Alex went to the largest event ever played on U.S. soil with 66 players in attendance full of confidence after achieving one of his main goal for the season [ winning the Savannah Club League] and not expecting what the future had in store for him.In the morning he had lost the final of the Travelers' Cup 0-1 vs Dave Baxter former number 1 in the World Rankings and incredible player, keeping the final loosing result acceptable just because he had a fantastic performance goalkeeping, and being happy anyway because to arrive there he had won all his games the previous Friday night: 3-0 with Darren Koffmann - 5-1 with Jim Monken and 2-0 with Steven Laskey for winning his Group, then in the Semifinal 1-0 with Lenny Foster .
The Holiday Silver International Grand Prix main event of the weekend was played on Sunday and Alex was drawn on Group 21 not having any points in the F.I.S.T.F. World Rankings, even though he played quite badly, managed to top his group with a 2-1
vs Alex Hansen and 1-0 vs Chris Walker.
In the Round of 32, he met Matt Steinmuller and after a tough game was able to win 2-1 with a fantastic curl to liberate his figure for shooting that brought his second goal.
In the Round of 16 Alex played with Lenny Foster [ best player of the Western States ] , very tight game which with some luck he managed to win with a fantastic goal with a shot on a rolling ball 35 seconds from time and being saved by the post on the dying seconds.
He still remember the sensation he had going on with the rounds, moving forward into the room proudly towards the best tables looking at other players packing because eliminated.
Quarters of final : it does not get any bigger than this, Daniel Cranston from the Maryland Subbuteo Club that eliminated Dave Baxter in the previous round, and already had beaten Alex 1-2 during the Patapsco Cup in May.
Incredible game that could have gone both ways, possession and control of the game changed quick, both players looking for the win, both hitting the bar , but in the end, and exactly 13 seconds from time Alex was able to score the winning goal with a shot that ricochet on one of Daniel players and unstoppable went in goal. He still remember having waited to take the shot for not giving any chance of reply to Daniel ... easily at this game you can score a goal in 10 seconds!-
Alex was in the Semi-final, he already achieved more than expected and with no pressure what so ever played with Jim Taylor, dominating the game and winning 1-0 with a wonderful chip from the right side, but honestly he could have add more to the final score.
Incredible....He was in the Final......
Before the final Alex called his wife in a very emotional way...he was relaxed and at the same time happy, probably in a certain way just content to have reached that stage.
He played Miguel Marques of the Subbuteo Club Connecticut, National Vice Champion in 2006 , a more experienced player for sure , as we said Alex started the final relaxed and probably Miguel was more nervous, he was able to go up 1-0 and having another couple of good chances, then the Portuguese born came back with a big pressing style of play ,Alex did not cope well with it loosing possession often and probably loosing also the relaxed way he had at the start, probably he had started to have some winning fear.
Miguel was able to score the 1-1 in the second half and had a couple of good chances dominating the second fraction, Alex after a good action in Miguel shooting zone had a goal disallowed because of an offside cause of a mastered trap created by his opponent and he made everybody laughed with: " forget about it "!!.
The regulation ended 1-1, they went to overtime with Golden Goal, Alex started to attack but open up too much for Miguel to counter-attack and the inevitable happened 1-2 for Miguel and game over.
At the end of the day a fantastic experience and the satisfaction for Alex to be recognized as a good player by the A.S.A community.
vs Alex Hansen and 1-0 vs Chris Walker.
 |
| Alex vs Lenny Foster in action from the round of 16 |
In the Round of 16 Alex played with Lenny Foster [ best player of the Western States ] , very tight game which with some luck he managed to win with a fantastic goal with a shot on a rolling ball 35 seconds from time and being saved by the post on the dying seconds.
He still remember the sensation he had going on with the rounds, moving forward into the room proudly towards the best tables looking at other players packing because eliminated.
Quarters of final : it does not get any bigger than this, Daniel Cranston from the Maryland Subbuteo Club that eliminated Dave Baxter in the previous round, and already had beaten Alex 1-2 during the Patapsco Cup in May.
Incredible game that could have gone both ways, possession and control of the game changed quick, both players looking for the win, both hitting the bar , but in the end, and exactly 13 seconds from time Alex was able to score the winning goal with a shot that ricochet on one of Daniel players and unstoppable went in goal. He still remember having waited to take the shot for not giving any chance of reply to Daniel ... easily at this game you can score a goal in 10 seconds!-
Alex was in the Semi-final, he already achieved more than expected and with no pressure what so ever played with Jim Taylor, dominating the game and winning 1-0 with a wonderful chip from the right side, but honestly he could have add more to the final score.
Before the final Alex called his wife in a very emotional way...he was relaxed and at the same time happy, probably in a certain way just content to have reached that stage.
He played Miguel Marques of the Subbuteo Club Connecticut, National Vice Champion in 2006 , a more experienced player for sure , as we said Alex started the final relaxed and probably Miguel was more nervous, he was able to go up 1-0 and having another couple of good chances, then the Portuguese born came back with a big pressing style of play ,Alex did not cope well with it loosing possession often and probably loosing also the relaxed way he had at the start, probably he had started to have some winning fear.
Miguel was able to score the 1-1 in the second half and had a couple of good chances dominating the second fraction, Alex after a good action in Miguel shooting zone had a goal disallowed because of an offside cause of a mastered trap created by his opponent and he made everybody laughed with: " forget about it "!!.
 |
| Man Utd vs Sporting Lisboa |
At the end of the day a fantastic experience and the satisfaction for Alex to be recognized as a good player by the A.S.A community.
 |
| " The battle is on " |
![Larry Fryer [M.S.C.] at the Corsendonk Cup](http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_wcjyj0_TyYI/S3ntOQvOwZI/AAAAAAAAAhg/D44G6TZePXQ/S230/100_3545.JPG)
