WASPA rankings of July 2017

Dear all, you will find in the attached file the monthly rankings of July 2017. It was another great month with a total of 24 regional events, 2 tournaments with the old rules, 4 promotional tournaments, 1 tournament with advanced rules.

CLICK HERE FOR THE RANKINGS

Sorry for the delay but the last results of July arrived during the week-end; I'll start compiling the results of August on Wednesday.

Advanced rules were used in Wolverhampton, England

Thanks to Jeremy Bradley for organizing a lot of WASPA tournaments during the FISTF GP of London, thanks also to Australia for hosting another 5 tournaments.

Special thanks to the clubs in the Netherlands and in England who managed to organize a few small WASPA events during the visit of Australian players in Europe.

We were glad to have the first tournament in Ireland this season, hopefully many more will follow in the future.

Amazing tournament with big screen and prize-money in Singapore

Geoffrey Marain is now on top of the WASPA ranking for the 60th consecutive month, which is incredible!

Or friends from Jurong Central SC in Singapore are likely to win the first season of the "top clubs ranking". This will be confirmed next month.

Still a good turnout in Greece

Please remember you only need 3 players to register your tournament. Don't be scared to join. It's free and tournament requests can be sent by e-mail to vincent.cop@rsca.com

Keep an eye on the WASPA blog at http://waspa-circuit.blogspot.com as there are updates almost every day.

The FISTF website can be found here: http://www.fistf.com

Great fun for a great field of players in Templeuve, Belgium

WASPA is also looking for partners. If you know any company ready to support us (we don’t ask for money but we want some win-win agreements so that we can promote each other), don't hesitate to contact me at vincent.cop@rsca.com

Ideas to develop the WASPA circuit or to make things more attractive are always welcome. We stay at your disposal for more info.

Yours sincerely,
Vincent Coppenolle

Western Flickers 15th WASPA

Western Flickers 15th WASPA - Club championships
August 12, 2017

To close off the table football season, Western Flickers TFC held its first ever club championship to decide which Pelican will have chief bragging rights for the next 12 months!

A spate of illness struck the club ranks which meant that only 7 flickers took part – including young but talented Benjamin who joined in with the adults.
The top 2 seeded players – club president Benny and 3-time WASPA winner Adrian Connolly – headed the 2 groups with the rest drawn randomly.
Adrian easily won his group with convincing wins. But the big surprise was in the other group where young Benjamin topped his group undefeated! This meant that he earned a bye straight into the semi-finals.

In the quarter finals, the slow-starting Steve Wright was finally to hit his straps and picked up a good win 2-0 against club vice-president Kevin Grant. Benny broke through Arjuna’s “parked bus” to seal a victory, while Adrian needed a last minute goal to pip a valiant Anthony Madiona in a tight match that ended 2-1.
In the semi-finals, Benjamin continued his amazing run by defeating Steve again – this time on penalties to reach the final. The other semi-final between top seeds Benny and Adrian was the match of the tournament with quality fast and furious table football played by both players. Luck was on Benny’s side on the day, and he emerged victorious.

In the final, little Benjamin gave his all but could not overcome Benny who won the game 1-0 to take out the inaugural club championship!
Thanks to all who attended. It was a fabulous fun day for all and Subbuteo table football was the real winner. GO WEST !!

The final tournament standings are:
1. Benny Ng
2. Benjamin Ng
3. Adrian Connolly
4. Steve Wright
5. Anthony Madiona, Kevin Grant, Arjuna Hanafi

P.S. If anyone is interested in taking part in future Western Flickers events or just popping by for chat and look-see, please visit the Western Flickers Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/WesternFlickers/) and send us a message.

(Report by Benny Ng)

Eliot Kennedy wins in Sydney

Last week Sydney TFC Was holding another tournament under WASPA banner. There were 8 players divided into two groups. In the end, Eliot Kennedy (Northen Falcons TFC) defeated Fabrizio Coco in the final after a tight game (0-0) and 8 series of shootouts (4-3). Raffaele Lombardi and Tony Credentino managed to reach the semis. Congratulations to Eliot!

Cranston Wins USA Double

All the participants

Daniel Cranston made history in Michigan by winning both the U.S. National title and the league crown.

Eleven players from nine states made it to the Grand Rapids area on August 4-6. This group included six current and former Team USA World Cup members. Action began on Friday afternoon with second-round matches of the inaugural American Subbuteo National League (ASNL). The draw for the Open and Veteran nationals was held on Friday evening.

Daniel Cranston (left) receiving the ASNL trophy
from ASA President Dario Passadore

Due to a few last-minute withdrawals, the Open draw had to be redone on Saturday. It produced a monster “group of death” from which Mike Tillman and Dario Passadore qualified for the semifinals where they faced an inspired Tim Tumminaro and the favorite Daniel Cranston, respectively.

The Veteran tournament then took center stage. Played in its usual knockout format, Erik Haefke, Peter Alegi, and Paul O’Donovan Rossa reached the semifinals along with in-form Passadore. The Veteran semis were dramatic. O’Donovan Rossa beat Passadore on shots [Watch here]. Alegi edged out Haefke 4-3 after Erik’s potentially tying goal came an instant after the final buzzer! [Watch here].

Bryan Arnold (left) and Joe Legatz

The Open semis were less tense. Cranston defeated Passadore 5-2 and Tillman beat Tumminaro 5-1.  In the championship game, Cranston had to pull out all the blocks to stymie Tillman’s comeback . Thanks to a 3-2 win, Cranston claimed his third national title and his first since 2011.

The Veteran final went to sudden death extra time. Momentum seemed to be with Alegi after he drew level with less than 30 seconds left in regulation. But O’Donovan Rossa chipped the Grand Rapids TSC player in the first minute to win his first Veteran title. [Click here for results]

Grand Rapids TSC president, Paul Pate (left),
at the trophy ceremony with
Veteran champion Paul O'Donovan Rossa

At the traditional Saturday supper, the two champions enjoyed a well-deserved celebratory drink from the trophies.

But the weekend was not over yet.

Sunday morning featured the last rounds of ASNL matches and a 5-man WASPA Courtland Cup. At the end of an exhausting third day of play, Cranston completed his impressive league campaign with 19 wins and 1 draw for 58 points out of a possible 60. Tillman placed second with 45, and Alegi third with 42. [Click here for results.] Max Ambrosio won the Courtland Cup.

Grand Rapids TSC would like to thank everyone who made the long journey to Michigan, and especially Tim Tumminaro and ASA President Dario Passadore for making important contributions to a successful and enjoyable weekend.

Keep on flicking!

Next event in Pretoria

Midsummers Night Flick in Derry

Derry City TFC had a much smaller turnout than usual tonight but it was still great craic. Mark McCrossan came out on top with a 2-0 win on shots following a 1-1 draw in the final. Lawrence Watson played through to his second semi-final. The next WASPA tournament in Derry will be the "All Irelands" on the 20th August.

(Report by Martinog Bradley)

Mike Bradbury wins 2017 Staffordshire Pro-Am tournament

On July 30 the Wolverhampton club and the South Staffordshire Club had another successful tournament with 16 players taking part and competing with the advanced rules. The "2017 Staffordshire Pro-Am" was held in the Wolverhampton Electric Club and had the visit of Australia's Rick Bland from Brisbane TSC. Other competitors were from the West Midlands and North Wales. Mike Bradbury took the honors as he defeated Richard Stock in the final. Justin Scott won the plate event and Cayne Matthews won the AM section. 6 Astroboards were used for the tournament and young Alex Scott competed in his event aged 11. Little Ruby Matthews once again proved what a future star she will become. Two radio stations and a regional newspaper featured the event which will become annual.

Adrian Elmer visits English players in Lowgate, Hexham

Jeff Parsons sent us a report of Adrian Elmer's visit in the NETFA premises last week-end. Jeff told us players had a great day  he reports Adrian especially enjoyed his day and the competition. "A lot of good banter and exchange of ideas and you never know, the away leg in Sidney is always a possibility. We let Mike Parnaby win again with his demon conversion rate but one of us old ones still got a punch in. With the age handicap, I must be top of the WASPA ranking by now."

Standings of the evening:
1. Mike Parnaby
2. Jeff Parsons
3. John Bottomley
4. Adrian Elmer
5. Dave Brothers

Alberto Gagliardi takes the Summer Cup

Last Friday the "WASPA Summer Cup" took place in Macerata, Italy. The tournament was organized by the local Macerata Subbuteo Club and attracted a nice turnout of 8 players. who competed in Swiss system and with the old rules. After 5 games, Alberto Gagliardi finished on top with 9 points, while Stefano Gambella was runner-up. Paolo Guidara took the third place. Congratulations to all the players for the great evening.

Mcnulty claims victory in the WASPA Perth International Open Winter Classic

4 Players formed a 3 match league format with the top 2 players advancing into a final. Ross Mcnulty, John Harty, Chris Thorn and Ron Byrne made up the quartet for an all Subbuteo Perth lineup. Mcnulty clashed with John Harty in the opener and after a closer game then the score suggested he edged it 3-0 against his Arsenal loving Subbuteo Perth team mate who had put this tournament on at such a quality venue in Fremantle Town Hall. In The other game Chris Thorne carried on his excellent defensive form to secure a 2-0 victory over Ron Byrne with 2 fine finishes, Rocket Ron as we call him has some power in an unorthodox style of flicking with his middle index finger, beware though as his shooting is outrageously good at times and is one potent weapon. Thorn as per usual competes so well and is thoroughly embracing playing so many games as he once played the Subbuteo creator Peter Adolf as a young teenager in 1950's London, his love for the game is as infectious as ever and we have so much respect for the Southampton lad and host of so many WASPA comps up in Morangup over the years along with his fabulous wife Barbara up at the clubhouse.

Mcnulty had an excellent win as he claimed a 5-0 against the likable Evertonian (Rocket)Ron Byrne and on the other table Chris Thorn and John Harty(the two pioneers of Subbuteo Perth) played out a 1-1 draw in a close encounter of the Fremantle kind. In the final group games Mcnulty beat Thorn 2-0 with another solid display defensively as he sought to keep his fine WASPA form record continuing and Ron Byrne took on John Harty in the final game losing 2-0 to the big friendly Copper who along with Bev Bone, his partner and fellow tournament director pulled off such a major cue, in securing such a class theatre in which to play Subbuteo in. So it came down to who made 2nd as Chris Thorn and Johny Harty had the same points but ultimately it came down to the results against Ross Mcnulty for both players and the inevitable 1 goal difference it was as Thorn joined Mcnulty in the final. Mcnulty started brightly and went 1 up after 2mins and by half time he had doubled the lead with a well crafted move and finish, Thorn rallied in the 2nd half but just could not fashion the chances he craved and midway through Mcnulty pressure led too a 3rd goal and possibly the killer goal to stop a possible comeback, in the final moments a corner led to a 4th and completed another WASPA win for Mcnulty in a tournament running alongside a major FISTF event to secure another memorable outing in the lovely port of picturesque Fremantle. Thanks again everybody who attended the Subbuteo Saturday double header and to the likes of Hugh Best and Alan Kimber who had qualified in their groups in the FISTF tournament hence the fact they were not eligible so they ended up refereeing and acting as cameramen when possible.

P W D L F A Pts
1/Ross Mcnulty 3 3 0 0 10 0 9
2/Chris Thorn 3 1 1 1 3 3 4
3/John Harty 3 1 1 1 3 4 4
4/Ron Byrne 3 0 0 3 0 9 0

Final
Ross Mcnulty 4
Chris Thorn 0

(Report by Ross Mcnulty)