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It was a much calmer Alan Collins that swept to victory at the inaugural Peterborough international satellite event.
Gone were the histrionics that used to accompany each goal scored, much to the derision of many. Instead onlookers were treated to the spectacle of a more calm, measured, composed - and quieter - Collins, again reaching his form of old.
Regular exposure to top-level continental opposition in recent weeks - an intense schedule of four events in a month, in preparation for the World Cup - has helped the England veterans' captain raise his game another notch as well, as he captured his biggest honour since returning to table football.
Collins took time to get going though, winning his preliminary group only on goals scored, after drawing 1-1 with the Belgian Johan Lourdon. Putney's Paolo Barone, on his tournament debut, was beaten 4-1 in the last 16, whilst it took second half goals to overcome Ben Staples 3-2 in the quarters.
But the true glory came in the all important latter stages.
Worthing's Shaun Allison had reached the last four of the competition having scored just four goals in as many games, but more crucially conceding none.
However the good work went out of the window in a one-sided semi-final against Collins. The Manchester player showed exceptional form, barely missing a flick all game, as Allison crashed to a comprehensive 4-0 defeat.
The final, against EPLer Peter Thomas, proved to be closer.
Although Collins raced to a 2 goal lead, Thomas pulled level, his equaliser being cut in from a very tight angle. Not to be deterred Collins struck again, then held on to win a tense contest 3-2.
The other semi-finalist was Putney's Malc Dickson, repeating his recent last four success at the Canadian Grand Prix.
A first round exit had looked on the cards for Dickson, who on his return to the game had waited almost a year to qualify beyond the group stage of an UK tournament. But the Chelmsford-based player turned around a two goal deficit in the last ten minutes to record a first ever competitive win over Putney clubmate Simon Gale in his opening game, to ensure second place in the preliminary group.
Gale then slumped to a 6-goal dubbing at the hands of an in form Nick McLaughlin, whilst Dickson lost 1-0 to the South East Londoner in a close game.
A 3-2 victory over Kevin Adderley set up another Putney derby for Dickson in the quarter-finals, this time against Victor Jones. And again Dickson rose to the occasion to inflict an inaugural defeat on his club rival.
He went ahead early on, and although an out of sorts Jones managed to equalise before half time, Dickson was creating the more purposeful attacks. And after the second half failed to produce any further goals, Dickson completed a famous victory two minutes into overtime, when he slotted the ball past a static goalkeeper from an acute angle.
Dickson also held Thomas level at half time in their semi-final four clash, but succumbed to three second half goals, the last of which came late on when the underdog had pushed all of his figures forward in search of a consolation.
The biggest shock of the competition though was provided by Nick McLaughlin, who held one of the pre-tournament favourite Chris Wrigley level to a goal apiece at full time in their last 16 tie, before hitting an overtime winner.
McLaughlin appeared set for extra time against his old rival Shaun Allison - a 1-0 victor over the Italian Ezio Orru in the last 16 - as well, but a last gasp goal, in a closely fought encounter, secured victory for the Worthing player.
Steve Hawkins made an impression at his first tournament in some 11 years. The former England international beat host Adrian Curtis on shots in the last 16, before losing 3-1 to Peter Thomas. Things were level after an evenly fought opening period, but the EPL player took control in the second half.
Peter Thomas had topped the proverbial group of death, containing fellow tournament favourite Chris Wrigley and Trevor Arthur, by recording 1-0 wins over both opponents.
That should have put the Teeside native in good stead to go on and win the tournament, but he, nor anyone else, had reckoned on the new Alan Collins.
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Yorkshire Phoenix's Matt Lishman must have been seeing double after winning the Junior title.
The England U15 captain beat Thomas Whitehead 3-0 in the semi-finals, to set up a decider against Thomas' twin brother Edward - a shots semi-final winner over young Eliot Bellefontaine.
The final was an excellent contest, played in a sporting spirit. Whitehead, runner-up to his brother at the Leeds Satellite, battled valiantly and both players created chances, but failed to finish.
The Nottinghamshire newcomer showed excellent understanding of defence and tactics, regularly with all his players behind the ball but still able to break quickly and effectively.
Ultimately, it took an excellent strike by Lishman with only two minutes of extra time left to seal the tie.
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Mike Newton won the veterans' crown, by recording his first ever victory over Mike Parnaby in the final.
The pair had fought out a goalless draw in the group stage, and were level once more at full time when they met again in the competition's conclusion. However a strike in overtime secured victory for the Wiltshire player by a 2-1 scoreline.
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With 52 players in attendance - one more than at Leeds in June - the competition set a new record for international satellite events, which exclude those players ranked inside the top 100 of the world rankings for the Open section, and the top 20 for the categories.
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Johan Lourdon vs Martin Bellefontaine 5-1
Paolo Barone vs Russell Geraghty 4-3 OT
Samuel Curtis vs Chris Wrigley 1-7
Simon Bryan vs Steve Hawkins 1-2
Adrian Curtis vs Steve Hawkins 0-0 (1-2 shots)
Peter Thomas vs Anthony Collins 3-0
Kevin Adderley vs Malcolm Dickson 2-3
Johan Lourdon vs Victor Jones 1-2
Alan Collins vs Paolo Barone 4-1
Ben Staples vs Martin Evans 1-0 OT
Shaun Allison vs Ezio Orru 1-0
Chris Wrigley vs Nick McLaughlin 1-2 OT
Steve Hawkins vs Peter Thomas 1-3
Malcolm Dickson vs Victor Jones 2-1 OT
Alan Collins vs Ben Staples 3-2
Shaun Allison vs Nick McLaughlin 1-0
Peter Thomas vs Malcolm Dickson 3-0
Alan Collins vs Shaun Allison 4-0
Peter Thomas vs Alan Collins 2-3
Vets : Mike Newton
U15 : Matt Lishman
Plate : Dave Croucher
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