GSA - German Shuffleboard Association - Jim Bailey (USA) and Sachiyo Takada (JPN) World Champion

Jim Bailey (USA) and Sachiyo Takada (JPN) World Champion

18.10.09

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Spaß: Kerstin Runge und Irene Hoffmanns

Well deserved World Champions: Winners of the tournament are Jim Bailey (USA) in the Men's division and Sachiyo Takada (JPN) in the Women's division.
The German players return home more than satisfied with their placements. Best German player...

S.Wüllner, M.Runge und T.Hußmann

... was Sebastian Runge (13), followed by GSA-President Dieter Hußmann (15) and Torben Hußmann, who managed to finish 17th by winning all of his 6 games after missing the cut. Other Germans in detail : Sven Wüllner (26.), Marius Runge (27.), Dieter Hoffmanns (28.).
Women: Lore Wüllner (23.), Irene Hoffmanns (24.), Birgitt Hußmann (25.) und Kerstin Runge (28.).

The Germans did a great job when playing the new, combined pool and elimantion tournament system. Look at the statistics, where each German won the following out of 13 matches:
S. Runge (6), D. Hußmann (5), T. Hußmann (9), S. Wüllner (4), M. Runge (3,5), D. Hoffmanns (3)
L. Wüllner (5), I. Hoffmanns (4), B. Hußmann (6,5), K. Runge (4).

Weltmeister: Jim Bailey (USA)

The final between two US-players was highly dramatic until the end. The later World Champion Jim Bailey needed to score with his last disc after having only a seemingly safe lead over his opponent Ken Offenther. Ken had scored a 10 when Jim, with nerves of steel, put him in the kitchen and managed to score a 10 himself. The crowd celebrated "Gentleman Jim's" success and congratulated him for achieving the World Champion title.

Weltmeisterin: Sachiyo Takada

As emotional as the above scenes were the standing ovations for Women's World Champion Sachiyo Takada from Japan. She visibly enjoyed the crowd's applause after winning against US player Nancy Gruber. In a, what is supposed to be a typical Japanese gesture, the sympathetic Asian bowed low in all directions and thanked her fans. Her "lithe as a cat" movements prior and during her shots inspired her German fans to name her the "Cat from Tokyo".

From a sportive point of view it is interesting that, apart from Champion Jim Bailey, the top favorite players only finished between 8 and 10. Nevertheless the North Americans demonstrated who wears the pants in Shuffleboard and occupied all top 10 places.

D.Hußmann bezwingt Earl Ball (USA1)

Japan, Brazil and Germany follow waiting in the wings. They are just waiting for weakness of the top players, as the example of GSA President Dieter Hussmann shows, who surprisingly defeated US legend Earl Ball in Round Robin 2.

The Japanes women proved their last years team victory not to be accidental and claimed the title of World Champion by Sachiyo Takada. Moreover, JNSA President Yoshiko Suzuki finished 7th. Other top 10 positions exclusively went to North Americans. For players from Breazil and Germany it is a long way to the top. In any case, the example of Japan demonstrates that perseverance gets you there and that the dominance of Canada and the USA does not necessarily have to last on the long run.

Echte Begeisterung beim Award Banquet!

The new format, designed by Germany, was welcomed by nealy all of the participants. Especially the tie breaker "SpeedShuffleboard" enthused everyone. Cheering fans and "the wave" were unknown to Shuffleboard like colored Tennis dress in he Sixties. This has changed with the World Singles and will make its way into Shuffleboard. The Germans will make sure this continues with the ISA Team World Cup 2010 in Germany.

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