London Academy’s first Open Tournament of the new year saw two-time runner-up Sammy Kaye win the Senior Mixed Tournament by beating Doniyor Makhkamov in a reversal of the previous final.

Makhkamov won that encounter in three sets, but eBaTT’s Kaye (pictured above left) turned the tables with a four-set win (11-4, 7-11, 11-7, 11-4).

It wasn’t an easy tournament win – having lost in five sets to the competition’s only female entrant, Binyou Zhao (11-4, 6-11, 11-7, 2-11, 11-8), Kaye ended up winning his group via a three-way countback when Zhao lost to Nana Ansah in five sets (11-2, 10-12, 5-11, 11-9, 11-5). He also had to come through a very tough five-game semi-final against fourth seed Adam Klos (6-11, 11-7, 11-8, 6-11, 11-8).

Under-19 Boys

Second seed Ben Levi skipped the last U19 tournament to take part in the Senior competition. This time he was back and determined to take the title.

He did so by coming from behind to beat his club-mate Will Hopkins in a tight five-set final (11-9, 6-11, 5-11, 11-7, 12-10).

Hopkins had previously beaten top seed Marcel Ndongala in an equally tight semi-final (11-9, 7-11, 11-5, 9-11, 11-9). Levi beat Brian Wan in his semi-final (13-11, 11-8, 6-11, 11-6).

Under-19 Girls

London Academy’s Chi Yin (Gianna) Pang took the U19 Girls’ title by beating club-mate Assil Sarri in four sets (8-11, 11-5, 12-10, 11-6).

Pang beat her regular rival Soraya Rahmani-Walentynska in straight sets in the semi-final (11-9, 11-8, 11-7). Sarri reached the final by beating her more experienced club-mate, Alisha Dutta in five sets (11-5, 9-11, 6-11, 11-6, 11-7).