PARIS - Second seed Ma Long of China fought off fierce challenge from fifth seed Timo Boll to enter the semifinals of the World Table Tennis Championships here on Sunday.

Ma, the World Cup winner and a member of China's winning team at the London Olympics, beat the German star 11-4, 11-9, 9-11, 11-8, 8-11, 11-9 before a boisterous crowd at the Bercy Arena.

He will next play compatriot and third seed Wang Hao, who defeated another Chinese Yan An, the 14th seed, 8-11, 11-9, 11-6, 12-14, 11-8, 11-2.