Category: Marcus Gideon

Yonex All England 2023: Men’s Preview

The stage is set for the thrills and skills of the highest standards. Get ready to watch your faves battle it out on court for one of the most respected titles in Badminton.

2JT4YGJ Tokyo, Japan. 28th Aug, 2022. (L to R) Mohammad AHSAN & Hendra SETIAWAN (INA), Aaron Chia & Soh Wooi Yik (MAS), (Top) Satwiksairaj Rankireddy & Chirag Shetty (IND), (Bottom) Fajar ALFIAN & Muhammad Rian ARDIANTO (INA) Badminton : TotalEnergies BWF World Championships 2022 Men’s Doubles Award Ceremony at the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium in Tokyo, Japan . Credit: Naoki Morita/AFLO SPORT/Alamy Live News

Men’s Doubles

Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Rian Ardianto seemed to cross a threshold in 2022; their performances at the beginning of the year were disappointing but they became more dominant and better at capturing big titles as the months went by.  They attributed it to a happier mindset on court and a determination to relish their sport. They are the top seeds here but their opening tie is a potential banana skin.  I can’t quite believe that they will be meeting Korea’s KANG Min Hyuk & SEO Seung Jae in the opening round.  These two have started the year in good form with two SF plus a final at the German Open.  If FajRi can overcome that challenge they should be pretty confident of a run deep into this tournament.

The bottom half of the draw is where there are countless roadblocks on the road to the final. The 2022 World Champions – Aaron CHIA and SOH Wooi Yik – are second seeds but they have a slightly brittle side that can surface at inconvenient times; for instance their underwhelming outing at the German Open.  If they can keep their nerve and dominate the front court, then finals weekend awaits.

Satwiksairaj Rankireddy/Chirag Shetty have swerved a difficult R1 clash owing to the late withdrawal of The Minions. The Indian pair should have high hopes for this tournament. Their pacy intensity is exciting to watch as so long as they are prepared to vary their approach if this doesn’t work they can get past a lot of their rivals. I was very sorry to hear about the Kevin Sukamuljo’s withdrawal because of the effects of Dengue Fever. Sending best wishes for a speedy recovery.

LIU Yu Chen and OU Xuan Yi are a new pairing who have gelled almost instantly and are a hazard to every athlete with ambitions.  It would be no surprise to see the World Tour Finals winners on the top of the podium at the end of the week.  They are seeded 5 and could face Hendra Setiawan/Mohammad Ahsan in a QF.  Last year’s finalists are vulnerable to long rallies and to chronic injuries resurfacing and I expect all opponents will attempt to exploit this.

There’s plenty of star quality on show in Birmingham but no-one seems bulletproof this year. I’m intrigued to see the competition unfold and may the best men win!

Men’s Singles

There’s a somewhat chaotic energy in MS at the moment but with a serene Viktor Axelsen at the centre.  His 2022 was stupendous with a win/loss record of 48-3.  No-one gets those sorts of stats by accident; his competitive focus is second to none. For all that, his defeats in 2022 came from 3 different players (Sen, LOH Kean Yew, & H S Prannoy) and he recently lost the India Open final to Kunlavut Vitidsarn. Paradoxically it is more interesting to consider his defeats than his relentless success.  Viktor is human after all.  So, who can find a chink in his armour at the All England?

The top half of the draw is interesting because it contains the 3 men who beat him in 2022, unfortunately not one after the other.  His main danger will come from either the third seed Anthony Ginting or fifth seed CHOU Tien Chen either of who could meet him at the semi final stage.  Ginting has hauled himself out of his post-Olympic slump quite well although his games against Axelsen are frustrating because he doesn’t seem able to change a losing game plan. I hope he and his coaches have had a look at Prannoy’s game or Kodai Naraoka‘s ‘never say die’ approach as I think there are plenty of clues there to construct a realistic Plan B.

In the bottom half of the draw LEE Zii Jia is 4th seed and a long way from serenity.  There is a lot of pressure on him to succeed in every tournament – some self-inflicted – and his frustration at near misses is obvious. He is a fantastic player who has won here before and can win again.  He needs a settled environment where he can simplify his distractions and concentrate on being brilliant. I really wish him well in realizing his potential.

Kunlavut Vitidsarn meets Kento Momota in R1.  It’s hard to judge where KM is in his comeback.  He showed some improvements in the early stages of the recent German open but was absolutely demolished by LI Shi Feng in the SF.  Kunlavut’s win over Axelsen in the final of the Indian Open confirmed that he is on the rise.  SHI Yu Qui is also in this part of the draw but he was remarkably sluggish in his recent game in Germany.  Hopefully he was just conserving energy for Birmingham because at his best he is a threat to everyone.

Can Jonatan Christie raise the trophy on finals day?  In the past he has shown no fear of marathon games, that being so, he could construct a scheme to challenge Viktor. In their semi-final at the recent India Open he didn’t really trouble the Dane; he’s going to have to bring a lot more to the court if his ambition is to be satisfied.

It’s well known that it’s very hard to retain a title in sport. Even so, it’s easy for us spectators to predict that Viktor will keep his hands on the All England trophy this year. His invincibility has been breached recently and yet who will do it in Birmingham?

If you enjoyed this then take a look at my women’s preview https://womensbadminton.co.uk/2023/03/11/yonex-all-england-2023-womens-preview/

©2025

Amanda Bloss All Rights Reserved

Yonex All England 2022: Men’s Preview

It is 2022 and all our favourites have returned to Birmingham to chase a place on the podium. There are unanswered questions from last year’s competition in both sectors and I am expecting to see plenty of athletes playing with a point to prove.

The Dads winning on 3 legs in 2019.
Credit: PATRICK ANTHONISZ/Alamy Live News

Men’s Doubles

The #1 seeds and crowd favourites will be trying to capture an elusive third title. Kevin Sukamuljo and Marcus Gideon create a thrilling aura of stardust together and must feel eager to get back on court to express themselves. Kevin’s brilliant inventiveness belongs on the grandest stages at the biggest moments. They should be wary of their first match as they haven’t played competitively since Bali. Originally they were listed in R1 to meet CHOI/SEO though it seems that the Korean’s may’ve withdrawn.

If the seedings unwind as expected, they will clash with the fifth seeds Rankireddy/Shetty in what should be fierce quarter final. I love the Indian’s willingness to attack but of course in a tie against the Minions they risk having their intensity turned against them. It will be fascinating to discover which pair prevails in an arena that traditionally offers slowish conditions.

The current World Champions Hoki/Kobayashi have seized their opportunities and really grown into their role as Japan’s top pair. Their control of the game under pressure, their bravery and shuttle placement will give them an advantage in Birmingham. As third seeds they could face Gideon/Sukamuljo in the semi-final which has the potential to be a Battle Royale.

At the opposite end of the draw the second seeds Hendra Setiawan and Mohammad Ahsan will be aiming to face their compatriots in the final. There are not enough superlatives in my thesaurus to describe these two. Their touch and teamwork are outstanding, but their badminton intelligence is what sets them apart from many of their rivals. The traps they set are subtle, their anticipation is exceptional and their hearts are big.

The strength in depth of the Indonesian MDs is astonishing. There are 6 pairs travelling to Birmingham. Alfian/Ardianto (seeded 6) will play Carnando/Marthin in R1 but whoever prevails in this tie has a tough route to finals weekend. The Malaysian team has brough 5 pairs: the most dangerous are the beaten finalists from a few years ago Aaron CHIA & SOH Wooi Yik. They won Bronze at the Tokyo Olympics and have made no secret of their desire for Gold in Paris 2024. They are a well balanced combination of speedy reflexes, athleticism and desire; they could be podium bound. GOH Sze Fei & Nur IZZUDDIN will be buzzing after their victory at the German Open but as unseeded players they have hard games lined up.

There are plenty of other pairs who could flourish. China always challenges hard; their players are so well-drilled in fundamental badminton skills that new ‘unknown’ combinations alway have the potential to prosper. The main Danish challenge will spring from the seventh seeds Astrup/Rasmussen, France has sent the Popov brothers, and the home audience will be hoping that Lane/Vendy can make things awkward in the top half of the draw.

Men’s Singles

Viktor Axelsen’s band of brothers – the athletes who have worked with him in Dubai away from their national setups – have been dominating men’s singles results recently. The Olympic Champion has been in the form of his life since the bold move to warm-weather training. Viktor has so many strengths but his competitive advantage stems from his emotional maturity. He has understood that the time is now. So, the question is: who can stop him winning back the title?

Anders Antonsen is seeded 3 and has to be aiming for the podium. He has an intriguing R1 tie against current World Champion and member of the Dubai Gang LOH Kean Yew.  If he gets past this hurdle, he may have to face Lakshya Sen another player who has enjoyed an improvement since training in Dubai. Next up, Lee Zii Jia in the SF for a chance against the King of Dubai himself: Viktor Axelsen There have been stamina issues in the past and I often catch myself wondering if he has hip problems when I look at his gait.  Behind all the messing around with peripherals like blogging he must be wondering what be achievable if he too was to start training in the gulf.

Another Dubai participant is the defending champion LEE Zii Jia. His challenge in Muelheim for that title fizzled out in the SF against Kunlavut Vitidsarn. The recent row with BAM about his professional status cannot have helped his preparation for Europe but he has to bring a more zesty attack to Birmingham. Anything less than a semi-final appearance will be a shock.

Kento Momota is seeded 2 but this does not tell the whole story of his circumstances. The car accident in Malaysia shifted his internal axis somehow .He has not regained his surgical precision or his focus. His is still an exceptionally talented player but he is beatable. Vittinghus must be looking at this match with a gleam in his eye. Momota can expect to be asked the tough questions every step of the way in Birmingham.

Aside from these players we have to look at the unseeded Lakshya Sen who has refocused and matured since working with Axelsen. In January he beat LOH Kean Yew to win the S500 India Open then, at the German Open, he stunned VA to get to the final. He had looked dead and buried at 15-19 down in the last set but his grit and tenacity are great weapons when they are blended with his reliable defence and willingness to rally. Thailand’s Kunlavut Vitidsarn was the eventual winner in Germany. Both of these players could disrupt a senior seed’s progress.

It didn’t look as though Jonathan Christie would be able to participate owing to his positive test last week. But he has travelled to the UK so perhaps he will be OK. As far as Anthony Ginting is concerned – because he is Jojo’s roommate – we are waiting to see the official confirmation if he is cleared to play or not. It will be a pity if he misses the chance to make a mark at the All England. In the past it has never seemed as though he has been able to impose himself on the tournament. It’s been a while since we’ve enjoyed a good MomoGi.

Conclusions?

The influence of Viktor Axelsen and his Dubai training camps has tilted the balance of power in Men’s Singles since the Olympics. That group of athletes will probably supply the eventual winner in Birmingham and that will give other players and coaches a lot to consider. Men’s Doubles is harder to call, although this may be an occasion for Kevin and Marcus to reassert their dominance of the title. Unfortunately, the situation is quite volatile regarding the impact of Covid upon athletes participation; it’s hard to imagine that these championships will avoid positive tests so let’s enjoy matches when we can and hope that everyone stays healthy.

If you enjoyed this take a look at my most recent article about Kevin and Marcus https://womensbadminton.co.uk/2022/03/05/kevin-marcus-at-the-all-england/

©2025

Amanda Bloss All Rights Reserved

Kevin & Marcus at the All England

From a partnership created in 2015 these 2 athletes have enthralled fans whenever they step on court. Kevin’s showmanship and exquisite racket skills are box office gold; Marcus is the bedrock of the duo. Rivals face unbearable intensity from over the net as the two Indonesian superstars wind up the pressure with split second finesse.

They are two-time champions at the All England, but recent history means that there is a sense of unfinished business at this event. Supporters crave an exhilarating run to the final. Whatever happens in 2023 they have a legacy of dazzling battles in Birmingham: some of their most electrifying games have been played here.

2017 Semi-Final v Conrad-Petersen/Kolding

What a Thriller! From the moment the first shuttle was hit it was obvious that this was going to be a special match. There were traces of nerves, but all four players were driven to brilliance by each other. The European champions had the measure of the Minions in set 1; after some astonishing passages of play they closed it out 21-19. Set 2 – and the destiny of the final –  turned on Kevin’s flick serve when the scores were level at 12-12. The Danes were outraged, the Indonesians were inspired then won 10 points in a row, eventually levelling 21-13. Rubber…points were traded but it was deadlock up until 17-17 when Kevin and Marcus seized the lead and then refused to relinquish control.  Gideon’s match winner was a delicate disguised drop shot. 21-17.

2017 Final v v LI Junhui & LIU Yuchen

Fast & Furious! How much firepower would they have left after the previous night’s epic SF? The contest fizzed with passion and desire.  Set 1 was close –  just edged by the Indonesians – but Set 2 saw them hit another gear as Kevin went beyond the range of normal perception. His zest and speed of thought were phenomenal. Gideon’s magnificent play liberated Kevin. It was breathtaking as he executed shots that mere mortals cannot even dream of. It felt like non-stop attack; they both were tireless as they pushed for the title.  The Chinese duo tried to resist but in vain as the Minions were unstoppable.  Their first All England title was won in a whirlwind 35 minutes 21-19, 21-14

2018 Final v Mathias Boe/Carsten Mogensen

The defending champions came back to Birmingham on a spectacular run of form that continued through to the final. Kevin’s mercurial brilliance blended with Gideon’s tough, focused play meant that they limited the Danes to controllable flurries of resistance.  Even though Boe & Mogensen were competing hard and never out of touch on the scoreboard the result seemed inevitable.  Kevin’s superhuman anticipation for the winning point – a sharp net kill – epitomized the pair’s dominance of the court.  Title retained in straight sets: 21-18, 21-17.

Conclusion

The effervescent genius of Kevin & Marcus has consistently lit up the All England over the years. The tempo of their games, their athleticism and their desire to win this historic tournament always creates high hopes when they arrive in the UK.

One of my favourite finals ever!

©2025

Amanda Bloss All Rights Reserved