BIRMINGHAM, England – Thom Gicquel and Delphine Delrue are continuing a remarkable run at the 2026 All England Open Badminton Championships, securing a spot in the semifinals after a dominant performance against China’s Jiang Zhenbang and Wei Yaxin on Friday, March 6th. The French duo dispatched the reigning world championship silver medalists 21-16, 21-16, extending their impressive streak at the Super 1000 tournament in Birmingham.
The victory marks a significant milestone for Gicquel and Delrue, who haven’t dropped a single game through three matches. They are now just two wins away from claiming another Super 1000 title, building on their success from last year’s tournament in Indonesia. The All England Open is considered one of the five most prestigious tournaments on the Badminton World Federation (BWF) World Tour, and a title here would be a career highlight for the pair.
Gicquel reportedly sealed the match with an incredible net shot, eliciting cheers from the French contingent in attendance. The win is particularly sweet considering their previous defeat to a Chinese pair at the same stage of the competition last year.
This year’s tournament has seen Gicquel, originally from Rennes, France, and Delrue demonstrate a level of play that has quickly turned heads. Their consistent performance throughout the early rounds has established them as serious contenders for the championship. For those unfamiliar, the BWF World Tour Super 1000 events represent the highest level of competition outside of the World Championships and Olympic Games, attracting the world’s best badminton players.
The French pair entered the tournament with a 2-1 head-to-head record against their Chinese opponents, but having lost their most recent encounter at the 2025 All England Open, the pressure was on. The initial stages of Friday’s match saw the Chinese pair establish an early lead, utilizing strong court coverage. However, Gicquel and Delrue quickly found their rhythm, overcoming a 10-point deficit in the first game to ultimately take control.
Despite a tight start to the second game, the French duo maintained their composure, preventing their opponents from gaining significant momentum. This resilience proved crucial in securing the victory and advancing to the semifinal round.
Gicquel, currently ranked 5th in the world in mixed doubles with Delphine Delrue as of March 3, 2026, according to the BWF rankings, has a decorated career. He previously won gold medals at the 2017 European Junior Championships in both the mixed team and boys’ doubles events, and secured a men’s doubles gold at the 2018 Mediterranean Games. He and Delrue also claimed gold at the 2024 European Championships, silver at the 2022 European Championships and the 2023 European Games, and bronze at the 2019 European Games.
Their semifinal opponent will be the winner of the match between Indonesia’s Syahnawi/Marwah and China’s Guo Xinwa/Chen Fanghui (ranked 6th), which took place later on Friday. The outcome of that match will determine who Gicquel and Delrue face in their pursuit of the All England Open title on Saturday, March 7th.
The All England Open continues to showcase the highest level of badminton talent, and Gicquel and Delrue’s impressive run is a testament to their dedication and skill. Fans can follow live updates and results on the BWF website (https://bwfbadminton.com/) and through official tournament channels.
Key Takeaways:
- Thom Gicquel and Delphine Delrue have reached the semifinals of the 2026 All England Open Badminton Championships.
- They defeated the world championship silver medalists, Jiang Zhenbang and Wei Yaxin, in straight sets (21-16, 21-16).
- The French pair has not dropped a game throughout the tournament.
- They will face the winners of Syahnawi/Marwah (Indonesia) vs. Guo/Chen (China) in the semifinals on Saturday.
The semifinal match promises to be a thrilling contest, and Gicquel and Delrue will undoubtedly be looking to continue their winning streak and compete for the championship title. Stay tuned to Archysport for further updates on their progress.
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