FULL MATCH | Hugo Calderano vs Truls Moregard | MS Final | #WTTMacao 2026

Two of the best in some of the form of their life. I don't think anyone knows what's about to happen out here and that's what makes it a lot of fun. 12 months ago Ugo came flying into the final only to be shut down by Wang Chuqin. What did Chuqin do then that Shaws might seek to emulate? Well to explain that you need to understand what this brilliant Brazilian does. And that's the range that he loves to get to. He'll jump on any serve received to attack it. He then creates space. He bounces backwards, stands at mid-distance and swings. And so Wang Chuqin who had just been defeated by the Brazilian met him again 12 months ago here. And he laid a blueprint that I think trolls might try and emulate. The first little sprinkle of magic. Serve and serve receive. You go short into Ugo's forehands. You drag him in. You make him reach. You make it uncomfortable. And then you keep the target moving. You do not let Ugo drop back and play the ball to him wherever he is. Just like this. Yeah well explained Joe. Excellent stuff. He has a couple of novelty shots. He has the behind the back. He has the double hander. But what he also has most typically off the table is that searing backhand. Keep him away from that. Keep him moving you say. From a certain range. That's where it becomes deadly. He loves to jump on the first attack. And then because he knows he's hit the ball so clean with so much power. If it does come back he's already hot back. And he's ready to launch a forehand. So for trolls this is a little bit about he's got to be careful. He's got to be kind of the mouse around the elephant. He's got to be tricky. And we mention a lot trolls his big forehand attack. But his forehand short touch is vicious in the best possible way. Good start from the sweet. Now when it comes to trolls he hasn't shown us any new shots this week. Yes he's got all the shots out and he's got every shot in the book. What he has shown is that it's very much mental with him right now. He spoke about rediscovering his game. He spoke about the appetite he's got. And against Harimoto we saw him as aggressive, as loud, abrasive as we have in some time. He is hungry for success. And that makes him a very dangerous Trolls Morgan. But that's what makes this such a compelling final. Different styles for both dynamic players. You're going to enjoy this everybody. Whoever wins. So much fun. Ugo just carries a sledgehammer with that forehand and backhand. But again the change of direction right. This is what Trolls is going to do. He's going to keep Ugo moving. He's going to play up the line at times. He's going to be confusing. And if Ugo gets that one back. I was about to say if Ugo gets that one back Trolls will then move him again. Again this is that short touch where Trolls has just been a little bit sneaky in there. And it's because Ugo's always thinking about dropping back. He always wants to get back to range to launch something mean. So if you can just keep teasing him in that short forehand area it'll keep him guessing. You always get a reaction off Trolls. And we've seen that before. When he's on the back foot he will chop, he'll fan, he'll slap. Typically it's a hit and hope when he knows he's not likely to win the point. But look at that he hasn't lost a point and he's served first yet. You mind your mouth Mr. Atajak. Now he has. What a point it was though. A little bit of feeling. But look at what Trolls was trying. He was trying to change direction. He was trying to play it down the line into the forehand. Into the backhand sorry of Calderano. You gotta have brains to mess with Ugo. You gotta have an IQ about you. That's what couldn't quite do. The way he just pushes across the ball. It's almost like we take it as just an ordinary shot. Staple stuff. He's ridiculous. Exquisitely skilled. He makes the sublime look basic the Trolls. How good was that as well. Talk me through that shot. Again he came in viciously and he stabbed at the ball and sent it incredibly long. He had been touching short. Just broke the rhythm. And it earned him three game points in the first. Oh he's under the table. He's around the back but he can't do anything about that. A break for Trolls Moragard and a game for Trolls Moragard who heads back to brother Malta his coach. And it looked like a good start by Ugo but Trolls gradually took control of that game. And we now know of course remember that we're just at the start of what could turn out to be another epic saga on finals night here inside the Affinity Arena. He wins at 11-7. That's what they're playing for. Silverware up for grabs in a destination. In a place where people come looking to win big. Looking to hit the jackpot. Now one of these players will remember just as with the women's we will see a first time winner of Champions Macau crowd. Well played Ugo. So good at adapting and digging out a shot even when it looks unlikely. Trolls won't mind that. He'll know that every so often he'll fire a long serve and it'll get belted past him. But it's to unlock then to go back to the short game. There you go. A little bit more passive from Ugo will help him. Stay on your wheels. Don't try and win the point too early. Again if you can extend the point and potentially send Trolls wide forehand then Ugo can start to get into his rhythm. Aggressive the Brazilian in every aspect of that point. He's wearing green like the Incredible Hulk and he Hulk smashed that one. And it was a good serve received from Ugo. It was shades of Trolls against Trolls but this Swede did so well to scoop it out. And how uncomfortable is this for Calderano. Sora played into his hands. It was either ego or it was a lack of IQ but he gave the Brazilian exactly what he wanted. A firefight and this guy thrives there. Trolls is showing you he's got a PhD in tactics. Professor Morgard. But you only have to miss by a fraction and this guy pounces so sharp. The margin for error against Ugo is so small. Anything other than almost perfection you're gonna eat a big power shot. That short touch. It shouldn't be possible. He attacks it with so much aggression. He stabs it in there and it's loaded and then look at that. The lean back forehand up the line changing the target. I was just looking at Ugo's reaction to that last one because he must have thought I put that on the purple plane. I'm not under threat here. And then bang yeah. Falls past it. I love that serve receive though that he just played. What a get. Not many players in the world get anywhere near that let alone get it back over the net. He's such an athlete as Ugo but Trolls is just on him right now. Imagine a heat map up the side of Calderano's. Now the flashlight goes off. Yeah imagine a heat map up the Brazilian side. Trolls is covering making him cover everywhere. Short forehand, long backhand, long forehand. He needed that. Now that's a go-to for Trolls. That forehand is his trusty weapon. It is but again but he'd already stepped backwards and had to take it late and rolled it up. Does he try and trap Trolls with a fast serve here? Oh this serve receive. It's not often you see Ugo unable to get under a ball. That's incredible. It's loaded. Trolls comes in aggressively. Most people play that and they're soft in the hands. He isn't. So a little run of points takes Trolls into a two-point lead and then he's got one game already. They went net to net there but in truth Ugo's owed a few because I think Trolls by my count got three in that first game. And yeah we had a lot of sorry's didn't we. And this is what he's got to do. He's got to now try and shoehorn in. He's got to step forward when he needs to. It's just a live wire Ugo. Just snappy kinetic energy. Almost nervous energy. Electric. It looked like he served. A little bit of side spin on there and didn't serve it into the forehand side. It was the backhand and Trolls just misjudged the angle and it only needs to come off an inch and this guy power shot will land. Feels like Ugo is aggressive. He's risk-taking at the moment. But what will happen now? It's eight all. It's early in the match but he will not want to go two down against the dangerous player. He's done it again. He stepped way over to his right hand side to play the backhand to attack it and it was genius. These are calculated risks he's taking. Because you do go against two down against Trolls. He could just go for it from there on. And he could snatch the match without you being able to do anything about it. So I think Ugo is all too aware this is the game. He's going to try and get on board. And again shots like that. He probably needs to just take a little bit of steam off and roll it in. If he can extend the rallies, Trolls' chance of winning them goes down. It helps Ugo but he's just got to get there first. It's the bluffing backhand. So many people say that this is a criticism of this guy's game. That he can't rip backhand. He doesn't need to. He lifts it with the wrist locked and it puts less top on it. Very deceptive and it earns him a game point and a chance to take a two-game lead here. Ugo went heavy. Highly pressurized moments here. Sorry. Let's go! Magic from Moorgaard. Mental monster Moorgaard. He knew exactly where this power shot was coming. But the execution is exquisite. And so is the celebration. Brothers both united in there. Cheers there. So 11-7, 11-9. It's sweet so far for the Swede. I've spoken all night long about the fact that we were going to see a new winner of the Champions of Macau crown. And that's because in the past this has been an event dominated by the great Wang Xiuqin. But for an interruption by 2024 when the emerging star Lin Shidong was able to win. Those players not involved in this event this week which meant it opened the door. We were always going to find ourselves with a first-time winner here in Macau. And at the moment Truls Moorgaard is advancing his credentials to be that winner. I know you were going to make a tactical point just before we got to the end of that game there. What do you think Calderano is going to be dwelling on now about what happened then and what has to happen now? It's so hard because if you serve long you give Truls the opportunity to attack first. Like so but he stayed alive in that one. Defensive skills of the Brazilian. Just wondered if that double-handed backhand might come out. I was about to say you serve long he attacks it. You serve short and then you're at the mercy of that horrible forehand touch. That one. Yeah just a little technical lesson there from Truls about where bits need to be. And again I think if Calderano can build into points. A little better like this. Not try and just belt it. Look at where Truls goes. Yep so that happened. Oh that backhand fans but to no great effect and it's a really good reaction this from the Brazilian. You expect nothing less really. Again if he builds his way in. If he's clever about his shot placement. Eventually he will find a chance to unleash the power. Did you say power? He's just got it casually there in his pocket. Just moving target as always for Truls. He's never really still is he? He hits that on the move. Lateral movement. He's got such great stillness about his upper body. He's incredibly loose in the arm. That's where he gets his power from. And his timing and his contact point is beautiful. You backed the Brazilian back there off either flank, either wing. Stayed alive in that one. Rolled it in and then that bit of that flexibility allowed the forehand. Oh what a get. But not this time. Brilliant from Hugo Calderano. Tied up his opponent. Tangled him up in knots. Right now Truls is just trying to live with him. Not let this game get away. He's got the cushion at the moment of that two-game lead. But you don't want to invite Calderano onto you. You don't want to give him a chance to build ahead of steam. Oh it's the third time we've seen that backhand up the line. And again he's finding unconventional ways to win points now. Maybe dropping those first two games has just sent him into a different mode. Different plan. It's just a little bit more adventurous now. And his all-round game is premium at the moment. This has been a masterclass this game. That was beautiful. Every now and then you need a point like that. Players having fun under the table. We see the chop blocks coming in. We see the fanning backhands. We see everything out of Truls. But he's still six points down. Ah there it is again. That has been a very productive part of the table for Hugo. Long fast serve traps Truls into a fast exchange. There's only one winner. And he's got seven points for the game. Only needed one. Truls knew he was well well beaten in that game. But it doesn't matter in the grand scheme of things too much as he leads 2-1. But does matter for Hugo who is really hitting a very rich streak. A rich vein of form right now. Oh she likes the music does Bruna Darka has. She'll like what she saw from Hugo in that last game. That really was something. By the way if you've ever wondered why he's able to do the things he does as a player. You just needed to see him with that shirt off just now. There is muscle there to go with that greyhound like ability to get around on the floor. He's got some real strength and beef about him as well. He is for my money the best athlete that we see in these events naturally anyway. Yeah he's very physically fit Hugo. But what I loved about it I was brain power that last game. Because he was much more patient in the first phase of the point at least. To just roll it in and then get back to the range and unleash the power. Oh he misses and he is not pleased with that. Again anytime Hugo can play with big power into that backhand. It's gonna drag the ball back into that zone where he can then unleash another one. But just wait to see when he brings out the backhand up the line against Trolls again. There it is. Yeah three times in the last game. There's the first one. Now this is a battle of IQ. This is hard now for Trolls because you play a little bit passively and you play some of the drop shots and you eat big power. Then you up the ante and you eat another big power shot. And again that little giveaway that he's under pressure when he starts playing those. Something he and Malta are going to have to figure out fairly soon this. Honestly I love these last few points. He's defending and he loves to counter from down there. That's a dangerous shot but he misses the target with that backhand. You just see him reverse gear and then plants his feet and you go uh-oh. It's a good serve from Trolls. He's kicked it with a lot of side but Hugo was trying to find that back purple line. He scooped it and it almost came down. Yeah Trolls didn't know but that's a big point for Trolls as well. Big couple of points. Again how long till Hugo fires that long serve cross court. Morgard are we thinking the same thing? We'll try and predict it. Some match last night for Hugo against the number one seed Sora Matsushima. It had a lot to it didn't it? It did. He's having to think a lot more now than he did last night. I know it was a tense and kind of more battle fielded in mental warfare and adrenaline. But tactically Trolls is presenting so many more problems for Hugo. Yeah. And Hugo's happened to solve it and he is solving it to a degrees. Brought this one back. He's got a game on the board. Of course years ago he became famous for that ability to solve Rubik's Cubes whilst under physical duress and in a way I suppose that's what table tennis is about. He's running around all over the shop and he's solving very complex problems. Barely sure he solved one underwater as well the Rubik's Cube. Big shot and that's why you keep the ball in play. Exactly he's surviving the first phase of the point now. He's not trying to win it too early. Swept that one up off his ankles. Oh Hugo thinks it was a lair Trolls. So probably I think yeah. Yes looks like it. Ah fair play. Fair play to both of them. Yeah yeah. This is a big moment. Big moment in the match and they've both had to just process that. I think the umpires handled it well too. And Trolls read it wonderfully. Because that was a beautiful shot. Now we're in the bluff game. Does it go again? But he gets the point. Just sorry. Had to be a little bit of an apology in there. He caught the net on his receive. Just bumped over. Anytime you can drag Hugo into short forehand it's a good thing for Trolls because that's a dimension where he can do very very well. The issue is Hugo's not giving him a lot to go there with look. Starting to fire these serves slightly longer. Please calm down says our umpire Stephen Shaw. Oh yeah well he was actually in charge earlier on wasn't he when he got very heated. Again it's that short forehand of Trolls. He's a master there. He puts side spin on the ball. That's what causes it to kick. That's why Hugo had to try and scoop it. I think for Hugo if he gets put there just hack it long back spin to backhand. Oh man we heard this ringing around the arena earlier. The full-blooded roar from Trolls. And there we are again. Hugo just kicking up the feet there. One of those little idiosyncrasies that he has when the pressure is on. Eight serves. That deserves a round of applause from Bruno because that forehand that Trolls had sent was absolutely loaded with topspin. And it was low but Hugo still counted it. But a little bit a little bit of something different. Almost like a chop block of a serve receive. And it caught Hugo by surprise. Again if Hugo gets brought into short forehand I feel like he should just push long to backhand. Yeah. You can see the idea because he was ready to counter it. But Trolls is getting the big points right now. He's coming up with some answers at a critical stage in this match. Earning two game points. A 3-1 lead would be massive. Trolls fighting. Shouts someone in the crowd and he is. With every scrap of life he has. Game away from becoming a champions champion once again. And for Hugo well he will never say never. But if he is to end a winner this time out he has to win three games now against this brilliant Swede. We've spoken this week about Trolls' attitude. About his aggression. His hunger. His appetite. We've seen it haven't we in the last couple of matches. When push comes to shove he becomes a different animal doesn't he? He grows. He gets bigger in the fire. He deals with courage at that point and he gambles on the fact that you won't be as courageous as him. Hugo Calderano wants to make this a very late night for everyone here. He wants to do this the hard way. And he's ably equipped to do that. But there's just a problem. Trolls has grown and grown and grown in this event. Hugo did really well with that because it was the backhand bluff again from Morgard. This less spinny backhand. Hugo read it perfectly and still just drove it back in. I would go anywhere but the Trolls short forehand. Don't allow that to happen. No escaping that. I think you're probably better off pushing long to his middle or long to wide forehand and suffer that thing. And a Brazilian timeout's gotta come sometime soon surely. You've been wondering about that for some time now. Too easy. I mean easy for him. Not for just about anyone else on the planet. Trolls who's won 12 of the last 16. When his short forehand is really singing he knows opponents hate it and he knows they're gonna go long. So then he just uncorks forehand rockets from there. He makes you. There's the timeout Joe. He puts you under so much pressure and he makes you pick your poison. What way do you want to die over the table or away from it? Well right now he is dying. His chances are fading in this one because suddenly a surge at the end of the last game from Trolls has now continued into this one and for Hugo Calderano these are desperate times. What can he do? Man a few words for Francisco but is it to be another near miss? A beaten finalist in Incheon in 2024. A beaten finalist here last year. It's not a habit you want to get into as worthy as getting this deep in an event may be. Magical tools get that back. You see the shot he was most people try and scoop this with no spin. He tried to rip it with sideler. He tried to choplock it on. You know who deserves a lot of credit as well. The man in Trolls Morgaard's corner Malta. His brother. Yeah. He is an underrated mind in this game both tactically and motivationally. 100% right. He was there for that incredibly emotional Europe smash win last year in Malmo amidst amazing scenes and he's been there through this purple patch that took him to Montpellier as well. Oh yeah. We haven't seen that in a while. And now the other time out. It's like buses isn't it? You wait and then two come along at the same time. It's a very calm conversation between the brothers there when you consider what's at stake here. WTT Champions Macau 2026 presented by Galaxy Entertainment Group. What entertainment we've had. An amazing women's final. This one has had so many highs in terms of the skill levels on show and you feel there's more drama yet to come unless Trolls can get across the line now. Kenny put on another surge as we saw in the last game from a similar position. Brilliant. You might know what's coming but even Hugo unable to cope with that. We've heard this before up ahead of Steam and he's almost irresistible. It was a hopping block unorthodox but he's got that feeling. Oh yes he does. This is the extent to how much Hugo is willing to try and sacrifice to get in. He stepped way over to the wrong side of the table and played the backhand. He's in trouble. Big trouble. But he only knows one way out of it. As he serves he's got a reel it's another near miss in Macau. Does he serve now? Does he go short? Does he dare go long? The result is the reward. Three championship points. He has one hand on that trophy. Go with the tension levels. Not yet says Hugo. Maybe not at all if he has his way but he is in serious jeopardy. And now Trolls. Well it would be very Trolls to come up with something exotic here. What will we see? He might be willing to risk it all. Starting to shoehorn in that backhand into the forehand of Trolls. This is a battle of minds of mentality now. Just wonder if Trolls might serve short flow. He's done it here in Macau. He's done it against a player who looks so good. There's the trademark celebration. My goodness has it been a monstrous mental performance all week from Moragard here in Macau. And he defeated Hugo Calderano with brain power. With his IQ. He didn't let him dance and he taps the stomach because he's eaten well here this week. And he's going home with a big check and one of those most wonderful WTT trophies. Well played Charles Moragard. We wondered if he was really feeling it this week. And boy oh boy he did. He grew. He grew. And then he turned out today to produce two stunning performances. Not just about the final. To make it to this final he had to go to some dark dark places against Tomokazu Harimoto. Now it's all sunshine and light and smiles. When you think back to how sharp Hugo looked at the start of this match. For Charles to come up with a plan. And you're right to credit brother Malta for his input tactically as well. To negate the Brazilian. But also allow himself to still express himself. Brothers united in joy. Brilliant. And when he does win the scenes are always extraordinary. So he served well. He picked up three more points than his opponent. But what mattered most was the key moments in the match. Charles had the answers. Charles had the appetite. And Charles surged to victory. Just under 40 minutes. He has produced a superb showing in the Infinity Arena. And now it's time to hear from him. As he speaks to Ray Flores. Your men's singles champion Charles Moragard. Charles this is your first trophy in 2026. What a battle that you had with Tomokazu Harimoto in the semifinal winning four games to three. How much did that encounter prepare you heading into the final with Hugo Calderano. Of course very much. I was believing in myself the whole tournament. It's a big thing to Malta as a coach. He has done an incredible job. To my mom and dad Elias and Leah at home. They have supported me all the way even when I was at the lowest in a few weeks ago. So I'm I'm crazy happy and I really couldn't believe this before I went there. So I'm so so happy. You talked about the support. The crowd here in Macau has been behind you all week long. And it came to Crescendo here this afternoon and this evening. How much does this fan support here in Macau mean to you. Incredible much. I mean I was feeling it from the first point against Patrick in the in the first round. They were supporting me always even if I was losing and trailing tough sets. They were always supporting me. Today was fantastic. I always enjoy playing big matches and when there's this much people I'm so happy to play table tennis. So without you guys today will be difficult that's for sure. Your men's singles champion from Sweden Charles Moragard. Beautifully done. And a word for those fans. Absolutely right. He struggled at times against Patrick in his very first game and he had a little hardcore pocket of support that was singing and cheering and exhorting trolls on. And he took strength from that. And as you said he's believed in his game all week long. Great to hear him crediting Malta as well. So there you go. Another Moragard celebration. Started with a champions. Sorry started with a smash then a champions and now another. And that celebration is now becoming familiar. So it's time now for us to just take a breath after that final. But we'll be back very soon. Stay with us. Up next it's the men's trophy presentation and a chance to see more true celebrations. Coming to you live from the Infinity Arena here in Macau China. This is the men's singles final trophy presentation. Let us welcome the presenters for this special occasion. Mr. Chris Tom, ITTF Chief Operations Officer, WTT Acting Chief Operations Officer. Mr. Buddy Lam, Director of Corporate Affairs of Galaxy Entertainment Group. Mr. Chow Ma Chitat, Chairman of the Macau Table Tennis General Association. And now let's welcome the finalists of the men's singles final. From Brazil, Hugo Calderano. Let's now invite Mr. Chow Ma Chitat to present the souvenir to the finalists. Thank you to our presenter. Let's now invite Mr. Buddy Lam to present the trophy to the finalists. Let's invite the presenters to take a group photo with the finalists. Thank you to our presenters. Infinity Arena, here's your finalists of the men's singles final. Congratulations to Hugo Calderano. Thank you to our finalists. Infinity Arena, it is now time to welcome the champion of the men's singles final. From Sweden, Truls Morgaard. Here to present the souvenir and trophy to the champion, please welcome Mr. Chris Tom. Now let's welcome back the finalists and all the presenters for a group photo. Thank you to our presenters. Ladies and gentlemen, these are your WTT Champions Macau 2026 men's singles final trophy winners. Thank you to our finalists. Infinity Arena, I now present to you your champion of the WTT Champions Macau 2026 men's singles final, Truls Morgaard. And you know what time it is, it's selfie time. Infinity Arena, let's welcome back your champion of the women's singles from Japan, Miwa Harimoto. Let's welcome back the champion of the women's singles from Japan, Miwa Harimoto. Infinity Arena, give it up for your champions of the WTT Champions Macau 2026 men's and women's singles. Now let's welcome back the champion of the women's singles from Japan, Miwa Harimoto. And you know what time it is, it's selfie time. Well, it's selfie time down there and that just about wraps up proceedings inside the Infinity Arena. Three times, Truls loving the selfie there. And he acknowledged Miwa's incredible achievement, a three-peat for her, a second champion's success. But Truls Morgaard, smiles all around and two very, very worthy winners at the end of a truly wonderful week of competition with some superb play and memories to last a lifetime for any of us who've been fortunate enough.