North American Tour

Western Open and Stiga Open

Western Open

San Diego, CA • Sept. 1-2, 2001

By Alan Williams

The 11-point Era Begins  

Western Open Champion Fan Yiyong. Photo by Gerry Chua, Copyright 2001.

San Diego has emerged as possibly the brightest, most progressive Table Tennis City in the United States, thanks to the energetic and well-organized efforts of the SDTTA and the enlightened city government that built the Balboa Park Activity Center dedicated to badminton and table tennis.  So it was with great pleasure that NATT returned to the city for the second annual Western Open.

With double last year’s participation, 220 players met the entry deadline. The SDTTA’s volunteers and NATT staff took 30 STIGA Expert Rollers from box to floor in less than 17 hours, with bleachers, barriers, banners and walkways set for play. Adding to the pending excitement, the venue was awash in campaign literature as incumbents and candidates for USATT offices ‘pressed the flesh’ throughout the weekend. As if that was not enough, Escalade Inc, STIGA Sweden and The Table Tennis Pioneers chose this weekend, this city, to hold their semi-annual STIGA marketing meeting. We watched with pride as TTP President Mitch Rothfleisch personally escorted STIGA’s Swedish President Mats Bandstigen, and the four representatives of Escalade Sports: President Dan Messmer, Executive Vice-Presidents David Jensen and Phil Piccolo, and Marketing Manager John Hetzel to courtside seats for the Open Finals.

How ironic that the San Diego Union-Tribune chose that morning to run a photo of the tournament’s only Swedish entrant, Robert Hallquist, above their page two story, an article that attracted an additional 300 non-playing spectators to see the Open Singles contests.  Even Tournament Referee Linda Hsing got into the media act, pulling in reporters from the World Journal, a nationwide Chinese language newspaper. Yet with all this fanfare, hoopla and buzz, it was a different issue that occupied the thoughts of NATT officers as Saturday dawned, for this was to be the very first Four-Star American tournament to use the new ITTF 11-point game, in the ITTF recommended ‘best of seven games’ format.

Computer wizards Zachary Sng and Fong Hsu had no trouble converting NATT’s tournament software to allow 11-point games and 9-game matches, but it was ‘Terra Incognita’ as to what impact the new format would have on table scheduling and tournament timing.  The subject of intense Internet debate for weeks, the Western Open was planning best of seven game matches for every match of the tournament, expanding to best of nine for the Open Singles Quarterfinals and beyond.

Many had expressed a loathing of a ‘three of five games’ format, counting the number of points and comparing it to the ‘old’ best of three to 21.  But reality proved to be as grim as feared, when the first matches went out at 9AM on Saturday morning.  Up to 45 minutes per contest per table were being consumed.  The ‘acid test’ of real tournament management was now upon NATT as the carefully plotted table assignments and schedules diverged from the trickle of clipboards returning to the control desk.  By 10:30 AM, the event was 90 minutes behind schedule and a knot was growing in our stomachs.  The NATT ‘perfect record’ of on-time performance was gone, and worse, was lost in front of a crowd of officials and industry heavyweights.

Ever flexible, Fong and Zach hurriedly scanned table assignment charts and rerouted matches and groups of players to tables as they became available.  By noon, the tournament was back on schedule.  But as each large category of Round Robins went out, the deficit would reappear.  In the entire 26 hours of play, they never left the control desk as they waged war against time, righting the tournament and bringing it home at 8PM on Sunday night.  The understanding participants were easy on us, fully aware that we all were going ‘where no one had gone before.’  Together, the players and organizers of the Western Open began a new era in the history of the sport.

Our efforts were rewarded by the outstanding play of the entrants as they showed that no matter what format you use, Table Tennis is an excitement, a fever and a joy.  Certainly there was joy for the Crane family when brothers Todd and David made the finals of the U-1200.  Likewise, the Leach clan was pleased when Laura Leach won the Girls U-16 to bookend John Leach’s U-13 triumph over Sergey Gutkin. (See profile of Laura and John in this issue.)

Alina Khasanova came close to a World high jump record on the final point of her upset victory over Lon Dean, enroute to a runner-up finish to Oliver Lei in the U-2000.  Ramin Samari was the tournament ‘iron-man’ advancing deep into several events, winning the U-2250 final against Courtney Roberts, and losing in the final of the U-2375 (11-9 in the seventh) to Dr. Tuan Le.

It was the ‘Boys from Indiana’ sharing the laurels in the Men U-18, with Mark Hazinski relegating his friend Jared Lynch to second, and Hazinski again in the U-22 with a 6-game victory over teammate Ashu Jain.  But the match that had people talking was Kibibi Moseley’s shocking upset of Michelle Do in the Women’s Singles Final, decisively 2,6,7,10.  “I was ready to play,” the modest Moseley said afterwards. 

In the Open Singles, Kibibi also became a qualifier, set to join the ‘Second Stage Round Robin’ on Saturday afternoon.  As at the other North American Tour Stops, the top 12 entrants in the Open were seeded into three Round Robin groups.  The rest of the field played a series of RRs and SE matches to select the four Qualifiers that would join them in pursuit of the $2,950 in prize money offered in the event.  In addition to Ms. Moseley, the first woman to clear an NATT Open qualifier, Thomas Plaisted, Hiroyuki Hikawa and Ramin Samari made the cut.  Two players would advance from each group to play Sunday’s Quarterfinals.

Group 1.  Fan Yiyong, Francisco Mendez, Tuan Le, Kibibi Moseley.

Fan, as expected, dominated his opponents with straight game victories to finish 3-0.  When Le and Moseley both defeated Mendez, (Kibibi at 13-11 in the 7th game!) it left the second position up to a head to head meeting between the two.  Tuan snared the 5th and 6th games, 8 and 7, to join Fan in the Quarters.

Group 2.  Pradeeban Peter-Paul, Attila Malek, Idan Levi, Thomas Plaisted

Here Canadian Olympian Peter-Paul was dominant, dropping no games as he finished 3-0.  Plaisted managed to take a pair of games from Malek, but dropped in straight games to Levi to make the pivotal match the Malek-Levi match.  Malek’s heavy spin game left Idan shaking his head more than once, as seemingly innocent returns proved to be loaded landmines.  After splitting the first four games, Attila punched his ticket to the Quarters with 9,10 fifth and sixth game wins in the group’s best match.

Group 3. Mark Hazinski, Ashu Jain, Kevin Au, Hiroyuki Hikawa

Both Au and Hikawa managed to nick Hazinski for a game, but he easily advanced, 3-0.  When Ashu defeated both of them 4-1, Au and the footsore Hikawa agreed to default the irrelevant sixth match.  Mark and Ashu go forward, as the 1 and 2 seeds, respectively.

Group 4. Barney Reed Jr., Sean O’Neill, Jared Lynch, Ramin Samari

Ramin Samari had worked hard to make the group and was determined to make the most of his opportunity.  He managed a game from Barney, but really put O’Neill through the blender with a six-game struggle, -7,8, -6,7,8,3, Sean prevailing.  Jared Lynch had less luck, losing to both Barney and Sean in straight games, although he twice pushed Barney to 8 points.  Jared and Ramin shook hands on the now meaningless default as Sean and Barney advanced.  But the Sean-Barney match still had a lot of importance.  The winner would be guaranteed the bottom half of the QF draw, a maximal distance from Fan.  The loser could still be flipped into Fan for the QF, a position no one wanted.  This was a war.  Sean won the first two at 7, and Barney took the third at 7 also.  The all-important fourth game went to O’Neill at 16 (!) giving him a commanding 3-1 lead in the best of seven.  But Barney has lifted his game in the past month, and (5,10,2) fought off deuce in the sixth and wins the #1 position.  

Quarterfinals

The Quarters, in accordance with the players’ request, became a best of 9 format.  These are pivotal matches in the ‘money picture,’ with the losers getting a mere $50 and the winner guaranteed 500% of that for reaching the Semis. 

Fan vs. Malek: Is all Fan, a straight-game triumph.  Attila was gracious and realistic about the match. “Fan is much younger than I am, and he’s playing great.  I cannot be expected to win against him today.  Too much, too much.”

Hazinski vs. O’Neill: Sean’s punishment for finishing second in his group is to meet Mark in Fan’s half of the draw.  Mark goes in front, 6,7, but Sean wins the third at deuce.  Hazinski goes in front 3-1 but loses the fifth to a determined O’Neill.  Youth is served when Mark (6,7) closes the match in 7 for a 5-2 win.

Peter-Paul vs. Jain: Leading 2-1 after three, Ashu seems on course to eliminate the Canadian, but Pradeeban does not yield another game, 10,5,6,8, to make the Semis.

Reed vs. Le: Tuan is determined to show that Reed is not taking the ‘easy route,’  He fights back to tie the match at two each, 6,10 in the third and fourth games.  He never quits as Barney finds three in a row, 8,7,9.  

Semifinals

Fan vs. Hazinski: The large and vocal crowd is clearly on Fan’s side, but when Mark wins the second game at 9, a murmur of appreciation for his work is heard.  But it’s all he can muster as Fan goes (6,-9,8,3,5,6) for the jugular.  The scores belie the quality of the play as Mark did ‘whatever it took’ to stay in the point, often roaming the full court and countering from the barriers against the dominant player in the country.

Peter-Paul vs. Reed: Barney is confident, eager to counter his Eastern Open loss to Peter-Paul in July.  He’s had a great tournament, winning the U-2500 and his RR group in the Open.  But Peter-Paul again has his number and leads 2-0 (7,6).  Barney exhorts himself and gets to deuce in the third game, clearly hoping to turn the tide.  When Pradeeban prevails at 12, the wind goes out of Reed, and he leaves in straight games (2,4).  From the look on Barney’s face it is clear that he did not come here to be third, but third is what he gets. 

Final: Fan Yiyong vs. Pradeeban Peter-Paul

A rematch of the Eastern Open Semifinal, Pradeeban is playing now in front of his sponsor, a month later and a coast away.  But Fan reminds him quickly that his attention needs to be at the table, 3,3,6, snapping backhand winners, seemingly at will.  Is it a late surge by Peter-Paul or Fan’s desire to hold spectator interest that leads to the 11,11 fourth and fifth games?  Again, as he did at the Murad and the Eastern, Fan has dominated the field, laid claim to the $1,500 first place money and the title.  He clearly deserves to be the 2001 Western Open Champion.

Now only the STIGA Open in Newark, Delaware remains for the 2001 Tour, and the still unanswered question, can anyone deprive Fan Yiyong of a Tour Title?  At this point, it seems unlikely.  But that is why we play the games.

Open Singles – Final: Fan Yiyong d. Pradeeban Peter-Paul, 3,3,6,11,11; SF: Fan d. Mark Hazinski, 6,-9,8,5,3,6; Peter-Paul d. Barney J. Reed, 7,6,12,2,4; QF: Fan d. Attila Malek, 3,4,7,2,1; Peter-Paul d. Ashu Jain, -4,7,-6,10,5,6,8; Reed d. Tuan Le, 9,9,-6,-10,8,7,9; Hazinski d. Sean O’Neill, 6,5,-10,6,-6,6,7.

Women: Kibibi Moseley d. Michelle Do, 2,6,7,10.

Over 40: Mark Wedret d. Rodel Valdoria, 9,10,9,-9,8.

Over 50: Bill Ukapatayasakul d. David Sakai, def.

Over 60: Ragnar Fahlstrom d. Leon Ruderman, 2,2,3,4.

Under 22 Men: Mark Hazinski d. Ashu Jain, 5,9, -10,5,-9,6.

Under 22 Women: 1^st Michelle Do; 2^nd Alina Khasanova.

Under 18 Boys: Mark Hazinski d. Jared Lynch: 5,10,7,6.

Under 16 Boys: Oliver Lei d. Auria Malek, 3,-8,4,5,1.

Under 16 Girls: 1^st Laura Leach; 2^nd Atha Fong.

Under 13 Boys: John Leach d. Sergey Gutkin, 11,11,6,5.

Under 13 Girls: 1^st Lani Lei; 2^nd Atha Fong.

U2500: Barney J. Reed, d. Sean O’Neill, 7,9,10, -10,-5,8.

U2375: Tuan Le d. Ramin Samari, 16, -9,9,-9,9,-9,9.

U2250: Ramin Samari d. Courtney Roberts, 7,8,-7,16,6.

U2125: Don Kim d. Auria Malek, 5,-5,6,8,7.

U2000: Oliver Lei d. Alina Khasanova, 5,7,4,10.

U1850: Hugh Lu d. Jerry Li, 6,9,5,-9, -9,5.

U1700: Ming Zhang d. Kettong Pisa, 4,10,3,-7,9.

U1550: Larry Beatty d. Bob Chew, 11,10,12,8.

U1400: Josh Kuhn d. Earl James Alto, 4,9,-6,10,-13,-6,8.

U1200: Todd Crane d. Jeff Crane, -4,9,6,8,7.

U1000: John Kiang d. Sang Mai, 4,9,9,3.

U800/Novice: 1^st Richard Kim; 2^nd Katie Poon.

Hardbat: Ashu Jain d. Fernando Valencia, 6,5,8,8.

Open Doubles: Fan Yiyong/Sean O’Neill d. Barney J. Reed/Mark Hazinski, 4,8,-4,6,5.

U3200 Doubles: Escobar/Beatty d. Ramirez/Zhang, 6,9,-4,9,6.

Stiga Open

Newark, DE • Sept. 29-30, 2001

By Alan Williams

The Final NATT Stop 

(See below, Final NATT Tour Point Standings)

Stiga Open Champion David Zhuang. Photo by Larry Hodges, Copyright 2001.

The fifth and final stop on the 2001 Stiga North American Tour, the four-star Stiga Open in Newark, Delaware, featured great play, a strong turnout and flawless tournament operation.  Despite recent anxieties about travel, more than 200 participants from Florida, Canada, Pennsylvania, Maryland, New Jersey and, we are very pleased to say, Manhattan, produced some of the best match play of the year.  NATT ended the 2001 season on a strong note with this outstanding event.

Tournament President Richard Lee had expected the players to like the venue, a four-basketball court sized gym in the Carpenter Sports Building of the University of Delaware, a building the students call ‘Little Bob.’  Wooden floors, good lighting and 28 Stiga Expert Rollers surrounded by barriers gave good conditions for play.  Tournament Director Fong Hsu presided over a flawless time schedule.  The decision to play best of five in the RR’s and best of seven in the SE proved to match up ideally to the 2 of 3 to 21 and 3 of 5 to 21 time frames.  With the help of sponsors Table Tennis Pioneers, About.com and Senoda, Inc., with Tournament Referee Terry Bell checking the draws, the tournament was up and ready to run on Saturday, September 29th, 2001.

A strong field of challengers for the nearly $3,000 in Open Singles prize money included a large Canadian contingent.  With experienced coaching and impeccable manners, the Canadians were both a force to be dealt with and a welcome addition.  They showed their impact on the event by bringing several of their talented juniors, their best women and Olympian Pradeeban Peter-Paul for his third Tour appearance.

USATT icon Tim Boggan delighted us by pronouncing the Stiga Open “The best-run tournament I have ever seen.”  Perhaps Tim’s impression of the event was colored by his strong performance here, defeating Gary Gudzenko in seven games for the Over 60 crown, overcoming a 3-1 deficit to win 16-14 in the final game of the event.  The ageless Boggan also made the final of the Over 50, where he bowed out to Morris Jackson. 

The Asgarali duo, father and son Nazruddin and Khaleel, also had reason to celebrate as Khaleel won the U-2125 and placed second to Antwain Davis in the U-16 Boys, while Dad came second to Napoleon Reyes in the U-2250.  Ironically, Nazruddin’s path to the final included a win over Khaleel, who had emerged as an upset winner in his Round Robin Group.

The “Canadian Effect” was felt immediately when Mathieu Raymond reached the Final of the U-2500 event on Saturday morning, posting a hard-fought win over Keith Evans along the way.  His opponent for the final was Paul David.  Paul is a player who can run hot and cold, but he was definitely hot in Delaware, ousting Xiao in the Semis and defeating Raymond four straight by identical scores of 8.  Close, but no cigar for the clearly disappointed Mathieu. 

No such disappointment for the Canadians in the Open Doubles, where two teams from ‘Up North’ met in the final.  On one side, the brilliant juniors Bence Csaba and Faazil Kassam, and on the other, Wonder Women Petra Cada and Marie-Christine Roussy battled it out for the title and cash.  This was an outstanding match in which four players, thoroughly familiar with each other, displayed flawless form and movement.  Student spectators were attracted, of course, by the tall, blonde athlete Cada, and her elfin teammate, but they soon were swept into the drama of the game, and superficialities forgotten.

The women took a commanding 3-1 lead, 9, -6,5,10 and Bence and Faazil had their backs to the wall.  The anti-spin and pips-out backhand blocks of the women had frustrated the boys’ powerlooping approach.  With wicked precision, they sideblocked to the center of the table, denying the angles for sweeping loop attack.  Cada’s powerful backhands and Roussy’s effective service return had the men talking to themselves.  Faazil had special trouble with service return in the first four games, and it seemed the Wonder Women were going to close out the match in five.  With no room for mistake, and no backing off in their approach, Csaba and Kassam kept the pressure on.  Long rallies of power shots and ‘do or die’ break points resulted in a sweep of the last three games, 9, 9, 6 to send the steely-eyed Cada and her partner to defeat. 

Petra also gave us a Women’s Singles to remember.  Matched with New Jersey’s Wang Chen, Cada dropped the first two games, 12,5, at which point Wang seemed to have her measured.  But Cada is a fierce competitor and stung Wang at 4 and 9 to even the slate.  A deep breath for Wang Chen and 9,5 she took the lioness’s share of the Women’s money.

Open Singles

As at all the other Stiga Tour events, the top 12 players, by rating, received byes to a second-stage Round Robin on Saturday afternoon.  The other entrants played through Saturday morning Round Robins and single elimination matches to determine the four ‘D’ seeds in the second stage groups.  That resulted in the following group of 16 that began the chase for $1,500 first place money and the title, ‘Stiga Open Champion.’

Group 1: David Zhuang, Abass Ekun, Petra Cada, Paul David

By this was by far the most bizarre Open Round Robin of the Tour.  Abass Ekun defaulted all three of his matches.  David Zhuang defeated Cada, 3,4,5,6.  Then Paul David, the U-2500 winner, shocked the world with a straight game victory over Zhuang, 8,7,9,12.  David’s victory whoop echoed off the gym walls as a disgusted DZ flung his racket into his gym bag.  This year’s tour has been tough on Zhuang, losing first to Cheng Yinghua in the Semis at the Murad, and then to Musa in the semis at the Eastern Open.  With all this prize money available, Zhuang had only laid claim to two $250 finishes.  Now Cada muddies the picture completely by defeating Paul David, 11,7,8,12.  Three players all stand 1-1.  Totaling the points scored and allowed, David Zhuang finishes first, Paul David finishes second, and despite an equal match and game record, Petra Cada stays behind.

Group 2: Pradeeban Peter-Paul, Barney Reed, Renata Peluchova, Han Xiao

Peter-Paul has been a delight throughout the Tour, and displays his mastery with straight game wins over Han Xiao (9,8,10,6) and Peluchova (8,9,7,9).  Reed defeats Renata 6,8,-3,3,11, but in the process turns an ankle and is forced to withdraw from both this event and the Open Doubles, where he and Musa had hoped to be ‘in the money’.  That makes Renata’s match with Han determinative for the second slot.  It takes all seven games, but (2,-8,8,-6,7, -6,5) Peluchova beats Han to advance in a match where one end of the table was apparently luckier than the other. 

Group 3: Bence Csaba, Alexis Perez, Keith Evans, Anson Bispham

Bence Csaba is an outstanding junior, winning both the U-18 and U-22 events in straight games against Han Xiao.  In fact, as the #3 seed in the Open Singles there were more than a few people in the room who hoped to see a breakthrough win for him and an Open Singles title.  He’s looking good through this group, defeating Evans (5,6,7,10) and Bispham (9,8,9,7).  Anson puts up a strong fight with Perez, but bows out, -4,2,7,7, -7,7.  Keith Evans likewise cannot solve the creative and powerful Perez, 6,7,7,-10,9.  Evans grants Bispham the default in a now meaningless match.  No such understanding between Perez and Csaba, however, as each wants to avoid being the second seed and flipped against Zhaung or Peter-Paul in the Quarters.  It’s an exciting match between two players filled with fire.  Bence loses the first game at 7, but manages a 13-11 victory in the second.  Perez absolutely swamps him in the third game, 11-1. Csaba makes it two apiece, but drops the fifth game at 2, placing himself in a dangerous position.  But as in the doubles final, Bence plays well with his back to the wall and (9,7) relegates Alexis to second in the group.

Group 4: Atanda Musa, Wang Chen, Faazil Kassam, John Wetzler

Faazil displays great heart, but is eventually over-powered by the ‘Pride of Manhattan,’ Atanda Musa, 8,-8,9,7,-6,9.  Likewise, Kassam has no quit against Wang Chen in a nail-biter, Wang winning -10,10,10,10,7.  Whew!  Faazil takes a five-gamer over Wetzler, 8,-6,8,5,9 to finish with a 1-2 record.  John Wetzler just can’t seem to get the blocks down on the table to finish points against the top two seeds, and yields to Musa (9,10,6,5) and Wang (9,5,6,4).  Musa completes his 3-0 record (9,8,8,9) over Wang Chen, and the Quarterfinal field is set.

Quarterfinals

Peter-Paul vs. Paul David: Pradeeban can’t take the match lightly; knowing Paul is carrying yesterday’s win over Zhuang in his pocket.  He tries to reinforce the status quo from the beginning of the match.  Peter-Paul is leading 3-0 (4,5,7) when Paul David withdraws due to injury, an injury that also causes him to default his U-2375 Final later in the day.

Musa vs. Perez: These two know each other well, but that doesn’t diminish the quality of play in a spectacular match.  Musa takes the early lead, going up 2-0 in the best of nine games.  Perez searches for ways to drag Musa wide out to the forehand and then incinerate a winner down the opposite line, but the athletic Musa shows great court coverage.  When Alexis manages to create an 11-8 third-game win, Atanda strikes back.  Trailing 3-10, Perez send a wide and hard sidespin loop into Musa’s FH court which he somehow, incredibly, tracks down and flat-hitting, sends a winner around the net post skidding across the table’s corner.  The crowd erupts in appreciation.  Perez makes a last hurrah with a 6-point win in the fifth game.  Musa’s Backhand becomes a control shot that Perez cannot penetrate in the 6th, losing at 1. Musa makes it a 5-2 victory, 11-5 in the final game.  The match featured extraordinary rallies, dropshots of scorching loops and all-out power to power exchanges of lightening speed.

Csaba vs. Peluchova: Renata cannot stay with the younger player’s quickness, nor can she shut down his difficult opening attacks.  5,11,5 the Csaba steamroller fends off her best efforts and 6,6 makes it a five-straight, frighteningly efficient victory for the Canadian.

Zhuang vs. Wang: How much of this sport is psychological?  Twice before DZ has come into a Tour event smiling and left frowning.  Now he carries the scar of a huge upset loss to Paul David.  So how much pressure is there when Wang Chen wins the first game at 8?  DZ is muttering about the 11-point format when he wins the second at 8 to tie the match.  Now he can relax.  But not that much!  Wang again goes up a game, 9 in the third.  The crowd is murmuring in the background.  David rights things with an 11-8 victory in the fourth game.  But nothing will be that easy.  Wang Chen wins the fifth game, taking a 3-2 advantage, 11-4!  Murmurs are now a chorus of doom as the onlookers speculate about DZ’s troubles.  This is not funny.  There can be (11-8) no room (11-4) for doubt (11-4) in a player’s mind as DZ escapes 5-3 against the Women’s Champion.

Semifinals

Zhuang vs. Csaba: David is looking for a convincing win here to right his floundering course through the event.  For Csaba, a voyage of discovery as he attempts to deal with the penhold blocks and flat-hitting forehand of the U.S. Men’s Singles Champion.  David finds Csaba a straightforward opponent, and (11-4,11-6) controls Csaba’s loops with the devastating blocking off-the-bounce game he is famous for.  When Csaba settles in comfortably against serve, DZ unveils something new, and aces the junior.  11-5, 11-5, Csaba is on the verge of elimination.  But a consultation with his coach, and Csaba tries a new tact.  Now his loops and counters contain more sidespin and move DZ away from his comfortable table positions.  It’s too little too late, however as 14-12, DZ has reached the Finals through troubled waters.

Peter-Paul vs. Musa: No holds barred.  No rest for the weary, either, as Musa straight from the Over 40 Final enters single combat with the Canadian Olympian.  It’s a barrier-crashing all-out battle from the start, Musa winning the first 11-7, and losing the second 15-13!  “Yes!” shouts Pradeeban, but Musa returns the favor with a 13-11 deuce game victory of his own.  After five games, Peter-Paul trails 3-2.  It’s as close as he’ll get.  Musa wins the sixth game, 11-9, and at 10-11 in the seventh game, Peter-Paul can’t find the crucial point.  Both players left everything on the court, in an astounding match.

Final: Zhuang vs. Musa

At the Eastern Open, David had been dispatched in this same match-up in the semifinals.  Musa has not lost a match in this hall all weekend.  DZ has had months to contemplate this re-encounter, and he has evidently put them to good use.  He does not allow Musa’s BH attack to penetrate as deeply, and avoids the FH step-arounds which had created openings in New Jersey, and 12-10, 11-7, he quickly takes a two-game lead.  Musa has got to be one of the most exciting players in the country, however, and he (11-7) makes one last rush at the big check. But (5,8,4) David has conquered doubt, Wang Chen, Bence Csaba and now Atanda Musa in landing that big fish that has been getting away all year.  This time, the Zhuang family leaves with smiles, as David lays claim to the fifth Tour title, Stiga Open Champion.

Epilogue:

The truck is backed to the loading dock, only a handful of players and onlookers remain.  All the tables but one are folded and rolled away.  As the last match of the tournament, the U-1850 final progresses on Table One, two students from the University of Delaware come through the doors with paddle cases in their hands.  “What was going on in here?  Was this a TABLE TENNIS TOURNAMENT? We love to play!  Are those guys the Champions?”  I explain the existence of organized table tennis and hand them my business card.  But their attention is elsewhere.  As Evan Momios lands a loop one turns to me and says “Could I play the winner?  They don’t look so tough.”  I explain again about the North American Tour and that we are likely to be back to the University of Delaware to hold another tournament in the Spring.  “Hey!  We know lots of people who like to play!  That would be cool!”  As they head for the university table in the basement of the Carpenter Sports Building, I think of all that we have accomplished and all that is left to do to give Table Tennis the respect and the spotlight it deserves.  Yes.  That would be cool.

Open Singles: David Zhuang d. Atanda Musa, 10,7,-7,5,8,4; SF: Zhuang d. Bence Csaba, 4,6,5,5,12; Musa d. Pradeeban Peter-Paul, 7,-13,11,9,-10,9,10. QF:  Zhuang d. Wang Chen, -8,8,-9,8,-4,8,4,4; Csaba d. Renata Peluchova, 5,11,5,6,6; Musa d. Alexis Perez, 8,8,-8,3,-6,1,5; Peter-Paul d. Paul David, 4,5,7,1,1.

Open Doubles: Bence Csaba/Faazil Kassam d. Petra Cada/Marie-Christine Roussy, -9,6,-5,-10,9,9,6.

Women’s Singles: Wang Chen d. Petra Cada, 12,5,-4,-9,9,5.

Hardbat: Lily Yip & Alexis Perez split.

Over 40: Atanda Musa d. Keith Evans, 5,9,4,9.

Over 50: Morris Jackson d. Tim Boggan, 6,3,7,5.

Over 60: Tim Boggan d. Gary Gudzenko, -7,8,-8,-10,7,8,14.

Under 22 Men: Bence Csaba d. Han Xiao, 11,8,4,7.

Under 22 Women: Marie Roussy d. Wennin Chiu, -10,8,3,5,2.

Under 18 Boys: Bence Csaba d. Han Xiao, 6,8,6,6.

Under 16 Boys: Antwain Davis d Khaleel Asgarali, 8,-11,7,4,-9,5.

Under 16 Girls: 1^st Elaine Kwok; 2^nd Judy Hugh.

Under 13 Boys: Alden Fang d. Duncan Chou, 5,8,8,4.

Under 13 Girls: Sarah Zheng d Diana Li, 7,7,7,-7,7.

Under 10 Boys: 1^st Kevin Ma; 2^nd Janiel Li.

U2500: Paul David d. Mathieu Raymond, 8,8,8,8.

U2375: Faazil Kaasam d. Paul David (def).

U2250: Napoleon Reyes Jr. d. Nazruddin Asgarali, 8,5,4,10.

U2125: Khaleel Asgarali d. Michael Leshinsky, -9,6,-9,-6,7,7,5.

U2000: Bill Vogel d. Gerald Reid, 4,-8,5,10,-9,8.

U1850: Evan Momios d. Vibert Williams, 8,7,0,7.

U1700: Mark Berg d. Dennis Cometz, -3,16,-10,6,-5,9,7.

U1550: Arthur Saxe d. Eric Lathrop, 6,-7,7,5,-9,-8,9.

U1400: Subhash Samant d. Quan Pham, 8,-8,9,8,-3,-5,7.

U1200: Cory McLeod d. Max Li, -9,5,5,3,-6,6.

U1000: Lyonnel Eugene d. Godfrey Nelson, 10,7,9,6.

Under 800/Novice: Amaresh Sahu d. Jamal Thornton, 3,6,6,5.

U3200 Doubles: Daniel & Justin Green d. Paul David/Charles DeFlorimonte, 8,8,4,-6,-9,8.

NATT Final Tour Point Standings

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