THE FEELING OF WINNING A FIRST EVER MAJOR NORTH AMERICAN STIGA TABLE HOCKEY TOURNAMENT.
By: Paul Shabi
Hello, I'm Paul Shabi and I'm 16 years old. I am ranked #2 in the United States and one of the best top players in both the USA and North America. :) Just a month ago, I had just won my first ever major Stiga Table Hockey tournament in Suburban Chicago in the Stiga U.S. Open on Saturday, July 21st, 2012. :) As I tell you my experience from winning a major tournament. What it is like to win a major tournament is not a very easy thing. This game of table hockey is easy to learn and play, but in tournament and league play, the game is played VERY seriously and played at a very high level by the very HIGH ranked players from Canada and the United States with very sick and fast trick shots (Like in foosball). This tournament had hosted 29 table hockey players on the Stiga site with players coming from places like Edmonton, Illinois, California, Montreal, Arizona, etc. with a good number of about 5 - 7 newcomers/new players to the game. :) The first round robin was a good start. Unfortunately, my TH Rival from Pennsylvania, Mike Hubbard, hammered me in a 6-2 loss. But I never looked back and played the rest of the round robin where I went 8-1. Good for 16 points. The next round robin, I still continued my perfection of play. :-) This time, going 11-3-1 in the 2nd round robin. Good for 3rd in the A group for 23 points. Then comes playoff time where it was the top 16 prelims. (Meaning that the top 16 finishers, top 8 in A and top 8 in B, would play a preliminary round which results in the 1st round losers playing in B Pool Playoffs while the others went on the the A Quarterfinals. In the Prelims, I played a Madison, WI Veteran player by the name of Darrell Beyer. (Last year, I played him in B Quarters in Coleco US Open 2011. This year, I play him in the Prelims on Stiga. The first round, I won the series 4-1. The next round, (The Quarters) I face USTHA President and Homer Glen Stiga Player Eric Krol. First game was a start winning 5-4. I went up 3-0 before losing game 4 5-2 before winning game 5. 4-2. The 3rd round of these playoffs, (The Final Four) was the elite with me and my Atlantic TH Rival Mike Hubbard, and Eric Davis and Reggie Stefanyszian in the Final Four. Game 1 was a scoring game with me winning 8-6. However, Hubbard would win the next 3 games (2-1, 3-2 OT, and 4-3). All 1 goal games. :( With that in stage, it looked like I was done. But I doubt it. My father, all he had to say to me was relax on your games and play calm/smooth. And with just that. The game 5 was a win for me 5-1. Game 6 next was probably one of the most intense in the A Playoffs. With the game tied at 1 after five minutes of regulation play. The game went into overtime. Where for the next 4-5 minutes or so, set a intense overtime until after a shot block from my right defense. My right defensemen to my right wing, up and down the rush making the shovel shot/pass to my centerman tipping in the OT winner to keep the series alive and force a game 7. The second time in a row that me and Mike Hubbard go to a 7 game series. (Last one was in March, 2011 in Detroit- Quarterfinals) Game 7 was the game on the line for both players. With the intro music of The Doors- The End, and the first whistle gone, game 7 had started. For the first early while of the game. It was defense battles and hard-quick shots. Until the first goal was my RW to C shovel shot. 1-0. The game was a good one as my defensemen an goalie played an extremely great game until my LW-C Centrifuge shot made it 2-0. Then my Straight shot from my LD made it 3-0. Setting the stage for the final minute(s) of the game. Tight defense and more shots on the way. It all ended with a lot more action until the final ten seconds with my 2nd shutout of the playoffs and a game 7 win to go on to the Class A Championship Finals. :) Marking this as the biggest come from behind series win down 1-3 to win 4-3. :) Then, you all probably know what the next stage is. The Class A Championship Finals. Featuring me (Paul Shabi) and Eric Davis of Byron, IL (Who beat Reggie S. of Edmonton 6-4 in Game 7). This was an All-American Final which of course will have an American champion in the Stiga U.S. Open for the first time since 2006 (Kenny DuBois). First game I scored first goal in the game. :) Then it's 2-1 Davis then 2-2, then 3-2 Davis, 3-3 tie. Then the only OT Game in the 7-Game series. My LD-LW-C shot and Game 1 winner. Shabi leads series 1-0. However, in game 2. Davis didn't stop, and neither did I. My team/players on the ice threw everything that they all had at Davis's defense. Stoned us and got the win. 6-2 . Series tied 1-1. Game 3 was just about the same. This time, the score was 6-2 Davis. Davis leads series 2-1. This time again, I had to play catch-up in the playoffs. Luckily in Game 4, it worked. The score was the same as Game 2 but the other way around. 6-3 me. This time, my defense starts to improved. I was back on my game. :) Game 5 was the best of 5 game. It was a catch-up like game for me. Davis scores first 2 goals in the first minute. I come back and score 2 before he scores two more to make it 4-2. Then after a quick goal disallowed under 3 seconds, I had 2 RD-LD Goals to tie the game until in the last dozen seconds off Davis's goalie on my Centrifuge, I grab my center player to jam the puck home into the net to take the lead 5-4 to win game 5 with one more win for the US Open 2012 Stiga Tournament Title. And just when you have that feeling of winning a championship final, and you are up 3-2 in a series and a game 6 like the next one would be easy to close out the series. It unfortunately wasn't. I had a early 1-0 lead feeling it would come. Until the defense of mine gave up 2 goals of Eric Davis. Once again, I didn't quit. Threw everything I had at Eric Davis's goalie. Stoned my guys and got the win 2-1. With the series tied at 3. You probably knew or didn't know what Game 7 would deliver. Going into Game 7, it was calm, the crowd was all in it. Both finalists looked suspicious and quite nervous. The first minute, I had 2 goals from the RW-C Low Shot and the LW-C Short-cut tip in. Then came 2 RW straight shot goals to make it 4-0. Then it was 7-0 with my 2 LD Goals and a LD to RD shot making it 7-0 before Davis makes it 7-1 on a RW-C Shovel shot. Then for almost a minute (Actually, a little over a minute). There was no scoring, just shots on net until my Long Centrifuge makes it 8-1 with 1:15 left to play. Then Referee Jim Rzonca says "Enjoy it Paul". Then I respond "Alright". Then Davis says "Congratulations Paul". Then I say, Thanks Eric. The LD Goal makes it 9-1. With all laughter and reaction. With a minute left in play. The score from my Centrifuge is now 10-1 Me. And a few seconds later. 11-1 Paul Shabi. Then I say "It's a multiple homicite." The crowd gets a kick out of it." Even Jim Rzonca laughing in awe. With the little trash talk and a 10 goal lead. The last goal, a RW Straight shot, makes it 12-1 Paul Shabi. On a mission, stealing it. The timer goes to ten seconds, and then 5,4,3,2,1, and the final horn. The crowd is happy in applause and cheers. My dad congratulates me and I shake Jim's hand and Reggie's hand afterwards along with the other people. :) Then there comes the awards ceremony with the Coleco/Stiga Combined trophy award along with the C and B awards and others. Then comes down to the A awards for 3rd, and 2nd. And now, the championship award. Eric Krol makes the award introduction, then I am announced. I am presented with the cup and I happily lift it over my head in happily celebration. :D So happy to win it, then I have a ton of picture shots taken of me followed by my speech to the organizers, my dad and the people I played with. The applause comes after the concluding speech. The tournament is over as the Afterparty awaits. Unfortunately, well, it is a bar/grill/restaurant and I had my dad with me. I wanted to go out and celebrate. With me winning the tournament. It was the first Afterparty without the tournament winner. :'( . I felt really tired but still happy. When me and my dad leave. Eric nicely says to us "Drive Safe" :). I was literally tired anyways and sadly not that hungry/starving LOL :P :) After I get on my laptop and eat. I read the comments from the tablehockey social media websites from the people in Canada and the USA sending me letters/posts on congratulations and all that while reading the posts/watching the game videos. :) A happy event in my Table Hockey Life and the start in the Competitive part of the sport of table hockey.
Paul Shabi :) #2 in the USTHA, 6th in NA (USTHA Rankings)
7-21-12 :-)
Hello, I'm Paul Shabi and I'm 16 years old. I am ranked #2 in the United States and one of the best top players in both the USA and North America. :) Just a month ago, I had just won my first ever major Stiga Table Hockey tournament in Suburban Chicago in the Stiga U.S. Open on Saturday, July 21st, 2012. :) As I tell you my experience from winning a major tournament. What it is like to win a major tournament is not a very easy thing. This game of table hockey is easy to learn and play, but in tournament and league play, the game is played VERY seriously and played at a very high level by the very HIGH ranked players from Canada and the United States with very sick and fast trick shots (Like in foosball). This tournament had hosted 29 table hockey players on the Stiga site with players coming from places like Edmonton, Illinois, California, Montreal, Arizona, etc. with a good number of about 5 - 7 newcomers/new players to the game. :) The first round robin was a good start. Unfortunately, my TH Rival from Pennsylvania, Mike Hubbard, hammered me in a 6-2 loss. But I never looked back and played the rest of the round robin where I went 8-1. Good for 16 points. The next round robin, I still continued my perfection of play. :-) This time, going 11-3-1 in the 2nd round robin. Good for 3rd in the A group for 23 points. Then comes playoff time where it was the top 16 prelims. (Meaning that the top 16 finishers, top 8 in A and top 8 in B, would play a preliminary round which results in the 1st round losers playing in B Pool Playoffs while the others went on the the A Quarterfinals. In the Prelims, I played a Madison, WI Veteran player by the name of Darrell Beyer. (Last year, I played him in B Quarters in Coleco US Open 2011. This year, I play him in the Prelims on Stiga. The first round, I won the series 4-1. The next round, (The Quarters) I face USTHA President and Homer Glen Stiga Player Eric Krol. First game was a start winning 5-4. I went up 3-0 before losing game 4 5-2 before winning game 5. 4-2. The 3rd round of these playoffs, (The Final Four) was the elite with me and my Atlantic TH Rival Mike Hubbard, and Eric Davis and Reggie Stefanyszian in the Final Four. Game 1 was a scoring game with me winning 8-6. However, Hubbard would win the next 3 games (2-1, 3-2 OT, and 4-3). All 1 goal games. :( With that in stage, it looked like I was done. But I doubt it. My father, all he had to say to me was relax on your games and play calm/smooth. And with just that. The game 5 was a win for me 5-1. Game 6 next was probably one of the most intense in the A Playoffs. With the game tied at 1 after five minutes of regulation play. The game went into overtime. Where for the next 4-5 minutes or so, set a intense overtime until after a shot block from my right defense. My right defensemen to my right wing, up and down the rush making the shovel shot/pass to my centerman tipping in the OT winner to keep the series alive and force a game 7. The second time in a row that me and Mike Hubbard go to a 7 game series. (Last one was in March, 2011 in Detroit- Quarterfinals) Game 7 was the game on the line for both players. With the intro music of The Doors- The End, and the first whistle gone, game 7 had started. For the first early while of the game. It was defense battles and hard-quick shots. Until the first goal was my RW to C shovel shot. 1-0. The game was a good one as my defensemen an goalie played an extremely great game until my LW-C Centrifuge shot made it 2-0. Then my Straight shot from my LD made it 3-0. Setting the stage for the final minute(s) of the game. Tight defense and more shots on the way. It all ended with a lot more action until the final ten seconds with my 2nd shutout of the playoffs and a game 7 win to go on to the Class A Championship Finals. :) Marking this as the biggest come from behind series win down 1-3 to win 4-3. :) Then, you all probably know what the next stage is. The Class A Championship Finals. Featuring me (Paul Shabi) and Eric Davis of Byron, IL (Who beat Reggie S. of Edmonton 6-4 in Game 7). This was an All-American Final which of course will have an American champion in the Stiga U.S. Open for the first time since 2006 (Kenny DuBois). First game I scored first goal in the game. :) Then it's 2-1 Davis then 2-2, then 3-2 Davis, 3-3 tie. Then the only OT Game in the 7-Game series. My LD-LW-C shot and Game 1 winner. Shabi leads series 1-0. However, in game 2. Davis didn't stop, and neither did I. My team/players on the ice threw everything that they all had at Davis's defense. Stoned us and got the win. 6-2 . Series tied 1-1. Game 3 was just about the same. This time, the score was 6-2 Davis. Davis leads series 2-1. This time again, I had to play catch-up in the playoffs. Luckily in Game 4, it worked. The score was the same as Game 2 but the other way around. 6-3 me. This time, my defense starts to improved. I was back on my game. :) Game 5 was the best of 5 game. It was a catch-up like game for me. Davis scores first 2 goals in the first minute. I come back and score 2 before he scores two more to make it 4-2. Then after a quick goal disallowed under 3 seconds, I had 2 RD-LD Goals to tie the game until in the last dozen seconds off Davis's goalie on my Centrifuge, I grab my center player to jam the puck home into the net to take the lead 5-4 to win game 5 with one more win for the US Open 2012 Stiga Tournament Title. And just when you have that feeling of winning a championship final, and you are up 3-2 in a series and a game 6 like the next one would be easy to close out the series. It unfortunately wasn't. I had a early 1-0 lead feeling it would come. Until the defense of mine gave up 2 goals of Eric Davis. Once again, I didn't quit. Threw everything I had at Eric Davis's goalie. Stoned my guys and got the win 2-1. With the series tied at 3. You probably knew or didn't know what Game 7 would deliver. Going into Game 7, it was calm, the crowd was all in it. Both finalists looked suspicious and quite nervous. The first minute, I had 2 goals from the RW-C Low Shot and the LW-C Short-cut tip in. Then came 2 RW straight shot goals to make it 4-0. Then it was 7-0 with my 2 LD Goals and a LD to RD shot making it 7-0 before Davis makes it 7-1 on a RW-C Shovel shot. Then for almost a minute (Actually, a little over a minute). There was no scoring, just shots on net until my Long Centrifuge makes it 8-1 with 1:15 left to play. Then Referee Jim Rzonca says "Enjoy it Paul". Then I respond "Alright". Then Davis says "Congratulations Paul". Then I say, Thanks Eric. The LD Goal makes it 9-1. With all laughter and reaction. With a minute left in play. The score from my Centrifuge is now 10-1 Me. And a few seconds later. 11-1 Paul Shabi. Then I say "It's a multiple homicite." The crowd gets a kick out of it." Even Jim Rzonca laughing in awe. With the little trash talk and a 10 goal lead. The last goal, a RW Straight shot, makes it 12-1 Paul Shabi. On a mission, stealing it. The timer goes to ten seconds, and then 5,4,3,2,1, and the final horn. The crowd is happy in applause and cheers. My dad congratulates me and I shake Jim's hand and Reggie's hand afterwards along with the other people. :) Then there comes the awards ceremony with the Coleco/Stiga Combined trophy award along with the C and B awards and others. Then comes down to the A awards for 3rd, and 2nd. And now, the championship award. Eric Krol makes the award introduction, then I am announced. I am presented with the cup and I happily lift it over my head in happily celebration. :D So happy to win it, then I have a ton of picture shots taken of me followed by my speech to the organizers, my dad and the people I played with. The applause comes after the concluding speech. The tournament is over as the Afterparty awaits. Unfortunately, well, it is a bar/grill/restaurant and I had my dad with me. I wanted to go out and celebrate. With me winning the tournament. It was the first Afterparty without the tournament winner. :'( . I felt really tired but still happy. When me and my dad leave. Eric nicely says to us "Drive Safe" :). I was literally tired anyways and sadly not that hungry/starving LOL :P :) After I get on my laptop and eat. I read the comments from the tablehockey social media websites from the people in Canada and the USA sending me letters/posts on congratulations and all that while reading the posts/watching the game videos. :) A happy event in my Table Hockey Life and the start in the Competitive part of the sport of table hockey.
Paul Shabi :) #2 in the USTHA, 6th in NA (USTHA Rankings)
7-21-12 :-)
