19th annual Decatur (AL) Open
August 21, 2010
Aquadome Recreation Center

In 19 years, the Decatur Open is still looking for its first back-to-back winner. 

This year it was Chance Friend's opportunity to become the first to win the title
two years in a row. But John Mar derailed the tournament's
top seed in an exciting semifinal match 10,-7,6,-8,12.

Mar, the tournament's third seed, then had his practice partner and No. 2 seed 
Bong Geun Kim down 3-1 in the best-of-seven finals only to fall
7,-7,-9,-5,10,8,8.

Kim eliminated Liedy Handoko 9, 6, 7 in the other semis.

The title earned Kim $300, a gold table tennis tie tack,
a laser-engraved jade glass trophy and his name on the tournament's permanent plaque.
Hosted by the North Alabama Table Tennis Club and Decatur Parks
and Recreation, the popular tournament with its unique format only accepts 71 players.

Attracting players from seven states, this year's event sold out in 13 days.

The final two spots sold on eBay. Players received T-shirts, Gatorade towels
and door prizes as well as lunch provided by Domino's Pizza and Pepsi Cola.
The Decatur Convention and Visitors' Bureau promoted the tournament
with a video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EAhLLrVJWWM) and electronic messages along two busy highways in Decatur.

Local television talk show host Cookie Stoner dedicated about 15 minutes of
her "Cookie Logic" show from the tournament.
 http://vimeo.com/channels/124808#14625097
And Freedom Light Production videographer Juergen Beck produced a short video on the tournament. It can be found at:

http://vimeo.com/14512256

The Decatur Daily also published an advance story as well as a feature

on Paralympian Bob Bowlander, a player in the field.
Designing this year's T-shirt was tournament player Chris Chrestman of Memphis.

Other sponsors of this year's tournament were Burningtree Country Club, Lane Music of Memphis,
 Sutton and Associates, Alabama World Travel, Robbins Table Tennis,
Bumpernets, Jimmy Smith Jewelers, Microtel Inn and Suites,
Here's Your Sign Screenprinters, Awards and Engraving Plus, and Morgan Warehouse and Pools.

Committee members included co-directors Chip Patton and Michael Wetzel (IU/CR);
 Fred B. Mitchell II, Ernesto Kawamoto, Logan Wetzel, Vickie Taylor, Ken Potts, Dick Cloyd, Ed Watts, 
Kenny Sartin, Dwight Owens, Danya Budiman and James Reinecke.
 Visit the tournament photo page for images of the 19th annual tournament.



19th annual Decatur Open results
Championship
quarterfinals
Friend, Chance df. Denton, Jason 3,4,5
Mar, John df. Waclawik, Slawomir -6,4,5,8
Handoko, Liedy df. Brown, Adam 4,10,-9,8
Kim, Bong Geun df. Flowers, Donny 1,3,4
Semis
Mar, John df. Friend, Chance 10,-7,6,-8,12
Kim, Bong Geun df. Handoko, Liedy 9,6,7
Finals
Kim, Bong Geun df. Mar, John 7,-7,-9,-5,10,8,8

Class AA
Semis
Lehocky, Alex df. Yu, David -12,3,6,10
Zhang, Kui df. Brown, Sean -11,3,3,3
Finals
Zhang, Kui df. Lehocky, Alex -8,-8,5,4,6,-9,6

Class A
Semis
Fritchie, Denis df. Strong, Andrew 7,2,-9,-9,9
Smith, Perry df. Harris, Michael 12,5,6
Finals
Fritchie, Denis df. Smith, Perry -11,7,-9,6,8,8

Class BBB
Semis
Angeles, Kyle df. Ellis, Allyson 10,7,-10,9
Chan, Tson df. Hardin, Chris -11,7,5,-8,5
Finals
Angeles, Kyle df. Chan, Tson 8,5,-3,-12,5,8

Class BB
Semis
Cloyd, Richard df. Potts, Ken 9,9,-8,-10,9
He, Harry df. Fullerton, Collin 3,7,6
Finals
He, Harry df. Cloyd, Richard 20,-7,10,-7,-9,8,10

Class B
Semis
Bishop, Shannon df. Fong, Celeste -9,8,-8,12,11
He, Yuan df. Luther, Gary 4,4,2
Finals
Bishop, Shannon df. He, Yuan 10,7,4,-9,9.