The first match was between Ejaye Victor and Umuze Raymond.
A high stake match,with supporters of each side rooting for their player.Everyone understood that the two players are highly skilled and highly motivated,so the game could go either way.
But it did not.
Here is what happened;the two players employed the very same strategies;carefulness and avoidance of the opponents strong points.This produced a match with very interesting,high tension rallies,with careful and measured loops and shots.At the end of four games,the major score was 2-2,and the best of three games is the winner.The fifth and final game was fully charged,with palpable tension.If the bats could talk,the would should for help.The game ended in favour of Raymond.The crowd cheered and cheered.
But the story continues,as Victor requested an immediate rematch.
The house considered the close call of the match and Raymond's opinion and in the end all parties consented.An immediate rematch started.This time,the music turned into a war song.No one was to be outdone,it was deep chop for deep chop,loop for drive,counter for counter and everything in the books,and then some unwritten ones.The match came to a major score of 2-2 again.The crowd was breathless at this point,but the players were roaring to go.The fifth game ended in favour of Victor.Wao!!!
The scene went on fire.Table tennis games are never drawn.Is this a draw? or is a rematch in the offing?
The next two contestants were Chukwuma and Jude.Here again,the two players applied the same strategies in the initial stages of the game.First,Jude employed delay tactics.He was not seen anywhere in the venue and no one had any information on him until a few minutes to the match. His opponent ,who had come to the event much earlier became worried,unsure whether the match would hold or not,affecting his psyche. The organisers came close to cancelling the match,when suddenly Jude appeared.Then Chukwuma disappeared.In a counter move,popularly known as mirroring.The crowd was confused.Having put his adversary in equal pedestal,Chukwuma reappeared.
Then the game started;this time ,on the table tennis board.
These two "brain" men brought it all to the table.They played with a concentration that was beyond any of their previous performances,it was as though a big payoff was at stake.But it was more than that,supremacy was at stake.The crowd was in awe.
And just when everyone one thought the day had climaxed,along came Bobby and Igwe,two top notch table tennis exponents.
These two were reported to be under the weather earlier in the day,they only came to cheer and lift up their spirits(at least that is what they said).But believe me,table tennis is addictive,and the excitement can be infectious.These two contestants found themselves on the table,driven by the magic of the spin. Many observers believe that the report of illness by the two earlier in the day amounted to a strategy employed by each to disarm the other,it failed.The association's doctor is looking into running some tests on the duo to determine the truth. The game started in ernest,a flagrant display of skill,speed,precision and timing.These two players were going head to head at full throttle. The game of table tennis is beautiful. The game ended with a major score of 3-1 in favour of Igwe. The final match was between Raymond and Igwe. Igwe again. It was like icing on the cake.The game showed Raymond demonstrating raw skills,while Igwe stood his ground as if in continuation of his previous match.Igwe won the match.Igwe again. The final match had observers questioning if the match between Igwe and Bobby should be cancelled,as Bobby continued to show signs of recovering from I'll health,while Igwe apparently feigned illness as a strategy.Whatever the case may be,reports from the doctor is being awaited. On behalf of the table tennis lovers of this world,I say to the participants "well played".
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