Rasmus Gemke produced one of the biggest upsets of the opening round at the VICTOR China Open 2026, defeating world number two and second seed Kunlavut Vitidsarn 21-13 8-21 21-19 in a thrilling three-game battle.

The Dane made a flying start to claim the opening game before Vitidsarn responded emphatically in the second. However, Gemke held his nerve in a tense decider, edging the final game 21-19 to secure a memorable victory and book his place in the last 16.

Despite the significant ranking gap between the two players, the result may not be as surprising as it first appears. The pair have enjoyed several close encounters over the years, with Vitidsarn now holding only a narrow 4-3 advantage in their head-to-head record.

Currently ranked 30th in the world, Gemke will now turn his attention to an all-European clash against France's Toma Junior Popov for a place in the quarter-finals.