Americans were proud to participate in the FISTF World Cup Open category playing some of the best players in the world. Christian Filippella led the American effort with Benny Nuger as our second participant.
The competitors in the Open category, Christian and Benny, showed stalwart competitiveness and positive spirit in their matches. Christian applied his exceptional creativity and precision in a very tough group. He progressed out of his group and into the round of 32; Christian scored 17 goals and yielded only two against. He was matched against Luca Colangelo of Italy in the knockout round; Luca regularly is ranked in the world’s top ten. The match was a show piece for the very best that table soccer can offer: passion, desire, and impressive focus. It see-sawed back and forth. Christian more than held his own trading possession and shots on goal with Luca. Christian’s third goal tied the match sending it to OT. In the end, Luca scored the match winner, and eventually that day became the World Cup Champion against Matteo Ciccarelli also of Italy.
Benny made his first appearance in the event, but has played in Europe in the recent past; at the marque tournament, Mons in Belgium, he progressed out of his group and into the knockout stages. Benny was drawn in a difficult group as well; his group included former World Cup champion, Remy Huynh of Belgium. Benny showed his considerable skill in his debut efforts: he scored 6 goals in his group matches including a goal again Remy; and Benny finished third in the group with a win against Oisin Mac of Ireland.
