Juan Noguera takes the honors in Rome

The International Open of Rome took place last week-end (March 22 and 23) with a strong field of 33 players in the Open category. Italian players were very strong but there were three foreign players left in the quarter-finals. Hansel Mallia (Malta) beat Filipe Maia in the quarter-final but lost to Juan Noguera (Spain) in the semi. In the other semi, Nicky Napolitano beat Andrea Di Vincenzo. Juan Noguera won the final in the sudden death against Napolitano. Lorenzo Bonomo was the U15 champion and Lorenzo Maresca won the U12 section. In the veterans, Mauro Manganello (Pisa) defeated top seed Gianfranco Calonico (Sanremo) in the final to claim the title. The host club of SC Fiamme Azzurre CM won the team event after a close final against CCT Roma. It was really a "Rome derby", probably as tragic as AS Roma against Lazio in the Serie A.

The winners of the team event

Manganello wins the veterans section

Juan Noguera, Open winner

Singapore is still growing

Last week-end the Singapore Association was the host of several tournaments. After a WASPA tournament held on friday and won by local legend Den Mulia, there was a FISTF Future on saturday with U19 players taking part in a event run in swiss format. 10 players took part and there were many close games. After the six first sessions, Mohd Azhar (Leste Aquila SC) beat Giovanni Choong (Singapore Lions) in the final (1-0) to claim the title.

Winners of the FISTF Future tournament

On sunday, 20 players attended the FISTF Satellite. There were 17 representatives from the host nations but also players from Hong Kong (Antonio Carabillo), Malaysia (Mike Dent) and France (Ouabi ROuis). After the groupe stage, the first surprises occured in the barrage round when Anas Rahamat defeated Antonio Carabillo. In the quarter-finals, Michael Choong managed to beat Rudy Hesty on shots. There were no surprises in the semis as Tan Kok Wee beat Micheal Choon and Ouabi Rouis defeated Den Mulia. In the final, Ouabi Rouis proved to be the most experienced player by defeating Tan Kok Wee (3-0).

Youth in action

Cédric Garnier is on top in Japan

14 players attended the FISTF Satellite of Yokohama held on March 21 in Japan. There was no surprise in the Open category as top favorite Cedric Garnier beat Kenzo Koi (3-0) in the final. Naoya Koide and Naruhisa Horino lost in the semis. Kosuke Watanabe was the U12 champion after winnign all his games in a group of 4. Finally, Tomoko Miyake beat Ryoko Wada on shots to win the ladies trophy.

Ladies category

U12 category

Open podium

FISTF tournaments in Brazil

Two events will be held in Brazil this season. The Grand Prix should take place on March 29 and 30 in Rio de Janeiro while the International Open of Nilópolis, Rio de Janeiro will take place on June 22. Here are the posters of the two events.

Grand Prix of Portugal

Here is the poster of the 18th Grand Prix of Portugal. All details are available on the blog http://grandprixportugalenu.blogspot.pt/

Hat trick for Reggio Emilia players in Frameries

The Major of Frameries took place this week-end with more than 220 players from 17 nations taking part in a wonderful event. On saturday the team event had an amazing of more than 50 teams taking part but in the end, the reigning european champions of Reggio Emilia (Italy) took the honors after defeating Austria's TFC Mattersburg in the final. It was not enough for the club of captaim Marco lamberti as Carlos Flores also won the Open category after a close final against Belgium's Valéry Dejardin. It was another Reggio Emilia player, Malta's Massimo Crmeona, who made a sensational debut in the veterans section. The former world number one had to play the qualification round but was in a hot day to beat Nuno Noronha in the final. The other winners of the week-end were Antonio Jesus Casin (U19), Marco Di Vito (U15), Noé Scheen (U12) and the Swiss princess Trisha Baumeler in the ladies section.

Flores, Lamberti, Licheri, Crmeona and Monica, a team "on fire" in Frameries

Subbuteo action at the Hamleys in Kuala Lumpur

On February 22, the players of the Hartamas Tigers Subbuteo Club in Kuala Lumpur had an exhibition at the famous Hamleys store. Two tables were set up for demos and friendly games and there will be more demos like this every last saturday of the month from now on. Stadiums were decorated with decals of the Hamleys brand but also with stickers of the current clubs partners (FISTF, WASPA, Singapore Subbuteo Association, Imagine games and the Minister of youth and sports). Coach Mike Dent and five young players were present to show the game to the visitors. The demo had a big impact as the "Star Newspaper" was present to cover to event and Mike Dent was interviewed by the reporter. On every subbuteo product sold in the shop, a sticker mentionned the existence of the Hartamas Tigers club. Well done for a great promotion!

Coach Mike Dent (right)

Promotion stickers on the boxes

The honors for Gareth Christie in Glasgow

Yorkshire Phoenix beat Tayside Kickers in the team event final in the Glasgow International Open at the Normandy Hotel this sunday. On saturday, the individual tournament was full of surprises. Gareth Christie of the Tayside Kickers won the Open final against Bristol's Paulo Gouveia (2-1 in sudden death) while Daniel Scheen from Stembert (Belgium) won the veterans and his son Noé Scheen won the U15 section. Well done to all.

Gareth Christie and Paulo Gouveia