World Sandpaper Table Tennis (Ping Pong)
As discussed previously, the original World Championships of Ping Pong (WCPP) is no longer being organised by Matchroom. However, Sandpaper Table Tennis is continuing locally, nationally and internationally.
International:
In 2022, for the first time, an Open Sandpaper event was included in the Joola Global Championships. This inaugural event was won by 4-time WCPP champion, Andrew Baggaley, of England, who beat Lubomir Pistej of Solvakia in the final.
Further, there are plans to include Sandpaper events in the Classic Games World Ping Pong Championships in 2023. This is part of an initiative to hold a tournament including Hardbat, Sandpaper, Wood... and ... a 'Poco Loco' event ... an event where you can play with any paddle you want. The 2023 Classic Games Championships will be held in Mexico at an all-inclusive resort May 26 - May 29, 2023. More information will be posted here.
We are anticipating a considerable rivalry between hardbat players and sandpaper players in these events. For example, the 2022 Classic World Hardbat Champion was top sandpaper player Alex “FLASH” Flemming over top seed Jimmy Butler. Flemming had also defeated AJ Carney in a semi-final thriller (watch it here); but a few weeks later Carney defeated Baggaley in the hardbat event at the Joola Championships in Florida.
National:
A number of countries still hold Sandpaper events. Where we know about them, we put the information in the WCPP/Sandpaper Chat Facebook Group. Anyone is welcome to post information about Sandpaper events and players in this group.
Juliet Johnston, 23rd September 2022
Former World Championships of Ping Pong (WCPP)
As of November 2021, it appears that Matchroom are no longer promoting the WCPP, and there has been no announcement regarding an event in 2022. We have our fingers crossed that someone else will pick up the event.
Matchroom staged the 64 player event seven times. Played out over two days, unlike regular table tennis the WCPP was played with old school sandpaper bats where the emphasis is on skill and agility rather than equipment. Also, competitors do not use their own bats, and swap bats when they change table ends.
The WCPP has been held since 2011, and has been at London's Alexandra Palace since 2013. The event attracted players from worldwide, including Russia, France, Spain, USA, China and a high standard of British players - England's Andrew Baggeley has been World Champion four times (2015, 2016, 2019 and 2020). Scotland has been represented since January 2014 with Gavin Rumgay earning a bronze medal in 2020.
Normally, entry was by qualification at national events. A number of places were also usually available at the "last-chance-saloon", which was held a few days before the WCPP and was open to anyone who had played in a qualifying event.
More information is available on the WCPP website.
Scotland at the WCPP
Scotland was represented at the WCPP between January 2014 and January 2020.
Year Winner Runner-Up Scottish players
2020 Andrew Baggaley, ENG Alexander Flemming, GER Gavin Rumgay (SF), Ian Johnston (R32)
2019 Andrew Baggaley, ENG Wang Shibo, CHN Gavin Rumgay (R16), Ian Johnston
2018 Wang Shibo, CHN Huang Jungang, CHN Gavin Rumgay (R32), Ian Johnston (R32)
2017 Yan Weihao, CHN Alexander Flemming, GER Gavin Rumgay (R32), Ian Johnston
2016 Andrew Baggeley, ENG Maxim Shmyrev, RUS Gavin Rumgay (QF), Ian Johnston
2015 Andrew Baggaley, ENG Alexander Flemming, GER Gavin Rumgay (QF), Charlie Ellis
2014 Maxim Shmyrev, RUS Ilija Lupulesku, USA Gavin Rumgay (QF)