World No. 3 Shi defeated reigning Olympic champion Chen Long 21-11, 21-17, in an all-Chinese matchup. Both players stayed patient at the beginning of the match, not keen on smashes. The score seesawed as the two top guns exchanged long rallies, until Shi opened fire first and took a four-point lead at 9-5. The No. 3 seed pressed ahead with fiercer attacks and claimed the first game 21-11.

Chen began his counterattack in the second game, winning six of the following seven points from 7-1 down. However, his faults denied his chance to level the match 1-1 despite his arduous efforts saving 2 match points.

"I have never thought I could make it to the final. With only one match ahead, I will definitely do my best," shi said after the semifinal.

The 22-year-old triumphed in both individual finals at the India Open and the All-England Open earlier this year and helped the Chinese national team lift the Thomas Cup. Four years ago, he has been crowned at the Youth Olympic Games here in Nanjing, but this time, his rival will be Japan's in-form Kento Momota. The latter stormed into his first final at the worlds with a 21-16, 21-5 win over Malaysia's unseeded Daren Liew on Saturday.

"Momota is a all-round player now, in terms of his mentality, tactics or his shuttle routes," Shi said.

In their last and only encounter, the world no.7 edged out Shi in the round of 16 of the 2018 Asia Championships in Wuhan. However, Shi might have a good chance to avenge that defeat in front of the home crowd.

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