Table tennis tournament likely to return later this year

Published 9:09 pm Saturday, January 6, 2018

From all indications, the inaugural United State Table Tennis Tournament was a success in Vicksburg.

The two-day tournament was held at the Vicksburg Convention Center.

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South Ward Alderman Alex Monsour, who helped organize the event and also participated, said he expects the sanctioned event to return to Vicksburg with another tournament later this year.

There may also be a league formed locally.

“We’re in the infancy stage, but we plan to do it every year from now on,” Monsour said.

Monsour said the response from participants was very good and the 2018 tournament likely will be held during a time period that will allow more people to participate. He said more participation would have been likely from students if Alcorn State University had not been out for the winter break.

Players entered the tournament either in the intermediate or advance level. In the future, a competitor will likely be graded on their ability by winning or losing their initial match, rather than signing up for one level or the other, which would mean a more level playing field.

In Friday night’s finals, Brian LaBarre won the advance tournament and his dad, Joe LaBarre, won the intermediate tournament.

“It was fun and everybody had a good time and that’s what we were trying to accomplish,” Monsour said.