This year’s battle between the two islands will take place in Tinian Dynasty Ball Room on May 23, giving the Saipan team the chance to bring home the championship title that Tinian won last year.
Games will start at 9:00 a.m.
During last year’s tournament, Tinian bagged the championship and first second in singles and first place in doubles.
Marianas Amateur Table Tennis Association coordinator, Budhi Gurung said that team competition will be included this year, which will happen for the first time.
Each team, he said will have three best players and whichever team wins five games will be declared as a winner.
Each player will have to play three games. Doubles and singles will be played on a knock out basis for first, second and third place.
Through out the years, the tournament played only singles and doubles on a round robin basis as there were only six best players on each side.
Since round robin format is a long battle since each player has to play with each other team players.
“Then we will calculate how may win or lose. Based on that format, the team will be declared a winner.
Although round robin is a very good format because each and every single player get a chance to play with everyone as every player has his own technique but it is really a tiring game.
Tinian hosts the tournament in April and May every year, while Saipan hosts it in September and October.
The Tinian power house includes, coach, Ma, Luke, Sudong a former Saipan team player who is now with Tinian, Charlie, Robin, Bright, Alfred and Liyang
The Saipan contingents are Budhi Gurung, Jean Shi, Steve Lim and Hamamoto san, and first time to be joining Saipan team, Tae-Won Park Director-Sales and Marketing from World Resort and president of Korean Ping Pong Association, and three of his members.
