Top 8 Reports - Divisions 1 - 7

The League invites players from each division, with the best average after playing at least half the matches, to an end of season divisional Top 8 event at the Kingston TTC, played over 3 successive evenings. As often happens, a number of players were unavailable, but almost without exception, those who were not the initial invitees played to a better standard than might have been expected. This season, many of those who played were playing in their first league season in MK, were playing in a Top 8 for the first time, or both! As is usually the case, these events produced very competitive table tennis, with some surprising outcomes in group matches and many team-mates facing off competitively. Trophies were presented at the end of each evening. The League’s President, Bill Clark, made the presentations for Premier Division and Divisions 1 & 2 and again for Divisions 5, 6 & 7, with League Chairman Mike Howard carrying out this duty for Divisions 3 & 4 on the second night.
Premier Division
See Nick Howard’s detailed report posted on 18^th April. Winner Nick Howard Runner-up Alan Cherry
Division 1
The Top 8 featured a high class cast, with only Lowri Hurd and James Molloy missing. Group 1 consisted of Jacob Midson (Greenleys) and Derick Rodrigues, Julie Snowdon and Rupert Greyling (all of MK). The opening set saw top seed Jacob beat Derick in 3 legs. Julie and Rupert then played a 5-leg set, eventually decided 14-12 in Rupert’s favour. Julie immediately followed this with another 5-leg set, against Derick, but was able to put the previous one out of her mind as she won the final leg 11-7. Next up was Jacob against Rupert. The MK man took the first leg, but Jacob lived up to his seeding by winning the next two legs easily, but struggled before winning the fourth leg 13-11. Derick then faced his team-mate Rupert and scored his first win of the night by 11-8, 11-9, 11-8. Jacob played Julie and won in 3 legs for the group win.  As each of the others had won a set, the the group’s second semi-finalist was decided through countback. This was Derick, who had won 5 legs and lost 5, while Julie and Rupert had lost more legs than they had won.
Group 2 comprised Ian Brown (Greenleys), Andy Smith and Paul Haigh (both MK) and Alex du Noyer (Leighton Buzzard). It proved to be an incredibly competitive group, in which 4 of the 6 sets went to a final leg. Andy won the first two legs against Ian, 12-10 and 11-9, but Ian defied his lower seeding to win the next 3 legs 12-10, 11-5, 11-6. Alex next played his former club-mate Paul, winning it in 3 legs. Alex stayed on the table to play Ian, in a topsy-turvy set, which Ian won 7-11, 16-14, 11-9, 3-11. 11-9 for his second win of the night. Andy had an equally tough set against Paul, needing 4 tight legs before winning 15-13, 15-13, 9-11, 12-10. Paul next played Ian, hoping to secure his first win of the group. Despite taking the set to 5 legs, Paul could not manage the win and Ian took the final leg 11-4 to win the group. The final set was another 5-leg affair between Andy and Alex, with Andy taking a 2-1 lead before Alex took the set to a final leg, won by Andy 11-6, for a semi-final place.
In the first semi-final, Ian found it tough going against Derick, which was unsurprising as they had each beaten the other once during the season. Despite Ian winning the first two legs, Derick kept going, taking the next two. The final leg was close-run, with Ian emerging the victor by 11-8. Jacob also had a difficult match against Andy, although he had beaten him twice in the league. It took four tight legs for Jacob on this occasion, winning 11-8, 12-10, 7-11, 11-8. In the final, team-mates Jacob and Ian faced each other. Ian took the first leg 11-8, but Jacob rallied to win the next three legs 12-10, 11-5, 11-8. Winner Jacob Midson. Runner-up Ian Brown.
 
 
Division 2
This was another extremely close, competitive, group. Mick O’Mahony was the only absentee, through illness, which enabled the organiser to invite both Charity Wong and Chris Horn to play, as they had exactly the same win/loss statistics and average.
Group 1 involved top seed Bub Burman and his team-mate Sam Willett (both Chackmore), Charles Tien (OU) and Chris horn (Newport Pagnell). Bub started off the group with an easy 3-leg win over Chris. Charles and Sam took 4 legs to achieve a result, won by Sam. Chris and Sam then played the closest set of the group, won by Sam 9-11, 12-10, 11-2, 11-8. Bub followed his team-mate’s example in beating Charles in 4 legs, although in two of them this was by 13-11 and 14-12. Charles and Chris then played to see who would achieve a first win on the night and produced the only set to go the distance, won by Charles 11-8, 11-6, 14-16, 5-11, 11-6. Bub and Sam then played for the honour of winning the group. Bub achieved this in 4 legs.
Group 2 featured team-mates Saravana Kumar and Tom Davey (Greenleys), Charity Wong (OU) and Martin Johnson (Mursley). Charity started the group against second seed Saravana, who had a difficult night. Charity took her opportunity and won in 4 legs, the last being 12-10. Tom and Martin followed, with Tom also winning in 4 legs. Charity and Tom played the longest set of the group, unsurprising as they had each beaten the other once in the league. Charity eventually won 11-5, 8-11, 7-11, 12-10, 11-9. Saravana and Martin played the next set. Martin had beaten Saravana in their only league meeting in the final match of the season and repeated this in a 4-leg win. Charity and Martin had each won once in the season and it was no surprise that their set went the distance, Martin winning by 11-9, 9-11,11-6, 7-11, 11-5. The final set of the group was between team-mates Saravana and Tom. This went to 4 legs, with the luckless Saravana losing 3 legs by 9-11. The semi-finalists from the group were decided by countback with Martin losing out on legs’ difference. Charity and Tom both had won 8 legs and lost 6, but Tom won the group on point count.
In the first semi-final, Bub overcame Charity in 4 legs. Sam had a tougher team against Tom, losing the first 2 legs before taking the next three to book a final place against team-mate Bub. The final was a remarkably close match, in which Bub emerged the victor by 9-11, 11-9, 11-5, 91-11, 11-9. Winner Bub Burman. Runner-up Sam Willett.
Division 3
This looked as though it would be the only Top 8 to feature the Top 8 qualifying players, only for Muhammad Hamza of Greenleys having to withdraw on the day of the event, with Daniel Carter, also of Greenleys, taking up the vacancy.
Group 1 included top seed Malcolm Whetstone and Adam Snowdon (both MK), Ricky Jackson and team-mate Daniel Carter (both Greenleys). Malcolm started with a 3-leg win over Daniel. Adam and Ricky then has a very close set, which Adam won 8-11, 15-13, 16-14, 11-8. However, he could not repeat the feat in his next set against Malcolm, who won in 4 legs. Team-mates Daniel and Ricky then faced off in a set which went all the way, with Daniel winning 8-11, 11-8, 6-11, 11-8, 13-11. Malcolm and Ricky also needed 5 legs to separate them, with Malcolm emerging victorious by 11-3, 8-11, 11-13, 11-3, 11-9 to top the group with a maximum of 3 wins. The final set saw Adam and Daniel compete for a semi-final place as the winner would go through. It took 4 legs, the last of which went to 17-15, before Daniel achieved the win and the group runner-up spot.
The players in Group 2 were Dave McGarragh (Woburn Sands), Chris Paddon (MK), Robert Anderson and Peter Carr (from different Greenleys teams). In the opening set, Chris took the first leg against Dave, who then took the next 3 legs for his first win. Robert and Peter needed 5 legs to separate them, with Peter winning the final two legs. Dave had a fairly routine 3-leg win over Robert and Chris secured his first win in similar fashion against Peter. This left Peter needing to beat Dave in the hope of progressing to the semi-final, but it was not to be and Dave’s powerful hitting gave him a straight-leg win for his 3^rd of the night. The final set saw Robert and Chris battle for the other semi-final place. Robert needed a 3-0 win to get through, but Robert won in 5 legs to progress.
The first semi-final saw Dave power past Daniel in 3 very straightforward legs. Malcom had more trouble in the other semi-final, against Chris, needing 4 legs to secure his place in the final. Malcom had only lost 3 of his 42 league sets, although two of these had been against Dave, who had lost 5 of his 51 league sets. A very close final set was expected, but did not occur as Dave came through 11-7, 11-8, 11-8. Winner Dave McGarragh. Runner-up Malcolm Whetstone.
 
Division 4
Group 1 consisted of the top seed Keshav Navalkissoor, his father Shaunak Navalkissoor (both MK), Martin Taylor (Padbury) and Mark Woodward (Mursley). Keshav started the group with a 4-leg win against Martin, before Shaunak achieved a straight-leg win against Mark. Keshav played his second set against Mark, who faced a tough task against a player ranked 15 places above him in the division’s list of qualifiers for the top 8. So it proved, with Keshav winning in 3 legs. Martin and Shaunak ‘s set was not as close as their seeding on the night suggested and Shaunak ran out an easy winner in 3 legs. Keshav then had the awkward task of playing his father Shaunak in their final group set. Navalkissoor senior won the first leg 11-9 before Keshav secured the family honours by taking the next 3 legs. Martin and Mark then fought out the only 5-leg set of the group. Martin took the opening legs 11-9 and 12-10, but Mark then belied his comparatively low average to win the next 3 legs 11-5, 11-6, 11-6 to give him a win on the night, although Keshav and Shaunak progressed.
Group 2 comprised Tim Welch (Greenleys), Tony Coomber (Leighton Buzzard), Roger Shelton (Padbury) and Anjana Navalkissoor (MK), the third member of her family to play on the night. The opening set saw tim secure an expected straight-legs win against Anjana. Tony and Roger played out a close 4 leg set, won by Tony 11-9, 11-7, 10-12, 12-10. Tim and Tony next faced off, again in a close set, won by Tim 11-9, 11-9, 9-11, 11-7. Roger then secured a straightforward 3-leg win against Anjana, before carrying on his form by taking the first leg when playing the group’s top seed Tim. This was not enough and Tim took the next 3 legs without much difficulty to end the group unbeaten. Anjana and Tony finished off the group games, but it was all one-way for Tony, who secured his second win, this time in 3 legs, and a semi-final place.
In the first semi-final, Tim faced Shaunak. Tim won the first leg 12-10, but could not maintain the momentum and Shaunak took the next 3 legs by 11-3, 11-7, 11-8. The other semi-final was much closer between Keshav and Tony. It took 5 legs before Keshav emerged victorious by 12-10, 9-11, 12-10, 5-11, 11-6. The final, between Keshav and Shaunak, was more straightforward for Navalkissoor junior than the group set had been, and he achieved victory by 11-7, 11-7, 11-9. Winner Keshav Navalkissoor. Runner-up Shaunak Navalkissoor.
 
Division 5
Group 1 comprised Michael Zhao (Gt Brickhill), Todd Agnew (Mursley), Aiden Lane (Woburn Sands) & David Rusted (Gt Brickhill). Michael struggled against Todd, who was fresh from his team’s heroics the previous evening in winning the Challenge Cup, but won 17-15, 14-12, 11-9. After Aiden and David each won a close leg, Aiden took the 3^rd and 4^th easily before having to face Todd, the lowest ranked player in the event. After 4 legs, in which each won and lost 12-10 and 11-3, Aiden managed to take the final leg 11-8 to secure his second win of the night. Michael then played his team-mate David and secured the win after 4 close legs. David then faced Todd, who again put in tremendous performance, coming back from the loss of the first 2 legs to take the set to a 5^th leg, only for David to win it 11-6 fir his only win of the night. The final set, between Michael and Aiden, would decide the group winner and runner-up. Michael took this in 3 legs to secure top spot.
Group 2 players were Steve Tovey (Gt. Brickhill), Kunal Vora, Hameed Akintayo (both Greenleys) and Paul Larking (MK). Steve started the group by beating Kunal, the highest ranked player in the group, in 4 legs, before Paul did the same against Hameed, also in 4 legs. Hameed then beat Steve in 3 legs so that 3 players had each won a set at the hallway stage of the group. Kunal then played Paul, won the first two legs, although the second one was by 18-16. Although Kunal won the 3^rd leg easily, Paul maintained his form to take the fourth leg and his second win of the night. Steve then played Paul in what turned out to be the group’s only 5-leg set. Steve won the first leg before Paul took the next two for a 2-1 lead, only for Steve to come back and secure the next two legs to secure his second win of the night. The final set featured team-mates Kunal and Hameed. After sharing the first two legs, Hameed took the 3^rd and 4^th to leave Kunal without a win. Steve, Paul and Hameed has each won 2 sets and, on countback of legs won and lost, Paul won the group with Hameed second.
Michael played Hameed in the first semi-final, winning in 3 relatively straightforward legs. Paul and Aiden’s semi-final was a tougher set. Aiden win the first leg easily by 11-3 before Paul secured control of the set, taking the next 3 legs 12-10, 11-8, 13-11. In the final, Michael won the first two legs 11-3, with Paul winning the third by 12-10 and pushing Michael hard in the fourth leg, which Michael won 11-8. Winner Michael Zhao. Runner-up Paul Larking.
 
Division 6
The top 4 players in the averages were all from the league Champions Greenleys Crusaders, but Shamuyarira was forced to withdraw, having injured his ankle in the Challenge Cup final the night before. This meant a very late call-up for Matt Haylett of Newport Pagnell and a revision of the groups. Matt joined Group 1, which also included Chitra Balakrishana and Afra Tian of the OU and Ian Grainger of Greenleys, the top seed on the night. Ian started off well, beating Chitra in 3 legs. Afra then played Matt, also winning in 3 legs, although Matt pushed Afra hard in the second and third legs, which she won 11-9, 15-13. Afra then played her team-mate Chitra, although they had previously played each other in the League’s Closed Tournament in February so this was not a new experience. This set went all the way, with Afra turning round a 1-2 deficit to take the final two legs for her second win of the night. Ian also secured his second 3-leg win, against Matt, who then faced Chitra with each looking for a first win. Chitra took the first two legs, before Matt levelled the score, with Chitra taking the win 11-8 in the final leg. The last set produced another 3-leg win for Ian against Afra, who still went through to the semi-final.
Group 2 was much closer, and featured 2 players from Greenleys Crusaders, Luke Nixon and Jose Blecua, and 2 from Newport Pagnell Volante, Kenneth Lo and Raf Lawniczak. The first set was a close-run 5-leg affair between Raf and Luke. Raf took the first two legs but Luke then managed to gain the initiative to take the next 3 legs to take the win. Jose and Kenneth were next up and again needed 5 legs before Jose managed to take the set. Raf then played Jose and avenged his team-mate’s defeat by beating Jose in 4 legs, the last being straightforward after 3 close legs. Luke and Kenneth played a tough 4-leg set, which Luke won 3-1. Kenneth next had to play his team-mate Raf and take his first win of the night in 3 legs. In the final set of the group., Luke faced Jose, winning in 3 tough legs to complete a clean sweep on his way to the semi-final. With the other 3 players each having won a set, countback of legs was needed to establish that Kenneth also went through.
In the first semi-final Luke played Afra. After losing the first leg 9-11, Luke worked out the necessary tactics and took the next 3 legs to secure a final place. Meanwhile in the other semi-final Ian found himself in a very tight struggle against Kenneth. which Ian eventually won 6-11, 17-15, 13-15, 9-11, 6-11. The all-Greenleys final, featuring the two top seeds on the night, proved to be a straight-leg victory for Ian, by 11—6, 11-8, 11-6. Winner Ian Grainger. Runner-up Luke Nixon.
 
Division 7
This was another situation where a late withdrawal caused invitational issues, as some potential players were abroad. Anna Malahova of NP Vantage bravely agreed to fill the outstanding space – at just over an hour’s notice, for which the organiser was extremely grateful.
Anna played in group 1 with Howard Craig (Leighton Buzzard), Stefan Swift (Greenleys) and Bruce Owen (Mursley). Howard started off the group with a straightforward 3-leg win over Bruce. Stefan then won a 3-leg set against Anna. Bruce and Stefan next played the group’s only 5-leg set. Stefan won the first two legs but Bruce turned things round to take the next 3 to secure his second group win. Howard achieved his second win of the night with another 3-leg win, this time against Anna. This was followed by Anna’s final set, against Bruce, which proved to be a third 3-leg loss on the night. The final set saw Howard and Stefan battle in 3 close legs, won by Stefan, so that 5 of the 6 group sets were decided by a 3-0 margin. The group finished with Bruce, Stefan and Howard each having won 2 sets and on countback, the 2 legs which Bruce when he played Stefan proved decisive as Stefan emerged as group winner with Howard in second place.
Group 2 provided closer battles, involving Marlon Fearon (Leighton Buzzard), Jide Onebajo (Greenleys), Bill Daniell (Mursley) and Claire Tobin (Woburn Sands). Marlon started the group with a close 3-leg win against Jide. Claire then threatened an upset in the expected outcomes, taking a 2-1 lead against Bill, who recovered to take the fourth leg 11-0. This was not enough and Claire kept her composure to take the final leg 11-9. Bill followed this with another 5-leg set, this time against Jide, who took the first two legs fairly easily. However, Bill was not daunted by the prospect of another defeat, winning the 3^rd leg 11-9, before finishing off the win with the next two legs, by some margin. Marlon needed 4 legs to beat Claire, who shook off the defeat and achieved an excellent 3-leg win against Jide. Marlon finished off the group with a 5-leg win against Bill, who had pushed for a chance of another win when he took a 2-1 lead. Marlon took a very close fourth leg 12-10 and romped through the final leg for his 3^rd group win. With two wins, Claire took second place.
Howard’s loss to Stefan in the group meant that he had to play Marlon in the semi-final, although their respective positions in the averages had suggested that these two might not meet until the final. It did not disappoint, as it proved to be a 5-leg thriller, with Howard emerging victorious by 9-11, 11-9, 11-6, 10-12, 11-4. In the second semi-final, Stefan didn’t have things all his own way against Claire, who continued her good form on the night by taking the second leg, before Stefan won the next two legs to book his place in the final -  a repeat of the group match against Howard. The final was another 5-leg set, with neither player really being able to dominate the other. Stefan emerged the victor, this time by 8-11, 11-8, 8-11, 11-6, 11-7. Winner Stefan Swift. Runner-up Howard Craig.
 
 

Copyright © 2014-2024 Chris Welch / Milton Keynes Table Tennis League