Missoula, MT, WPH Press, 2/6/23
In its fourth edition, the R48 Red Death continued to be one of the great highlights of the Race 4 Eight tour, featuring large galleries that (mostly) supported both players, a beautiful facility and city, and the warm welcoming of the locals and hosts to all of the players. The players truly love to travel and compete at the Red Death.
Top Moments from the 2023 Red Death
- Killian returned and he’s as good as ever: Showing just enough rust for his opponents to be competitive early in matches, Carroll dominated the second half of all of his matches to win his twenty-first R48 title, highlighted by a 10-14 first game comeback against Martin Mulkerrins that virtually no one saw coming
- Leo Canales notches his fourth R48 top five finish in four starts this season: After losing to Killian Carroll in the quarterfinals, Canales blitzed Vic Perez and Mark Doyle in the fifth place playoffs by a combined score of 50-19, making him one of the tour’s elite
- Max Langmack becomes the Midwest Express: Standing three points from the quarterfinals in the second game in his round of 16 match with Mark Doyle, Langmack came up just short, sending him to the ninth place playoffs. Langmack needed overtime in the first round to defeat Dylan Hernandez, then cruised to the ninth place title with wins against Stephen Cooney and Mark Doyle
- Sean and Carrie Sandeau continue the incredible tradition at the Red Death while honoring Red Jolliffe with touching pictures and tributes throughout the weekend: The 2023 featured enthusiastic and large crowds and outstanding hospitality. The Race 4 Eight will be back in Missoula in early 2024!
- The matchup between the current R48 #1 and the 5-year R48 #1: Killian Carroll met current R48 #1 in the upper bracket semifinal and the anticipation equaled the match. Lucho dominated the first game and a half, but Killian’s ability to adjust and raise his level turned what looked to be a two-game defeat into a three-game classic
- Shorty Ruiz makes his first Full Race 4 Eight 4-Wall semifinal: Ruiz caught fire in his quarterfinal match after a slow start, booking his spot amongst the final four and assuring his continued climb up the rankings
- Jab Bike and Max “The Midwest Express” Langmack stepping up to the plate to referee matches, line judge, and do anything possible to ensure the tournament ran smoothly. Jab even opened the court door for players during timeouts, much to the chagrin of at least one player. Jab and the Midwest Express have unquestionably been the tour’s MVP’s through the first five events of the season
- The WPH broadcast crew pitches another perfect game: We cannot say it enough – the WPH broadcast team continues to be the heroes in the shadows, working 20-hour days for days on end to bring handball to your living room with stunning coverage. Thank you Kris, Linda, Che, Kara, Ben, DV, and everyone who contributes to allowing us to watch the most exciting sport on ESPN
David Fink
WPH Senior Writer