Canterbury Matchplay - 7th September 2023
The Canterbury Matchplay event on September 7th saw a strong turnout of 17 players, featuring nearly all of Canterbury's top players. Among the participants were Han Jong Eub (NZ rating 1st), myself (NZ rating 5th), Yi Sien Lin (NZ rating 11th), and Simon Wallace (NZ rating 26th). The competition was fierce, with a high standard of play exhibited by all participants, most of whom belonged to Canterbury Division 1 or higher.
To enter the tournament, players paid a $10 entry fee, and all fees were pooled to create a total prize pool of $170.
The tournament was divided into four groups, and the top two players from each group advanced to the quarter-finals.
Quarter-final results:
Yi Sien Lin vs. Craig Dye: 3 - 2
John Cordue vs. Mihik Advilkar: 3 - 0
Simon Wallace vs. Simon Fenwick: 3 - 0
Han Jong Eub vs. Vladimir Ivanov: 3 - 0
The semi-finals showcased some intense action. Han Jong Eub, the winner of the previous two Matchplay events, faced a determined Simon Wallace in the first semi-final. Wallace's left-handed, fast-attacking style proved to be too much for Han, and he emerged victorious with a score of 3 - 1. This was a remarkable outcome, as Han had been a dominant force in Canterbury for many years, rarely experiencing defeat.
In the other semi-final, long-time rivals, myself, and Yi Sien Lin, clashed. Both players were intimately familiar with each other's playing styles, having competed against each other in numerous national and provincial events over the years. The match was hard-fought, with the pivotal moment occurring at 10-9 in the 5th game. Lin initiated the attack from his serve, delivering a barrage of backhand and forehand loops onto my side of the table. I had to resort to blocking and attempting to force an error or transition from defense to attack. After approximately six exchanges, it was the former that transpired, and I secured the victory.
Semi-final results:
Simon Wallace vs. Han Jong Eub: 3 - 1
John Cordue vs. Yi Sien Lin: 3 - 2
Regrettably, due to time constraints, the final match was not contested. Consequently, Simon and I agreed to share the honors for the week as well as the prize pool.
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