Wang, 2001 world champion, jumped to a 11-9 start but lost the following two sets 3-11, 8-11.

The turning point came at 9-8 in favor of Ma Lin in the fourth set as Shanghai spectators jeered and booed at Ma who was serving. Ma's following block went directly into the net and Wang then made it 10-9 with a wide-angled drive. Another loop drive by Wang gave the Shanghaiese the fourth set 11-9.

The lanky Wang surged to 4-1 in the fifth set but Ma made it 6-6 as Wang made a series of attacking mistakes. The top seed regained composure to pull away 9-6 but Ma fought back to 9-all. Two spectacular long rallies won by Wang electrified the crowd and put the Shanghai boy three to two up.

Ma Lin, born in northeast China, tried to use drop shots to force errors from his rival. But a fired-up Wang played an even more aggressive game to wrap up the sixth and last set.

Denmark's Michael Maze and South Korea's Oh Sang Eun shared the third place.

Wang's victory was a fitting ending for the world championships, in which China swept all five gold medals.

Earlier Friday evening, Zhang Yining paired up with Wang Nan to win their second women's doubles trophy, Zhang's second in Shanghai.

Zhang, Olympic champion and world No. 1, saw off her Beijing club and national team mate Guo Yan in the women's singles final on Thursday, thus completing a "grand slam" of Olympic, world championships and World Cup singles titles.

Deng Yaping and Wang Nan are the other "grand slam" winners.

Friday's doubles gold was Wang Nan's fourth. The 2000 Olympic dual gold medalist had partnered with Li Ju to win the 1999 and 2001 doubles event.

Kong Linghui/Wang Hao had claimed the men's doubles at the cost of Germany's Timo Boll and Christian Suss and Wang Liqin/Guo Yue triumphed in the mixed doubles final on Wednesday.