DaveR
07-07-2008, 10:25 AM
http://www.sportfocus.com/newsimage/zombori_22_07_06_Large.jpg
Despite not being part of the ETTA Grand Prix Circuit the Fusion All Star 2008 Table Tennis Tournament hosted by the enterprising and vibrant Fusion Club in Dulwich still managed to attract a superb International field of players, one of such class that the losing Open Singles Quarter-Finalists were Gergely Urban, Darius Knight, Sau Ayemojuba and Gavin Rumgay.
The Open Singles Winner will not be a name too many English players are familiar with but lighting quick left-hander David Zombori (Hungary) proved to be a worthy Champion and he showed great composure and supreme tactical awareness as he coped with the seemingly bigger shots of his opponent - Filip Szymanski (Poland) in the Final. Neutrals would have loved to have seen a prolonged battle but it wasn't to be and Zombori eased home 11-4, 12-10, 12-10. A delve onto the Internet proved to be very illuminating and it becomes clear that Zombori has a real pedigree. He was the Runner-Up in the Junior Boys Singles at the 2006 European Youth Championships and his victims included Paul Drinkhall and Dimitrij Ovtcharov no less. German Superstar Ovtcharov was the defending Junior Boys Singles Champion at the time.
The real fireworks had taken place in the Quarter-Finals which featured the match of the weekend where the GLC Mens Singles Champion and DHS London Progress British League star - Jiang Zhi Tao dredged out every last ounce of effort and tenacity to beat Darius Knight 11-6, 7-11, 11-8, 8-11, 15-13 after a series of truly outstanding deuce points in the fifth end. David Zombori managed to save his energy and he rarely looked stretched as he beat countryman Gergely Urban 11-3, 11-9, 11-6. In the other half of the draw Sau Ayemojuba scored a superb 11-8, 9-11, 11-6, 6-11, 11-6 victory over London Grand Prix Runner-Up Norbert Tofalvi (Hungary) but try as hard as he did Szymanski came through their clash 3-0 (11-8, 11-8, 11-9) in the Quarter-Final. Recent World Universities Games Singles Winner Jiang Chang Hong blasted his way past last year's Champion Gavin Rumgay 11-5, 11-9, 11-9 to book his Semi-Final appearance. The Semi-Finals produced two spell-binding games with David Zombori beating Jiang Zhi Tao 11-7, 11-9, 9-11, 11-7 and Filip Szymanski getting the better of the player rated "only" number seven in England - Jiang Chang Hong 11-5, 9-11, 13-11, 11-8.
As is so often the case the upsets were not the exclusive property of the seeded players and some other results that caught the eye included a 3-1 victory for Tom Cutler over William Maybanks, a fine 3-2 win for John Payne against no. 15 seed Neil Charles and a very impressive 3-0 win for the up-and-coming Zak Zilesnick against Simon Phillipz. However, it was a win for the little-known Mike Nash in the Group stages, against Lawrence Orekoya (who would go on to win the Consolation Singles) which must take the prize for the biggest upset of the day.
David Zombori made it a double cause for celebration by annexing the Open Doubles Crown and paired with Norbert Tofolvi they ran out surprisingly comfortable winners, beating Darius Knight/Filip Szymanski 11-7, 11-8, 11-6 in the Final. The two Semi-Finals were also decided two straight with Darius/Filip ending the Oriental challenge by beating Jiang Zhi Tao/Jiang Chang Hong 11-9, 11-8, 16-14 and Zombori and Tofolvi ending the hopes of the number four seeds - Peter Pavics and Sau Ayemojuba decisively 11-6, 11-7, 11-3.
England number one Veteran Abdul Wuraola was always going to be the man to beat in the Veterans Singles and Abdul duly claimed the title but only after having to endure tough four game battles against Selwyn Campbell in the Quarter-Final and David Williams in the Final. All-action David was the biggest "mover and shaker" in this event and he saw off Lawrence Orekoya 11-3, 11-9, 7-11, 11-3 in the last eight and then John Payne very impressively 11-9, 11-8, 11-8 in his Semi-Final. Number two seed Payne had to endure a last gasp 13-11 in the fifth end victory over Chris Beckley to book his Semi-Final appearance.
With so many good players taking part in the Open Singles, the later rounds of the Consolation Singles were not too far removed from a Band One Singles event at a Grand Prix Tournament. In an event fall of surprises it was the lightning quick reactions of Lawrence Orekoya which came through to take the title and he blocked superbly to subdue the threat of the big-hitting Dorian Robinson 11-9, 11-9, 11-6 in the Final. Others to impress were Fusion's Neil Stewart who scored excellent wins over Peter Ives and Anthony Corbin; and Miki Sinanin, a 3-0 winner against Chris Beckley. Sinanin in turned missed out 3-1 against Yasir Mauthoor whilst Yasir was a 9-11, 13-15, 8-11 Semi-Final faller to Dorian Robinson.
Two events were decided on the Saturday and in a reversal of Sunday's results it was number two seed Darius Knight who won the Under 21 Singles Final beating World ranked no. 275 Senior Man David Zombori in a tremendous all action five set Final. The scores tell their own story with Darius coming back from 10-7 down in the final end to win 9-11, 11-9, 10-12, 11-9, 17-15. The biggest shock here was a superb 3-1 win for Umair Mauthoor over new England no. 28 Garth Kinlocke although Umair met his match a round later against another up-and-coming Hampshire player - David McBeath. William Maybanks also impressed and he ousted County rival Alim Hirji 12-10, 12-10, 13-11 in a round one battle.
Top seeded David McBeath was always going to be the player to beat in the Under 16 Singles and as befits his current status (he is ranked no. 35 in England at Senior level) he powered his way to the title by beating Zak Zilesnick 11-9, 10-12, 11-4, 11-7.
In what was a genuinely nice touch - Neil Stewart was perhaps the most gob-smacked player of the weekend, when he was awarded the "Player of the Weekend Award" for fighting his way through to the Semi-Finals of the Consolation Singles in a run which included an excellent win over Anthony Corbin. By the look on his face you can tell that Neil was genuinely very pleased to receive this award!
Photo: David Zombori - courtesy of the ITTF
Despite not being part of the ETTA Grand Prix Circuit the Fusion All Star 2008 Table Tennis Tournament hosted by the enterprising and vibrant Fusion Club in Dulwich still managed to attract a superb International field of players, one of such class that the losing Open Singles Quarter-Finalists were Gergely Urban, Darius Knight, Sau Ayemojuba and Gavin Rumgay.
The Open Singles Winner will not be a name too many English players are familiar with but lighting quick left-hander David Zombori (Hungary) proved to be a worthy Champion and he showed great composure and supreme tactical awareness as he coped with the seemingly bigger shots of his opponent - Filip Szymanski (Poland) in the Final. Neutrals would have loved to have seen a prolonged battle but it wasn't to be and Zombori eased home 11-4, 12-10, 12-10. A delve onto the Internet proved to be very illuminating and it becomes clear that Zombori has a real pedigree. He was the Runner-Up in the Junior Boys Singles at the 2006 European Youth Championships and his victims included Paul Drinkhall and Dimitrij Ovtcharov no less. German Superstar Ovtcharov was the defending Junior Boys Singles Champion at the time.
The real fireworks had taken place in the Quarter-Finals which featured the match of the weekend where the GLC Mens Singles Champion and DHS London Progress British League star - Jiang Zhi Tao dredged out every last ounce of effort and tenacity to beat Darius Knight 11-6, 7-11, 11-8, 8-11, 15-13 after a series of truly outstanding deuce points in the fifth end. David Zombori managed to save his energy and he rarely looked stretched as he beat countryman Gergely Urban 11-3, 11-9, 11-6. In the other half of the draw Sau Ayemojuba scored a superb 11-8, 9-11, 11-6, 6-11, 11-6 victory over London Grand Prix Runner-Up Norbert Tofalvi (Hungary) but try as hard as he did Szymanski came through their clash 3-0 (11-8, 11-8, 11-9) in the Quarter-Final. Recent World Universities Games Singles Winner Jiang Chang Hong blasted his way past last year's Champion Gavin Rumgay 11-5, 11-9, 11-9 to book his Semi-Final appearance. The Semi-Finals produced two spell-binding games with David Zombori beating Jiang Zhi Tao 11-7, 11-9, 9-11, 11-7 and Filip Szymanski getting the better of the player rated "only" number seven in England - Jiang Chang Hong 11-5, 9-11, 13-11, 11-8.
As is so often the case the upsets were not the exclusive property of the seeded players and some other results that caught the eye included a 3-1 victory for Tom Cutler over William Maybanks, a fine 3-2 win for John Payne against no. 15 seed Neil Charles and a very impressive 3-0 win for the up-and-coming Zak Zilesnick against Simon Phillipz. However, it was a win for the little-known Mike Nash in the Group stages, against Lawrence Orekoya (who would go on to win the Consolation Singles) which must take the prize for the biggest upset of the day.
David Zombori made it a double cause for celebration by annexing the Open Doubles Crown and paired with Norbert Tofolvi they ran out surprisingly comfortable winners, beating Darius Knight/Filip Szymanski 11-7, 11-8, 11-6 in the Final. The two Semi-Finals were also decided two straight with Darius/Filip ending the Oriental challenge by beating Jiang Zhi Tao/Jiang Chang Hong 11-9, 11-8, 16-14 and Zombori and Tofolvi ending the hopes of the number four seeds - Peter Pavics and Sau Ayemojuba decisively 11-6, 11-7, 11-3.
England number one Veteran Abdul Wuraola was always going to be the man to beat in the Veterans Singles and Abdul duly claimed the title but only after having to endure tough four game battles against Selwyn Campbell in the Quarter-Final and David Williams in the Final. All-action David was the biggest "mover and shaker" in this event and he saw off Lawrence Orekoya 11-3, 11-9, 7-11, 11-3 in the last eight and then John Payne very impressively 11-9, 11-8, 11-8 in his Semi-Final. Number two seed Payne had to endure a last gasp 13-11 in the fifth end victory over Chris Beckley to book his Semi-Final appearance.
With so many good players taking part in the Open Singles, the later rounds of the Consolation Singles were not too far removed from a Band One Singles event at a Grand Prix Tournament. In an event fall of surprises it was the lightning quick reactions of Lawrence Orekoya which came through to take the title and he blocked superbly to subdue the threat of the big-hitting Dorian Robinson 11-9, 11-9, 11-6 in the Final. Others to impress were Fusion's Neil Stewart who scored excellent wins over Peter Ives and Anthony Corbin; and Miki Sinanin, a 3-0 winner against Chris Beckley. Sinanin in turned missed out 3-1 against Yasir Mauthoor whilst Yasir was a 9-11, 13-15, 8-11 Semi-Final faller to Dorian Robinson.
Two events were decided on the Saturday and in a reversal of Sunday's results it was number two seed Darius Knight who won the Under 21 Singles Final beating World ranked no. 275 Senior Man David Zombori in a tremendous all action five set Final. The scores tell their own story with Darius coming back from 10-7 down in the final end to win 9-11, 11-9, 10-12, 11-9, 17-15. The biggest shock here was a superb 3-1 win for Umair Mauthoor over new England no. 28 Garth Kinlocke although Umair met his match a round later against another up-and-coming Hampshire player - David McBeath. William Maybanks also impressed and he ousted County rival Alim Hirji 12-10, 12-10, 13-11 in a round one battle.
Top seeded David McBeath was always going to be the player to beat in the Under 16 Singles and as befits his current status (he is ranked no. 35 in England at Senior level) he powered his way to the title by beating Zak Zilesnick 11-9, 10-12, 11-4, 11-7.
In what was a genuinely nice touch - Neil Stewart was perhaps the most gob-smacked player of the weekend, when he was awarded the "Player of the Weekend Award" for fighting his way through to the Semi-Finals of the Consolation Singles in a run which included an excellent win over Anthony Corbin. By the look on his face you can tell that Neil was genuinely very pleased to receive this award!
Photo: David Zombori - courtesy of the ITTF