A unique table tennis tournament is serving up something a little different in Ottawa this weekend. The Champlain Table Tennis Club hosted the inaugural Marty Supreme Cup on Sunday, a competition inspired by the film of the same name that traded traditional rules and high-performance equipment for a more accessible approach to the sport. Unlike most table tennis tournaments, the event featured old-school sandpaper rackets instead of modern rubber paddles. Organizers say the format was designed to level the playing field and encourage players of all ages and skill levels to take part. “Back in the day, the sandpaper rackets were normally used, but you’re talking 70 to 80 years ago,” said 70 year old competitor, John De Carle. “What happened was the game was not entertaining enough. So, they decided to try rubber and of course that sped the game up and it became much more exciting.” Located in the South Keys Plaza, the Champlain Table Tennis Club opened nine months ago and is Ottawa’s second full-time table tennis facility. Modern rubber paddles are designed to generate significant speed and spin, giving experienced players a competitive advantage. Sandpaper rackets reduce those effects, making rallies easier to control and creating a more even playing field for newcomers. “It’s like a fun concept where we play a tournament with everybody who hasn’t used the style, of course, so it’s new to everybody,” said competitor Japishit Chawla. “I guess we’ll find out if we’re good at it or not.” Paulo Chira, owner of the Champlain Table Tennis Club, said the tournament was inspired by the table-tennis themed movie and the sport’s early history. “This is something that came out from the Marty Supreme movie,” Chira said. “We kind of wanted to take it back to the days in the 1930s and how people played.” Fifteen people signed up for the inaugural tournament. Players were guaranteed multiple matches before advancing to a knockout round, all competing for the first-ever Marty Supreme Cup and a cash prize. De Carle hopes events like this one will encourage more people to try the sport. “We have tons of regular tournaments. It’s very serious, people feel overwhelmed. They say, ‘I’m not good enough,’” he said. “We bring this out, this is the leveler,” De Carle said referencing the sandpaper paddle. “Everybody is almost playing the same.”Organizers hope to make the Marty Supreme Cup an annual tradition as the club continues to grow Ottawa’s table tennis community
