The Matchroom Sport World Championship of Ping Pong gets underway this Saturday live on Sky Sports HD from London’s iconic Alexandra Palace. Watch out for Current Irish internationals John Murphy, Paul McCreery and the legendary Colum Slevin – the event will be broadcast on Saturday 5th and Sunday 6th January on Sky Sports 2.
Players will initially compete in eight groups of eight in a double elimination format where two wins means progress to the last 32 while two defeats spells the end of the road.
With $20,000 handed to the winner from a total prize fund of $100,000 and 19 nations represented, spectators and TV viewers can expect a fierce competition.
With each competitor using specially commissioned traditional sandpaper hardbats rather than the sponge bats used in regular table tennis, the Matchroom Sport World Championship of Ping Pong will be more about skill, power and accuracy than spin.
“We are very excited to be staging this event,” commented Matchroom Sport Chairman Barry Hearn. “I believe that ping pong is a sensational sport that has a limitless potential to get bigger and bigger.
“We have 19 countries represented with players of all ages, both male and female, and this is something we will be looking to build upon in future years.
“Traditional table tennis players such as Andrew Baggaley, who has five Commonwealth Games medals to his name and represented Team GB at the London Olympics, will be up against players who have a proven track record in hardbat ping pong such as Graham Sandley and Denis Neale, so it should be a very interesting weekend.
“Ping pong is a game for all ages and nationalities and is a truly global sport. We want to bring the game to a new audience and with the entire event broadcast live on Sky Sports, I know this is something we can achieve.”
Tickets to the event will be available to purchase on the day at Alexandra Palace, priced £20 for adults and £10 for concessions per day. Saturday’s action begins at midday with play on Sunday commencing at 12:30pm.