After almost two months since it started, the ping pong tournament hosted by BdE (the student government at GTL, if you hadn’t heard) came to a close. All of the finals matches were played back to back with tea and brownies for the spectators. It turned out pretty interesting, but first the back story!

Road to the Finals

For some reason or another, I’ve managed to play a lot of table tennis in my life. I was excited about the chance to play in Europe because the sport is a lot more popular than in the States. I wasn’t disappointed–a friend of mine had brought two really good paddles and lots of people were always interested in playing. I learned a ton about the game during my first month at GTL using a professional-grade paddle and playing with good people. I made a few rivals during that month, including my “best enemy” Frédéric Pons. I also heard rumors of a grad student that had professional training…I didn’t think much of it because the source of those rumors was generally unreliable.

The tournament was double-elimination and was played over the course of about two months. Each week, you’d match up against your opponent in the draw and the results would go up on a big board in the common room. I got a fantastic draw and rocketed my way to the semifinals without any trouble. There was much more blood shed on the other side of the draw: Fred took out Mohamed (another good player), Xuran (the one rumored to have professional training) dropped due to a no-show in the second round.

My semifinal match was epic…

I was wiped after a night of too little sleep (5 hours), waking up early, and working all day. I was collapsed on the couch in the lounge, trying to muster up some energy, when my opponent showed up wearing sweatpants and a t-shirt. He nods to me, and then takes a seat and starts taking off his sneakers in order to change into court shoes! I’m a little freaked out at this point, and I kick myself up off of the couch. My ping pong rival, named Bastien, reaches into his bag and pulls out a paddle sheathed in a custom paddle case. Uh oh.

The two of us warm up for a while. He’s obviously a little nervous, and I’m trying my best not to show that I am, too. At the same time, though, I’m pulling my usual trick of not revealing much about my game during the warm up. I wonder if he’s doing the same thing…

Our first game was really tight, we exchanged points until 5-5. At that point, I finally relaxed a little, and the next thing I knew, I had won 11-6. One down, two to go.

He didn’t mess around during the second game. We got to 5-5 again, and he didn’t let up. I ended up losing that game. 1-1…the next game was the most important, but I was starting to figure him out.

See, Bastian had a nasty forehand if I gave him a shot that sit right in his strike zone. The ball came back so fast at me a couple of times when I gave him one of those…I think it singed my eyebrows a little. However, he wasn’t all that great when I threw junk at him–dinky serves, sharp angles, or lots of backspin. Those few tricks were enough to secure me the next two games–I won 3-1 and notched a place in the finals.

On the other side of the draw, Fred marched through without a hiccup. Xuran didn’t pull another no-show in the loser’s bracket, taking down a few big names before ending up in a semifinal spot. And that brings us to tonight.

The Finals

At this point, there are still four games left to play. Xuran took down two people in the loser’s bracket to win it without much trouble. That left Fred and I with our match to play in the finals, the loser of which would have to play Xuran. The winner of that match would play the winner of the winner’s bracket for the championship. In order for the winner of Fred and I’s game to lose in the finals, the winner of the loser’s bracket would have to win twice since every player has to lose twice to be eliminated.

It also turns out that Xuran did have professional training. He had an incredible serve, serious looking strokes, and never really missed. Fred and I got a good look at him as he wiped the floor with the few people he met in the loser’s bracket. There was a lot riding on Fred and I’s game because it would give the winner two chances to beat Xuran. And so, Fred and I started our match.

France vs. Canada

Fred and I had played twice before. I beat him at our first meeting. He returned the favor the next time. I was ready for revenge; he was ready to prove that I had been lucky the first time.

I pulled out every trick that I had picked up during my time playing tennis, and a few theatrics that I’ve learned in recent years. I showed up in white shorts, a Tech hoody, and a Nike beanie to hold back my mop of hair. Fred and I warmed up for a bit, I didn’t worry too much about grooving my strokes since I had warmed up earlier in the day. Instead, I just rallied up the middle of the table to disguise my game. I was going to play super aggressive, bringing the points to top spin exchanges as soon as possible, and finish our match before he could realize it had started.

Grrr...can't you tell that we hate each other?

Fred was ready to play. He grabbed the first three points of the game quickly. I calmed down and fought it out to 10-7 my way. He played three great points, including two nasty serves, leaving it at 10-10. I took the point. 11-10. He tied it up. 11-11. I won the next one. 12-11. Fred equalizes again. 12-12. I got another chance after winning a point to make it 13-12. I finally pull it out: 14-12.

We switch sides. The game is tight again, but I manage to pull it out without going to deuce. 11-7.

I’m up two games to none. Things are looking awesome. My strategy is working almost perfectly. Fred occasionally throws some unreturnable serves my way, but I’m winning almost every point that goes longer than three shots with confident forehand drives. The last game went to deuce again, but Fred never managed to get a game point, and I pull it out 12-10.

Done. 3-0. I just won the winner’s bracket.

Then the fun starts

Xuran and Fred take the table. They start right away. It’s scary. Fred can hardly do anything with Xuran’s serve. Even when Fred manages to get a few shots back, Xuran whips forehand kills like the ball is standing still. The match ends 3-0 before anyone even gets to start watching it.

I approach the table. Xuran and bounce a few shots back. I was so pumped to get to play him. He was rock solid, didn’t miss anything. Unfortunately, turns out, that means he was also a hell of a lot better than me.

Most of our last game got recorded, and I think it does justice to the match. I had a few chances to pull ahead in games, but ended up getting schooled 6-0. A few things to look for in the video–

• My beanie with Canadian flag clipped to it
• Xuran’s nasty serve
• My wannabe serve (which isn’t terrible! just not at all in the same league)
• The last point on the video (I actually look like I know what I’m doing)