2010 “Think Spring” Open Tournament
March 3, 2010

Open (left to right): Samson Dubina, Fernando Yamazato,
Paulo Rocha and Joey Cochran

Submitted by Table Tennis Club of Indianapolis

In what may have been the strongest two-star tournament in the Midwest Region in recent memory, sixty players assembled at the Table Tennis Club of Indianapolis (TTCI) over the weekend of February 20th and 21st to compete for more than $1,400 in awards. Players competed on Butterfly Centrefold 25 Sky tables with balls provided by tournament sponsor Butterflyonline.com. The two-day tournament consisted of six rated events on day one, and a three-stage giant round robin on the second day.

The buzz started a few weeks earlier when word began to circulate that Lindenwood University (St. Charles, MO) was sending its entire team. Expected among the eighteen Lindenwood competitors were six new, highly regarded, international players. Including top-seeded Joey Cochran, three-time and current Indiana state Men’s Singles Champion, and current U.S. National Men’s Under 22 and U2400 Champion, and Samson Dubina, 2009 U.S. National Men’s Singles Finalist and member of the 2009 U.S. National Men’s Team, the tournament included twelve players rated over 2200, six of whom were rated over 2400.

As match play opened and events progressed on the first day, the international players, most of whom were from Brazil, lived up to their billings. In the Open event, second seeded Samson Dubina downed Brazilian Paulo Rocha (-4, 1, 9, 9) to reach the final, where his run was ended (8, 8, 11) by Brazilian Fernando Yamazato, who had defeated Joey Cochran in the semi’s.

In the Over 1700 event, which followed later the same day, Brazilians Andre Irigoyen, Paulo Rocha, and Jose Barbosa all reached the semi’s, where they were joined by Samson Dubina. In the final, it was Rocha over Barbosa at 10, 2, -8, and 6.

In Saturday’s other events, Lindenwood’s Ryan Driskill won both the U1950 and U1750, and local junior, Michael Sencaj, claimed first place in the U1550. Mitch Barhorst won the U1350 event.

The Lindenwood players continued to dominate play as Sunday’s 3-Stage Giant Round Robin play unfolded. As play entered the second stage and players of similar levels began to meet, competition grew more intense and the points became more impressive. The third stage concluded with Paulo Rocha and Jose Barbosa finishing first and second, respectively, in the Championship division.

Complete results are as follows:

Open	First Place – Fernando Yamazato Second Place – Samson Dubina Semi Finalist – Joey Cochran Semi-Finalist – Paulo Rocha
O1700	First Place – Paulo Rocha Second Place – Jose Barbosa Semi Finalist – Samson Dubina Semi Finalist – Andre Irigoyen
U1950	First Place – Ryan Driskill Second Place – Brad Kendle
U1750	First Place – Ryan Driskill Second Place – Zack Steele
U1550	First Place – Michael Sencaj Second Place – John Grimley
U1350	First Place – Mitch Barhorst Second Place – Esther Gusov
Championship Class Giant RR	First Place – Paulo Rocha Second Place – Jose Barbosa Third Place – Fernando Yamazato Fourth Place – Joey Cochran
Class A Giant RR	First Place – Fred Cantarelli Second Place – Karin Fukushima
Class B Giant RR	First Place – Brad Kendle Second Place – Guilherme Dalcin
Class C Giant RR	First Place – Ryan Driskill Second Place – John Fioretti

Upcoming events at the TTCI include a weekend clinic with Coach Dan Seemiller, April 17 & 18 and the Indiana State Championship, April 24 & 25. Please check our website for further information in regard to these events.

U1550 (left to right): Michael Sencaj and John Grimley

Championship Class (left to right): Paulo Rocha, Jose Barbosa,
Joey Cochran, and Fernando Yamazato

Class A (left to right): Fred Cantarelli and Karin Fukushima

Coach Seemiller with South Bend Juniors