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)

Michael Choong wins 2017 National Day tournament in Singapore

This week-end the Singapore players successfully completed another WASPA tournament in celebration of their National Day. The event was organized by
the SG Lions TFC in partnership with Kebun Bahru TFC. Players the tournament outdoors in the sweltering heat & humidity of tropical Singapore!

The 12 players were randomly drawn into 2 groups of 6 players each for the Swiss-format Group Stage with 3 rounds of games. The respective 1st to 6th finishers in each Group then play-off each other to determine the overall 1st to 12th positions.  Each player gets 4 games.
Fauzi Ghani caused an early upset by beating Anas Rahamat (the reigning Singapore TFAS Cup & National Double Champion) 2-1 to knock him off the Top 4.  Michael Choong edged out Bernard Lim 2-1 to take top spot; while Rudy Hesty comfortably beat Fauzi 2-0 to take 3rd spot.

(L-R): Rudy (Third), Bernard (Runner-Up), Michael (Champion), Fauzi (Fourth)

Final Placings
Champion: Michael Choong
Runner-Up: Bernard Lim
3rd Place: Rudy Hesty
4th Place: Fauzi Ghani
5th Place: Kok Wee Tan
6th Place: Anas Rahamat
7th Place: Vikas Chandiramani
8th Place: Noor Haikal
9th Place: Nic Tan
10th Place: Yew Loy Tan
11th Place: Rizal Taib
12th Place: Luke Lim

Davorin Korosec is the Summer champion in Trieste

Due to the summer holidays, there was a lower turnout in the latest tournament of the "Trieste WASPA Cup". Despite all this, there were good games and Davorin Korosec managed to claim the title after a decisive win against Furio Segnani. All players have now some well-deserved holidays and will be back in action at the next tournament on September 8.