Sponsored by Mecano Sports, presented by Caliente.mx, sanctioned by ICTTF
(by Larry Hodges, photo by Larry Hodges: “Player’s Choice Champion Alexander “Flash” Flemming”)
There were 48 players in the event, played single elimination, with $2,500 for first, $1,500 for second. For this event, players had their choice of hardbat, sandpaper, or wood. The conventional wisdom is that nearly everyone would choose hardbat since it generally allows a higher level of play. However, there were many players who play regularly with sandpaper and they may choose to stick with that. Since the Bare Wood event was that morning, some might even choose to stick with that rather than change back and forth. However, all of the top seeds (and all four semifinalists) used hardbat, as I’m guessing the large majority did.
The scoring system was the same as with Sandpaper Singles. Matches are two out of three to 15 points, with the server changing every two points. You do not have to win by two points – 15-14 wins. There is also one “2-point” ball, where once a match, on their serve, a player can call for it, and the next point is worth two points. They cannot do it at 0-0, and they cannot do it once they have scored 13 or more points. For this point, they switched from a white ball to an orange ball so that spectators know it’s happening.
Semifinals
Andrew Baggaley (ENG) vs. AJ Carney (USA)
Baggaley was just too consistent and efficient when attacking, while AJ was erratic in the first game. You can actually tell from the sound of his contact when he mishits – he’s still having trouble adjusting to the thin air, and this affects everything. Baggaley won the first, 15-7. In the second, Baggaley led 13-10, but AJ, playing much better, tied it up at 14-all, so the next point wins. Baggaley gets a net winner, and advances to the final, 7,14.
Alexander “Flash” Flemming (GER) vs. Filip Syzmanski (POL)
The Flash is just too strong with his two-winged attacks and finishing forehand “Flash Smash” as he wins 15-8, 15-8.
Final
Alexander “Flash” Flemming (GER) vs. Andrew Baggaley (ENG)
This was a rematch of their Hardbat Singles semifinal this morning, where Flash won two straight close games, 21-19, 21-19. The two always put on a show, and once again they did not disappoint. They had one incredible point after another – they obviously know each other’s game. I could write about each of them, but then this article would be endless. Great points are better seen than described over and over.
In the first, Baggaley led 3-0 and 12-7. From here on it’s the Flash show as he scores four in a row to 11-12. He then calls for a 2-point ball. They have a nice rally, and out of nowhere, Flash smashes a forehand to lead 13-12. Baggaley ties it 13-13, but Flash wins the next two, 15-13.
The second was like a seesaw. Baggaley leads 6-4. Flash ties it 7-all, goes up 10-7. Then Baggaley wins five in a row to lead 12-10, then 13-11, two points away from winning. But it’s not to be – Flash scores four in a row to win the match at 13,13. So $2,500 to Flash, $1,500 to Baggaley.
Flash told me afterwards that he’d played in a sponge event early in December – yes, he plays both sponge and sandpaper – but in the four weeks since, he’d focused completely on sandpaper. The surprising thing is that he ended up losing in the round of sixteen in sandpaper, not playing nearly as well as he could – he was the 2021 World Ping Pong Champion (sandpaper). And then he’d turned around and won the Player’s Choice event, where the top players all played hardbat, as well as making the final and almost winning Hardbat Singles here. But he said, “If I can play sandpaper well, then I find it easy to switch to hardbat.” He was next interviewed by a Mexican TV network, where he was gracious in saying, “It’s an honor to be here in Mexico City.” He also explained about table tennis, about how you have to move a lot, focus hard, and gave advice for kids who want to be good at table tennis, much of it about practicing hard. Here’s more about Flash.
And to clear up one last thing, why does he go by the nickname “Flash”? Besides being a cool name, it helps to differentiate him from his namesake, Alexander Flemming, who discovered penicillin, but didn’t have anywhere close to the forehand smash of his table tennis namesake. But there’s a better reason for that nickname – it allows me to finish this article by saying, “Flash Smash Bags Cash.”
Visit ButterflyOnline.com for the latest in table tennis news and results.
