Men's:
Liu Guoliang’s team won its first tie, beating Tianjin 3-2. Liu won his 2 singles match, including the Golden Ball win over Hao Shuai. Yan Sen supplied the other singles win. In doubles, Liu/Yan lost again, to youngsters Li Ping and Hao Shuai.
Shanghai also scored its first win, beating Hebei in a very close 3-2 affair. Wang Liqin had to survive a scare, beating Li Jing 3-2 (-8, 11, 11, -9, 9). This time Guo Jinhao came through to win the second singles over Jiang Jianan. In the Golden Ball match, Wang Liqin beat Li Jing for the second time at 5-4.
Beijing took an easy 4-0 win over Nanjing. Zhejiang upset PLA 3-1, with Chen Jian winning over Wang Hao 3-0 in the first singles match. Zhan Jian scored PLA’s lone point by beating Cheung Yuk 3-1.
Guangdong scored a major upset over Luneng. Qin Zhijian beat Ma Lin 3-1 to set the table. This was to be Ma Lin’s only singles loss in the first 11 rounds. After Zhang Yong evened things up by winning over Tan Ruiwu, Liu Guozheng lost to Ko Lai Chak 1-3 to trail 1-2 in the tie. Qin/Ko then scored the doubles win over Liu/Zhang 3-2, to win the tie.
The Sichuan-Heilongjiang tie was delayed until May 25. In that tie, Heilongjiang beat Sichuan 3-1.
Women's:
Luneng won its second tie, against Jiangsu, 3-2. Lin Ling picked up her first singles match as well as the Golden Ball match. The upstart Shanghai club scored a major upset over the strong Liaoning club. Konishi (JTTA) won the first singles against national team member Li Jia, and the Golden Ball match against world-number 1 Wang Nan. Very impressive debut by Konishi in her second Super League season.
Hebei took a 3-1 win over the weak Shanxi club, and Bai Yang and Niu Jianjeng won all their matches in this tie. The young Sichuan team narrowly beat Henan 3-2. Guo Yue won her singles but lost the Golden Ball match in this tie.
Tianjin took an easy 4-0 victory over the hapless Jiangsu club, which
was without Yang Ying or Zhang Yingying. The strong Beijing club had its
hands full against surprising Guangdong. Guo Yan had to win her Golder Ball
match against Cao Xingni 5-4 to clinch the victory. Cao upset Zhang Yining
in the first singles match of the tie, and she also won the fourth doubles
match to force the Golden Ball match.