Eastern Kentucky Table Tennis

Butterfly Dan Seemiller Legacy Classic is an EPIC Success, Largest Table Tennis Event in History of Kentucky

Players from the U.S., Canada, and Mexico Gather to Honor Table Tennis Icon Dan Seemiller

Dan Seemiller, 5x National Champion, and his son Daniel Seemiller Jr., at the historic first annual Butterfly Dan Seemiller Legacy Classic. Both were crowned the inaugural Open Doubles Champions and Dan Seemiller Jr. became the first-ever Butterfly Dan Seemiller Legacy Classic Singles Champion.

By Mike Crase

EKTT just presented the most important event in its 38 year history with The Butterfly Dan Seemiller Legacy Classic, a three-day mega event that launched its initial chapter toward becoming one of the premier if not the premier table tennis tournament in the United States. If the first annual BDSLC is any indication, it is well on its way toward writing that book.

Thirteen tables were used during the BDSLC. The court was packed with 13 events and over 100 players from April 19-21. Breaking the all-time table tennis participation record for Kentucky. “This was a masterclass that many table tennis directors and promoters could learn from,” said one longtime table tennis director.

From April 19-21 the event and eight months of preparation and planning became a reality. The event kicked off with the BDSLC Clinic 1, hosted by Coach Seemiller, Dan Seemiller Jr., and Chip Coulter. Exceptional coaching and eager trainees took part learning fundamentals and advanced techniques that changed their careers and, in many cases, taught players the true potential of the sport. Our junior players that participated learned proper technique, skills and fundamentals at the first-ever clinic in Eastern Kentucky history.

There was a total of 13 events on Saturday, April 20 at the Butterfly Dan Seemiller Legacy Classic. We had a double main event with Open Singles and Open Doubles play-both were spectacular and history making events. Over 100 players took part in the event over three days and 77 played in the actual tournament (tying a state record for tournament participation).

The BDSLC Open Singles had some of the day’s best action and featured top talent from all of North America! $500 on the line for the first-place winner and being the first ever champion.

The semi-finals were filled with high octane playing. In semi-final #1, (1) Dan Seemiller Junior defeated Jack Allen 9, -11, 9 and 6. Looping and placement technique were crucial in this battle between two of the sport’s most famous sons and elite players in their own right.

Semi-final match #2: (4) Lulu Gutierrez vs. (2) Chip Coulter. Lulu is a former Mexican National Team Medalist and Chip has won countless championships, is a Seemiller Grip player, and one of the top players in Pennsylvania. Chip took the series three games to 1: 4, -9, 2 and 3.

The final is now set as (1) Dan Seemiller Jr. takes on a familiar friend in (2) Chip Coulter, but when the match starts, all bets are off as both players go for the championship and $500 prize. A strong performance and serves enable Dan Seemiller Jr. to win 3, 11, 4 and take home the championship and cash. Both players left it all on the table.

Congratulations to Lulu Gutierrez as she took third place by winning over Jack Allen in another incredible match. Extremely well played third place match. The crowd was into all these showcase events and enjoyed seeing table tennis at this exceptionally high level (some for the first time ever). It really energized our junior players (18 and under) as they got to see first-hand just how amazing the Olympic Sport can be.

(1) Dan Seemiller and Dan Seemiller Jr. win over (3) Hovik Melkomian and Andrew Gooding in a round robin battle that saw the Seemillers win 4,8,4. (2) John and Jack Allen then battled West Virginia’s dynamic duo of Gooding and Melkomian in a thriller: 7, -8, 10 and 10. This leaves a final between two of the biggest names in table tennis: Seemiller and Allen.

Open Doubles Championship: (1) Dan Seemiller and Dan Seemiller Jr. vs. (2) John and Jack Allen. The match would go back and forth: loop vs. loop, short play and pushing, table tennis at the highest level. Seemillers take game 11-7. Allens come back strong in game 2 winning 11-5. Both teams even. In a war, Seemillers take game 3 by a score of 12-10 in deuce. John and Jack win a critical game 4 by a score of 11-7, forcing a fifth and final game for the championship.

All on the line, no going back: prize money and the championship up for grabs. In a game that did not disappoint, it went to the wire as Dan and Dan Jr. won the last game 11-9. What a fitting doubles match and considered by most to be the best match of the event. Dan Seemiller and John Allen making their big returns to table tennis action and the family histories made this even more special.

The Under 2350 event featured some incredible talent from across the U.S. and Mexico. Semi-Final Match #1 featured (1) Dan Seemiller Junior vs. (3) Lulu Gutierrez. Dan Seemiller Jr., a former member of the U.S. National Team, took on Lulu Gutierrez, a former member of the Mexico National Team. Dan won by scores of 4,5, 2. If you watched the match, there were some insanely fast rallies and looping.

Two of the biggest names in the Eastern United States battled it out in Semi-Final #2. (2) Chip Coulter, one of Pittsburgh’s top players, took on (4) John Allen, former Top 25 player in the U.S. and Kentucky’s number 1 ranked player for 30 years. Extremely close first game went to Coulter 11-9. Game 2 was no different, but even closer: Coulter wins 12-10 in deuce. Allen scored a big win in game 3 with an 11-8 victory. Coulter got the win and the match 11-5 in the fourth game.

The Under 2350 final was an encore of the Open Singles Championship. (1) Dan Seemiller Junior vs. (2) Chip Coulter. Dan Seemiller Junior put on a dominant showing and won three straight: 5,3,6 also earning the $150 prize purse. John Allen and Lulu Gutierrez tied for third place.

The Butterfly Dan Seemiller Under 2000 event semi-finals showcased some of the day’s best play. In match #1 (1) Lulu Gutierrez competed against (3) Babak Fakharpour, one of the most decorated players in Kentucky, Top 10 in KY for 2 decades plus, and winner of many Bluegrass State Games Gold, Silver and Bronze Medals. Gutierrez won the match by scores of 5,8,6 to advance to the final.

Semi-final match #2 was between (4) Ronnie Coleman of the South Bend Table Tennis Club and (2) Mark Meade of the Lexington Table Tennis Club. Mark is a former West Virginia State Champion and Ronnie is one of the top players in Indiana and a Seemiller Guy. One of the most competitive matches of the tournament, which Ronnie won by scores of -10,10,9,9, all games were by two points. Coleman wins and advances to the final.

Under 2000 Final match: (1) Lulu Gutierrez vs. (4) Ronnie Coleman. Gutierrez looped and her serves were difficult for Coleman to overcome. Gutierrez wins 9,4,7 to take the match and the Under 2000 Championship! Ronnie Coleman finished second while Mark Meade and Babak Fakharpour tied for third place.

The Butterfly Dan Seemiller Legacy Classic Under 1800 event was a large one. We had 11 players that could not get in as result the tournament player cap being maxed out (we will plan on accommodating a larger field next year).

Quarter-Finals: (6) Pavlo Savchenko def. (5) Carl Duvall 10,6,5; (7) Moe Barati def. (8) Andrew Smith 4,-5,-1,6,5; (3) Andrew Gooding lost to (3) Babak Fakharpour 1,1,8; (2) Hovik Melkomian def. (1) Mark Meade -9,5,9,10.

Semi-Finals: match #1 (6) Pavlo Savchenko def. (7) Moe Barati 5,-9,6,3; match #2 (2) Hovik Melkomian def. (3) Babak Fakharpour 8,7,9.

Final Under 1800: (2) Hovik Melkomian wins the cash and championship defeating (6) Pavlo Savchenko 9,7,6. Exceptionally stout field and all the competitors gave maximum effort.

The Butterfly Dan Seemiller Legacy Classic Under 1600 had a maximum field of 16 players, while 9 were unable to get in on the waiting list.

Quarter-Finals: (6) Jay Nelson def. (4) Win Tun 7,7,8; (5) Raymond Ho def. (7) Andrew Smith 9,5,-11,8; (2) Pavlo Savchenko def. (1) Paul Yost 4,6,3; (3) Moe Barati lost to (8) Perry Franklin 9,10,-9,3.

Semi-Finals: Match #1 (6) Jay Nelson def. Raymond Ho 9,5,-11,8. Match #2 (2) Pavlo Savchenko def. (8) Perry Franklin 8,7,9.

Final: 4x former West Virginia State Champion (6) Jay Nelson def. (2) Pavlo Savchenko 5,3,6. Jay Nelson becomes the inaugural Under 1600 Dan Seemiller Legacy Classic Champion. Raymond Ho and Perry Franklin tied for 3rd place.

The Butterfly Dan Seemiller Legacy Classic Under 1300 Division was comprised of 13 players.

Quarter-Finals: (1) Byron Risner (bye); (2) Caleb Lemaster (bye); (3) Douglas Hopwood def. (5) Dalton Adkins 7,-3,7,8; (4) Joshua Frisby def. (6) Randy Lugo 9,2,3.

Semi-Finals: match #1 (3) Douglas Hopwood def. (1) Byron Risner 5,3,7. Match #2 (4) Joshua Frisby def. (2) Caleb Lemaster (7,6,-10,6).

Final: (3) Douglas Hopwood def. Joshua Frisby 7,2,7 to win the Under 1300 Championship. Josh Frisby took 2nd place, while Byron Risner and Caleb Lemaster tied for 3rd place.

Two round robin groups of ten competed in the Under 1000 division of the Butterfly Dan Seemiller Legacy Classic.

In the final, (1) Dan Bell lost to (2) Nathan Perkins -10,9,9,6 in a close contest. Congratulations to Nathan on winning and Dan on making it to the finals. Wiyan Tun def. Isaac Allen for third place, while Allen got 4th place. What a big day for Wiyan as he won the Under 18/Juniors, Under 800 and finished third in the Under 1000 event!

The Butterfly Dan Seemiller Legacy Classic Under 800 event results.

Semi-finals: Match #1 (1) Wiyan Tun def. (3) Langley Franklin 8,9,5. Match #2 (2) Brad Johnson def. Matt Turner in a match that went the distance -11, 10, 8,-9, 8.

Final: Wiyan Tun def. Brad Johson to win the Under 800 division 8,-7,13,9. Tremendous play by two outstanding juniors. Matt Turner and Langley Franklin tied for 3rd place.

Results for the competitive Under 500 event at the Butterfly Dan Seemiller Legacy Classic.

Semi-Finals: Match #1 (1) Langley Franklin (bye). Match #2 (2) Cooper Daniel def. Logan Bailey 9,9-anyone’s game!

Final: (1) Langley Franklin def. Cooper Daniel in a close contest 7,-8,4 (all matches were best 2 out of 3). Logan Bailey won 3rd place.

One of the most exciting events of the day was the Under 3000 Doubles at the Butterfly Dan Seemiller Legacy Classic. The event was held in a round robin format with five teams competing. Most of the matches went to the fifth and final game!

1st place Tony Sexton and Andrew Smith 3-1; 2nd place Babak Fakharpour and Douglas Hopwood 2-2; 3rd place Raymond Ho and Shirin Rafizadeh 2-2.

Butterfly Dan Seemiller Legacy Classic Over 40 Division: 1st Place Chip Coulter; 2nd Place Tony Sexton, 3rd Place Win Tun (not pictured).

The Butterfly Dan Seemiller Legacy Classic Over 40 age event saw some tremendous action. (1) Chip Coulter took first place going 3-0. Coulter won over (2) Tony Sexton 5,9,5 and over Win Tun 10,5.9. Sexton def. Win Tun 9,-9,9,-6,4, what a match!

The most Juniors to ever attend a table tennis event in the state of Kentucky! Great to see so many of our youth taking part in this event.

Semi-Finals: (1) Wiyan Tun def. Logan Bailey 5,4. Semi-final match #2 (3) Brad Johnson def. (2) Cooper Daniel -9,7,6.

Final: (1) Wiyan Tun def. Brad Johnson in the final -9,2,6 to become the first Butterfly Dan Seemiller Juniors Champion. Congratulations to Brad Johnson on making the final. Logan Bailey won over Cooper Daniel to take third place.

Thank you to everyone and our many sponsors that made this event possible. Players from all over North America traveled to West Liberty, Ky at the Wellness Center to make history. We appreciate each and every one of you. We are already planning the 2nd annual Butterfly Dan Seemiller Classic. See you next year!