victory over Shi Yuqi in four meetings this year, and improved his overall head-to-head record to 2 wins from 6 encounters.
Season-Ending Statement in Hangzhou
The 2025 BWF World Tour Finals concluded with powerful statements from both champions—Kim Won-ho/Seo Seung-jae reaffirming their dominance in men’s doubles, and Christo Popov announcing his arrival among badminton’s elite.
As the curtain falls on the season, the Hangzhou finale delivered a fitting showcase of resilience, precision, and world-class badminton, setting the tone for an eagerly anticipated 2026 campaign.
