February sees the second major international croquet event in 2020, following the GC World Teams Championship in New Zealand. This singles event will see 80 players battle to become World Champion (currently Paddy Chapman of New Zealand, who lives and plays in Nottingham).
The format is identical to the WCF Simon Carter GC World Championship which graced UK shores last summer: eight blocks of 10, with the top four in each block going through to the main knockout. The blocks will be single games, and the knockout stage will be best of 3 or 5. There will be a range of other consolation events, which are prestigious trophies in their own right.
Conditions are likely to be dry and very hot, with Atkins Quadway hoops (square carrots, unpainted uprights) providing additional challenge. Expect long matches and lower numbers of peeling turns compared to top UK events. Games should be untimed; if time limits imposed, expect some low scores.
The players are selected based on a mixture of world ranking and WCF Member Nations sending representatives. Australia dominates the mix with 29 players, England have 16, and New Zealand 12.
Bowdon member, David Maugham, competed in Block D. David came 2nd David came 2nd after his group matches and qualified for the main knockout event where he beat Ian Burridge in the 1st round; however, he lost to ex-World Champion, Robert Fletcher in round 2.
In the final, ex-world champion Reg Bamford of South Africa beat Matthew Essick of USA 3-1. This was Reg’s 5th AC World title.
