Li Shifeng vs. Shi Yuqi Prediction on December 17, 2025

Match info

The HSBC BWF World Tour Finals, in general, represent the pinnacle of the badminton season, bringing together only the top eight players in each discipline based on ranking points accumulated across the year. Every match matters—there are no easy rounds, no warm-ups, and no room for slow starts. So will be the case this year.

This Group B first-round men’s singles clash between Li Shifeng and Shi Yuqi is especially significant because it pits two Chinese teammates with contrasting roles in the national setup: the rising challenger versus the established leader. Early group matches often dictate qualification paths, making this opener crucial for momentum, confidence, and tie-break scenarios. For bettors tracking elite badminton markets—especially those exploring new sports betting sites—World Tour Finals 2025 group games often provide strong analytical value due to predictable lineups and clearly defined stakes.

The Li vs. Shi match is scheduled for Wednesday, December 17, 2025, during the evening session (approx. at 19:00 China Standard Time – CST, local time), and will be played at Hangzhou Olympic Sports Center – the arena is known for its fast court conditions and strong crowd presence, which are all the factors that often favor aggressive, attacking players.

Meeting statistics

Current form and & playstyle: Li Shifeng

Li Shifeng represents the new generation of Chinese men’s singles—faster, more explosive, and less predictable.

His recent form has been streaky but dangerous, especially indoors, where his sharp angles and quick transitions can overwhelm even elite defenders. Li thrives when matches turn open and aggressive, often accelerating rallies early to prevent opponents from settling into rhythm. However, he can struggle with decision-making under sustained pressure, particularly against players who vary pace as effectively as Shi Yuqi.

Current form & playstyle: Shi Yuqi

Shi Yuqi, on the other hand, enters the World Tour Finals as China’s most complete men’s singles player, combining physical durability with tactical maturity. Over the 2025 season, he has shown consistency against top-10 opposition, particularly in longer rallies where his patience and shot selection wear opponents down.

Shi’s playstyle is built around controlled aggression—deep clears, heavy smashes from the rear court, and an improving net game that allows him to dictate tempo rather than chase it.

Head-to-head

Historically, Shi Yuqi leads the head-to-head 5-2 against Li Shifeng, having won the majority of their meetings at Super 750 and Super 1000 level events. Most of Shi’s victories have come through tactical dominance rather than outright power, often forcing Li into errors late in games. Li’s wins, when they’ve occurred (and that was in the first two H2Hs), typically came in matches where he dictated early tempo and avoided extended rallies.

Match analytics

Shi Yuqi’s composure, defensive solidity, and experience in high-pressure round-robin formats give him a clear edge in a World Tour Finals setting. While Li Shifeng is capable of stealing a game with aggressive bursts, sustaining that level over two or three games against Shi remains difficult. We even lean towards Shi winning in straight games.

Tip: FT Spread, Yu Qi Shi -1.5 at 2.04 odds on Casinia.

Results of the forecast

Successful forecast. Li Shifeng vs. Shi Yuqi 0:2