China's eighteen year old, GuoYue, won the women's singles title at the Kuwait Open here on Thursday for her third ITTF Pro Tour singles crown of the year.

Guo Yue beat compatriot Wang Nan in five games 11-13, 11-7, 11-7, 20-18, 11-3, beating Wang Nan fourth time to the runner-up spot of the year on the ITTF Pro Tour. Guo Yue had been the silver medallist in Croatia, Slovenia and in Qatar.

In their previous 11 occasions in world ranking events, Guo Yue had the slight edge with six wins, including the last two occasions in the Croatian Open in January 2007 and the following week at the Slovenian Open.

In Kuwait, the two players were level at 6-all in the opening game, and proceeded to 7-all, then 8-all with both players making errors.

From 9-all, Guo Yue went ahead 10-9 when a forehand topspin clipped the net. However the last two points of the game saw the reverse scenario. Wang Nan' topspin strokes hit the top of the net and won the game 13-11.

In the second game, Guo Yue advanced into a 6-3 lead as she attacked at every opportunity. After Wang Nan reduced the arrears to 6-5, Guo Yue moved ahead 9-6 and won the game 11-7.

Guo Yue made the better start and led 3-1 in the third game, moved ahead 8-4 and then 9-5. At 10-6, Wang Nan saved the first game point but she couldn't save the second.

Controlled topspin from the forehand into the backhand of Guo Yue saw Wang Nan move into a 3-1 lead in the fourth game.

However, Guo Yue made every effort to topspin the return of service and more often than not she succeeded. She levelled at 4-all and then moved into a 5-4 lead.

The rallies were brief, both players making errors with Wang Nan having the advantage at 9-7, Guo Yue won the next two points to level at 9-all and then at 10-9 had game point.

Wang Nan saved the game point but the next point went to Guo Yue and then a golden opportunity for the teenager. A high return, Guo Yue attacked with the backhand and the ball flew off the end of the table.

The points from that moment onwards were shared, Wang Nan held four game points but lost them all; success went to Guo Yue on her fifth game point. She won the game 20-18.

A close game, a very close game and it swung the pendulum in favor of Guo Yue. She went ahead 6-1 in the fifth game, extended the lead to 8-2 and duly won the game 11-3 to be crowned as the women's singles champion in Kuwait.

Editor: Donald