(by Steve Hopkins)
One of the neatest things about living in Rhode Island is the rich table tennis history in the region. Despite being the smallest U.S. State, Rhode Island is prominently represented in Tim Boggan’s History of Table Tennis. The club was a regular stop for regional players and pros for a generation with appearances from Dick Miles and Marty Reisman and Bernie Bukiet and later from more recent legends like David Sakai and George Braithwaite. We were home to USATT Hall of Famer Dick Evans, and were host for nearly a decade to USATT Magazine and one of the most interesting features of the club is the League – which has been running using the same basic rules since the 1940s.
We maintain a list of RI State Champions on a plaque when you enter the building. The rules have changed a little over the years, with many champions named through a State Championships tournament and others named through an annual league title – and in some years with RI residency required, while other years extended eligibility to club members, even if they are from neighboring Massachusetts or Connecticut. Regardless, its a neat feeling to walk past a plaque noting winners in the 70s and 80s (and a few from the 60s, 50s, and before).
RHODE ISLAND CHAMPIONS
2019 Murali Mani
2018 Murali Mani
2017 Murali Mani
2016 Murali Mani
2015 Steve Hopkins
2014 Xue Di
2013 Henry Hu
2012 Nam Trinh
2011 Nam Trinh
2010 Steve Hopkins
2009 Nam Trinh
2008 Nam Trinh
2007 Steve Hopkins
2006 Steve Hopkins
2005 Steve Hopkins
2004 Xue Di
2003 Xue Di
2002 Xue Di
2001 Artur Samek
2000 Xue Di
1999 Xue Di
1998 Haig Raky
1997 Artur Samek
1996 Xue Di
1995 Eduard Hamamjian
1994 Eduard Hamamjian
1993 Marta Zurowski
1992 Marta Zurowski
1989 Eduard Hamamjian
1988 No Championship
1987 No Championship
1986 No Championship
1985 No Championship
1984 Eduard Hamamjian
1983 Eduard Hamamjian
1982 Eduard Hamamjian
1981 Matt Stamp
1980 Matt Stamp
1979 Rick Ferri
1978 Sparky James
1977 Sparky James
1976 Sparky James
1975 Irving Levine
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1968 Irving Levine
1962 Dick Evans
1951 Tony Fionte
1939 Tony Fionte
When the club compiled the list a few years ago, we only included names for years where we could verify a champion. Unfortunately, there were a few years without a championship, and many years without records. This has likely under-represented great players like Tony Fionte (who was the State champion before WWII AND after WWII, but where there was no record of formal championships in the late 40s or early 50s where he was likely also the champion). Irving Levine was also underrepresented, as every source we had indicated he was the best player in the club for about a 10 year period, but we were only able to locate records of two titles. And Eduard Hamamjian was also short-changed, both with a period where the club moved (and there was no unified championship), and in the change of operators misplacing records from a few years at the start of the 90s.
Over the years, the club has had three locations (Providence, then Warwick, and now Manville). The Rhode Island Club has seen some updates, we’re now a We Are Butterfly club with great tables and lighting and wood floors. But our rich history continues. Come visit us and share in that history.
Web: www.ritta.org
Facebook: facebook.com/groups/RITableTennis
Address: 30 Railroad St., Manville RI 02838
Phone: 401-769-6666
