1)      Since electronic records began (Bolton League) in 2011/12, Michael Moir (currently 85th in England) has got 100% in three of those four full seasons – his only loss to Louis Rosenthal in March 2014. That does make your recent victory against him special.
Would you say he’s seen as the biggest scalp in the league? And who comes after him in terms of scalps (say, 3 or 4 others)?

It is always a satisfaction to beat a player as strong as Michael. Due to his statistic he is indeed the biggest scalp in the league and I am sure it will take me other try to beat him again.
Before him, I had some great win against player like Barry Elliot, Andy Jackson, Mark Ramsbottom and others since I join the bolton league in sept 2010.

2)      The only times I’ve previously mentioned you in Bolton News articles, Fred were in June 2014 (“Barber plying his trade against relative unknowns including Frederic Turban” –https://thesportswriter1.com/2014/06/03/step-into-the-barbers-chair/) and earlier in October 2013 (“Riley edging past weaker opponents, Kaye and Turban” – https://thesportswriter1.com/2013/10/03/blimey-oriley/). Do you think NOW is finally your time?

I dont know if it is my time, but i am surely starting to put my name in the league.

3)      How is it possible to lose Andrew Jackson but beat Michael Moir? When you lost to Jackson 11-5 in game four was there any sense that it was still going to be a good evening?

Probably the French flair 🙂
That night I was in a good shape, full of energy and it was the second match of the season. Plus my back was not hurting (i have ankylosing spondylitis), so anything could happen that night.

4)      Your WIN %age over the years has been: 76% (2011/12 Div1); 26% (2012/13 Prem); 46% (2013/14 Prem); 51% (2014/15 Prem). Steady progression in anyone’s eyes. What are the key shots / things / tactics you’ve learnt over the years?

Throughout the year my game has improved both technically and physically. My game is mainly based on my serve and force myself to open the game by looping the ball and try not to make many mistake. The downsize is that I struggle against player that have pimple because I cannot use most of serve.

5)      Did you feel pumped up driving home after the Moir victory or were you chauffeured back home just in case the excitement proved to be too much for you? Was the feeling comparable to any other big victories in recent times?

I drove home by myself. It was a mitigate feeling. I was happy to beat Mick and Brian, bringing 2 points against ramsbottom A is a good result for the team. Sad that no one of my team was there to witness my game against Mick but that is life.  I know I achieve something that probably a few did. I arrived in premier in 2012 and three years later I beat Mick. But I still know I have to practise hard to beat him again but at least I am on the right path.

6)      You talked about the 3rd shot with Moir (when his serves didn’t come off). Were there any particular tactics before the match from you? You must have studied him to a degree? Some players keep notes on other players, some know weaknesses/strengths from memory. How do you work?

Mick has a very effective serve and his arm goes fast.
That night, he played against Billy and Keith. I had time to look at him play, he scores a lot of points after his serve. So my main focus was to return his serve and play my game. I remember I put a lot of effort and concentration reading his serve and that night he paid off. Next step would be to reduce my attention on his serve and go by instinct.
I don’t keep note against players. I remember most how I loose a game rather win the game. I just try to remind myself how I should play : stay close to the table, return the ball at all cost, dont rush on it, stay in balance, counter , varied serve and above all have fun.

7)      I see that you only played Moir once last season (a 10-12, 10-12, 5-11 loss in September) as he didn’t turn out in January for Ramsbottom. Was that match of sign of things to come? i.e. the close 10-12s. Did you learn anything for the big match one year later?

I learn a lot by playing against Mick. He makes things very simple and could change the pace in a flash. He can play “relax” for couple of points and when its matter he scores. He is technically still far ahead from me. After it is question of opportunity. I learn when playing against him is that I can score direct point with my serves, that I had to work on my footwork and consistency to have a chance to do some rally against him.

8)      Coaching with Billy Russell – how is that working out? Any others influences / help in your life on the table tennis front?
It is true I played a lot with Billy. Probably because we both like to practise and there is no doubt he help me a lot to reach this level of game.I improved technically a lot with him as he is not very easy to play against. In the league there are players that have help me to tweak my game like Phil Riley, Dennis Collier, Ronnie Durose and Charles Musa. There inputs are valuable, after I just have to find a way to apply them on game.  Of course indirectly all the opponents I played against have shape my game..

9)      Last season you beat certain players of note including Andrew Jackson, Edward Simon, Brian Clements, Phil Riley, Barry Elliott (& possibly Michnowiec – maybe not as he forfeited / story behind this?). Which match felt the best and why?
They were all great win. These players have different style and I had to play differently to beat them. I did not beat Michnowiec If i remember there was a technicality issue. Last season I think the best win was against Mark Ramsbottom. Mark has pimple on his backhand and I struggle against this type of rubber. He was leading 2-0 and I manage to come back and beat him on the 5th.
He won the first two set. The third set was very complicated, I won it but very close. Then the 5th was very tight, I remember winning the last point on my serve.

10)   In Jan 2015 you slaughtered Andrew Jackson 11-3, 8-11, 11-4, 11-4. What was different this time around?
Andy is a strong player and very consistent. I did not manage to take the upper hand on the short game. I probably played too much on his backhand, too much on the middle of table and I fail to take initiative. So I still have a lot of work to do to beat him.

11)   Colin Boardman (Burning Desire) – doesn’t have a younger brother called Stephen does he?
I am the wrong guy to ask this question. Is the rider Chris relates to Colin?

12)   When (month/year of birth) and where were you born?
January 1976, Semarang Indonesia

13)   How did you get into table tennis?
I start to play with my dad for fun. And then I take really interest in table tennis at 16years old in France when the was some school competition.

14)   Did you aspire to play in the Premier Division or higher?
I always try to do my best  and like challenges.

15)   Your team have finished…7/12 (2014/15), 9/12 (2013/14), 10/11 (2012/13) – in other words a steady improvement each season. Do you see a top 4 finish over the next two to three years? Any big signings planned or loyal to the current team?
For this year I hope our team will maintain on premier and it will be great if we can reach 100points at then end of season. To be on the top4, I think a team need at least 4/5 consistent players (average >60%).

16)   Do you think Flixton represent a challenge to Ramsbottom this season for the title? Yes/No and why?
These two teams have a strong squad and will be still in front. I hope we can play the role of party pooper to spice the league.

17)   Have you ever been headhunted for another team?
Not in the bolton league.

18)   What does table tennis mean to you? Is it your main sport and how many hours/week would you say you put in?
I played before several sport like football, volleyball , basketball, track n field, martial arts and finally table tennis. Table tennis is a very convivial sport and reflect your personnality. The way you play define who you are. Beside the technical, physical aspect of the game, the mental plays an important role during the game. I was fortunate to took part in several aspect of this sport and at different level. I coached the cadet/junior Brittany team, I was a referee in several national tournament and organise several regional tournament.
It is currently my main sport and I try to play twice a week.

19)   What is your daytime job? Is it fulfilling?
I am a Software Engineer. I am not complaining .

20)   Which players do you respect most in the league and why? Anyone’s style you seek to mimic?
I can say that I respect every players in the league. I think it is my personality. There are some stroke that I would like to do or have like Brett’s backhand or Barry’s or Ben’s forehand hit.

21)   Hardest venue you’ve played at? Where have you travelled to play the sport?
Due to my back there are venue that I cannot play freely because there is no space or the floor is tricky, like Heaton or Little Lever. In these venues I know I have to change my game style and concentrate on how I should move.

 

On Sunday, 31^st May – shortly after 3pm – a red-faced, battle-worn and drenched Paul Cicchelli finally got to sit down knowing that he’d just taken the weekend’s big trophy by turning over Formby’s Jack Dempsey in the ‘Senior Singles’ final (11-13, 11-7, 11-3, 11-6).

Below is the full, unedited transcript of an interview in the immediate aftermath of that victory with Flixton and Crosby High’s chopper extraordinaire…

1) The Lancashire Closed Championships. How do they compare with other championships you’ve played in? A good calibre of player today?

From a county perspective Jim Bolton and Dave Wheeldon did a fantastic job running this event. Remember that this event was only put into people’s diaries in late March and the demand to play was so great they even had a reserve list of players queuing to play in the competition. Graham Coupe always makes everybody feel welcome at his club and even posted pictures of all the players on his Facebook page. I hope that they keep running this tournament for many years to come. My little boy Franco has just turned 1 and he has tremendous hand-eye co-ordination, already able to catch a ball, so who knows maybe he can follow in his dad’s footsteps one year.

2) What I find interesting is the commitment players put in behind the scenes i.e. trying to play whilst still earning money. Of the semi-finalists today (Charles Musa, Thomas Haddley, Jack Dempsey and yourself) apparently Musa does shift work, Haddley is an electrician and Dempsey goes to college (4 or 5 hours practice a day they say). How does this impact a player’s performance do you think?

It’s a valid question. I definitely look at table tennis as a hobby and my release from a stressful targets-lead job so it doesn’t mean as much to me if I lose a game anymore. I work for a telecoms company as an Account Manager looking after 78% of all the NHS Trusts with really clever systems built around speech recognition and contact centre management. I travel about 30,000 miles a year, so really fit in a game of table tennis whenever I can. In the Liverpool League I play for Crosby High School and they tend to give me notice about all the best games that they want me to play in. Dave Graham (Crosby High Head Coach and Team Manager) does a really difficult job in managing multiple players across multiple teams and many of them travel just as much as I do to play a game of table tennis.  I’d much rather travel and play the best players after my meetings than just turn up against the weaker teams to massage my ego and win percentage rate.

3) I have mentioned you previously in articles: “too refined, too canny, arches his body like a yoga teacher, wolfman arms, bejesuses pass his lips, too big in the chops, like observing a craftsman in his shed, the most elegant chop in the game (like rocking a baby), Jekyll and Hide game”. Do you think much has changed in the interim?

Ha-ha, that’s great. At 39 years of age and a body now ‘matured’ on motorway service station meals, I think I am the least likely yoga teacher. Do you know what, I probably cover about 6 miles running, in short sprints when I play a table tennis competition and all I can say is that if there is a ball, whether or not it is a ping pong, tennis or even football I can chase it down all day, but ask me to run 6 miles without a ball to chase and I’m more likely to stop off for a chat on the way; anything except exercise for exercise’s sake.

4) Did you think you had a chance of winning when you woke up this morning?

Do you know what – my draw couldn’t have been harder. My first game after the groups was Martin Ireland who just doesn’t miss against chop and reads spin brilliantly. I lost the first game and could have gone down 2-0 if I hadn’t started attacking every loose shot and forcing Martin to play slightly tentative then I would have definitely lost that match. 3^rd round was against Rob Hall, one of the most improved players in Lancashire. He’s physically very fit with an excellent technique and although I won 3-1 (I think) every rally lasted at least 12 shots each, which doesn’t sound a lot, but if you saw how hard he hit the ball and the angles he was finding I certainly put some effort in to win that match. The semi-final was against the best player in the room, no question, Thomas Haddley. We’ve played each other loads over the last year and every match goes to the deciding game. Thomas played semi-pro in Greece a few years back and when he hits the ball, you can literally feel the quality coming from him.  Strangely enough even though Jack Dempsey (who I played in the final) was the highest ranked player there, I sort of look on him as a bit of a protégé. He’s started defending away from the table like me and always asks me for little tips and tricks. I am the Mr Miyagi to his Daniel-son (Karate Kid film reference) so I wasn’t nervous about playing Jack, although he has the chance to be the best defender in the country if he gets his head down over the next few years.

5) Which of the listed 40 or so players did you fear the most today?

Thomas Haddley for the reasons mentioned before. Steve Scowcroft because he has just come back playing over the last 6 months after a 25 year break. When he last played a tournament he was number 8 in the country, and when you consider that this was the glory era of English Table Tennis with Des Douglas (ex-World number 6), Carl Prean (World Quarter Finalist) and Alan Cooke (recent World Veterans Champion), John Hilton (European Champion), Steve played a different level to everybody else in the room. And he’s such a down-to-earth fella, never giving it the ‘Big I am’, which is unusual in table tennis quarters.

6) You’re currently 171^st in the Table Tennis England ‘Senior Men’ rankings (Dempsey 157^th, Haddley 232^nd and Musa 486^th). What is the highest English ranking you’ve ever had?

English Mens: 49. Juniors – I could beat the number 2 in the country and lose to the number 222 in the same tournament. I was a bit of a show-off back in the day and wanted to entertain more than put my head down and win without looking pretty. But I had some notable triumphs taking out Belgium’s top Junior at the English Junior Open and being one of the last English players left in the competition. The English Open was the last tournament I played as a junior and even though I had all these wins, they never produced another ranking list for that year.

7) Do you see progression for a table tennis player as league, county, British league and international or something different?

Not quite sure what the question implies here, but table tennis is a minority sport. Even telling my work colleagues excitedly on my weekly catch-up conference call today that I won the Lancashire County Table Tennis Championships, got the immediate question back from my boss, “Hmm but how many people actually play table tennis in Lancashire?” It’s almost like anybody that plays table tennis feels that they must apologise for playing. The sport does have a geeky persona attached to it. You will get some players that will never want to enter a national competition and are happy to play in their local leagues, and others that are the best in their local leagues won’t want to play in other leagues, happier to be the biggest fish in their independent pond. The competition that Jim Bolton runs called the ‘Champion of Champions’ pits every Lancashire league singles competition winner against each other and has a large viewing audience and games are even taped and pushed on to YouTube. This is an excellent idea and I’d love to play in that competition, but Liverpool will never let me enter their end of year competition as with my job I can’t get enough league games in to qualify. Keep up the good work Jim, what about an invite-only competition to selected players from leagues – that could be a winning format.

8) What tips can you offer a junior?

Shadow play – learn your shots in front of a mirror. The Chinese do this and have the best technique around and aren’t even allowed to play on a table until they have the right technique to play, which is probably taking the whole shadow-play thing too far.  I used to walk around the house making table tennis ball noises imagining different scenarios to play against. This might have more to do with me being an only-child and entertaining myself than anything else . I would also tell juniors to practise their serves for at least an hour a week. If you can win cheap points with serves you don’t necessarily need to be on top-form that day, but if your whole game is built around finesse and fitness then a bad night’s sleep, cramped conditions or an unfamiliar table could be your downfall.

9) I noticed that Jack Dempsey’s face fell a little when he realised you’d made the final against him after knocking out Haddley in five sets. Why do you think that was?

You’d probably need to ask Jack that. I play in the same team as Jack and he played Thomas earlier in the year and actually won surprisingly comfortably so maybe he felt he could repeat that? Table tennis is a game of intricate styles and nuances and the way in which different people can play the same shot, with even the same technique can produce completely different spins. I think Jack would prefer to play an attacker than a defender. And in fairness, there’s only a handful of decent defenders in the country and he’s one of them, so running into another at a tournament is actually a pretty unique experience

10) To me the whole face of table tennis needs a boost, a lift, a proper grandstand audience, music and crowd attentiveness – a regional Barry Hearn if you like. How would it feel to top Prem’ players like yourself to have a crowd of 500, not just 100?

As Kevin Keegan would say, “I’d love that!” One of my first jobs after leaving school was doing table tennis exhibitions at the Butlins holiday camps. The exhibition would normally be at the end of the holiday and all the guests would be there to collect their awards and have a drink before leaving the holiday camp. I remember I was at Butlins in Bognor Regis doing the exhibition at the end of their 70s music week. There were hundreds of rowdy guests dressed up like the village people, ABBA, Queen etc and the noise was deafening. I even signed bats after the event and felt like a temporary superstar. I sat in the crowd and let my opponent smash balls at me whilst I pretended to read the newspaper and swerve the ball back on to the table with sidespin from 20 or 30 feet away. Ah good timezzz.

Jim Bolton, and his ‘Superstar’ tournament format, has a chance. We don’t need to play with bats made of sandpaper or change the rules. Just get some players in that will be entertaining, supply a nice room and some alcohol for the spectators and you’re on to a winning formula.

11) When you unavoidably jumped over the table tennis barrier after taking the 3rd set against Haddley and then immediately got cramp in your calf, did it cross your mind that you wouldn’t be able to continue?

Er…yes. My whole hamstring went and I couldn’t bend my leg without feeling like somebody had a knife in my leg. Luckily for me there was a competitor who had just passed her physio exams and she worked miracles. It was pretty embarrassing to hit a winning shot, jump over a barrier and then crumple into a heap on the floor though. My wife says I embarrass her wherever I go, and I can now sort of see why.

12) What had you won before winning the Lancs Closed Champs?

I won a few 2 star competitions as a Junior as well as county competitions in Sussex (where I am from), Cambridge, Suffolk and Kent. I played in a great competition called the British Boys Club Table Tennis Championships and won that 3 or 4 times too. But my trophy I’m most proud of is “Search for a Star” where I had to complete a series of sporting challenges, footballs through tyres, tennis, archery, table tennis, badminton and running. I won everything except the running and archery and I was a couple of years younger than most of my counterparts too. I loved showing off with a crowd in front of me. I got a swish gold trophy and a free holiday for my mum, so she was pleased too.

13) Do you think a full season with Flixton is on the cards again after Ramsbottom wiped the floor with them by 40pts (2014/15)?

Yep, we’re back stronger and tougher. John Hilton is recovering from cancer and will (I’m sure of it) be back this year. We’ve also got Steve Scowcroft and Louis Rosenthal and myself back playing this upcoming season. Any team that has Mick Moir in it is going to be very strong, but Ramsbottom, we’re coming after you next season.

14) Do you think yourself, Steve Scowcroft and Louis Rosenthal would be a formidable team guaranteed the Bolton title?

Yep, but Phil Bowen is also one of the most talented players around, and possibly the youngest looking 60-year-old since Benjamin Button, so don’t count him or Phil Biggs out of taking the big scalps too.

15) How does it feel entering tournaments like this? Is there a thirst, a need to still prove yourself?

Honestly, it was trepidation. I’ve played for the County Seniors since I moved up here some 10+ years ago. I’m definitely putting myself out there to be shot at, and at 39 years of age I’d love to play for the Seniors for a good few years to come. I’m not ready to put myself ‘Out to grass’ in the Veterans yet…

16) What was your most tense moment today?

9-9 in the 5^th and deciding game against Thomas Haddley. It was a long point and I chopped one off the floor and Thomas mishit it and it hit the edge of the table. Yep that was pretty tense.

17) What is the difference between the Open Singles and Grade ‘A’ Singles Banded?

Open Singles, everybody can play. Banded Singles is open to everybody except the top seeded players to play in.

18) Did you hit top form today? Good points and bad about your game?

Good points were mental toughness, getting myself back from seemingly difficult positions to win, which I guess is my strength. Weak points are that my backhand attack has now got my tennis technique and that doesn’t lend itself very well to table tennis. Imagine Stan Wawrinka trying to recover in under a second to a return of one of his long backhand drives – it’s not possible. I love tennis and will now play with my mate Roger throughout the summer so maybe that one backhand drive shot that I hardly ever use at table tennis should stay in the locker, for table tennis at least.

19) Do you think TT is in good health nationally and do you see us ever competing with the Chinese again?

The Grand Prix circuit is really good for players that want to rise on the ranking lists, but the cost to enter is astronomical, over £60 just in entry forms and that’s before you take into account travel and possible hotel bills. And the winner may get a couple of hundred pounds or a plastic and glass trophy if they are lucky. (What Steve Scowcroft’s daughter calls a ‘Skimmer’ like a stone you throw into the sea on holiday.) The game needs better marketing, better ideas and decent prize money. The Chinese are the best in the world, but why not stop worrying about the Chinese and concentrate on English Table Tennis being the best spectacle and the best format in Europe? Premiership football proves that if you create a great competition then the world will follow, even if other countries actually have better players than us.

20) Anything else you want to chip in of interest Paul, please do…

Thanks. You’ve done an excellent job in your table tennis journalism in the past and we need more people like yourself pushing the sport and uncovering the stories. Remember table tennis is the most played individual sport in the world. We just need somebody to open it up and give a fresh outlook. If darts can pull in thousands of people spectating then there’s no reason why table tennis can’t. And I think you can see from your chat with other players, there are definitely more characters in table tennis than there are in darts. I couldn’t see Phil Taylor diving over a barrier for a winning game shot and pulling his hamstring, could you?

 

Full results list for Lancashire Closed Championships 2015 from Quarter Final stage:

Senior Singles

Quarter Finals:

J Dempsey beat S Scowcroft

9-11, 11-2, 11-2, 13-11

C Musa beat D Griffith

11-7, 11-3, 5-11, 6-11, 11-7

T Haddley beat S Green

11-4, 11-6, 7-11, 11-5

P Cicchelli beat R Hall

11-8, 9-11, 11-5, 11-6

Semi Finals:

J Dempsey beat C Musa

6-11, 11-7, 11-5, 11-6

P Cicchelli beat T Haddley

8-11, 11-6, 11-8, 5-11, 13-11

Final:

P Cicchelli beat J Dempsey

11-13, 11-7, 11-3, 11-6

 

Junior Closed

Quarter Finals:

A Hussain beat A Dillon

11-9, 11-9, 13-11

M Lennon beat J Parker

11-7, 6-11, 11-3, 11-5

D Olsberg beat J Gilbert

9-11, 11-7, 12-10, 12-10

Z Cantor beat M Laird

11-4, 8-11, 6-11, 11-3, 11-3

Semi Finals:

A Hussain beat M Lennon

11-8, 11-7, 11-13, 12-10

D Olsberg beat Z Cantor

11-13, 13-11, 11-7, 10-12, 11-8

Final:

A Hussain beat D Olsberg

11-7, 11-9, 11-7

 

Junior Banded

Quarter Finals:

R Davies beat J Parker

12-10, 11-8, 11-9

D Olsberg beat J Edmunds

11-7, 11-3, 11-3

O Bendall beat J Gilbert

11-9, 11-6, 7-11, 10-12, 11-6

M Lennon beat C Richardson

11-5, 11-9, 11-6

Semi Finals:

D Olsberg beat R Davies

11-8, 12-10, 12-10

M Lennon beat O Bendall

7-11, 11-5, 18-16, 11-5

Final:

D Olsberg beat M Lennon

7-11, 11-8, 11-9, 11-5

 

Open Doubles

Quarter Finals:

Dempsey&Green beat Olsberg&Cantor

11-8, 11-9, 9-11, 11-4

Musa&Hussain beat Duff&Ahmed

12-10, 12-10, 11-7

Haddley&Scowcroft beat Hall&Renton

13-11, 9-11, 8-11, 12-10, 11-8

Griffiths&Cicchelli beat Pierce&Laird

11-4, 9-11, 11-9, 11-7

Semi Finals:

Dempsey&Green beat Musa&Hussain

7-11, 11-8, 13-11, 11-7

Haddley&Scowcroft beat Griffiths&Cicchelli

12-10, 7-11, 11-7, 11-4

Final:

Dempsey&Green beat Haddley&Scowcroft

11-6, 11-5, 11-6

 

Vets over 40

Quarter Finals:

T Haddley beat C Knowles

11-9, 11-8, 11-1

C Musa beat M Ireland

11-5, 9-11, 11-7, 11-5

S Scowcroft beat S Green

11-8, 9-11, 11-7, 11-5

D Griffith beat G Lennon

11-8, 11-2, 9-11, 13-15, 13-11

Semi Finals:

T Haddley beat C Musa

11-8, 11-9, 11-3

S Scowcroft beat D Griffith

11-5, 7-11, 11-8, 9-11, 11-8

Final:

T Haddley beat S Scowcroft

11-4, 6-11, 11-8, 11-5

 

Vets over 50

Semi Finals:

D Griffith beat N Mooney

11-7, 6-11, 11-13, 12-10, 11-8

S Green beat R Bennett

11-4, 11-6, 11-6

Final:

D Griffith beat S Green

8-11, 12-10, 11-5, 11-6

 

Senior Singles Banded

Quarter Finals:

R Hall beat W Ranton

7-11, 11-7, 11-9, 11-8

N Mooney beat R Assier

11-6, 11-6, 11-8

A Tyson beat M Esro

11-7, 11-6, 10-12, 11-8

M Benjamin beat N Ahmed

11-5, 11-13, 6-11, 11-9, 11-8

Semi Finals:

N Mooney beat R Hall

11-5, 11-8, 11-8

M Benjamin beat A Tyson

11-3, 11-5, 11-3

Final:

N Mooney beat M Benjamin

14-12, 11-5, 11-9

 

Ladies Round Robin                       

Beth Farnworth won the group

 

Junior Girls Round Robin              

Beth Farnworth won the group