THE 2000 WORLDS:
A Year of Records and Milestones

Since first becoming the home of the World Championships of Foosball back in 1995, the beautiful Hyatt Regency Hotel at Dallas/Fort Worth Airport has seen it's share of outstanding table soccer performances. But the year 2000 edition of the world's largest foosball event, held over Labor Day weekend, showcased perhaps the greatest displays of individual achievement that the sport has ever seen. This $130,000 spectacular featured several monumental "firsts", with a number of players recording historic individual milestones.

The 2000 World Championships offered-up a "triple", a "threepeat" and a back-to-back performance that hadn't been accomplished since the 1980's-and it was all by one player! Foreign participation was also at an all time high at this year's event, with players from Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Malaysia and The Netherlands in attendance. This extraordinary international foos fest took place on a 100+ degree holiday weekend in the Lone Star State and it went something like this...

MIXED DOUBLES: Hill and Collignon Notch Firsts

During a remarkably successful career that started in the late 1980's, Tulsa, Oklahoma's Liz Hill had earned nearly every available major foosball title. She had won 27 different times on the pro tour with victories at the Kickoff and Hall of Fame Classics, the U.S. Open, The Masters and the Nationals. Liz could claim victories in doubles, singles and mixed doubles and had also finished in the top ten in Open Doubles on more than one occasion. But this talented lady from the Sooner State had never come out on top in any event at the sport's most prestigious competition, the World Championships.

For this year's Open Mixed Doubles competition, Liz paired up with the 3 time world champ from Belgium, Frederic Collignon. "Frederico" had won world titles in singles in 1999 and doubles in 1998 and 1999, but had never finished better than 5th in the mixed pairs event.

As this year's competition unfolded, it quickly became apparent that this all new team was going to be a force to be reckoned with. Hill and Collignon dominated the competition, going undefeated on their way to winning the winner's side of the bracket.

On the loser's side, 2000 Nationals MVP Ron Sipiora used his all around solid game to combine with the experience and ability of veteran Colorado fooser and '98 world mixed champ (with Don Swan) Tina Wyatt to earn a position in the Mixed final.

Despite the excellent efforts of Sipiora and Wyatt in the final, there would be no stopping Liz Hill and Frederic Collignon in their quest for world honors. Liz and Frederic won the first 2 games of the final, withstood a comeback in game three by Ron and Tina, and then won the title in an impressive fourth game performance, three games to one. With the victory Liz Hill finally tasted world championship glory for herself further establishing herself as one of the best lady foosers ever. For Collignon, his first mixed win was only the beginning of what would become an incredible championship Monday at the World Championships for this incredible fooser from Europe.

WOMEN'S COMPETITION: Head and Wyatt Do it Again

What can you say about the great Cindy Head that hasn't already been said? This amazing champion fooser from Alabama has done it all in the sport of foosball. Entering the 2000 event, Cindy had amassed an astounding 29 career world titles, more than double the total of any other player. At last year's worlds, Head put on a show of skill rarely seen on the pro tour. She won doubles, singles and mixed doubles in 1999 to earn a "triple" and three more world titles. On the 2000 Tornado pro tour Cindy had won the women's singles and doubles trophies at both the Hall of Fame Classic and Nationals. In an of era of excellent female foosball players, Cindy Head was considered head and shoulders above them all.

The lady's competition at the 2000 World Championships would end up much like it has for many of the past 18 years. In yet another overwhelming performance, Cindy Head again swept by the competition to win both major women's titles. Cindy did not lose a match on her way to a second straight world doubles victory with Tina Wyatt defeating former world champ Moya Tielens and semi pro Michelle Bogg 2 games to 0 to again win the title. She also went unbeaten in singles, overcoming Stephanie Dean, also in two games, to win her 30th and 31st career world titles. For the phenomenal Ms. Head, it meant a clean sweep of the 2000 pro tour: six women's events and six victories.

For the 2000 Female Goalie of the Year, Tina Wyatt, her women's world doubles title also marked a very special milestone. With her victory, Tina became the first lady player in the history of the sport to win world titles in the '70s, '80s, '90s and '00s. This outstanding Colorado fooser won her first world title back in 1979 when she claimed mixed doubles honors at that year's big event, won several titles in the 1980s and added two titles in the '90s to accomplish this unprecedented feat.

OPEN SINGLES:
Second of the Weekend and Second in a Row

Two years ago in Fort Worth, Frederic Collignon Played in his first world open final losing to Terry Moore in a well played match 3 games to 1. It was apparent to everyone back then that, despite the loss to the world's number one player, this 22 year old Belgian was something truly special. He would go on to earn his first world title later on that same day, winning Open Doubles with Todd Loffredo in a tough two set final against that same Terry Moore and partner Bob Diaz. Officially, Frederic Collignon had arrived.

At last year's world championship event, Collignon dominated the singles field, displaying a potent 5-rod and an unstoppable 3 while playing a style of transition foosball that has seldom, if ever, been seen. Collignon then decisively overwhelmed two time world singles champ Tommy Adkisson in the 1999 final to claim his first world singles championship.

Remarkably, no player had won the world Open Singles championship in back to back years since Tony Bacon won three in a row back in 1985,'86 and '87 on the Dynamo table. Winning world singles two years in a row had never been accomplished on the Tornado table. The list of singles champions from the last 13 years reads like a who's who of the sport: Terry Moore, Tommy Adkisson, Dave Gummeson, Louis Cartwright, Steve Murray, John Smith, Tom Spear. But none of these decorated foosball stars had ever won the world singles trophy in two consecutive years.

As this year's Open Singles competition unfolded, it again became obvious to everyone that the talented Collignon was truly a genius when it came to the art of singles foosball. His ability to work the ball from rod to rod combined with great defense and a devastating "Europin" offensive game allowed him to once again dominate the competition on his way to the winner's bracket final and a matchup with another great one on one performer, Robert Mares.

Mares was a two time world singles finalist and possessed a long list of impressive credentials. Robert had faced off against Collignon earlier in the season in the singles final at the Hall of Fame Classic in March. Rob had defeated Frederic in a tough, gritty match finishing it off with one of his patented left hooks. In the winner's side final, Mares jumped on top in the first game leading 4-2. But Collignon, an excellent comeback player, scored the next three points to steal the game, 5-4. Now firmly in control of the momentum, Collignon won game two 5-2 to move within one game of his third straight world singles final. With his back against the wall, Mares responded going up 2-0 and then 3-2. But Collignon would prove to be too much for Mares on this day as he won 5-4 to win the match in three straight games.

On the loser's side, two time world singles champ Terry Moore ousted talented Floridian Ron Nevois to earn a spot in the loser's bracket final against Rapid Rob Mares. For Nevois, the 1983 world singles titlist, his 4th place result was one of his best in years. Doubles partners Tracy McMillin and Dave Gummeson shared fifth place honors in the competition.

Earlier in the Open Singles event, Mares and Moore had staged a classic winner's bracket semifinal battle on pit table one with Mares fending off Moore in 5 extraordinary games. Looking for revenge, Moore won game one of their loser's final and appeared headed for a win in game two. But Mares grabbed the second game 5-4 to even the match at a game each. However, Terry Moore completely dominated play in the next two games to win 3 games to 1 to earn an appointment with Frederic Collignon in a rematch of the 1998 final.

Needing to defeat Collignon in two 3 out of 5 sets, an aggressive Terry Moore sprinted from the gate in the Open Singles final. He dominated the opening game and squeezed out a 5-4 win in game two to grab firm control of the match, 2 games to 0. Collignon rebounded to easily win game three but Terry won a close game number four, 5-4 to claim the first set.

Looking to become the first-ever three time Tornado world singles champ, Moore carried his hard-earned momentum into the second set, winning game one in aggressive fashion, 5-3. Collignon then answered the challenge, snagging game two 5-3 to even the final match at one apiece. With the momentum now on the side of the Belgian, the match continued to slip away from Moore as Frederic won game three in a magical performance, 5-2.

Now badly needing to win game four, Terry Moore calmly went to work. He surged ahead 2-1 and 3-2, and then worked the score to 4-3 with some impressive offensive efforts. But a quick near side "Europin" and it was 4-4. The great Collignon then stole the ball from Moore's 5-rod, set it up and scored another dancing front pin, this time to the far side of the goal, to win his second straight world Open Singles championship. Collignon joined Steve Murray, John Smith, Terry Moore and Tommy Adkisson as the only two time Tornado world singles winners while becoming the first to ever do it in back to back years on the Tornado pro tour.

OPEN DOUBLES: Threes Are Wild For Collignon

The Open Doubles event at this year's Dallas championship featured the best two man teams in the sport, going head to head for more than $40,000 in doubles prize money. In this tough, talent-laden competition 2000 National doubles champs Ron Sipiora and Don Swan looked to continue their winning ways but could do no better than a 9th place finish while 1997 world champs Terry Moore and Bob Diaz saw their hopes die with a dissapointing tie for fifth. It would definitely be no walk in the park for the eventual winner of this star-studded doubles shootout. Whichever team came out on top at the end would unquestionably earn the title of the world's top doubles team.

On the winner's side of the Open Doubles bracket, the newly formed team of Trevor Park and Louis Cartwright would overcome every obstacle they faced, including a masterful triumph over superteam Moore and Diaz, to earn a trip to the bracket finals. Adrian Zamora and Eddy Gartman would be the opponents for Park and Cartwright in the winner's final, a match that saw them overcome A.Z. and "Fast Eddy" in four games, 5-3, 5-1, 3-5 and 5-1 to advance to the championship match.

For Louis Cartwright it would mark the third major tournament in a row that he had won a winner's bracket. In his hometown of Las Vegas last March, he paired with Fernando Rosa to reach the final, only to lose in two tough sets to Terry Moore and Bob Diaz. At the Nationals in July, Louis snagged the winner's side in singles but Terry Moore again came back to "double-dip" his old friend and former partner in the finals.

As for Cartwright's talented young partner Trevor Park, this would mark his third career final and was still looking for his first ever major title after two second place results on the 1999 tour.

The loser's bracket in this year's doubles competition was loaded with the sport's top teams. After an uncharacteristic quarterfinal loss to Dave Gummeson and Tracy McMillin in four games, two time defending world doubles titlists Frederic Collignon and Todd Loffredo were slowly but surely working their way back into the mix.

They began their long journey back into contention with a win against Fernando Rosa and his partner `93 world champ Russ King for 5th or better. They continued to build momentum with a 3 games to 1 win against Terry Moore and Bob Diaz and a hard-earned, satisfying victory over 4th place finishers Gummeson and Mcmillin who had defeated them earlier.

In both 1998 and 1999 Loffredo and Collignon had won the title coming from the winner's bracket and had never had to play with their backs against the wall except for the finals in 1998, a match which went two sets. But here in 2000 every match coming down the stretch was a do or die, sudden death type of situation. If Loffredo and Collignon were going to achieve an unprecedented "threepeat" they were going to have to do it the hard way.

After avenging their only loss of the tournament with a win against Dave Gummeson and Tracy McMillin, Collignon and Loffredo found themselves in a position to advance to the finals once again. If they could get past former world mixed champ Adrian Zamora and and former Tornado Goalie of the Year Eddy Gartman the double defending champs would face Park and Cartwright with a chance at rewriting the foosball history books.

Both forwards came out hot in the first game of the finals with each player making two quick 3-rod efforts. Collignon proceeded to rattle one in for a 3-2 advantage but goalie Louis Cartwright, who would shoot well throughout the final, drilled a pull shot to make it 3-3. Park and Collignon then each converted to tie the opening game at 4 apiece. Then, in a brilliantly executed piece of strategy, Louis Cartwright moved to the forward position in order to utilize his offensive 5-rod against the solid defense of Collignon. Louis passed it through and called time out. Park then returned to his forward rods and stroked home the game winning shot to advance his team to within two games of the world title.

The two time championship defenders responded in game two, dominating play for a relatively easy 5-2 victory. In the third game all four competitors played well on both ends of the table and the score once again went all the way to 4-4. Always a clutch performer, Cartwright drilled a long pull shot from goal after blocking Collignon, to win the game and make it 2 games to 1.

Game four would also go right down to the wire. After Park fired home a well-placed snake shot to give his team a championship point and make the score 4-4, Frederic Collignon took over the game. He served the ball, passed it, called time out, and scored a beautiful Europin to take the first set to the final game. For the fourth time in five games the deciding game would once again go all the way to 4-4. But just as in the first game, the unflappable Collignon advanced it and converted it to win the first set, 4-5, 5-2, 4-5, 5-4 and 5-4.

With Frederic Collignon looking for a rare "triple" and with a possible "threepeat" in the offing, the second set of the 2000 World Championship Open Doubles final got underway. Both teams came out in game one displaying tremendous energy. Trevor Park scored first but Collignon added two points in row to make it 2-1. Collignon made it 2-2 and 3-2 before the great Loffredo unleashed a scorching outside wall bank to give his team the momentum and a 4-2 lead. But the new young superstar Park scored to make it 4-3 and again converted, this time after catching a beautiful Cartwright pass to even the game again at 4 apiece. But for the third game in a row, the amazing Mr. Collignon was the only player to touch the ball at 4-4. He once again served it, passed it, called time out, and scored a front pin to win the all-important first game.

It was all Collignon and Loffredo in the second game. With Loffredo beginning to stop the demoralized Park and with Frederco displaying tremendous confidence they secured a win, 5-3.

After having moved to the forward position intermitently in game two, Cartwright began the third game playing the forward rods. Louis, one of the sport's great all-around players, took things into his own hands in game three, playing a remarkable game on the way to a 5-3 victory. It was now 2 games to 1 in favor of the two-time champions.

But Frederic Collignon and Todd Loffredo, who had won six consecutive matches in the loser's bracket against the finest players in the world, would win a seventh straight in the fourth game of the second set. Todd and "Rico" exploded from the line, jumping all over the dissapointed duo of Park and Cartwright to win game four 5-2 and earn their unprecedented third straight World Open Doubles championship. With his 6th world championship title (in only 3 years) Collignon joined the great Steve Murray as the only players in the history of the sport to "triple" at the world championship (Steve did it in 1987 and added a designated mixed title that year as well), while Todd Loffredo joined Tina Wyatt, who had accomplished it earlier in the day, as the only players to win world titles in the 1970s,`80s, `90s and `00s.

The Rest of The Story

There were other outstanding achievements and performances at this year's biggest event as well...

Danny Janssen of The Netherlands continued the European onslaught with wins in Forward Shootout and Rookie Doubles while finishing second in Rookie Singles to champion Rob Balza of Wisconsin.

1997 champion Deron Bone of North Carolina defeated two-time winner Eddie Lueras Sr. to claim the world Goalie War title.

1994 U.S. Open champ Chris Dube, also known as "Little Kato" on the professional midget wrestling tour, opened things up on Thursday night with an entertaining bout against world wrestling champion Bobby Beautiful. Little Kato wrestled well but lost in a close match that was up for grabs right up until the end. Dube then changed into his foosball suit and earned 4th place honors in both the International Cup and 35 & Over.

Young Brandon Moreland of Dallas posted a well earned victory over Chad Kinner in the Semi Pro Singles event while his father, 1973 and `74 world mixed titlist Scott proudly looked on from the sidelines.

Talented New York foosers Stephen Santomassimo and Brian Guaiana overcame a tough field to win the Semi Pro Doubles title over Chad Kinner and Kevin Munro in impressive fashion.

In a closely-contested final match, Californians Paul Renken and Karen Escobar held off Chris Rhodes and Stephanie Ohashi to win Semi Pro Mixed Doubles while the Rookie mixed trophies went to J.P. Brown and Dana Swope from Missouri.

Not only did Louis Cartwright have a great Open Doubles event, he also won the International Cup, representing the state of Nevada, with Brian King. This quick-handed Silver State duo also claimed the 2 Ball Rollerball title.

In an event that features the best young players in the world, Darrin King of Texas and his partner Brian Williams from Oregon overcame the efforts of second place finishers Melissa Myers and Jenna Schillage to win the 17 & Under crown.

Adrian Zamora added a Pro/Pro Master DYP championship to his third place finish in doubles teaming with Hawaii's Frank Balecha.

Finally, 35 & Over Doubles was won by tour veteran Scott Stewart and Geno Delcenay while 35 & 17 honors went to Russ King and Kevin Hawkins. And in the weekend's final event, Skip Clark and Robert Chambers of Texas took home the 3500 Limited Doubles title over Deron Bone and Jim Davis.

After winning an amazing six world titles in the last three years, the question is: what will Frederic Collignon do next? He won one world title in 1998, two in 1999 and a remarkable three at this year's Dallas extravaganza. Can we expect four world titles from this great performer in 2001? We'll have to just wait and see.

See Everyone At The
$60,000 Hall Of Fame Classic
March 7-11, 2001.

Final Results:

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