Updated: January 13, 2014

The prime event of the year, the GAC ITTF World Tour Finals in Dubai featured one Canadian - Eugene Wang. In elite company, 16 qualifiers including the top ranked players in the world, Wang faced the luck of the draw. The competition was decided in a straight knock-out format, Round of 16, Quarter Finals, Semis and Finals.

To advance, the draw became crucial. Unfortunately, or so was the common wisdom, the Canadian drew the new Chinese superstar Fan Zhendong, winner of the German and the Polish Open. Fan, an extremely athletic and fast player, employs a style that would be difficult to match for Eugene Wang.

However, hours of video studies with Coach Dejan Papic prepared Wang well. Down 0-1 in games, the Canadian had a 10-8 lead to even the match. But it was not to be, Fan Zhendong scored four points in a row to take a 2-0 lead in a best of 7 contest. Down 0-2 and 3-9, Eugene Wang did not give up. He came to play, and to show that he belongs to the world's elite. In an amazing come-back, Eugene Wang scored 8 points in a row to to get to 1-2 in games.

"I never felt comfortable in the match," said Wang "he challenged me on every point, every exchange. There was no easy point in the whole match."

The next game brought hope to the Canadian fans in Dubai and at home - Eugene Wang took game 4 by a score of 11-8. An even match - 2-2 - the lack of high level competition matches began to show and the Canadian had to acknowledge Fan Zhendong's superiority. the Chinese youngster won the match at 4-2.

"We got some important insights here," Coach Papic analyzed the match. "Eugene can play at the highest level, but he needs more high level competitions."

For 2014, Eugene Wag has the Commonwealth Games and the qualification to this year's Grand Finals as his top goals.