BERKSHIRE CLOSED CHAMPIONSHIPS 2011 - 2012
McTiernan and Tsaptsinos dominate the Berkshire Closed Championships
Fifteen year old Liam McTiernan from Woodley and fourteen year old Maria Tsaptsinos from Caversham swept all before them at this season's Berkshire Closed Championships, taking a total of six titles between them.
McTiernan became one of the youngest players to win the Berkshire Closed Men's title in its 62 year history and he did it in some style, dropping just a single end in the process.
In the semi final McTiernan faced the eight time winner, Martin Adams. He quickly went one up but Adams fought back to level at 1-1. McTiernan kept up the pressure though and forced his experienced opponent to retreat away from the table where he was less effective. After four pulsating games, McTiernan took the match 3-1 to progress to his first Men's' Final.
In the final, McTiernan faced his Our Lady of Peace Club team mate and the defending champion Daniel Moses, having himself beaten Ian Cole 3-1 in the other semi final.
The two had already met earlier in the evening in a totally enthralling Under 21s final, which McTiernan just won, but not before survived five match points. Played in front of a captivated crowd of 30 plus, the match ebbed and flowed, punctuated by some extraordinary rallies containing seemingly impossible fetches and blistering winners. The event's co-organiser Allan Brutton described the match afterwards as one of the finest ever witnessed at the Championships.
The Men's final didn't quite live up to the fireworks of the earlier match and lacked the intensity too. However that didn't detract from a thoroughly professional performance from McTiernan who won 3-0 (11-8, 11-8, 11-7) to take the title and with it complete a clean sweep of four events, including the Men's Doubles, where he partnered Moses to victory over Martin Adams and Steve Ricks.
Tsaptsinos also had a stunning day, losing just once, to Moses in the semi final of the Under 21's, but only by a 3-2 score line. In the process she won the Ladies Singles and Ladies Doubles titles, the latter with seventeen year old Chinese player, Bijun Tang. Fittingly, McTiernan and Tsaptsinos paired up to win the Mixed Doubles title, beating Moses and Wendy Porter 3-1 in an entertaining final.
Other highlights of a busy weekend at the Kingfisher Club included the unseeded Trevor Organ winning the Veterans (over 40's) title. In a close final of contrasting styles, Organ beat Ian Cole 3-2, thus avenging an earlier defeat to Cole in the group stages.
And finally, it was a family affair in the Graded final where older brother Danny Ricks (17) beat younger brother Sam Ricks (15) by a 3-0 score line.
In an immaculately well run tournament, much praise should be given to co-organisers, Alan and Sylvia Bruton, for the fantastic job they did and have done for so many years now. Thanks also to the Royal County Berkshire Table Tennis Association President, John Freeman for presenting the trophies.
Final Results
Mens Singles - Winner: Liam McTiernan, Runner up: Daniel Moses.
Match Score: 3-0 (11-8,11-8,11-7)
Ladies Singles - Winner: Maria Tsaptsinos, Runner-up: Bijun Tang (run on a group format)
Under 21 Singles - Winner: Liam McTiernan, Runner up: Daniel Moses.
Match Score: 3-2 (6-11,11-2,5-11,14-12,12-10)
Veterans Singles - Winner: Trevor Organ, Runner-up: Ian Cole.
Match Score: 3-2 (12-10,2-11,7-11,11-9,13-11)
Graded Singles - Winner: Danny Ricks, Runner-up: Sam Ricks.
Match Score: 3-0 (11-8,11-3,11-9)
Mens Doubles - Winners: Liam McTiernan and Daniel Moses, Runners-up: Martin Adams and Steve Ricks.
Match Score: 3-1 (7-11,11-6,11-7,11-6)
Ladies Doubles - Winners: Maria Tsaptsinos and Bijun Tang, Runners-up: Wendy Porter and Elaine Cockerill.
Match Score: 3-0 (11-4,11-9,11-4)
Mixed Doubles - Winners: Liam McTiernan and Maria Tsaptsinos, Runners-up: Daniel Moses and Wendy Porter.
Match Score: 3-1 (11-5,11-8,10-12,11-6)
Photo Gallery
Maria and Bijun, Ladies Singles Winner and Runner up. Click on Image to Enlarge.
Liam McTiernan with his Trophies. Click on Image to Enlarge.
Mixed Doubles Action. Liam and Maria. Click on Image to Enlarge.
RCBTTA President with Liam and Maria. Click on Image to Enlarge.