2000 Ann Van Vooren Memorial Cup

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What it's all about!

Randy, only one step away in '99

The Ann Van Vooren Memorial Cup tournament is fast becoming one of the most exciting events in the Southwest.  Originally restricted to only 48 entries, demand was so high this year that it was expanded to 60.  Even at that, there was a significant waiting list to get in.  Look for expansion to possibly 72 next year!

This years Cup had a cut-off of a 2000 USATT rating.  This leads to a highly competitive field.  But this event is not just about the competition.  It is sponsored by Ann's husband, D. G. Van Vooren, long a fixture in the table tennis world.  D.G. withdrew from competition for many tears as he assisted his wife through the grueling tragedy of Alsheimer's.  Now that he has retired, and Ann has passed on to a much better venue, he is active once again in our global family.

A key aspect of the tournament is comraderie.  The HTTC gives you ample space to socialize and relax as well as to compete or watch great matches.  There were lots and lots of new faces on the TT scene here.  One of the highlites of the event is the lunchtime buffet for the players.  This year it was Pappa John's pizza.  Little touches like these make the tournament so popular.  New freinds and good times create memories you want to keep.

        The 2nd Annual Ann Van Vooren Memorial Cup tournament, held again at the Houston Table Tennis Center, proved to be a huge success, with the 48-player format having to be expanded to accomodate 60 due to the unexpectedly large number of entries.  This event, which was designed and sponsored by long-time Houston player D.G. Van Vooren, is unique in that only players rated below 2000 may enter.  The tournament format features preliminary round-robins of six with the top two finishers advancing to the "A" division, the next two to "B", and the remaining players to "C", each being decided by single-elimination play.  Those who make it to the "A" bracket will have the opportunity to duke it out for a share of the nearly $500 in total prize money, with the overall winner getting his/her name inscribed on the Memorial Cup, which is on permanent display at the Houston Table Tennis Center.
        This year's event was exceptionally competitive, drawing 11 players at the 1850 level or above.  Nevertheless, top-seeded Hong Chuong of Dallas managed to cruise through the "A" division draw without dropping a game, defeating Corpus Christie's Amir Hormozi at 14, 12, 12.  After a preliminary round loss to Ernie Thomson, Hormozi rebounded strongly by successively knocking out 1920+ rated players Walt Rosen, Rick Mueller, and semi-finalist Randy Hou, the latter requiring five games, 7, -13, -16, 15, 11.  Chuong's semi-final match was the only one in which he was seriously challenged, holding off Sugarland's Claude Jones at 19, 17, 20.
        The "B" division final pitted two preliminary round upset victims, with Houston's Patrick Nguyen defeating Rene Rizk of Austin, 14, 17, 20.  James Thompson of San Antonio took the top honors in the "C" division with a victory over Sam Latham of Tyler, -17, 12, 13, 13.

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