Open Division Preview

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Tony Leonardo

Nothing looks so exciting to watch as this year’s competition for the Open division. The word across the board this year is parity and the unique format of an international Ultimate tournament such as Worlds may make all the difference. It could very well depend on when a favorite loses, not if a favorite loses.

And who is the favorite here? There is no odds-on bet. The United States has traditionally dominated Worlds, both club and country, but the continued strength of the Vancouver team now representing Canada cannot be overlooked. What may be a problem for top-seeded team USA is that they are two years past their prime when they won Worlds 2002. These guys have won every tournament on the books — from College Nationals to Club Nationals to Club Worlds to Paganello, Kaimana and every American tournament that exists. Why do they need to prove themselves? The key for this team will be the young guns and the new blood. These new players need to show that they can bring the spirit, heart and intensity to this team.

Canada won Worlds in 1998 and the World Games in 2001. Behind a tall and versatile lineup with speed and conditioning, the angry monkey has incentive to perform well after being underseeded at number three. When was the last time Furious players lost a major tournament? 2002 Club Worlds in Hawaii is their only such defeat in recent memory. They’ve won almost everything since. This is going to be a very strong team indeed and in the right frame of mind.

Finland is going to have something to play for by representing their country and their friends and neighbors in Turku. Their opening-game loss to Australia is a small setback. Having just cruised through the top teams in America and beating all of them except for Furious George (remember, the U.S. teams are not in season right now), the Aussies are looking mighty comfortable on the pitch. Expect them to be in a flow right away while other teams work out the kinks. Australia might be able to pull ahead early by a decent margin before their opponents recover in the second half.

Is there a weak pool? Great Britain’s pool certainly does not promise the potential of the others. The U.K. will indeed be very strong but Denmark comes in as a fifth seed without great success on the international scene. They are excited and may be peaking at the right time, by they are not as strong as Australia, Finland and Sweden in the other pools, and Great Britain is not as powerful as USA and Canada.

For this reason, expect the Japanese to mix up the Open B pool. The Buzz Bullets were the best non-North American team at Club Worlds 2002 in Hawaii but that was practically a home tournament for them. Japan finished in the middle of the pack in 2000. Could this be a break-through year for them?

Sweden and Finland are always in the mix. Sweden especially owes some revenge victories. They want Worlds very badly. Sweden’s 1992 Gold was tarnished because USA did not send the defending New York, New York champions due to travel costs. Instead the U.S. recruited a team of Masters players, a few pickups, and a stuffed teddy bear to represent America on the field. Sweden lost to USA 19-18 in the finals of Worlds 2000 in Heilbronn. They lost the bronze medal game 17-16 to the Condors in St. Andrews in 1999. If Sweden can avoid Canada and get a match against USA, you can expect another game down to the wire.