Top European table tennis players compete in Jersey tournament

Friday 19 April 2019

Top European table tennis players - including, for the first time, players from Russia and Bulgaria - will today be in Jersey to compete for the top prize in the island's 13th open tournament.

Hosted by the Jersey Table Tennis Association (JTTA), the three-day contest starts today at 09:00 at FB Fields' Geoff Reed Table Tennis Centre, and will see up to 60 players of all ages take part.

The JTTA says this will be the opportunity to see "some top European table tennis players" compete against each other. Local players will also get to show their prowesses against stiff opposition.

For the first time in 13 tournaments, players from Russia and Bulgaria will be taking part, as well as many from Great Britain. As the event is a Grand Prix Satellite Tournament, under the oversight of Table Tennis England, all players will get to earn ETTA ranking points depending on their results.

Up to 60 players, across all age groups, are expected to take part. The senior men’s and women’s events are open to everyone and there are also banded tournaments according to ranking points.

Pictured: The tournament will take place at the Geoff Reed Table Tennis Centre at FB Fields.

There will also be individual events for Under 18, Under 21 and Over 40. Team events will be played today with the individual tournaments played over Saturday and Sunday.

There is a total prize fund of £2000 with the Men's and Women's singles winners and runners up sharing almost £1,000. The remaining £1,000 will be shared amongst the other tournaments.

The event will be overseen by English Referee Steve Smith, supported by JTTA's very own, Duncan Mills.

Islanders are welcome to come and watch the games at the Geoff Reed Table Tennis Centre at FB Fields. Play is scheduled to start a 09:00 each day and will finished between 18:00 and 19:00 depending on how the matches develop.