For More Information
Cheryll Sullivan, Killerspin
312-782-4085 x414
Matt Clay, Golin/Harris
312-729-4283
Chicago, Ill. (December 5, 2002) - The world’s best players are coming to Chicago this December in what will be one of the largest table tennis events in American History. Killerspin will host the Extreme Table Tennis Championships where the best American, Chinese, and International table tennis players will go head to head. Players from 11 countries will include the current Olympic and World Champions as well as China’s World Championship Team.
On December 28, 2002 at the UIC Pavilion the world’s most talented table tennis stars will converge on the windy city. Competitions begin at 6 p.m. (CST); with the team final at approximately 8:30 p.m. (CST). Tickets purchased in advance will cost $15 for upper level seats and $30 for lower level seats. Tickets are available at the UIC Pavilion Box Office and at all Ticketmaster Ticket Center locations or by calling Ticketmaster Charge-By-Phone at 312-559-1212. Tickets can also be purchased on-line at www.ticketmaster.com.
“This event will put Chicago and the United States on the map when it comes to world table tennis,” said Killerspin owner Robert Blackwell Jr. “We expect several thousand people of many different cultures to celebrate an important international diplomatic and athletic milestone.”
This fast-paced international tournament will feature a rematch of the 2001 World Championship match between China’s Kong Linghui and Belarus’ Vladimir Samsonov, and the Extreme team event where 16 of the best players in the world compete for huge money. There are eight of the top ten players in the world competing, as well as five members of the Chinese World Championship Team. The criteria for being invited to this tournament is tough, you need at least two medals in international competition and have beaten at least two World Champions. You won't believe the speed, reflexes, power, skill and athleticism of the athletes of the World's fastest sport.
The City of Chicago has played a crucial role in bringing this international event to Chicago. Chicago Mayor Richard Daley, U.S. Senator Richard Durbin, the City of Chicago’s Department of Cultural Affairs, the World Trade Center of Chicago, and State Senator Barack Obama are just a few who have lent their support to help make this event possible.
The matches will be broadcast on CCTV, China’s national television station. The expected audience for this international event is in excess of 200 million viewers. During the 2001 World Championships there were over 250 million viewers in China alone, numbers comparable to the Super Bowl. This could be the biggest sporting event from a worldwide viewer ship perspective ever to be held in Chicago.
This event coincides with the 30th anniversary of "Ping Pong Diplomacy." The original Ping Pong Diplomacy tour kick-started the US-China relations. There will be celebratory events in Chicago this December for the US Government Officials and the distinguished members of the Chinese delegation making the trip.
Killerspin is an innovative new table tennis company. The Chicago-based firm produces premium-quality table tennis products and features a line of table tennis equipment, sports apparel and highlight and industrial videos. Killerspin is also sponsoring a nationally sanctioned Table Tennis Tournament called the Killerspin Open. This event will be part of the Mayor's Sports Festival and will be held Dec 27-29. This features $25,000 in prize money.
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