DIRECT. The Lebrun brothers' Blues in the final of the World Table Tennis Championships: follow our live commentary

Félix Lebrun will open the ball for the final of the World Table Tennis Championships. MAXPPP – JEON HEON-KYUN

The Lebrun brothers and the French team are playing a world ping-pong final for the first time since 1997. The Blues face the global bosses, China, this Sunday, February 25, in Busan (South Korea).

What you need to know

The Blues of brothers Alexis and Félix Lebrun (licensed to the Nîmes-Montpellier Alliance) and Simon Gauzy face China in the final of the World Table Tennis Championships. A first since 1997. 

Rules reminder: match in three sets of 11 points. The first team to win three matches wins the title.

In the first match, Félix Lebrun was dominated by an impressive Wang Chuqin. The Chinese won in three sets: 11-4, 11-8, 11-3.

12:41 p.m.: 9-9!

12:39: the world number one reminds who is boss. 8-5 for Fan Zhendong.

12:36: and here Alexis is, a very good start! The Frenchman leads 4-2. 

12:30 p.m.: next match, opposition between Alexis Lebrun and world number 1,  Fan Zhendong.

Félix Lebrun falls from the start against an opponent who is too strong

12:28 p.m.: it's over. China wins the first round thanks to Wang Chuqin, impressive against Félix Lebrun . Victory in three sets: 11-4, 11-8, 11-3.

12:26 p.m.: Félix Lebrun is getting annoyed. Wang Chuqin flies 7-2.

12:23 p.m.: second set for Wang Chuqin, won 11-8. The left hand and the level of play of the Chinese deprive Félix Lebrun of finding solutions.

Sécher le déjeuner en famille pour regarder du ping sur Youtube un dimanche midi : on est bien à bord du train Félix Lebrun. pic.twitter.com/nrlI0LNxLS

— Gaëtan Delafolie (@GaetanDelafolie) February 25, 2024

12:18 p.m.: 7-5 for Félix in the second set.

12:16: 3-3 in the second set, go Félix!

12:15 p.m.: first set for Wang Chuqin, 11-4.

12:13 p.m.: Félix Lebrun hangs on despite the quality of the Chinese left-hander, 8-4.

12:11: large advantage for the moment for Wang Chupin in the first set, 5-1.< /p>

12:05 p.m. : Both teams have been introduced. The first match will begin between Félix Lebrun and Wang Chuqin. This is the second clash between the two players. The first was won by the Chinese.

11:57 a.m. : quick reminder of the Blues' journey in these World Cups in the final stages. Victory against Poland 3-0 in the 8th, 3-1 against Portugal in the quarter and 3-1 against Taiwan in the semi-final.

11:55: five minutes before the start of hostilities. Time to read some articles/interviews published in Midi Libre in recent weeks.

Also read: "We are examples for each other" : the Lebrun brothers take part in a few days of the World Championships

Also read: Montpellier residents Alexis and Félix Lebrun join the team of Teddy Riner and Marie-Jo Pérec

11:45 a.m. : how ? You haven't yet listened to the Midi Libre podcasts with the Lebrun brothers ? Here is a catch-up session.

Also read: PODCAST. Paris 2024 Olympic Games: Félix Lebrun, new phenomenon of "ping" world and candidate for an Olympic medal

Also read: PODCAST. Paris 2024 Olympic Games: discovering Montpellier native Alexis Lebrun for episode 1 of our "Seeds of Champions"

11:40 a.m. : the match schedule.

Match 1: Félix Lebrun – Wang Chuqin (2nd in the world) Match 2: Alexis Lebrun – Fan Zhendong (1st) Match 3: Simon Gauzy – Ma Long (3rd) Match 4: Félix Lebrun – Fan Zhendong Match 5: Alexis Lebrun – Wang Chuqin.

11:35 a.m.: can we say mission impossible for the Blues ? The Chinese are the ultra-favorites. The top three in the world are Chinese and will stand in front of Félix Lebrun (6th in the world), Alexis Lebrun (21st) and Simon Gauzy (30th). 

11:30 a.m.: welcome to our live stream to follow the final of the World Table Tennis Championships in Busan (South Korea), where the & The French team is aiming for the gold medal. A title would be new. Kick-off at 12pm !