Dobrila Jorguseska took the Women’s Singles title – among three category victories over the weekend – and Toby Ellis beat three of the top four seeds to win the Men’s Singles at a pulsating London Grand Prix.
With more than 220 competitors in action, it was, as ever, one of the busiest events on the calendar.
As well as the Women’s Singles, Jorguseska won two Banded events, a feat matched by Mihai Nemaciuc and Ananay Jain.
Action photos by Michael Loveder
Women’s Singles
Dobrila Jorguseska took the title the hard way with a succession of five-game matches. It started in the quarter-finals with a 3-2 (8-11, 11-9, 11-4, 4-11, 11-9 victory over Mollie Patterson, followed by a 3-2 (12-14, 11-2, 14-12, 5-11, 11-2) win over Aleksandra Titievskaja in the semi-finals.
In the final, Jorguseska faced Linda Zheng, and it was another victory in the fifth – the scoreline this time 7-11, 11-9, 7-11, 11-6, 11-7.
By contrast, Zheng did not drop a game in the knockout rounds, booking her place in the final with an 11-9, 12-10, 11-7 victory over Tianer Yu in the semis.
Men’s Singles
Toby Ellis took a superb victory, defeating three of the top four seeds, culminating in coming from behind to beat fourth seed Radoslav Kamberov 3-2 (11-8, 5-11, 5-11, 11-5, 11-8) in the final.
It followed another five-game triumph in the semi-finals, where he defeated top seed Grigory Vlasov 3-2 (9-11, 5-11, 11-8, 11-9, 11-8).
Back in the last 16, Ellis had a tight battle against third seed Garry Dodd before pulling through 3-2 (11-4, 10-12, 11-8, 9-11, 11-9).
Kamberov had eliminated second seed Josh Bennett in the semi-finals, registering a 3-1 (10-12, 11-6, 14-12, 11-9) victory.
Under-21 Women’s Singles
Mollie Patterson had to stave off a comeback by Tianer Yu to finally win the final 3-2 (11-7, 11-9, 6-11, 8-11, 13-11).
Both semi-finals were more straightforward – Patterson beating Saskia Key 3-0 (11-8, 11-8, 11-4) and Yu getting past Aleksandra Titievskaja 3-0 (11-2, 11-9, 11-9).
Under-21 Men’s Singles
Gabriel Schogger took the title thanks to a 3-0 (11-9, 12-10, 11-8) victory over Jesse Bath in the final.
The victor had earlier beaten Tim Gras 3-1 (11-8, 8-11, 11-6, 11-9) in the semi-finals, having previously come from 2-0 down to beat Ching Jay Law 3-2 (6-11, 4-11, 11-9, 12-10, 11-9) in the quarters.
Bath went to a decider before overcoming Tianyi Yu 3-2 (11-6, 6-11, 7-11, 14-12, 11-9) in his semi, and had also needed five in the quarter-finals, where he got past Fernando Frandes 3-2 (11-7, 5-11, 11-2, 9-11, 11-8) – and in the first round, which was a 3-2 (9-11, 13-11, 7-11, 14-12, 11-9) win over Owen Brown.
Veterans’ Singles
Lorestas Trumpauskas came through a tough semi-final and went on to claim the victory with a 3-0 (11-9, 12-10, 11-7) victory over Neil Charles.
The last-four clash saw Trumpauskas come from behind to defeat Zoltan Hosszu 3-2 (11-13, 11-5, 9-11, 11-6, 11-6). Charles beat Adam Fuzes 3-0 (11-9, 11-9, 11-9) in his semi-final.
Restricted Singles
Alim Hirji was the victor thanks to a 3-1 (11-5, 6-11, 11-9, 11-7) win over Fredrik Nordahl in the final.
Hirji’s semi-final was dealt with in three against Derek Abrefa (7, 9, 9), but he had been extended in the quarter-finals in a tight match which went the distance and saw him recover a 2-0 deficit to defeat Emmanuel Kwesi Asante 3-2 (11-13, 9-11, 11-9, 11-9, 12-10).
Nordahl’s semi-final against Joseph Langham-Ferreira was another tight one and he came from 2-1 down to win 3-2 (8-11, 12-10, 2-11, 11-9, 11-5). He had also beaten Zak Cantor in five in the quarters – the score in that one 11-9, 3-11, 8-11, 11-7, 11-8 in Nordahl’s favour.
Banded events
Women’s Band 1
The final went all the way as Dobrila Jorguseska notched a 3-2 (6-11, 11-9, 9-11, 11-5, 11-3) victory over Ella Pashley to complete a Band 1-Band 2 double.
In the semi-finals, Jorguseska needed three to defeat Sienna Jetha (12-10, 11-5, 11-5), while it was 3-1 (11-8, 9-11, 11-7, 11-6) for Pashley against Ewelina Sychta.
Jetha had come from behind to beat Tiana Dennison 3-2 (11-9, 8-11, 7-11, 11-7, 11-4) in the quarter-finals, while Pashley also needed five at that stage, overcoming Aleksandra Titievskaja 9-11, 11-6, 11-7, 5-11, 11-8).
Men’s Band 1
Mihai Nemaciuc took a walkover victory in the final against Andrei Flamind, completing a double having earlier won Band 2.
Nemaciuc had defeated Adam Fuzes 3-1 (12-10, 8-11, 11-4, 11-6) in the semi-finals, while Flamind got past Tom Gras in thee (6, 3, 9).
Fuzes had a noteworthy quarter-final result, coming from 2-0 down to defeat Vadzim Antonau 3-2 (6-11, 9-11, 11-5, 11-7, 11-7).
Women’s Band 2
Dobrila Jorguseska was victorious in the final to take the first of a double success in the Bands, coming out on top 3-0 (9, 8, 7) over Linda Zheng.
It was three straight in the semis, Zheng beating Ewelina Sychta 7, 6, 6 and Jorguseska defeating Saskia Key 8, 2, 9.
Key had earlier recovered a 2-0 deficit against Lok Sze Sum in the quarters, winning 3-2 (10-12, 8-11, 11-9, 11-9, 11-9).
Men’s Band 2
Mihai Nemaciuc took the first part of his double with a 3-0 (11-4, 12-10, 11-6) victory over Derek Abrefa.
The finalists had contrasting tests in the last four, Nemaciuc beating Emmanuel Kwesi Asante 3-0 (9, 3, 6), while Abrefa needed five to hold off Adam Jepson (11-9, 4-11, 11-6, 8-11, 11-6).
Women’s Band 3
Linda Zheng made up for disappointment in the Band 2 final by defeating Anna Piercey 3-0 (4, 2, 3).
Zheng did not drop a game in the knockout stage, including in her semi-final against Alisha Dutta. Piercey required five in her semi-final, against Rita Lopes, which she won 3-2 (11-6, 1-11, 11-5, 8-11, 11-5).
Men’s Band 3
Emmanuel Kwesi Asante won a tight four-game match against Munib Ahmad 3-1 (11-8, 13-11, 8-11, 11-9) to take Band 3.
Asante needed five against Bryan Aiglemont in the semi-finals, winning the decider 11-4, while Ahmad went through in three comfortable games against Anatol Gasiorowski.
Women’s Band 4
Holly Holder was a 3-0 (11-8, 11-0, 11-5) victory over Alisha Dutta in the final.
Dutta had the tougher of the semi-finals, beating Chloe Ginn 3-2 (3-11, 11-6, 11-6, 12-14, 11-6), while Holder got through 3-1 (11-8, 11-6, 6-11, 11-7) against Rita Lopes. Lopes staved off a comeback in the previous round, where she beat Rhoda Baoy 3-2 (11-2, 11-8, 9-11, 9-11, 11-6).
Men’s Band 4
Max Radiven won the battle of the left-handers against Francesco Bonato 3-0 (11-9, 11-9, 12-10) to take the Band 4 title.
Radiven did not drop a game in the knockouts, reaching the final thanks to an 11-8, 11-5, 11-9 win over Fraser Kent – who had won his quarter-final 3-2 (13-11, 11-7, 6-11, 4-11, 11-4) against Charlie Usher, the third five-game match in a row for Usher, who had come from 2-1 down to win in both the previous two rounds.
Bonato came through the top half of the draw with a 3-1 (11-6, 12-10, 9-11, 11-9) victory over Abdul Raqueeb, who had himself won his quarter-final 3-2 (12-14, 11-8, 11-7, 7-11, 11-7) against Sam Gabriel.
Men’s Band 5
Ananay Jain shaded a tight final as he came from 2-1 down to Shahuraj Nimse to win 3-2 (7-11, 11-8, 8-11, 11-4, 12-10) and complete a double Band victory having taken Band 6 earlier.
In the semi-finals, Jain beat Edgar Boata 3-1 (11-6, 11-4, 9-11, 11-6) – his opponent had come from 2-0 down to win his quarter-final against Jacques Vander 3-2 (9-11, 7-11, 11-7, 11-6, 11-9).
Nimse’s semi-final victim was Eugeni Genchev by a 3-1 (11-9, 9-11, 14-12, 11-6) margin.
Men’s Band 6
Ananay Jain’s first final victory of the day was a 3-1 (9-11, 11-7, 11-6, 11-9) win over Telemachus Galatis.
The finalists won their respective semi-finals against Ilyes Djeraoui in four and Eric Wood in three.
Jorguseska and Ellis have London pride Table Tennis England.
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