MetroSports
Magazine Canada’s Eugene Wang Captures Tournament Title
February 2015
North American Tour Table Tennis Season Finals in Pleasantville
George Braithwaite US - China Relations
Contents February 2015
Features 2 About WTTC 4 North American Tour 6 Eugene Wang 8 Bob Chen 10 Ziang Jing Zhang 12 Kai Zhang 16 Jimmy Butler 18 Gal Alguetti 20 Crystal Wang 22 Handicap Games 24 Zirui Zhao 26 Nathan Hsu 28 Rui Wang 30 Dan Liu 32 Yonghui Liang 34 Jack Wang 36 Ruichao Chen 38 Tinglei Wu 40 Jishan Liang 42 George Braithwaite
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MetroSports Magazine
World-Class Sports Facility in Pleasantville by Bill McGimpsey What is the No. 1 sport in the world in terms of individual participation? You might expect it to be golf or tennis. Not so. It’s table tennis. Best estimates of registered participants for golf and tennis are only about 20% of that for table tennis. It’s not even close. In China, where they call it ping pong, there are about 300 million registered players. When you get that many human beings doing anything, the best are going to be very good. Of the top ten players in the world, at least half are Chinese. How is table tennis doing in the USA? Well around here very well. That is since the Westchester Table Center at 175 Tompkins Avenue in Pleasantville, NY opened in 2011. This first class facility is said by some to be the best table tennis club in the country. It has 19 tables and is open 7 days a week. Generally there is a parallel social dimension to table tennis in America. In fact it is not uncommon to find a table or two stuck in a spare room at the back of a sports bar, where patrons can try out their skills against other home basement trained pongers between beers. By contrast, the Westchester Table Tennis Center is a serious sports establishment. It is owned and operated by Will Shortz, who is the editor of New York Times crossword puzzle and himself an excellent table tennis player and resident of Pleasantville. The club has members who could be classified as beginners, intermediate and top notch, all playing there at any time. Because of the number of tables, there is rarely a need to wait. The great thing about the sport of table tennis is that the window for serious participation is one of the longest of any sport. You will find kids sometimes younger the 10 years old who are so good they can only play in the higher rated events in tournaments.
You also will see seniors still playing against youth as well as competing in their own age limiting group. On any given day you might find Kai Zhang, a top rated Junior in America, practicing on the table next to you. So how does table tennis rate on the financial scale of things? Golf and tennis will cost you serious dough if you want to participate in the best facilities. Table tennis has these other sports easily beaten for value. For example, suppose you and a friend decide to come over to the Pleasantville Center for a day of fun. If you wanted to, you could play up to 12 hours for the current hefty fee of $10 each. How far would $10 get you in golf and tennis? Or you could come and watch at one of the monthly tournaments held at the Center. Any given month you can see top rated players, both American and foreign, compete. For example, Eugene Wang of Ottawa Canada, the top rated player in North America and twice winner of the US Open, has won the Westchester Open four times. Damien Provost of France has also won it four times and our top rated member, junior Kai Zhang, has won it 11 times. And what would it cost you to watch these world class athletes compete in the Open final live at Pleasantville? If you are a tournament participant - nothing. That’s right, zilch. If you are just a humble observer, then currently there is a charge of $15 to see all the premier event finals. So what are you waiting for? Come on down.
The Westchester Photographic Society
MetroSports Magazine accepts and welcomes photos, short articles, opinions and letters from our readers. There is no guarantee that unsolicited contributions will be published and MetroSports Magazine assumes no responsibility for failure to publish or for editing published contributions. The Contents of MetroSports Magazine consist of copyrightable and/ or copyrighted material and cannot be reproduced without the express written consent of the publishers. North American Tour Grand Final Issue Writers: William McGimpsey and Warren Rosenberg Copy Editor: William McGimpsey Photography: Warren Rosenberg (c) MetroSports Magazine all photos (c) Warren Rosenberg
visit pongtalk.blogspot.com
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USA Table Tennis
The Grand Final of the North American Table Tennis Tour took place during the weekend of February 6-8, 2015, at the Westchester Table Tennis Center in Pleasantville, NY. Sixteen elite athletes competed for over $10,000 in prize money and bragging rights for the year. The tournament was won by Eugene Wang of Canada who is now living in Germany. The Grand Final of the 2014 Tour was the culmination of the year long, 25 event North American Tour which made stops in Berkeley, El Monte, Milpitas and Sacramento California, Bellevue Washington, Round Rock Texas,
2014 North American Tour Grand Final
Waukesha Wisconsin, Pleasantville, New York.
and
The Tour, started in 2013 by Bruce Liu of San Francisco California, consists of open competitions held across the country in which only the top eight finishers earn Tour points, with each individual event champion earning 8 points, the runnerup 4 points, the semifinalists 2 points and each quarterfinalist 1 point. Normally, the top 16 players earning the most Tour points are invited to the Grand Final. This year, with two Grand Final
slots unfilled, the Tour invited two outstanding junior players, Crystal Wang of Boyds, MD, and Jack Wang, from Livingston, NJ. As the 2014 Grand Final concluded on Sunday, February 8, Tour Director Bruce Liu turned over the Tournament’s reins to Will Shortz, owner of the Westchester Table Tennis Center, who will lead the North American Tour in 2015. Tournament Photos Available
at nyspg.com
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Eugene Wang
Eugene Wang, a member of the 2012 Canadian Olympic Team, was crowned 2014 North American Tour Champion after defeating Bob Chen in the finals at the Westchester Table Tennis Center in Pleasantville, NY. Adding to his Tour Championship, Wang’s recent accomplishments include: 2014 Canadian Championships - Men’s Singles Champion 2014 Canada Open - Men’s Singles Champion 2014 CCTTA Butterfly Open - Open Singles Champion 2013 Butterfly Badger Open - Open Champion 2013 North American Championships Men’s Singles Gold Medalist 2013 Butterfly Canadian Championships – Men’s Singles Champion 2013 US Open / ITTF Americas Challenge - Men’s Champion 2013 CCTTA Butterfly International Open Champion 2013 Butterfly Cary Cup Champion 2013 Swiss Open - Men’s Single Bronze Medalist Wang certainly enjoys playing at the WTTC having made 4 appearances in WTTC sponsored Westchester Open Tournaments and winning all of them (Oct 2012, Apr & Jun 2013, Feb 2014).
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Bob Chen Earning second place honors in the 2014 North American Tour was Bob Chen, originally from Guang Xi, China, and now playing out of Milpitas California. In addition to his strong showing in the North American Tour, Chen’s other accomplishments include: 2014 ICC California State Open, Champion 2014 Zaman TTC Open, Singles Champion 2014 Westchester Open, April Champion 2014 Westchester Open, March Finalist Chen was the 2009 China Elite Athlete of the Year.
Photo by Clark Thompson. Clarkshots.com
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Xiang Jing Zhang Born in Hebi, China and now living in El Monte, California, Zhang came into the tournament as the reigning 2013 North American Tour Grand Final Champion. With a USATT rating of 2732, Zhang was the Tournament’s 3rd seed. He currently coaches at the California Table Tennis Center. Among Zhang’s accomplishments are: 2013 North American Tour, Grand Final Champion 2014 Berkeley Open, Champion Zhang was formerly a member of the Chinese National Team.
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Kai Zhang Kai Zhang is a 17 year old high school student from Pleasantville, NY, who came into this tournament as the number 1 seed with a rating of 2884. Born in Beijing, China, Zhang now lives in Pleasantville where he trains at the Westchester Table Tennis Center under the guidance of Robert Roberts. Zhang is an 11 time champion of the Westchester Open played at his home site , the WTTC. Zhang placed 3rd overall at the 2014 U.S. Open in the Under 21 category. Zhang, always a fierce competitor, is considered by many to have a realistic prospect of making the 2016 Olympic team.
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Jimmy Butler Two-time former United States Olympian, and four-time and reigning U.S. National Champion Jimmy Butler made a strong showing as he continued his comeback quest following an eight year layoff from the sport. At age 43, and a member of the USA Table Tennis Hall of Fame, Butler was the senior most player in the North American Tour Grand Final. Playing out of the Houston Texas Table Tennis Club, Butler’s recent accomplishments include: 2014 U.S. Men’s Singles, Champion 2014 U.S. Men’s Seniors, Champion 2014 Southern Open, Singles Champion Butler was a member of the 2014 U.S. National Team, one of only four male players named to the eight-person squad.
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Gal Alguetti Gal Alguetti is one of three brothers who are making their mark on the Table Tennis world. This 13 year old resident of Tenafly, New Jersey, rated 2499 by USATT, entered the North American Grand Tour Final as the number 12 seed. Gal trains and is coached at The Westchester Table Tennis Center along with Tournament teammate Kai Zhang. In a rare event, Gal and his brother, , faced each other in the finals of the August 2015 U2500 Westchester Open. Among Alguetti’s recent accomplishments are: 2015 US National Junior Team, Member 2015 US National Cadet Team, Member 2014 U.S. Nationals Mincadet, Champion
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Crystal Wang The youngest player in the North American Tour Grand Finals Tournament, 12 year old Crystal Wang hails from Boyds, Maryland. Crystal has been called “one of USA Table Tennis’ rising stars” and is the youngest person ever to be named to the U.S. Women’s National Team and the youngest ever to win the under 21 Women’s Singles Gold Medal at the U.S. National Championships. Her defeat over 9th seeded Zirui Zhao in the 2014 Grand Tour Final was deemed the biggest upset of the Tournament. Her traveling coach and USA Table Tennis Hall of Famer, Larry Hodges, believes Crystal has a very good chance of making the 2016 U.S. Olympic Team. Crystal’s recent accomplishments include: 2014 U.S. Nationals, Finalist 2014 World Junior Championship, Womens Team Event, Bronze Medalist
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The North American tors have some fun a tion playing a handic of the audience.
Tour Grand Final competiat the Friday evening recepcap game against members
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Zirui Zhao Zirui Zhao is a 15 year old, born in Anhui China and now living in Livingston, New Jersey. Rated 2673, Zhao entered the Grand Final Tournament as the 9th seed. In a prior appearance at the Pleasantville Table Tennis facility, Zhao took first place honors at the: 2014 Westchester September Open, Champion.
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Nathan Hsu Nathan Hsu was raised in Greenwich Connecticut but relocated with his family to Rockville, Maryland, to be closer to the facility where he trains, the Maryland Table Tennis Center. Hsu entered the Tournament as the 16th seed. Hsu has been a participant in the AAU Junior Olympics since 2009 and was the 2011 Junior Olympics Joel Ferrell Award recipient and has been a two-time runner-up in the Westchester Open Tournament.
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Rui Wang Seventeen year old Rui Wang, born in China and now living in Milpitas, California, entered the Grand Final Tournament as the 10th seed with a 2637 rating. Among Wang’s recent achievements are: 2014 Los Angeles Open, Under 18 Champion 2014 U.S. Open, 2nd Place
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Dan Liu Dan Liu entered the North American Grand Final Tournament with a 2553 rating and seeded 14th. Born in Nan Yang, China, Liu now lives and trains out of Milpitas, California. Liu’s prior achievements include: 2014 Los Angeles Open, Mens Doubles Champion 2013 U.S. Open Championships, U2600 Champion 2013 North American Tour Grand Final, 3rd Place
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Yonghui Liang Yonghui Liang was born in Guangxi, China but is now living in Milpitas, California. Rated 2691, Liang entered the Grand Final Tournament as the 5th seed. Among Liang’s prior achievements are: 2014 Los Angeles Open, Doubles Gold Medalist 2014 Los Angeles Open, Singles, 3rd Place 2013 North American Tour Grand Final, 2nd Place 2012 Berkeley Open, Champion
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Jack Wang Fifteen year old Jack Wang, rated 2524, entered the Tournament as the 11th seed earning his position by invitation as a talented junior player. Born in Chicago but now residing in Livingston, New Jersey, Wang’s recent accomplishments include: 2015 U.S. National Junior and Cadet Team Member 2014 North American Table Tennis Teams, Under 18 Boys Champion 2014 ITTF North American Championships, Junior Boys Singles Champion 2014 Westchester June Open, Under 2500 Champion 2013 South Shore Sports Butterfly Open / Nate Wasserman Junior Championships - Open Doubles & Boys U-15 Champion 2012 North American Team Championship - Under 18 Boys Champion
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Tinglei Wu New York City’s Tinglei Wu, born in China, entered the North American Tour Grand Finals as the 13th seed with a 2433 rating. In a prior appearance at the Westchester Table Tennis Center, Wu was crowned Champion of both the April and September 2014 Westchester Open in the Under 2500 category. The 15 year old Wu was also a semifinalist in the U.S. Open Junior Boys Tournament.
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Ruichao Chen Ruichao Chen, born in Sweden and raised in Hangzhou China is now living in Germantown, Maryland, and trains at the Maryland Table Tennis Center along with teammates Crystal Wang and Nathan Hsu. Chen, rated at 2620, entered the Grand Final as the sixth seed. The 17 year old Chen’s recent accomplishments include: 2014 Westchester April Open, Semifinalist 2014 Westchester September Open, Champion 2014 U.S. Open, Under 18 Finalist
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Jishan Liang A native of China, now living in Flushing, NY, 23 year old Jishan Liang entered the North American Tour Grand Final as the 2nd seed with a USATT rating of 2656. Among Liang’s recent accomplishments are: 2014 Westchester February Open, Champion 2014 Westchester May Open, Runner-up 2014 Westchester September Open, Runner-up 2012 U.S. Open, Under 21, Finalist 2012 U.S. Open Quarterfinalist
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George Braithwaite and U.S. - China History
Braithwaite was a member of the United States Table Tennis Team when they visited China in April of 1971, one year prior to President Richard Nixon’s historic visit and the beginning of the normalization of U.S. - China relations. The team visited China at the invitation As caught by the ever-sharp eye of the Chinese National Team and, of WTTC member and writer Bill during the visit, Braithwaite was McGimpsey, this photo focuses in captured in an iconic photograph on George Braithwaite, the man shaking the hand of Chinese Premiere Zhou Enlai. wearing the blue jacket. This reprint of our page 6-7 photo spread of North American Tour Grand Final winner, Eugene Wang is reproduced here because of the very important table tennis luminary seen viewing the match from the stands.
George Braithwaite holds a very Many believe the visit by Braithimportant place, not only in Amer- waite and his teammates was a ican table tennis but in U.S.-China major step in setting the stage for Nixon’s visit. relations, as well.
In August of 2012, Braithwaite joined former U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger at a ceremony commemorating the 1971 trip and the subsequent reciprocal visit to the U.S. by the Chinese National Team in 1972. George Braithwaite is no stranger to the Westchester Table Tennis Center and can sometimes be seen competing in the Westchester Open Tournaments sponsored by the Center.
U.S. Table Tennis Team with Jhou Enlai
George Braithwaite on Time Magazine Cover
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North American Tour Grand Final Umpire Leon Libin ensuring fair competition prior to a match
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Photo by Glen Randmer
USA Table Tennis Chair of Officials & Rules Committee, Roman Tinyszin officiates