Campbell, CA, 9/4/23
WallBall Worldwide’s Carlos Andrew Torres and Jay Sanchez proudly hosted the Golden Ticket Campbell Classic 1-Wall and 3-Wall WallBall tournament at the Campbell Community Center Handball Courts in Campbell, CA, showcasing thirty-two of the best big ball players from both coasts in 1-Wall and 3-Wall Big Ball singles and doubles. “The Concept of the Golden Ticket came up in 2020 when we had our park shut down due to Covid,” stated Torres. “Jay and I wanted to have a handball tournament that would not get shut down due to Covid restrictions. We decided that we would have a “Small” invitational only event and secretly invite some of the top 1-Wall and 3-Wall players that we knew for an open singles event in Campbell, California. This would morph into the Golden Ticket Invitational.”
The fields included the best from both coasts, headlined by East Coast stars Tywan Cook, Wally Amaro, Timbo Gonzalez, David Velez, Chris Show and Naz Marston, in addition to Southern California stars Chava Cordova, Oscar Sordia and Chopper Hernandez.
1-Wall Singles
Naz Marston defeated Tywan Cook to advance to the final of the upper bracket and would face 2022 King of the Court David Velez in the final after Velez defeated Wally Amaro in the bottom bracket semifinal.
Marston rallied from match point down in game two of the final against Velez, trailing 11-14 before a furious rally evened the match at one-game apiece. Naz carried the momentum into the tiebreaker, dominating the third to hoist the Golden Ticket title. Naz defeated three King of the Courts champions en route to the title, overcoming Timbo Gonzalez in the quarterfinal, Cook in the semifinals and Velez in the final.
Semifinals
Marston def Cook
Velez def Amaro
Final: Marston def Velez
3-Wall Singles
Southern Californians Chava Cordova and Oscar Siordia advanced to the Golden Ticket final for the second consecutive year, with Cordova overcoming 2023 WPH Ice Bowl champion Anthony “Chopper” Hernandez in three games in the semifinals and Siordia defeating Timbo Gonzalez in two games in the bottom bracket semifinal.
Siordia played his best match of the event in the final, winning his first Golden Ticket singles title in two games.
Semifinals
Cordova def Chopper 15-12, 11-15, 11-4
Siordia def Timbo 15-9, 15-12
Final: Siordia def C. Cordova 15-7, 15-11
1-Wall Doubles: Team Naz/Tywan def Team Pena/Velez
3-Wall Doubles Final: Team Cordova/Siordia def Team Timbo/Chicharron
Thank you to WallBall Worldwide’s Carlos Andrew Torres and Jay Sanchez for running the 2023 Golden Ticket.
Thank you to WallBall Worldwide for the updates and pictures.
Follow WallBall WorldWide and the Golden Ticket event on Facebook HERE
For more on WallBall Worldwide, visit their homepage HERE
Watch matches from the 2023 Golden Ticket, courtesy of TensFinest HERE
Follow TensFinest on Instagram HERE
Photos courtesy of WallBall Worldwide
David Fink
WPH Senior Writer