Fred Martin was a big man.  Fred also had a big heart.  This tournament was all about Fred and keeping alive his memory among us table tennis players.  There was a table in the entry way set up with numerous photographs of Fred and some of the medals he won at the Fireman's Olympics.  Fred was a long time member of the Long Beach Table Tennis Club. 

I first met Fred over 10 years ago when I searched for the person who made the white colored clamp favoured by table tennis players to clamp their paddle after freshly glued rubber sheets are affixed to the blade.  I finally met Fred at the Laguna Beach Seniors tournament and ordered one.  Over the years, I have bought about 8 or 9 clamps for myself and to some friends who wanted one.  Fred loved kids.  I recall several times when we would make the trek from Bakersfield to the Long Beach club, he would go out of his way to talk to Marie and Ethan.  Several times he invited us over to his house after the saturday round robin and he would proceed to inpsect the blades of my kids and then repair the dings. 

Fred Martin also happens to be the father in law of a very famous person.  Fred's daughter Jeri, is married to Dan Fouts, an out-standing Hall of Fame quarterback who played for the San Diego Chargers.  It would also be good to see Mrs. Martin.

As the Open quarterfinals started, Mrs. Martin and Martin clan walked in the gym.  A few minutes later, Winston Ngai, president of LBTTC got on the microphone to say a few words and thanked the Martin family for supporting this event.  Mrs. Martin said a few words.  Then his son (whom I failed to catch his name) got on the microphone to thank everyone for showing up.  Last was Dan Fouts.  He encouraged everyone to excel and this is what Fred would have wanted.

Jim Du easily took care of Rudy Miranda.  Thilina overpowered Ramin Samari.  After Ben Johnson got going, he moved on to the SF with a win over John Thach Tran.  The last QF is a repeat of what happened in Santa Monica a week earlier.  Jessie Mai had to face Dr. Tuan Le.  Like the previous encounter Dr. Le advanced to the next round leaving Jessie confounded.  Likewise the SF matches was again a duplicate of the Santa Monica tournament.  The results were similar.  Jim Du over Dr. Le and Thilina besting Ben Johnson. 

The finals was between Jim Du and Thilina Piyadasa.  If my memory is correct, this will be the 5th meeting between these two players.  Jim beat Thilina at the Northridge Tournament a year ago for the first time.  It was a very dominating victory, 4-0.  Since then, Jim has lot to him 3 times in a row, the last being just a week earlier in Santa Monica.  This time around, I could tell Jim was a bit more focused.  Unlike in Santa Monica a week earlier, Jim was relentless in long counter looping points with him winning about 70% of the time.  Match to Jim.  He repeats as the Open champion for the Fred Martin Memorial tournament.

Two announcements were made at this tournament.  The Long Beach TTC was moving, to a much larger facility in nearby Los Alamitos.  The Martins also announced they have committed to sponsor this event again next year.  Results of the tournament can be found:  http://www.longbeachttc.org/tournies/fredmartinmem_09/fredmartinmem09_results.pdf