Welti Pulls Rank At Highgate

Welti Pulls Rank At Highgate

20/09/22: The Individual/Ranking tournament returned at Highgate on Sunday to kick the season off in fine style.

The purpose of the tournament is to assemble a strong field of some of the best players around, based on the current rankings. The tournament itself is then a series of rounds with players changing partners and opponents each time.

There were a couple of late drop outs and some good players unavailable, but it was nevertheless a strong line-up that took to the Highgate courts. An early attempt to prevent last year's winner Riki Houlden from winning again (a headbutt to the eye from his partner in the first game of the day) failed in the sense that Riki was able to play on, but worked in as fas as he didn't win every single match this time. That honour went to Salopian Sam Welti, who was the only player to emerge with four wins out of four. Sam modestly (well fairly modestly) acknowledged that the draw may have worked in his favour at times, but it was a fine achievement nevertheless given the quality of the field. There were some close games, some excellent Fives played and all agreed that it was a fun format and a season curtain-raiser well worth sticking with.

Hopefully a few more top names will be able to make it next year and expand the field to somewhere between 16 and 20 players; it was also disappointing that none of the top women players were able to make it and produce a women's tournament alongside the men's one - something else to be put right next year.

The individual/ranking tournament took place at Highgate on Sunday, with some 10 players taking part in an excellent series of matches. Congratulations to Sam Welti, who was the only player to remain unbeaten.

Round One

H.Young & H.Wiseman beat R.Houlden & C.Koksal 12-9

N.Caplin & S.Tailor beat J.Toop & G.Wiseman 12-3

Round Two

J.Toop & S.Shah beat R.Houlden & G.Wiseman 12-11

H.Wiseman & S.Welti beat S.Tailor & C.Koksal 12-8

Round Three

R.Houlden & N.Caplin beat J.Toop & H.Young 12-7

S.Tailor & S.Welti beat H.Wiseman & S.Shah 12-2

Round Four

R.Houlden & S.Welti beat N.Caplin & S.Shah 12-7

J.Toop & C.Koksal beat H.Young & G.Wiseman 12-8

Round Five