VOLUME IV. No.6 MARCH, 1939 THREE PENCE THE BIG MATCHES By The Hon. Ivor eJ«ontagu. 8,000 or more fans saw the Wembley it was not possible to see where, with him attack of his opponent, with an unanswer­ Finals. With the world championships in this mood, any human being could able combination of drives as climax. so far away they were the event of our take a contested point away from him, Point n10unted after point. And in each season this year. And they proved an flashing inspired half-volley to every case first lead then game was gone from unusually good show. his opponent. MEN'S SINGLEs.-One of the most The New Champion But in the third game against Bergmann spectacular matches of modern times. as against Barna, Vana relaxed. Leading A n1atch to remember and hark back to. in the third-and in the first two, what The players are both brilliant, and of an had even a lead profited his opponent? age to be near the top of their form. A He threw it, carelessly and disdainfully, contrast. Vana-the natural genius. and Bergmann did what Barna, without Bergmann-the intelligent strategist who his youth, could not attempt. Clearly, improves and makes the most of his games from the start, Bergmann profited by his by hard work. Vana-born attacker who last year's lesson that defence was futile has developed an extraordinarily agile against Vana. In 12 months he had defence. Bergmann-the pure defensive developed attack and like hardly any player who has taught himself the attack developed player who learns new tricks, he needs. had the courage to employ them. Having In a way the pairing reminded one of rightly determined attack his only policy, Bellak (also an unconscious and unp~e­ come what may, he did not falter. Feeling dictable genius, who threw away many his chance he doubled pressure in the titles from two games up) and the fourth game like a whirlwind. strategists like Mechlovitz, Barna and Everything came right. Vana strove Szabados, who were greater though less to stand before the storm. He could not gifted players. pull himself together. Nothing he could Last year's meeting was spoiled because try availed the least. I have seen better Bergmann, then world-holder, was so fought matches, from first point to last, scared he did not even put up a fight. but what fireworks! This year he had won so many exhibitions WOMEN'S SINGLES.-A newcomer. A against his rival that confidence returned rare record. Not since Dr. Pecsi, in 1908, and ensured a better show, while on the has a junior won both junior and senior other hand Vana was over-confident. titles in a single tournament. Victory in Despite his exhibition losses he believed such a fight, before so great a crowd, and in his star. Somehow, in the match that against an opponent playing throughout mattered, things would come right, as Table Tennis of the highest international they had before. And they nearly did. order, could have been won only by a Few who saw that evening's Table youngster so naturally gifted in ball­ Tennis will forget the Vana who won game match-play, as to deserve un­ seven or eight of the last ten points in the stinted praise as genius. first, second and fourth games against But there was another side to the Barna in his semi-final, and in the first match. Dora Emdin has had quite a long and second against Bergmann. In every international career of many feats. She case, his opponent had played so con­ has defeated a reigning world champion. sistently brilliantly as to earn a lead. And Photo by J. L. Adams, A.R.P.S. But never has she played so well as in in each case, as Vana put the screw on, l Richard Bergmann (Continued on page 2) TABLE TENNIS THE BIG MATCHES-Continued from page 1. these championships, nor better than in (...-------------------. this match. To make the pace for five ENGLISH CHAMPIONSHIPS THE ENGLISH long games, to open up a closed vise, with accurate swift attack from no particular Thank You, Every One TABLE TENNIS opportunities, provided a frightful ordeal Bill Pope. \vhich she sustained so creditably indeed, ASSOCIATIOJN as to recall the piay that earned Kettinova so much sympathy in this hall Patron: His Majesty the King against Aarons, two years back. It is a chastening thought that, had OFFICERS, 1938-1939 Jean Nicoll not been an English girl, known to be young, and liked as well as President: H. Oldroyd, Esq., she was known; had she been a stranger Brow Cottage, High Lane,. Stockport~ as World Champion Pritzi was a stranger, Cheshire. it would have been Dora who would have Chairman: Hon. Ivor Montagu, gained, as she earned the applause, and 29, Ranelagh Gardens, London, W.6. the youngster might well have been Hon. Treasurer: Mr. A. K. Vint, booed as loud as Pritzi was. Sa, Cornwallis Gardens, Hastings, Sussex.. In such a reaction the crowd would have been wrong, It is always wrong, to decry Hon. General Secretary: W. J. Pope~ a player playing his or her best and Featherstone House, 64, High Holborn, London, W.C.I. hardest. How wrong of course is ap­ ('Phone: Holborn 9544) parent in such a case as Jean's, where no one blames and everyone admires, Executive Committee, 1938-1939 Miss P. Anderton, 125. Manchester Road, Chorlton-cum­ because it is plain that a youngster Hardy, Manchester 21. holding her own in such an ordeal is Mr. J•.Batty, I I. St. Leonard's Drive, Woodlands Park~ Tlmperley, Cheshire. doing her best. Mr. L~~co~~s"h;:~~' 31, Cumberland Avenue, Grimsby, Jean Nicoll is young, it will be a pity if she is content to win, when she has it in Mrs. Ma~~he;;er.Bunbury, Dudley Lodge, Prestwich, her to win wonderfully well. Her mark in Mr. ~~r~":din. Northaw. Kingsbury Avenue, St. Albans,. Table Tennis, as one of three great defen­ Mr. M. Goldstei~, 222, Alcester Road, Birmingham 13. sive players in a day lacking in strong all­ Mr. F. J. P. HIlls, 87, North Side, London, S.W.4. rounders, or as something more, has yet Mr. ~~o;~hi~~ng. Teofani, Lower Avenue, Exeter, to be determined. Mr. K. A. Nicholson, 24, Nuns Moor Crescent Newcastle-on-Tyne 4. ,. Mr. M. W. Robinson, I I, Elm Avenue, Garden Village World Championships, Cairo Hull, Yorkshire. ' Mr. J. M. Rose, 39, London Road, London, S.E.I. The following will represent England in Miss R. Smits, 32, Brook House, Gunnersbury Lane, W.3. the Sway'thling Cup : E. Bubley (London). II TABLE TENNIS II K. Hyde (Liverpool). H. Lurie (Manchester). The Official Magazine K. Stanley (Manchester). Published by the E.T.T.A. The Championships will take place from March 6 to 11. Photo by J. L. Adams, A.B.P.S. Monthly, October to May. No English women's team is being sent. Jean Nicoll, Double Champion MAGAZINE COMMITTEE: The Misses B. Capper and R. Smits, Mrs. G. Tower, and Messrs. R. Brewer, E. A. W. Cast, Viktor Barna picks an Eng/ish team W. C. Charlton, W. J. Pope, E. G. White) and F. H. Wilson. AST season I had the privilege of English" Open," but in all the tournament The Magazine is obtainable from the E.T.T.A., Lcoaching the English team taking part results, so we need waste no more time about 64, High Holborn, London, W.C.I, price 3d. for in the World Championships. This season them. individual copies. For the other two places I have three Su bscri ption rates: 2/- for eight issues, post free.. I have been playing in New Zealand, names-Bergl, Seaman, and Stanley. I per­ Australia and India and therefore could U.S.A. and Canada: $0.50. sonally would prefer Seaman, because of his The Magazine can also be obtained from League not be busy ,vith the English boys. But fighting spirit. He has a good forehand Secretaries and all newsagents. this does not mean that I am not inter­ ?-nd a good defence. He never knows when ested. On the contrary I am very he is beaten, and you can be sure he will not MSS. for publication must be received by interested and no one would be happier let you down. the 14th of the month. than I to see them win in Cairo. This leaves us with (( good ole warhorse" I am reminded of an article I wrote for the Maurice Bergl, and "three times junior champion" Ken.Stanley for the fifth place. HE English team selected to play against Magazine last year-against unnecessary Wales on Tuesday, February 21, was as trials. Trials, in my opinion, make discon­ The Selectors wIll have to make a choice T between " experience" and " youth," but I follows: Singles: Stanley, Rosen, Seaman, tent between players who have earned their Hardn1an, Litten, Bergl (captain). Doubles: places already and who must be selected, do not think the settlement of this question needs a nation-wide trial. Rosen and Hardman, Moreton and Carrington, and those who have good trial results, and Bergl and Seaman. in spite of this will not be selected. About the ladies! I was glad to see them play so. well in the English (( Open," and This year we have one more reason against Answers to Problem Corner, and Bellak's depending solely upon trial results. That would lIke to see Jean Nicoll in Cairo, not only because with her the English team could "Playing the Game" are unavoidably held is that never before was a team so obvious.