Dewitt bests long-time Connecticut Rival to win Mass. tourney

   Lifelong Fairfield club and tournament player Rich Dewitt beat Hartford rival Ernest Virgo in the final of the USATT one star October "Zing!" Open tournament in East Hampton Mass..

   Both are past Connecticut Men's Champions who have also traded #1 and #2 ratings in the state for most of the last 20 years. And while Virgo has a lifetime 23-4 edge in their decades long rivalry, Momentum and perhaps age and playing styles see a shift towards Dewitt with him winning 3 out of their last 5 tournament match-ups in recent years.

   Both players, now in their 50's, are still active and highly rated players in the state and the New  England region, but were previously higher rated with Virgo reaching a peak 2330 rating in 2009 and Dewitt once briefly reaching 2445 in 2006.