Reigning European champion Peter Gade improved to 7-1 lifetime against Chen Hong with a straight game victory in the quarter-finals of the badminton world championships.
The 28-year-old third seeded Dane defeated seventh seed Chen 15-13, 15-14 on Friday to book a semi-final clash against Chinese top seed Lin Dan who defeated South Korea's Lee Hyun Ii 5-15, 15-7, 15-8.
Gade, who was the runner-up at the 2001 worlds, looks to be in perfect mid-season form, having not lost a game in four matches in Anaheim. This was the eighth career meeting between Gade and Chen with Gade having won the last five in a row.
Gade also beat Chen 17-4, 15-2 in the semi-finals of the 2001 Worlds in Seville, Spain.
In other matches on Friday, Sudket Prapakamol and Saralee Thungthongkam beat reigning Olympic mixed doubles champs Zhang Jun and Gao Ling of China to the first world championship medal for Thailand.
The booked a place in the semis and a clash with Indonesia's Nova Widianto and Lilyana Natsir who beat Swedes Frederik Bergstrom and Johanna Persson 15-6, 15-6.
The Thais have at least a bronze medal as there is no match for third and fourth place.
Zhang and Gao won gold at both the Athens and Sydney Olympics and captured the 2001 World Championship title. They were runner-up at the last worlds in 2003.
The Thais advance to the semi-finals where they will meet Indonesia fourth seeded Nova Widianto and Lilyana Natsir. Saralee and Sudket were not aware that they had made badminton history for their nation.
Saralee and Sudket took a 13-6 lead in the third game. The Chinese then won five straight points to make it 13-11 before Thailand regrouped for the win.
Sudket and Saralee received a lot of support from their fellow Thais who told them they had what it takes to beat the Chinese. Saralee said they plan to celebrate their historic win by visiting nearby Disneyland and Universal Studios in Hollywood when the tournament is over.
The Thais will be heavy underdogs going into their match against Widianto and Natsir as they have never beaten the Indonesians.
World number one Lin booked a spot in the semi-finals by coming from behind to beat Lee.
Reigning Olympic gold medallist Taufik Hidayat surprised second seed Dane Kenneth Jonassen 3-15, 15-10, 15-7 in their men's singles quarter-final match.
In women's singles, top seed Zhang Ning, of China, cruised past Kaori Mori 11-4, 11-6, second seed Xie Xingfang, of China, overpowered England's Tracey Hallam 11-3, 11-1.
Germany's Xu Huaiwen rolled over third seed Pi Hongyan, of France, 11-3, 11-2 in the battle of Chinese expatriates.
New Zealand also won its first badminton world championship medal as 15th seeded Daniel Shirley and Sara Runesten-Petersen upset sixth seeded Lee Jae Jin and Lee Hyo Jung of South Korea 15-11, 15-13.
The Kiwis will face China's Xie Zhongbo and Zhang Yawen in the semi-finals as they are also assured of capturing at least a bronze medal.
COLLATED RESULTS:
Men's singles (Quarter-finals): Lin Dan (CHN x1) bt Lee Hyun Ii Lee (KOR x13) 5-15, 15-7, 15-8; Taufik Hidayat (INA x6) bt Kenneth Jonassen (DEN x2) 3-15, 15-10, 15-7; Peter Gade (DEN x3) bt Chen Hong (CHN x7) 15-13, 15-4; Lee Chong Wei (MAS x5) bt Bao Chunlai (CHN x4) 15-5, 15-7.
Women's singles (Quarter-finals): Zhang Ning (CHN x1) bt Kaori Mori (JPN x12) 11-4, 11-6; Xie Xingfang (CHN x2) bt Tracey Hallam (ENG x7) 11-3, 11-1; Xu Huaiwen (GER x6) bt Pi Hongyan (FRA x3) 11-3, 11-2; Cheng Shao-Chieh (TPE) bt Wang Chen (HKG x4) 11-9, 5-11, 11-6.
Mixed doubles (Quarter-finals): Sudket Prapakamol/Saralee Thungthongkam (THA x7) bt Zhang Jun/Gao Ling (CHN x2) 10-15, 15-7, 15-11; Nova Widianto/Lilyana Natsir (INA x4) bt Frederik Bergstrom/Johanna Persson; (x14) 15-6, 15-6; Daniel A Shirley/Sara Runesten-Petersen (NZL x15) bt Lee Jae Jin/Lee Hyo Jung (KOR x6) 15-11, 15-13; Xie Zhongbo/Zhang Yawen (CHN x11) bt Chen Qiqiu/Zhao Tingting (CHN x3) 6-15, 17-14, 15-2.
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