| brain
- 21 Mar 2011
Total Posts: 578
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Syed Rahman has challenged me for my #3 USAA World ranking. We will play At Donovan's Court this Saturday, March 26 at 1 pm. All are invited to attend, help officiate, and celebrate a day of great competitive air-hockey with 2 top 16 players.
Thanks,
Brian Accrocco
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| brain
- 26 Mar 2011
Total Posts: 578
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| The match has been postponed due to an unfortunate back injury to Syed.
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| sjrbat
- 12 Apr 2011
Total Posts: 527
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This match has been tentatively been rescheduled to April 23 at 3pm.
Location to be announced later. (SRO or Donovan's)
Thank you........
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| sjrbat
- 16 Apr 2011
Total Posts: 527
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| The match is at 5 pm at Donovan's Court on April 23.
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| sjrbat
- 24 Apr 2011
Total Posts: 527
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First, I would like to thank Donovan for hosting another match. It is great to have a place with a great table and its FREE!!! Thank you again.
Second, thank you to Brian for playing me. We played a few months ago and he won 4-0, 16 games to 5. He is always willing to play a match.
Third, the results are on the top of the website, Brian wins 4-2, 20 games to 15. It was a very entertaining match to watch and I am glad I was a part of that. I have been practicing frequently and I wanted a test to see where I was compared to a perennial master. I went in thinking I would probably get 4-0 again, but maybe get a set if lucky. But as the result shows, practice is paying off. This match was very intense and I think I made Brian play his best to beat me.
Thank you again to Donovan and Brian, also to Travis and Jaime for reffing.
Take care.......
Syed
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| brain
- 24 Apr 2011
Total Posts: 578
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Syed played well. VERY WELL.
I went in expecting to lose at least one set and possibly two. Syed nearly took it the distance. By the end of that 6th set, we were both exhausted. He Syed has been working on his game harder than anybody else playing numerous "practice" sets in recent months. And it showed in his execution.
A key improvement of his game is the effectiveness of his timing-based defense. His improved defensive skills forced me to revert to a much more conservative offense limiting my options and significantly influencing the quality of my accuracy.
Syed plays like a solid master now showing high percentage puck management skills and effective defense. He loses very few possessions, and his shots are designed to regain possessions when they miss. His accuracy and puck retention were stronger than mine.
After 2 tough successful sets where I had momentum and control in my favor, the quality and precision of my shots diminished as Syed tuned into my timing and was disrupting my rhythm. I completely lost my right wall over after the 2nd set and that turned the math in his favor. I had to scramble to find another solution to regain control, as that consistent RWO had been giving me a solid edge. Syed recognized the opportunity and adjusted his defense accordingly to a "forced accuracy" model. He continually mixed up his that and his timing based defensive strategies forcing me to be extra patient and careful in my setups and to have to take some calculated risks and trust my defenses to hold.
After dropping set 3 to a very dominate Syed, I had made an adjustment for the missing RWO and got a 3-1 lead. I thought I had it put away, and Syed found a crisp right wall over of his own that turened the math back in his favor to tie the set at 3-3. We both played hard and intense in the 7th game, but the combination of his determination and accuracy were better than mine and he tied the match.
Though I was rattled, I kept me cool and focussed on solving the problem. For the final 2 sets I relied on my calculation, endurance, and risk management skills to overcome him. Despite his successful surges, I sensed that the pace was giving me a slight edge, and, if I could maintain it, I could scrap it out. Ultimately that is what happened. I out endured him.
It was a very close match and not suprising to me at all. I know how good Nick Geoffroy is, and Syed taking him to 7 sets was a clear indicator that he has entered to contenders ring. I couldn't sleep last night as I kept having flashbacks of those hard nasty left wall overs that he was using in key points.
I look forward to the next match with Syed whenever that transpires. And I welcome any other challengers. That which does not kill me only makes me stronger. You want what I got, come and take it from me if you dare try. :)
I think Syed should challenge Anthony Marino. (wink wink). That would be a good match.
The Brain
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| brain
- 24 Apr 2011
Total Posts: 578
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| And thanks to Donovan as always for hosting and he, Travis, and Jamie for officiating. Ya'll rule. Thanks to Syed for being such a superb athlete, gentleman, and sportsman of the highest integrity.
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Forums Home / Tournaments and Challenges / Rahman vs. Accrocco
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