| PING PONG |
| 1st Place: Jan
Jan showed up and just started dominating folks. He went 10-0, and never gave up more than 16 points. He allowed more than 12 points just twice. We thought Jan was pretty good. Then we saw Jan introduce us to his trusty 20-year old paddle. The best moment of the tournament: Chris had to go home, but he looked at his watch and asked me: �one more?�, a glint of desire in his eyes. I said �sure, you play Jan next�. He said �never mind�, didn�t even seem to have options to consider, and went upstairs. Record: 10-0 Matches: 5-0 Best Win: When Jan beat our second-highest rated player 21-6, we all looked at each other with wide eyes. When he did it a second time, we all shook our heads. Worst loss: Jan�s rating is so high. He beat Anna 21-15, but since his rating is so high, he was supposed to win 21-10. His worst loss is winning by 6, which is ridiculous. Rating: +320, 1700 up to 2020 2nd Place: Joe Joe started out 2-2, but finished strong, with his last two games being critical close wins over Nick and Steve. A loss in either would have handed 2nd place (or as we call it, �our first place�) to the winner. People will be talking about the controversial Linwood-bothering for some time now. Spectators are still unsure whether the removal of the pi shirt, the adoption of the serious-face, or the entering into the loosey-goosey range of pre-inebriation fueled him to his second-half surge. Record: 9-5 Matches: 4-1 (loss to Jan) Best Win: We didn�t know it at the time, but game 38 between Joe-Steve decided 2nd place. There were games more important to his rating, but none as important to his tournament. Worst Loss: Despite Chris� evolution that night, Joe should not have lost his third game to Chris. It allowed Nick and Steve back into the game, but more importantly, it got a critical monkey off Chris�s back. Joe will not have nearly the psychological edge next time they play. Rating: +150, 1080 up to 1230 3rd Place: Nick Nick started the first round 3-1, but a 4-6 finish sealed his fate. Nobody doesn�t have Jan�s number like Nick. That�s right, Microsoft Autocorrect. That�s what I said, and I�m not fixing it. Nick hit enough winners to stay above Joe in the averages, but it got close. Nick started with a rating 300 above the best non-Jans, and his play just didn�t justify it. It�s not easy at the not-Jan top. Still though, nothing killed his rating like the Janihilation. Record: 7-7 Matches: 3-2 (loss to Jan, Joe) Best Win: a 21-13 thumping of Steve came just after Steve handed him a 10-21 loss. That rebound put him in the spot to eventually claim third, and likely changed his whole tournament. Worst Loss: I was thinking about putting the Steve loss here, but a 21-6 beat-down after you think you�ve figured some things out against Jan hurts. It sucks to not even be able to claim progress from the first 21-6er. Rating: -340, 1440 down to 1100 4th Place: Steve Newcomer Steve garnered some attention with his 5-0 opening circuit. After that point, though, some people figured out his style, and eventually, some say Steve just got sleepy. A 2-7 ending reminded his fans of the Redskins� false hopes, and left Steve with an embittered fan base to win back over. It�s easy to fire a coach, but I say give him a chance to get his system into place. Record: 7-7 Matches: 2-3 (win over Chris, Anna) Best Win: Beating Nick 21-10 in the third game of the tournament was a big �wow� moment that didn�t carry over for him. Still, it jumped him 140 points, and evened him up with Nick in rating. Worst Loss: When one loss keeps you out of getting a medal, they�re all your worst loss. If I have to pick one, though, I�ll choose the 19-point swing game that was Nick�s best. Rating: +160, 1050 up to 1210 |
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