Félix Lebrun, soon to be world number one in table tennis? In any case, the Frenchman has never been so close to this objective. The 20-year-old Montpellier prodigy could ascend to the world throne if he wins the Grand Smash of China, which begins Sunday October 4 and will take place until October 11. A final step which would be synonymous with a major performance since he would become only the second Habs to reach this place after Jean-Philippe Gatien in 1992.
The Frenchman, double bronze medalist at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, is in fact in a good position, since he is currently number 2 in the world. He reached his best career ranking on August 17 after his victory at the Grand Smash of Europe in Sweden in singles, a first for a Frenchman in a tournament of this level, equivalent to a Grand Slam in tennis.
A podium without a Chinese representative, a first in the 21st century
Above all, China will leave its place on the world throne, a first in more than eight years. The Chinese number one, Wang Chuqin, who has reigned since September 21, 2025, will give way to the Japanese Sora Matsushima, from Monday. The Japanese will become the first non-Chinese world number one since the German Timo Boll in March 2018. The rest of the podium will be made up of Félix Lebrun, still number 2, and another Japanese, Tomokazu Harimoto. For the first time in the 21st century, no Chinese player will be present in the Top 3.
This rare change in the elite is due to Wang Chuqin's withdrawal. The title holder is injured and was forced to withdraw from the tournament, causing him to lose his 2,000 points acquired during his victory a year ago, with the points counters updating from one year to the next, to the day. The 2025 edition having taken place from September 25 to October 5, the basket of points is thus updated on Monday, from the first round of the 2026 tournament. Finalist last year, Félix Lebrun loses 1,400 points while Sora Matsushima, quarter-finalist in 2025, loses much fewer
“It would be a great signal for our sport”
In this context of upheaval in the hierarchy, the place of world number one could change hands again in a week, at the end of the Grand Smash of China. “The ranking has always mattered to me,” said Félix Lebrun in a pre-tournament press conference. “Becoming number 1 would be an accomplishment, it could be worth a world medal or a European title. Even if the world, Olympic and World Cup titles remain higher.”
Félix Lebrun would be assured of conquering the throne if he wins the tournament, if he reaches the final and does not lose against one of his direct opponents (Matsushima, Harimoto or Moregard) or if he reaches the semi-finals and these three men are eliminated before him - at least two rounds earlier for Matsushima in fact.
“It would be a fantastic signal for our sport,” agrees Nathanaël Molin, the coach of the youngest of the Lebrun brothers, at a press conference. An end to the season which promises to be dense and high-intensity for Félix Lebrun, who will also have to think about the European Championships in Ljubljana (Slovenia, October 11-18), where his brother Alexis – who will defend his singles title – and himself are the doubles title holders.
