MetroSports North American Table Tennis Tour

MetroSports 

Magazine 

Canada’s 

Eugene Wang 

Captures Tournament 

Title 

North American Tour 

Table Tennis 

Season Finals in 

Pleasantville 

February 2015 

George Braithwaite 

US - China Relations

Contents 

February 2015 

Features 

2 About WTTC 

4 North American Tour 

6 Eugene Wang 

8 Bob Chen 

10 Ziang Jing Zhang 

12 Kai Zhang 

16 Jimmy Butler 

18 Gal Alguetti 

20 Crystal Wang 

22 Handicap Games 

24 Zirui Zhao 

26 Nathan Hsu 

28 Rui Wang 

30 Dan Liu 

32 Yonghui Liang 

34 Jack Wang 

36 Ruichao Chen 

38 Tinglei Wu 

40 Jishan Liang 

42 George Braithwaite 1

MetroSports Magazine 

World-Class Sports Facility in Pleasantville 

What is the No. 1 sport in the world in terms of 

individual participation? You might expect it to be 

golf or tennis. Not so. It’s table tennis. Best estimates 

of registered participants for golf and tennis 

are only about 20% of that for table tennis. It’s not 

even close. 

In China, where they call it ping pong, there are 

about 300 million registered players. When you get 

that many human beings doing anything, the best 

are going to be very good. Of the top ten players in 

the world, at least half are Chinese. 

How is table tennis doing in the USA? Well around 

here very well. 

That is since the Westchester Table Center at 175 

Tompkins Avenue in Pleasantville, NY opened in 

2011. This first class facility is said by some to be 

the best table tennis club in the country. It has 19 

tables and is open 7 days a week. 

Generally there is a parallel social dimension to 

table tennis in America. In fact it is not uncommon 

to find a table or two stuck in a spare room at the 

back of a sports bar, where patrons can try out their 

skills against other home basement trained pongers 

between beers. 

By contrast, the Westchester Table Tennis Center 

is a serious sports establishment. It is owned and 

operated by Will Shortz, who is the editor of New 

York Times crossword puzzle and himself an excellent 

table tennis player and resident of Pleasantville. 

The club has members who could be classified as 

beginners, intermediate and top notch, all playing 

there at any time. Because of the number of tables, 

there is rarely a need to wait. 

The great thing about the sport of table tennis is that 

the window for serious participation is one of the 

longest of any sport. You will find kids sometimes 

younger the 10 years old who are so good they can 

only play in the higher rated events in tournaments. 

by Bill McGimpsey 

You also will see seniors still playing against 

youth as well as competing in their own age 

limiting group. On any given day you might 

find Kai Zhang, a top rated Junior in America, 

practicing on the table next to you. 

So how does table tennis rate on the financial 

scale of things? Golf and tennis will cost 

you serious dough if you want to participate in 

the best facilities. Table tennis has these other 

sports easily beaten for value. For example, 

suppose you and a friend decide to come over 

to the Pleasantville Center for a day of fun. If 

you wanted to, you could play up to 12 hours 

for the current hefty fee of $10 each. How far 

would $10 get you in golf and tennis? 

Or you could come and watch at one of the 

monthly tournaments held at the Center. Any 

given month you can see top rated players, 

both American and foreign, compete. For example, 

Eugene Wang of Ottawa Canada, the 

top rated player in North America and twice 

winner of the US Open, has won the Westchester 

Open four times. Damien Provost of 

France has also won it four times and our top 

rated member, junior Kai Zhang, has won it 

11 times. 

And what would it cost you to watch these 

world class athletes compete in the Open final 

live at Pleasantville? If you are a tournament 

participant - nothing. That’s right, zilch. If 

you are just a humble observer, then currently 

there is a charge of $15 to see all the premier 

event finals. 

So what are you waiting for? Come on down.

The Westchester Photographic Society 

MetroSports Magazine accepts and 

welcomes photos, short articles, opinions 

and letters from our readers. 

There is no guarantee that unsolicited 

contributions will be published and 

MetroSports Magazine assumes no 

responsibility for failure to publish or 

for editing published contributions. 

The Contents of MetroSports Magazine 

consist of copyrightable and/ 

or copyrighted material and cannot 

be reproduced without the express 

written consent of the publishers. 

North American Tour Grand Final Issue 

Writers: William McGimpsey and 

Warren Rosenberg 

Copy Editor: William McGimpsey 

Photography: Warren Rosenberg 

(c) MetroSports Magazine 

all photos (c) Warren Rosenberg 

visit pongtalk.blogspot.com 

3


USA 

Table Tennis 

2014 North American 

Tour Grand Final 

The Grand Final of the North 

American Table Tennis Tour took 

place during the weekend of February 

6-8, 2015, at the Westchester 

Table Tennis Center in Pleasantville, 

NY. Sixteen elite athletes 

competed for over $10,000 in 

prize money and bragging rights 

for the year. The tournament was 

won by Eugene Wang of Canada 

who is now living in Germany. 

The Grand Final of the 2014 

Tour was the culmination of the 

year long, 25 event North American 

Tour which made stops in 

Berkeley, El Monte, Milpitas and 

Sacramento California, Bellevue 

Washington, Round Rock Texas, 

Waukesha Wisconsin, and 

Pleasantville, New York. 

The Tour, started in 2013 by 

Bruce Liu of San Francisco California, 

consists of open competitions 

held across the country 

in which only the top eight 

finishers earn Tour points, with 

each individual event champion 

earning 8 points, the runnerup 

4 points, the semifinalists 2 

points and each quarterfinalist 

1 point. 

Normally, the top 16 players 

earning the most Tour points 

are invited to the Grand Final. 

This year, with two Grand Final 

slots unfilled, the Tour invited 

two outstanding junior players, 

Crystal Wang of Boyds, MD, and 

Jack Wang, from Livingston, NJ. 

As the 2014 Grand Final concluded 

on Sunday, February 8, 

Tour Director Bruce Liu turned 

over the Tournament’s reins to 

Will Shortz, owner of the Westchester 

Table Tennis Center, who 

will lead the North American 

Tour in 2015. 

Tournament Photos Available 

at 

nyspg.com

MetroSports Magazine

Eugene Wang 

Eugene Wang, a member of the 2012 Canadian Olympic 

Team, was crowned 2014 North American Tour Champion 

after defeating Bob Chen in the finals at the Westchester 

Table Tennis Center in Pleasantville, NY. 

Adding to his Tour Championship, Wang’s recent accomplishments 

include: 

2014 Canadian Championships - Men’s Singles 

Champion 

2014 Canada Open - Men’s Singles Champion 

2014 CCTTA Butterfly Open - Open Singles Champion 

2013 Butterfly Badger Open - Open Champion 

2013 North American Championships Men’s Singles 

Gold Medalist 

2013 Butterfly Canadian Championships – Men’s 

Singles Champion 

2013 US Open / ITTF Americas Challenge - Men’s 

Champion 

2013 CCTTA Butterfly International Open Champion 

2013 Butterfly Cary Cup Champion 

2013 Swiss Open - Men’s Single Bronze Medalist 

Wang certainly enjoys playing at the WTTC having 

made 4 appearances in WTTC sponsored Westchester 

Open Tournaments and winning all of them (Oct 2012, 

Apr & Jun 2013, Feb 2014). 

7


Bob Chen 

Earning second place honors 

in the 2014 North American 

Tour was Bob Chen, originally 

from Guang Xi, China, and 

now playing out of Milpitas 

California. 

In addition to his strong showing 

in the North American 

Tour, Chen’s other accomplishments 

include: 

2014 ICC California State 

Open, Champion 

2014 Zaman TTC Open, 


2014 Westchester Open, 

April Champion 

2014 Westchester Open, 

March Finalist 

Chen was the 2009 China 

Elite Athlete of the Year. 

Photo by Clark Thompson. Clarkshots.com 9 

5


Xiang Jing Zhang 

Born in Hebi, China and now 

living in El Monte, California, 

Zhang came into the tournament 

as the reigning 2013 North 

American Tour Grand Final 

Champion. With a USATT rating 

of 2732, Zhang was the Tournament’s 

3rd seed. He currently 

coaches at the California Table 

Tennis Center. 

Among Zhang’s accomplishments 

are: 

2013 North American Tour, 

Grand Final Champion 

2014 Berkeley Open, Champion 

Zhang was formerly a member 

of the Chinese National Team. 

11


Kai Zhang 

Kai Zhang is a 17 year old high 

school student from Pleasantville, 

NY, who came into this tournament 

as the number 1 seed with 

a rating of 2884. Born in Beijing, 

China, Zhang now lives in Pleasantville 

where he trains at the Westchester 

Table Tennis Center under 

the guidance of Robert Roberts. 

Zhang is an 11 time champion of 

the Westchester Open played at 

his home site , the WTTC. Zhang 

placed 3rd overall at the 2014 U.S. 

Open in the Under 21 category. 

Zhang, always a fierce competitor, 

is considered by many to have 

a realistic prospect of making the 

2016 Olympic team. 

13 

7

Custom Posters 

from MetroSports Magazine 

We’ll prepare custom posters, for your personal use or for your 

business, in sizes from 8” x 10” through 24” x 30” from any 

photos in MetroSports Magazine and even from those taken at 

the covered events but not published in the magazine. 

Send inquiries to warren@nyspg.com

Let us prepare a custom cover of any MetroSports 

Magazine with your favorite photo. Full color 

glossy prints in sizes 8” x 10” or 16” x 20” suitable 

for framing. 

Send inquiries to warren@nyspg.com 

Visit MetroSports Magazine 

on the Web 

@ 

metrosportsmag.com


Jimmy Butler 

Two-time former United States Olympian, and 

four-time and reigning U.S. National Champion 

Jimmy Butler made a strong showing as 

he continued his comeback quest following an 

eight year layoff from the sport. At age 43, 

and a member of the USA Table Tennis Hall 

of Fame, Butler was the senior most player in 

the North American Tour Grand Final. 

Playing out of the Houston Texas Table Tennis 

Club, Butler’s recent accomplishments include: 

2014 U.S. Men’s Singles, Champion 

2014 U.S. Men’s Seniors, Champion 

2014 Southern Open, Singles Champion 

Butler was a member of the 2014 U.S. National 

Team, one of only four male players named 

to the eight-person squad. 

17 

9


Gal Alguetti 

Gal Alguetti is one of three brothers 

who are making their mark on the 

Table Tennis world. This 13 year 

old resident of Tenafly, New Jersey, 

rated 2499 by USATT, entered the 

North American Grand Tour Final 

as the number 12 seed. Gal trains 

and is coached at The Westchester 

Table Tennis Center along with 

Tournament teammate Kai Zhang. 

In a rare event, Gal and his brother, 

, faced each other in the finals of the 

August 2015 U2500 Westchester 

Open. 

Among Alguetti’s recent accomplishments 

are: 

2015 US National Junior Team, 

Member 

2015 US National Cadet Team, 

Member 

2014 U.S. Nationals Mincadet, 

Champion


Crystal Wang 

The youngest player in the North 

American Tour Grand Finals Tournament, 

12 year old Crystal Wang hails 

from Boyds, Maryland. 

Crystal has been called “one of USA 

Table Tennis’ rising stars” and is the 

youngest person ever to be named to 

the U.S. Women’s National Team and 

the youngest ever to win the under 21 

Women’s Singles Gold Medal at the 

U.S. National Championships. 

Her defeat over 9th seeded Zirui Zhao 

in the 2014 Grand Tour Final was 

deemed the biggest upset of the Tournament. 

Her traveling coach and USA Table 

Tennis Hall of Famer, Larry Hodges, 

believes Crystal has a very good 

chance of making the 2016 U.S. Olympic 

Team. Crystal’s recent accomplishments 

include: 

2014 U.S. Nationals, Finalist 

2014 World Junior Championship, 

Womens Team Event, Bronze Medalist


The North American 

Tour Grand 

Final competitors 

have some fun at 

the Friday evening 

reception

eception playing a 

handicap game against 

members of the audience. 

23


Zirui Zhao 

Zirui Zhao is a 15 year old, born 

in Anhui China and now living in 

Livingston, New Jersey. Rated 

2673, Zhao entered the Grand Final 

Tournament as the 9th seed. 

In a prior appearance at the Pleasantville 

Table Tennis facility, Zhao 

took first place honors at the: 

2014 Westchester September Open, 

Champion. 

25


Nathan Hsu 

Nathan Hsu was raised in Greenwich 

Connecticut but relocated with 

his family to Rockville, Maryland, 

to be closer to the facility where he 

trains, the Maryland Table Tennis 

Center. Hsu entered the Tournament 

as the 16th seed. 

Hsu has been a participant in the 

AAU Junior Olympics since 2009 

and was the 2011 Junior Olympics 

Joel Ferrell Award recipient and has 

been a two-time runner-up in the 

Westchester Open Tournament.


Rui Wang 

Seventeen year old Rui Wang, 

born in China and now living in 

Milpitas, California, entered the 

Grand Final Tournament as the 

10th seed with a 2637 rating. 

Among Wang’s recent achievements 

are: 

2014 Los Angeles Open, Under 

18 

Champion 

2014 U.S. Open, 2nd Place 

29


Dan Liu 

Dan Liu entered the North American 

Grand Final Tournament 

with a 2553 rating and seeded 

14th. Born in Nan Yang, China, 

Liu now lives and trains out of 

Milpitas, California. 

Liu’s prior achievements include: 

2014 Los Angeles Open, Mens 

Doubles Champion 

2013 U.S. Open Championships, 

U2600 Champion 

2013 North American Tour Grand 

Final, 3rd Place 

31


Yonghui Liang 

Yonghui Liang was born in 

Guangxi, China but is now living 

in Milpitas, California. Rated 

2691, Liang entered the Grand Final 

Tournament as the 5th seed. 

Among Liang’s prior achievements 

are: 

2014 Los Angeles Open, Doubles 

Gold Medalist 

2014 Los Angeles Open, Singles, 

3rd Place 

2013 North American Tour Grand 

Final, 2nd Place 

2012 Berkeley Open, Champion 

33


Jack Wang 

Fifteen year old Jack Wang, rated 2524, entered the Tournament 

as the 11th seed earning his position by invitation 

as a talented junior player. Born in Chicago but now 

residing in Livingston, New Jersey, Wang’s recent accomplishments 

include: 

2015 U.S. National Junior and Cadet Team Member 

2014 North American Table Tennis Teams, Under 18 

Boys Champion 

2014 ITTF North American Championships, Junior Boys 


2014 Westchester June Open, Under 2500 Champion 

2013 South Shore Sports Butterfly Open / Nate Wasserman 

Junior Championships - Open Doubles & Boys 

U-15 Champion 

2012 North American Team Championship - Under 18 

Boys Champion


Tinglei Wu 

New York City’s Tinglei Wu, born in China, 

entered the North American Tour Grand Finals 

as the 13th seed with a 2433 rating. 

In a prior appearance at the Westchester Table 

Tennis Center, Wu was crowned Champion of 

both the April and September 2014 Westchester 

Open in the Under 2500 category. 

The 15 year old Wu was also a semifinalist in 

the U.S. Open Junior Boys Tournament. 

37


Ruichao Chen 

Ruichao Chen, born in Sweden and 

raised in Hangzhou China is now living 

in Germantown, Maryland, and 

trains at the Maryland Table Tennis 

Center along with teammates Crystal 

Wang and Nathan Hsu. Chen, rated at 

2620, entered the Grand Final as the 

sixth seed. 

The 17 year old Chen’s recent accomplishments 

include: 

2014 Westchester April Open, Semifinalist 


Champion 

2014 U.S. Open, Under 18 Finalist 

39


Jishan Liang 

A native of China, now living in 

Flushing, NY, 23 year old Jishan 

Liang entered the North American 

Tour Grand Final as the 2nd seed 

with a USATT rating of 2656. 

Among Liang’s recent accomplishments 

are: 

2014 Westchester February Open, 

Champion 

2014 Westchester May Open, 

Runner-up 


Runner-up 

2012 U.S. Open, Under 21, Finalist 

2012 U.S. Open Quarterfinalist 

41


George Braithwaite and U.S. - China History 

This reprint of our page 6-7 photo 

spread of North American Tour 

Grand Final winner, Eugene Wang 

is reproduced here because of the 

very important table tennis luminary 

seen viewing the match from 

the stands. 

As caught by the ever-sharp eye 

of WTTC member and writer Bill 

McGimpsey, this photo focuses in 

on George Braithwaite, the man 

wearing the blue jacket. 

George Braithwaite holds a very 

important place, not only in American 

table tennis but in U.S.-China 

relations, as well. 

Braithwaite was a member of the 

United States Table Tennis Team 

when they visited China in April of 

1971, one year prior to President 

Richard Nixon’s historic visit and 

the beginning of the normalization 

of U.S. - China relations. The 

team visited China at the invitation 

of the Chinese National Team and, 

during the visit, Braithwaite was 

captured in an iconic photograph 

shaking the hand of Chinese Premiere 

Zhou Enlai. 

Many believe the visit by Braithwaite 

and his teammates was a 

major step in setting the stage for 

Nixon’s visit. 

In August of 2012, Braithwaite 

joined former U.S. Secretary of 

State Henry Kissinger at a ceremony 

commemorating the 1971 

trip and the subsequent reciprocal 

visit to the U.S. by the Chinese 

National Team in 1972. 

George Braithwaite is no stranger 

to the Westchester Table Tennis 

Center and can sometimes be 

seen competing in the Westchester 

Open Tournaments sponsored 

by the Center.

U.S. Table Tennis Team with Jhou Enlai 

George Braithwaite on Time Magazine Cover 

43


North American Tour Grand Final Umpire Leon Libin ensuring fair competition prior to a match

Fuel for Competition 

Graze-Nature Delivered 

Energy bars, sports drinks, powdered supplements - 

you name it - athletes ingest it. The reasons may 

vary but, competitive athletes are always looking for 

a legal edge during training or competition to provide 

an extra boost of energy, a protein supplement, 

or the replenishment of essential vitamins and minerals. 

Many of the commonly used sports supplements 

contain a mix of ingredients that read like a pharmaceutical 

textbook. 

Not so with the with the selection of nature-based 

snacks available from Graze.com. Easy to carry, 

quick to ingest, and delivered right to your front door, 

the U.K. based Graze, available now in the U.S for 

just over a year, may be the answer you’re looking 

for. Our selection at MetroSports Magazine includes 

the four choices pictured at right. Check them out at 

Graze.com 

Photo by Glen Randmer 

USA Table Tennis Chair of Officials & Rules Committee, 

Roman Tinyszin officiates 

45

MetroSports North American Table Tennis Tour

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?