On Saturday October the 17th we had the Top Spin Best Twelve Invitational Tournament, and it was a success!
I believe this is the first time we have organized a tournament in the state of Colorado with these characteristics.
The format of the event and results
A Round Robin of 12 select players, two groups of six players each. We played 5 matches in two and a half hours! What a great feeling it is to be organized, with a schedule, knowing that after every match the next one is coming, no long waiting for the next match.
We played a match every 30 minutes.
The second stage consisted of two draws. The first three players of each group played a single elimination to determine places first through sixth with the last three players playing a single elimination draw to determine seventh through twelfth places.
7 matches total per player, all in one day, sweet!
Yahao Zhang, my dear friend and student for 7 years, won first place, defeating in the final Samson Dubina in five games. Samson came out of the first semifinal defeating Alfred Najem 3-0.
Yahao had previously defeated Dubina 3-0 in the RR group!
Yahao played me in the other Semifinal,defeated me 3-0, but it was a close and great match, the first two games the scores were 11-9 for him. I was playing so good, I have the advantage of knowing him so well. Still, the last two points of a game are the most difficult ones and went to him.
Yahao’s greatest achievement came in the final, he was down 0-2, Samson playing excellent, powerful forehand loops, short serves, opening first. Then Yahao came as he usually does when he is down, stronger, full of confidence, always believing he can win.
Coaching
When the final match began, I saw him a bit different, something was bothering him, I knew he was ‘trying too hard’. My instructions for him when he was down 0-2 were ‘you are trying too hard, relax, do not look for power, do not try to win the point in one shot, use more spin than power, keep the ball on the table, win the first attack as much as you can, and focus to play every point one at a time’
He came in the third game winning rallies of 4 and 5 points, combining spin and power. In the fifth he started with a 3-0 lead. However Samson came back and he was 6-5 up in the last game, but the last rally Yahao scored 5 points in a row to win the match.
I want to take a moment to comment on something very important. One of the most important things a coach has to develop is the capacity to work in the motivational, psychological, confidence area of the player. Most of coaches work on technique and strategy, and that’s good and necessary, but it is crucial to work on this very important area of the player. Confidence and motivation are crucial. This game is about mental strength, balancing and controlling the passion.
Results
Yahao Zhang 1st place
Samson Dubina 2nd place
Alfred Najem 3rd place
Francisco Mendez 4th place
Richard Mcafee 5th place
Phong Pham 6th place
Austin Preiss 7th place
Scott Preiss 8th place
Nobuyuki Shiogai 9th place
Angelo Gandullia 10th place
Daniel Padilla 11th place
Alfred Adjei 12th place
Media:
We had the privilege of having Channel 50 UNIVISION, the main Hispanic TV Channel in Denver coming prior to the event to interview me and Yahao Zhang. They did record some hitting before the tournament. They broadcasted the interview on Saturday night.
They could not do live recording because of priority issues.
Spectators
One of the sad things about our sport, is that people do not know the sport, they know the recreational game of ping pong, but they don’t know the sport, therefore there is a lack of spectators at the tournaments. Lack of publicity, lack of interest, lack of knowledge about the sport, all these factors contribute to the lack of spectators. Usually who we have in tournaments as spectators are the players who are participating.
We counted 109 people when the Semifinals were played. 89 of them were spectators that came to watch Table Tennis!
Ethnic and multicultural constituency was another element of this unique event. Players from different cultures and backgrounds, as well as spectators representing the Asian, the Anglo and the Hispanic communities were present.
The seats were in such a position that they allowed all the spectators to have access to watch the six tables in front of them.
Among the spectators was the eleven times US Champion In Sook Bushan and 1990 Panamerican Champion Li Ai with her parents Mr Li and Henan Li Ai, former US National coach back in 1986. They received a round of applause in recognition of their contribution and results in our sport.
Families with kids were watching, kids, kids, kids, this is the most important value we should have in our sport. The vision and main goal of the Top Spin Table Tennis Center is to engage kids in our sport. Two kids signed up for the center as a result of this event! That is great.
Fellowship
The tournament also offered a unique opportunity for table tennis lovers and players to come and have fellowship, chat, comment and watch the competition.
Sponsors
We had the support of several sponsors, Sports Authority, Safeway, Butterfly, Newgy, Bethany church, TSTTC, Alpine Trophies, Ken Dehan and Dr Kenneth Reynard.
Prizes & awards
$1200 in cash, $150 in Butterfly gift certificates, $200 in trophies for every player, bags and water bottles from Sports Authority to everyone, players, volunteers and spectators, sport drinks and water for players
Al this was possible thanks to sponsors
Thanks
Big thanks to Richard Mcaffe, Referee and Larry Rose, Tournament coordinator and all the volunteers who put their time and effort.
Francisco Mendez
Technical Director
Top Spin Table Tennis Center