Burgess Hill 2 Star Report

Gozcu Gets Gold, Silva Snatches Silver
58 players took part in the Burgess Hill 2 Star on 18th May at the Triangle Leisure Centre, Burgess Hill. There were five age categories U10s, U12s, U14s, U16s and U18s. The next Burgess Hill 2 Star is on 8th June and the form is available on the Table Tennis England website.

U10s: Nikit Nails It
There were eight U10s in a round robin group (all playing each other). Most of the matches were 3-0, but Rahy Premji (Mi) was involved in the only two five game matches and lost both of them to Horsham Spinners TTC players Louie Harris and Max Mildren. Young Harry Yip (Horsham), who turned eight in February and was the youngest entrant, excelled to win four matches in his first ever competition and he finished in fourth place. Second seed, Nikit Sajiv (Sy) topped the group, beating top seed, Felix Thomis (Bk) 3-0. Thomis got the silver medal and Harry Filson of Horsham Spinners TTC got the bronze, losing to both Sajiv and Thomis 3-1.

U12s: Chamdal Champion
There were 16 players in the U12s in four groups. There were no major surprises in the groups, with all of the seeds topping the groups. There was only one upset in the quarter finals, as Sajiv again defeated Thomis, this time in five games. However Sajiv was knocked out by top seed Reece Chamdal (Ox) in straight sets. Second seed, Zaiim Premji (Mi) also progressed to the final with a win over the third seed, Ryan Darwen (Bognor Regis) 3-1.

Chamdal was too strong for Premji in the final winning 3-0. Darwen defeated Sajiv in four to take the bronze medal. In the consolation final Eugene Armah (Mi) comfortably beat London Academy club mate, Patricia Ianau (Mi).

U14s: Joy for George
There was a massive entry of 32 players in the U14s, split into eight groups. Two of the eight seeds failed to win their group and one had a close call. George Coulson (He), the fifth seed, had to fend off a five-set challenge from Alistair Smith (East Grinstead) to win Group 5, while Darwen overcame seventh seed, Theo Achampong (Mi) over five ends, to win Group 7 and Premji toppled George Long (Mi) in four to win Group 8. There were no unexpected results in Round 1, with all group winners progressing to the quarters, where upsets came in thick and fast. Firstly top seed Reiss Vydelingum (K) fell to Premji 11-9 in the fifth, while Coulson triumphed over the slightly higher ranked Harry Nicholls (Co). Then impressively sixth seed, Dexter Sherin (Lewes) knocked out third seed, the diminutive Jamie Liu (Bk) in straight sets.

Second seed George Hazell (Horsham) wasted no time in disposing of Darwen. Coulson brought Premji’s impressive run to an end in a comfortable semi-final, whereas Sherin extended the favourite Hazell to the fifth set before succumbing. Hazell easily beat Coulson in the final. Sherin won the bronze with a very easy win over Premji. Ryan Barnett (Mi) was too strong for Rokas Dedinas (E) in the consolation final.

U16s: Kleber Cleans Up
There were 22 entrants in this event in six groups. Fifth seed Will Goodstone (Eastbourne) was the only seed to come unstuck, as he lost to Nicholls. However, although Sherin defeating Vydelingum in Group 6 was an expected win in a junior event, such as this one, had it been in a cadet event like the U14s, it would have been a very good win. Sherin continued his good form into the quarter finals with his best win yet-a 3-0 win over no. 3 seed, Jake Mitchell (Sy), who is over 260 points above him. The other quarters produced expected wins for Shaquille Webb-Dixon (Sy), the top seed over Vydelingum, Eren Gozcu (Mi) over Nicholls and Kleber Silva (E), the no. 2 seed over Goodstone. Gozcu did well to extend Webb-Dixon to five ends, but faltered in the fifth. The final was a four set win for Silva. Gozcu beat Sherin in four for the bronze medal. Joe Worskett (Horsham) clinched the consolation with a final win over Milan Sajiv (Sy) by 11-9 in the fifth.

U18s: Gozcu Gets Gold, Silva Snatches Silver
There were four groups of three in the U18s. The groups went as planned and all the top four seeds negotiated the quarter finals with ease to get to the semis. Webb-Dixon and Gozcu met again, but this time Gozcu came out on top having lost the first two ends. The other semi was another five gamer with Silva seeing off Mitchell. Gozcu breathed a sigh of relief as he snatched the win in the closest final of the day 9-11, 11-4, 11-8, 8-11, 11-9. The third/fourth place play-off was equally close with Webb-Dixon overcoming club mate Mitchell 14-12, 7-11, 14-12, 13-15, 11-9. The consolation was won by Numayr Malik (E) in three close games over Freddy Goodall (Horsham Spinners TTC) 11-9, 16-14, 12-10.

Final Results:
U10s:
1st: Nikit Sajiv (Sy)
2nd: Felix Thomis (Bk)
3rd: Harry Filson (Sx)

U12s:
Main: Reece Chamdal (Ox) beat Zaiim Premji (Mi) 11-9, 11-7, 11-5
Consolation: Eugene Armah (Mi) beat Patricia Ianau (Mi) 11-7, 11-5, 13-11

U14s:
Main: George Hazell (Sx) beat George Coulson (He) 11-7, 11-1, 11-8
Consolation: Ryan Barnett (Mi) beat Rokas Dedinas (E) 11-2, 11-9, 11-6

U16s:
Main: Kleber Silva (E) beat Shaquille Webb-Dixon (Sy) 11-6, 11-4, 9-11, 11-9
Consolation: Joe Worskett (Sx) beat Milan Sajiv (Sy) 11-8, 11-6, 6-11, 9-11, 11-9

U18s:
Main: Eren Gozcu (Mi) beat Kleber Silva (E) 9-11, 11-4, 11-8, 8-11, 11-9
Consolation: Numayr Malik (E) beat Freddy Goodall (Sx) 11-9, 16-14, 12-10

Rory Scott (May 27th, 2014)