Table soccer, great show in Reggio Emilia

Table soccer, great show in Reggio Emilia

Lots of excitement in Reggio Emilia where, over the weekend of June 3 and 4, 2023, the 46th edition of the Italian Individual Table Football Championships was held. Hosting the important event, organized, as usual, by the Italian Sports Table Football Federation (FISCT), in collaboration with the National Subbuteo Sector of the Organization for Sports Education (OPES, a sports promotion body recognized by CONI), was the evocative location of Subbuteoland, a true flagship of the national miniature soccer circuit and Federal Center of excellence, which during these two days of competition saw the presence of more than 100 athletes from all over Italy.

Luca Colangelo wins again the title of Italian Individual Champion.

For the fifth year in a row to raise the trophy of the OPEN Scoreboard (the most important of the circuit) of the Italian Individual Table Football Championships, is Luca Colangelo, current reigning World Champion (title won in the last World Cup played in Rome, in September 2022). The athlete from Casale Monferrato, but spearhead of the Capitoline formation of the Fiamme Azzurre Roma, overcame, with the result of 2 to 1, Micael Caviglia (SS Lazio TFC), in the very final of the competition, after, however, having won his own round (with 7 wins and only one draw, the latter for another obtained in the last challenge, with qualification already acquired) and having eliminated, in order, William Dotto (F.lli Bari Reggio Emilia), in the quarterfinals, with a result of 3 to 1, and Filippo Cubeta (Barcelona Table Football), in the semifinals, with a result of 6 to 3. In addition to the latter and the other finalist, there is also room on the podium for Mauro Salvati (Virtus 4 Strade Rieti), also stopped in the semifinals.

Veteran: victory goes to Ferdinando Gasparini.

In the Veteran Tournament (over45) of the Italian Individual Table Football Championships, success was instead achieved by Ferdinando Gasparini (Salernitana), who in the final got the better of Francesco Torano (Leonessa Brescia), with the result of 3 to 0. Placings of honor, in this case, also for Massimo De Paolis (SPQR MMIX Subbuteo) and Francesco Mattiangeli (Bologna Tigers Subbuteo), who stopped their race only in the semifinals.

Greta Cevolani’s success in the Ladies tournament.

Greta Cevolani (Bologna Tigers Subbuteo) repeated the success of the last edition and won the title of Italian Individual Table Football Champion in the Ladies Tournament by beating in the final, after a very balanced challenge that ended 0-0 and was decided only at the shoot out (free throws), the young Julia Filippella (ASD Aosta Warriors).

In the Cadet table, affirmation for Gianmaria Lena

Important affirmation for Gianmaria Lena (Vibo Table Football) who wins the Cadet Table of the competition by beating, in the final, at Sudden Death (the golden goal), Paolo Natale (CCT Rome), after the regulation times had ended in a perfect draw, with the result of 1 to 1. On the podium, in this case, also Stefano Bacchin and Gianfranco Mastrantuono (both belonging to the Ligurian club of Master Sanremo).

Junior tournaments: all results

Parallel to the Main Tables, the Junior Table Football Tournaments were also held, awarding the titles of Individual Italian Champions in their respective categories and registering massive participation (from Valle d’Aosta to Sicily), an unmistakable sign of the exponential growth of the competitive miniature soccer movement even among the younger generations throughout Italy.

The Under20 title was won by current Under16 World Champion Francesco Borgo (Subbuteo Casale), who in the final beat, at Sudden Death, Mattia Ferrante (Sessana). Also on the podium were Matteo Esposito (Anacapri) and Luca Riccio (Sessana).

In the Under16 tournament, on the other hand, success went to Francesco Manfredelli (Eagles Napoli), who overcame, in the very final of the competition, Lorenzo Fricano (Subbuteo Casale) with a result of 7 to 2. Placings of honor, in this case, for Nicolò Colossi (SC Bari) and Angelo Bisio (Stella Artois Milano), eliminated in the semifinals.

In the Under12 draw, finally, victory for the current reigning World Champion for this category, Edoardo Landi (Subbito Gol Ferrara), who got the better of outgoing Italian Champion Davide Del Ben (Pinco Devils Table Soccer, a club from the province of Treviso based in Godega di Sant’Urbano) with a result of 8 to 2. Completing the podium were Samuele Bignardi (Rebels Genova) and Alberto Barattucci (SC Abruzzo Ves Gentes).

During the two-day event in Reggio Emilia, there was also room to play the finals of the Juniores Italian Cup, which saw the participation of some youth representatives of clubs together with some teams composed of under players residing in the same region (in this case the team name was that of the reference region) and additional wildcard teams composed of young athletes belonging to different clubs. The final victory was achieved by the Campania representative team, which overcame Subbuteo Casale in the final. Also on the podium were the regional representative from Tuscany and the formation of the Lions