WPH Press, Tucson, AZ, 7/24/23
2023 WPH Clarkbreaker Full Recap HERE
The first Icebreaker of the 2023 WPH Icebreaker Series took place on the monsoon-drenched July 21-23 weekend at Clark Park in Tucson, with 17 ranked WPH pros battling through the heat, lightning, and rain showers in the three-day extravaganza. When the dust settled, David Fink collected his fifth Icebreaker crown, Mikaila Esser collected her fourth, Jab Bike walked away with MVP honors, John Chapman came off the bench to win the 6th Man Award, the Flying Cordovas soared to another Icebreaker doubles title and the pros and fans enjoyed one of the most well-run and catered events in the history of Clark Park.
Updated 2023 Icebreaker Men’s Pro Singles Rankings
1st: D. Fink (10)
2nd: S. Ruiz (8)
3rd: L. Cordova (6)
3rd: L. Canales (6)
5th: D. Cordova (4)
6th: J. Bike (3.5)
7th: S. Esser (3)
8th: I. Burgos (3)
9th: D. Perez (2)
Updated 2023 Icebreaker Women’s Pro Singles Rankings
1st: M. Esser (10)
2nd: A. Ruiz (8)
Clarkbreaker Playoffs
Fifth Place Playoffs
Danos Cordova entered the Clarkbreaker Fifth Place playoffs as the highest ranked player in the four-man field (#6) and advanced to the final with a comfortable win against rapidly rising Ivan Burgos in the upper bracket semifinals.
John “Jab” Bike entered the fifth place playoffs as the lowest ranked player in the four-man field (#27) but having defeated former Icebreaker and R48 finalist Max Langmack in the round of 16 before losing to eventual champion David Fink in the Clarkbreaker quarterfinals. Bike faced former Icebreaker finalist and two-handed offensive juggernaut Sam Esser (#10) in the bottom bracket of the fifth place playoffs. Bike opened the match with a seven-point streak, six of those points coming on laser ace serves. Bike maintained his lead throughout the one-game match, eventually serving for the match at 24-20. Esser earned a side out and quickly scored three points, needing just one more point to force overtime. Bike earned the side out and completed the upset on his second attempt. “The last shot was a really lucky one that just barely made the wall,” stated Bike.
Having already secured Clarkbreaker MVP honors for upsetting two former finalists and current top 10 pros, Bike’s Cinderella Run came to an end at the hands of Danos Cordova in the fifth place final. “I led 7-1 in the final, it was close in the mid part of the match, but he went on a run at the end,” Bike would later say.
Semifinals
Danos def Burgos 25-12
Bike def Esser 25-23
Final: Danos def Bike 25-16
Ninth Place Playoffs
The 2023 Clarkbreaker ninth place playoffs could have easily been a pro draw, with top names Max Langmack, Adam Bernhard, Andres Cordova, David Schiller and Danny Perez littering the draw sheet.
Danny Perez was impressive in the upper bracket, defeating David Schiller in a close battle and Max Langmack decisively to advance to the final. “Daniel just hits the ball so hard, I wasn’t ready for it,” Schiller would later say.
John Chapman was equally impressive in the bottom bracket, ousting teenage North American phenom Andres Cordova 21-17 then dominating the current 35+ and 40+ national champion Adam Bernhard in the semifinals. “I just built a lead and pretty much maintained it the whole way against Adam,” John would later say.
Perez continued his stellar play in the final, using his power and home court advantage to thwart Chapman’s overhand rallying strengths to maintain his undefeated 3-Wall streak against his now frequent rival Chapman. “Every time I’ve come to Tucson we’ve played, either outside or inside,” stated Chapman. “I beat him once inside but never outside.”
“I just need to get relaxed in my first rounds the way I am now (in the playoffs),” stated Perez, who is coming off a broken wrist at the 2023 R48 Houston and a badly sprained ankle from a few weeks prior. “I’m definitely playing in the Ice Bowl and looking forward to it.”
Final: Perez def Chapman 21-14
2023 WPH Clarkbreaker Full Recap HERE
Enter the Men’s Small Ball and Big Ball August 19-20 Ice Bowl HERE
David Fink
WPH Senior Writer