Thursday at KFF Singapore Open 2025 will be remembered as the day the men’s singles favourites fell.

First, it was Li Shi Feng. The fourth seed was humbled in straight games, 21-18 21-14, by Lin Chun-Yi. For the third time in a row, the Chinese Taipei shuttler had Li’s number.

“Maybe because I’m used to his style, I’m able to control the tempo better against him,” Lin said with quiet confidence.

Minutes later, Lin’s sixth-seeded senior Chou Tien Chen went down to Lee Cheuk Yiu 21-12 21-16.

Then came the headline result: top seed and defending champion Shi Yu Qi was dragged into a 67-minute battle by compatriot Lu Guang Zu. For five straight matches, Shi had come out on top. But in a match full of momentum swings, it was Lu who held his nerve, prevailing 17-21 21-13 26-24.

“This arena has some wind so the difference in shuttlecock control becomes smaller,” Lu explained. “It then depends on who has better physical fitness. The player who can gain more points on the side against the wind has advantage. Today, I think I did better on that side.”

Soon after, Leong Jun Hao added to the chaos, eliminating fifth seed Jonatan Christie 21-16 21-19. It marked the Indonesian’s third defeat in five meetings against Leong.

With Anders Antonsen and Alex Lanier already gone in the first round, two seeds remain – Kunlavut Vitidsarn (No.2) and Kodai Naraoka (No.7). And for the first time since the SuperSeries began in 2007, every Singapore Open quarterfinalist in the men’s singles draw will wave a different flag.

The stage is wide open. What rises next is anyone’s guess.

→ Results (Day 3)

→ Order of play (Quarterfinals)

WHAT OTHERS SAID

“No player is easy. But if I play my own game, I’m confident I can have a good result.” – An Se Young, on her 24th career meeting with Chen Yu Fei in tomorrow’s quarterfinal

“We lost our last match to them (at India Open) but they’re world No.1s now. Our battles with them have always been close so this should another good one.” – Chirag Shetty on last eight opponents Goh Sze Fei/Nur Izzuddin

“This is my first time partnering someone younger so I’ve had to learn how to be a leader and provide guidance. In the beginning, it was quite a challenge but I got used to it.” – Ye Hong Wei on his partnership with Nicole Gonzales Chan after they ousted third seeds Chen Tang Jie/Toh Ee Wei