Dayton Giant RR Open
December 28, 2009

Samson Dubina
Photo By: Bruce Campbell

Article by John Dichiaro

November 7, 2009 - Why not give hundred dollar bills as prizes. That was the thought that prompted the DaytonTTC to start The Battle for the C Notes Tournaments. We have had two of these tournaments each year for the past several years and they have proved to be quite popular. On Nov 7th, 2009 we held our tenth two- star battle awarding over $1200 in cash in addition to other prizes. Free pizza was also on tap for the players and their friends and 18 extra- large platters were consumed in short order. With renovations still underway at the playing site, Dayton’s Lohrey Recreation Center, play was restricted to the gymnasium as the additional use of the multipurpose room was unavailable. This limited the field to 54 players, and resulted in a host of late entries being turned away. The format then, was fifty-four players divided into six groups of nine for the Giant RR. Special thanks again to Butterfly for providing the tournament balls as they have for all 10 C-Note battles.

Samson Dubina headed up the top group at 2454 and in winning the group at 8-0 dropped only 3 games, one each to the 2nd, 3rd and 4th seeds.  Although his rating was 100 points lower than in early summer, Dubina still held a sizable rating advantage over the field and with steady aggressive play, prevailed for the $250 top prize.  Nick Snider (2154), was seeded third and in finishing 2nd played some of his best TT  this year.  With his deceptive serves and excellent receives he  loses in a close 4th game at9 to Dubina and bests the slow starting second seed, Joey Cochran(2354), in 3 close games.  Cochran’s play was somewhat erratic, with some brilliant points coupled with unforced misses.  The fact that his Notre Dame was being upset by Navy on our TV did not help his demeanor. So it’s Snider at 7-1($150) for second and Cochran 6-2 ($100), 3rd.  Peng Bi, a penholder from China studying at Ohio State plays in his first USATT tournament and finishes 5th.  Special mention  goes to Ade (pronounced Ah-day) Adebisi Adesiyan whose uncompromising all-out attack led to some spectacular points, but lacking  consistency, he falls to 6th two places behind the other Ohio State entry, Darren Tang at 4th.

RESULTS

1st 2nd 3rd 4th Group A Dubina, Samson Snider, Nick Cochran, Joey Tang, Darren Group B Creel, David Scott, Pierce Johar, Param Thompson, Greg Group C Wang, Haulin Labib, Sameh Yang, Jianjun Tanaka, Takeshi Group D  New, Bob        Kolb, Ronnie Findlay, Doug Fish, Al Group E Vessel, Richard Tyler, Rob Leslie, Tom Saeed, Kashif Group F Barhorst, Mitch Miles, Charles Helton, Steve Headings, Ron