SHAYAN Siraj produced the stand-out performance as he retained the men's singles title at the Bradford Closed Championships hosted by Keighley Table Tennis Club.
Siraj and Embassy-Police team-mate John Chew were the top two seeds and both came through untroubled.
Chew had a 3-0 semi-final victory over Jonni Caspi, while Siraj had an easier than expected win against Deo Jones. These two normally contest a five-game marathon but Siraj won this time in three.
The final was a classic attack and defence encounter and Chew has a good record against his team-mate.
There were several superb rallies in the first two games but Chew took them both and he looked to have too much consistency for the young title holder.
The third game was more of the same, with Siraj attacking brilliantly but Chew retrieving everything and he looked set for victory when he led 10-8.
But Siraj refused to buckle and he saved four match points before taking the third game 16-14. The tide was now turning and the defending champion continued his superb attacking to seal the fourth 11-8.
Chew made a bad start in the deciding game and they changed ends with Siraj 5-0 up. He then held off a late rally from his opponent to win 11-7 in a truly memorable encounter.
Linda Sanderson also retained her title in the ladies singles, a round-robin event which saw her overcome Kath Manogue, Zarnab Jamal, Shirley Toulmin and Lynne Thompson.
RESULTS – Men's singles: S Siraj bt J Chew 6-11, 8-11, 16-14, 11-8, 11-7.
Ladies singles: Winner L Sanderson, runner-up K Manogue.
Veterans singles: J Chew bt D Jones 11-4, 11-7, 11-4.
Open doubles: J Chew & S Siraj bt P Holbrook & M Biott 11-7, 11-9, 10-12, 11-6.
Handicap singles: L Thompson(38) bt S Toulmin (30) 46-38.
Consolation singles: P Holbrook bt Z Jamal 11-7, 11-9, 11-9.
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