Lafayette College was a wonderful host to this tournament, providing free ice water and a wonderful air conditioned playing space on a brutally hot weekend. About one hour from New York City, Easton PA seems well sited to serve the whole Northeastern table tennis community. The tournament hotel, however, was not so wonderful, having failed to inform us that they’d had a flood this spring, and surprising all their guests with cold showers on Sunday morning. So while we look forward to returning for the Lafayette Open in October, there will definitely be a new tournament hotel. Become a registered user and read more!
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Hopefully all the same players will be back with reinforcements, because they were, without exception, wonderful to deal with, a really good crew. Good talking with Martin Theil, who is pictured in the latest Tim Boggan ‘History of Table Tennis’. Martin, at one time #38 in the US, now aims to have his name appear in the Top 15 lists on the senior rankings. He gave us some excellent advice, noting that the Elizabeth, PA airport was a good alternative to those listed on the entry blank. I think Martin, in addition to winning the Feingold Memorial Over 60 event, got off the line of the weekend. “Wonderful tournament, guys, but one word of advice? Lose the hotel!” Nothing but gratitude from this quarter either for Ref Terri Bell and volunteer umpires Chris Lehman and Larry Bavly.

Exceptional performances included Chris Watson’s, who double-dipped in the U-1250 and U-1100, taking first place in both. No tears either for the Friend family of New Hampshire, when father Todd took second in the U-1250, sister MacKenzie placed second in the Girls U-13, brother Spencer won the U-800 and the rapidly improving Chance Friend won a hard-fought final in the U-1700. Sara Yuen is always a pleasure. The young Canadian is unfailingly polite and courteous and one hell of a player. She and Larry Bavly really lit it up in the Final of the U-2250, with Sara taking a 13-11 win in the 7^th game! Her countryman Shen Quiang was amazing to watch. All he did was defeat Derek Wong (twice!) to win the Ying/Lo Junior categories of U-22 and U-18 and win a seven-gamer to take the U-2500 title away from Vladislav Boyarskiy! In fact, he gave Barney Reed and Atanda Musa all they could handle in his Open Singles Round Robin Group as well!

The Canadians were very much in evidence, as Homayoun Kamkar-Parsi, Pradeeban Peter-Paul and Xavier Therien came through into the Open Singles Quarterfinals. Xavier made a really strong statement by hanging a loss on the tournament’s Top Seed, Women’s Champ Wang Chen, in the Second Stage Round Robin. That made the QF pairings Therien vs. Gao Yan Jun, Kamkar-Parsi vs. Atanda Musa, Adam Hugh vs. Wang Chen, Barney Reed vs. Pradeeban Peter-Paul.

As mentioned, the Canadian with the strong off-the-table Loop had upset Wang Chen in his Round Robin group. His ‘reward’ was to be paired with Wang Chen’s friend from Germany, Gao Yan Jun in the Quarterfinals. Xavier managed the first game, 11-6, but experience has shown that first game results are not much of an indicator with Gao. Patiently learning his opponent’s strengths and weaknesses, he then exploits them later in the match. This was a great match to watch, both men being very physical in their play and showing plenty of movement. But Gao emerged in five games, despite Xavier’s great effort, 11-6, 11-6, 11-8, 11-8.

Kamkar-Parsi is a real annoyance. His close to the table play and rapid responses, his high-intensity glare and compact playing style put pressure, both tactical and mental on his opponent. Atanda Musa doesn’t have much of a reputation as a laid-back player, either! So not much of a surprise here that both men requested an umpire before their match ever began. No disappointment either. ‘Homie’s’ short game and sudden openers were matched with Musa’s powerful forehand. Kamkar-Parsi had the better of it in the first game, 11-5, but Musa was determined to put him away. It wasn’t until the fourth game though that he won through, dropping the second at 9 and a 13-11 loss in the third before lowering an 11-7 boom. Kamkar-Parsi was unshaken, however, and 11-8 in the fifth, advanced. Musa had his Over-40 money as some consolation, but was visibly irritated at not having won this match.

Wang Chen’s loss to Xavier dropped her into the opposite bracket to face Hugh, who landed first in his Round Robin. But match time approached, and Wang Chen didn’t. Gao Yan Jun told us that a pesky back injury had nagged Wang Chen out of the competition. Spectators were disappointed to not see the two play, as local interest in the outcome was high. Nothing much memorable about a default!

Barney Reed vs. Pradeeban Peter-Paul