Hot and Heavy at the 2005 Ohio Closed

By Bill McLaughlin - Cub Reporter, Table Tennis Dayton

COLUMBUS, Ohio - With temperatures soaring outside into the mid-90s, Don Hamilton performed his now usual fiery acrobatics and heated off-table miracles to snuff all contenders on his way to first place in Open Singles at the latest incarnation of the Ohio Closed Championships.

His opponent, Abdul Khan, also out of Dayton,

1st Place winner Don Hamilton and Tournament Director Jason Lacey

though playing for Texas-Wesleyan with teammate Eric Owens, defeated Bill McLaughlin in the Open Hardbat event. McLaughlin however did take home a first place trophy in U1900 Hardbat.

Another big winner was Joe Masminster of Cincinnatti. Joe took home 1st place trophies in U1600 and U1750, sweeping the competition along the way.

The Open Hardbat featured eight players split equally into two groups. Group included among others, McLaughlin and rival Sleiman El-Hallal. "Slammin'" Sleiman had defeated McLaughlin in the same tournament and event one year ago, and McLaughlin was looking for revenge.

But it was not meant to be. Sleiman took game one, and with McLaughlin leading big in game two, Sleiman nearly off a huge comeback achieving deuce. But McLaughlin stopped gakking long enough to take the game. However game three proved to be all Sleiman, all the time and he snuffed McLaughlin's thoughts of revenge for another year.

A three-way tie occurred wherein due to a game tie-breaker, McLaughlin ended up moving through his group despite his lone loss. McLaughlin faced Khan, the 2nd place finisher in Open Singles and had his work cut out for him, but the only thing cut out was his heart as it was served, spun and slammed by his youthful opponent into a heartbreaking deja vu 2nd place finish. After the match, McLaughlin looked to the skies, and screamed, "KHAAAAAAAAANNNNNNNN!"

Better luck next year, McLaughlin.

Don "Hoppin'" Hamilton fared better in his Open event as he sliced and diced, pranced and danced, lobbed and bobbed his way to his first place finish. Earlier in the semi-finals, against perennial rival Nick Snider, he ran down a Snider slam from 15 feet off the table, and chopped it back, touching net along the way, for a match ending victory, much to the crestfallen dismay of his opponent.

Hamilton, with brother James also took home 2nd place finish in Open Doubles, losing out to the first-time pairing of Sleiman El-Hallal and "Pick" Nick Snider.

Dayton TTC regulars Mani Anantharaman and George Moses II achieved 1st place victory in U3600 Doubles by smashing their hapless foes along the way. McLaughlin was slated to be doubles partner for Anantharaman but had to bow out due to his unrated status, by the control desk. Fortunately, George Moses proved to be a potent partner and the two achieved the ultimate result.

Though the tourney ran a tad slow at times, on balance it was well run and well received by the majority. Congratulations to Jason Lacey and his team for an excellent event.

Click here for tournament photos.

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