Only 16 players entered what was supposed to be a Jarvis Sports Burgess Hill 2 Star on 16th June, therefore a decision was made to move the tournament to Horsham Spinners Table Tennis Club’s new venue in Slinfold School on just two tables under 2 star conditions, rather than cancelling the tournament.
This worked well and enabled the tournament to go ahead successfully and meant there were some new faces on the ‘podium’. Barney Mindlin (Mi) was player of the tournament, as he won both the U14s and the U16s to get his first gold medals at 2 star tournaments in Sussex.
U12s
There were two groups of four in the U12s. Both seeds won their groups, as indeed was the case with all seeds in all age groups on the day. In the semi finals, top seed Krish Chotai (Sy), beat Hannah Silcock (JEY) 3-1 and No 2 seed Max Radiven (Mi) defeated James High (Sx-Horsham Spinners TTC) 3-0.
In the final, Radiven overturned the rankings to win in five games, despite very low scores in games two and three. Silcock beat High in the bronze medal match in a close four-setter. Rahil Rehman-Furs (Sx-Horsham TTC) won the U12s consolation event for the second time in a row, beating Lydia Wealands-White (K) 3-1 in the final.
U13s
As with the U12s, this consisted of two groups of four players. Chotai was again seeded one for this event. However, in the semis, he lost to Lucas Gabb (Sy) in five, having won the first two games, and in the other semi second seed Aniket Bhanushali (K) knocked out Radiven in four. Chotai had exacted revenge over Radiven in the group.
In the final, Bhanushali prevailed over Gabb in four. Chotai was the victor in the third encounter between him and Radiven to win the bronze medal. Robert Wood (E) overcame Silcock in a close 3-0 in the consolation final.
U14s
Six players in two groups of three entered this age group. Top seed Mindlin saw off Bhanushali in the semis and No 2 seed Zach Hodges (Sx-Horsham Spinners TTC) in the final, both matches in straight games. Hodges had struggled with Bhanushali in the group, only winning in five, but then beat Isaac Egginton (K) 3-0 in the semi. Egginton overcame team-mate Bhanushali in the bronze medal match in four. Wood won his second consolation event of the day, beating Kathryn Silcock (JEY) in three.
U16s
This was just a round-robin group of four players. Mindlin won all three of his matches 3-0 to take gold and Timmy Walters (K) won twice to get the silver. However, he had to dig deep to come back from being 0-2 down in games to Chotai, before winning in five. Chotai beat Egginton 3-1 for third place.
The next cadet/junior two star in Sussex will be on Sunday 8th July in Collyers College, Horsham.
Summary of results
U12s
Main: Max Radiven (Mi) beat Krish Chotai (Sy) 3-2 (11-8, 3-11, 2-11, 11-8, 11-8)
Consolation: Rahil Rehman-Furs (Sx) beat Lydia Wealands-White (K) 3-1 (8-11, 11-7, 11-7, 13-11)
U13s
Main: Aniket Bhanushali (K) beat Lucas Gabb (Sy) 3-1 (11-2, 14-12, 3-11, 11-6)
Consolation: Robert Wood (E) beat Hannah Silcock (JEY) 3-0 (11-9, 13-11, 11-8)
U14s
Main: Barney Mindlin (Mi) beat Zach Hodges (Sx) 3-0 (11-4, 11-9, 11-3)
Consolation: Isaac Egginton (K) beat Aniket Bhanushali (K) 3-1 (8-11, 11-7, 11-8, 11-7)
U16s
1 Barney Mindlin (Mi), 2 Timmy Walters (K)