KUALA LUMPUR: Mixed doubles pairs Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei and Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai Jemie are on the verge of making Malaysian history at the World Tour Finals (WTF), as either could become the country's first-ever finalists and ultimately champions in the prestigious season finale.
As fate would have it, the two pairs will face each other in Saturday's semi-finals following a fresh draw conducted late Friday.
World No. 8 Tang Jie-Ee Wei defeated No. 10 Soon Huat-Shevon 14-21, 21-10, 21-14 in their group stage encounter on Wednesday.
However, Soon Huat-Shevon bounced back superbly, winning their remaining two matches to join Tang Jie-Ee Wei in the knockout stage as group runners-up.
The all-Malaysian semi-final guarantees the country's first-ever representation in a mixed doubles final since the tournament's inception in 2008 during the Superseries era.
Malaysia's previous best achievement in mixed doubles was reaching the semi-finals, with Soon Huat-Shevon being among those who accomplished back in 2020.
Other Malaysian semi-finalists include Chan Peng Soon-Goh Liu Ying (2013 and 2021) and Tan Kian Meng-Lai Pei Jing (2022).
The stakes are considerably higher for this rematch.
Both pairs have already secured US$50,000 (RM222,500) as semi-finalists, but the winners will double their earnings to US$100,000 (RM445,000).
The ultimate prize awaiting the champions is US$210,000 (RM934,500), which would be the biggest payday of their careers.
The other semi-final features an all-Chinese clash between Jiang Zhen Bang-Wei Ya Xin and reigning Olympic gold medallists Zheng Si Wei-Huang Ya Qiong.
In men's doubles, all eyes are on debutants Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani, who will face Indonesia's Group B champions Fajar Alfian-Muhammad Rian Ardianto.
Sze Fei-Izzuddin qualified as Group A runners-up after an impressive victory over two-time Olympic champions Lee Yang-Wang Chi Lin of Taiwan.
The Malaysian pair aims to become the country's first men's doubles champions since Goh V Shem-Tan Wee Kiong's triumph in 2016.
The only other Malaysian victory in this category came from Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong in 2008.
Sze Fei-Izzuddin's success is particularly noteworthy following their bold decision to turn professional by leaving the national team.
The other men's doubles semi-final pits Denmark's Kim Astrup-Anders Skaarup Rasmussen against Indonesia's Sabar Karyaman Gutama-Moh Reza Pahlevi Isfahani.
