We have had a lot of WASPA events held in the last few weeks and many countries have held great tournaments!
Besides all the things happening in England where things are just really big nowadays, we publish here a summary of recent events held in Belgium, Ireland, Italy, the United States, the Netherlands, Australia, New Zealand, Wales and Austria.
Tralee and Munster (Ireland), May 30, 2025
Round 4 of the Irish Circuit - Tralee 2025 (original report by David Elton from https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61569711173090)
They came by boat, car, train, motorbike and pushbike. Some came for the day others for the weekend but still they came. 19 individuals looking to contend with like-minded people and to be part of an enjoyable day competing at the beautiful game that is Subbuteo or Table Football.
For those that wanted it there was a couple of pleasant evenings of sampling the delights of a busy bank holiday weekend in Tralee, with lots of banter and craic in the eateries and hostelries of Kerry’s main town.
On to the serious business of Saturday in the Brandon Hotel, 19 finger flicking enthusiasts did battle to determine who would be leaving (or remaining) in the Kingdom as the number one.
Just like 2024 Dublin’s Mark Farrell made no mistake in the main competition as the Jackeen made up for his round 3 set back in Dublin to power to victory in Kerry. The Il Re (King) of the Shield did it again as in Dublin, Mario Frittelli took the second-string competition against Nick Pearson. In the Junior event Roisin Hogan collected the title in a carbon copy shootout win like in Dublin over Mons winner Elliot Fitzpatrick. Finally in the plate after years on the side lines Northern Ireland’s 1970’s international Louis Herbert is back amongst the honours as he saw off Tralee’s Dave Elton and Donal O’Sullivan to clinch the converted plate.
One of the big challenges to running a tournament in Table Football is the diverse nature and abilities of the competitors.
We had 19 player and 4 competitions. On a footballing level it was like throwing Barcelona, Borussia Dortmund, Ipswich Town, Forest Green Rovers, The Dog and Duck FC and Home Farm under 10’s into one competition and hoping they all leave somewhat fulfilled.
The format was met with some confused looks, panicked questions and rolling eyes, but I make no apologies I feel for what we had it worked. What I will apologise for is that it wasn’t spelt out clearly enough for everyone. Verbally it didn’t come across well. A lesson learned for next year.
At the end of the first group stage most players had found their level and could do battle with players of a similar standard in the second phase. Our aim is that everyone gets a decent number of games and comes away having learned something and with their dignity and confidence very much intact.
The highlight of the day was seeing the early evolution of a junior tournament with 3 players. That’s very much down to young Elliot Fitzpatrick constantly playing the last 2 years and now we’re seeing others enter the fold. Hopefully as the tournament moves around other young players will be inspired to join in and play against lads and lassies of a similar age. If the game is to evolve this side of things really is a must.
I have to say that I’m delighted with how the players in our own locality fared. Although we’re nowhere near close to the big shots the improvement is fantastic. We’re very proud to see former Tralee player Mario taking the Shield (which is getting very competitive), Cian has come on massively in the last year and is taking to competitions like a duck to water. James is one to watch for the future, great to see a Silvia making her debut along with Donal and Liam. Finally, Roisin, 2 competitions and 3 trophies (2 junior and 1 club player of the tournament) is unprecedented. A very well done!
Finally, many thanks to all the players that made the effort to travel to Kerry. The Brandon hotel for hosting, SC Cork and Cheerytree SC for loaning some equipment, John Moore for the tech help, the players that volunteered to referee and to our own players and family members that did their bit in helping set this event up.
I salute you all……
Open final: Mark Farrell - Martinog Bradley 6-1
Shield final: Mario Frittelli - Nick Pearson 2-0
Junior tournament:
1. Roisin Hogan
2. Eliott Fitzpatrick
3. Liam O'Sullivan
Nassogne (Belgium), May 25, 2025
Bruno Timpano won the latest tournament in the South of Belgium where 12 players from different clubs were taking part. Philippe Thys was runner-up with 3 wins but Timpano was decided winner on goal difference.
1. Bruno Timpano
2. Philippe Thys
3. Jean Grosdent
4. Richard Boulanger
5. William Van den Houte
6. Antonio Timpano
7. Sophia Grosdent
8. David Boulanger
9. Noah Dirick
10. Maxim Grosdent
11. Thomas Janssens
12. Vincent Dirick
Auckland (New Zealand), May 26, 2025
Club night standings
1. Mark Rossi
2. Conrad Mudge
3. Ian Samsom
4. Andy Miller
5. Richard Edeson
6. Phil Samsom
Gouda (the Netherlands), May 21 2025
Action in the Netherlands where the May tournament had 7 players competing in a league format and MVV Rijnmond's Jerrel van Keimpema taking the honors.
1. Jerrel van Keimpema
2. Marco de Bruin
3. Fabrizio Cavazza
4. Xavier Aret
5. Rinaldo van Dijk
6. Martijn de Jong
7. Richard Oranje
Calabria (Italy), May 24 2025
.png)
Our friends from Virtus Calabria do a great work with regular events and some tournaments played with modern and old rules. Their last "FISTF rules" tournament was played by 6 players in a league format. Andrea Pagano won his 5 games to win the tournament.
1. Andrea Pagano
2. Giuseppe Andricciola
3. Francesco De Santis
4. Angelo De Santis
5. Francesco Pusia
6. Gianpaolo Pulice
Auckland (New Zealand), June 9 2025
Club night standings
1. Mark Rossi
2. Andy Miller
3. Conrad Mudge
4. Ian Samsom
5. Richard Edeson
6. Phil Samsom
Gouda (the Netherlands), June 4 2025
Final standings (3 groups of 3 players and then 3 groups of 3 players)
1. Marco de Bruin (Dutch Legends)
2. Nico Marks (Dutch Legends)
3. Jarno Marks (Dutch Legends)
4. Fabrizio Cavazza (Gorizia)
5. Stéphane Lambert (Belgium/Kent Invicta)
6. Rinaldo van Dijk (Rijnmond)
7. Xavier Aret (Dutch Legends)
8. Richard Oranje (Dutch Legends)
9. Cailim Marks (Dutch Legends)
Genova (Italy), June 7 2025
Once again the Rebels Genova held a great tournament with 16 players including special guest from France Enrico Lupo. It was a good event with 4 groups of 4 players and then every players had 2 more games to decide final standings. Here are the results of the finals:
Final: Samuele Bignardi - Cristiano Cordone 3-2
Final for place 3: Tommaso Sani - Alberto Capoferri 3-2
Final for place 5: Enrico Lupo (France/Le Cannet) - Massimo Garatti 2-1
Final for place 7: Filippo Sottili - Alessandro Gandin 0-1
Final for place 9: Luca Bignardi - Fabio Balito 1-0
Final for place 11: Filippo Careddu - Maurizio Cussotto 2-0
Final for place 13: Davide Balito - Simone Pennati 2-0
Final for place 15: Andrea Bolioli - Massimo Togo 1-0
Drury (Wales), Jun 8 2025
The Welsh national circuit offered a great of table football to 12 players coming from Wales and England. Chris Bedford took the honors after defeating riding star Ruby Matthews in the final.
Next event in the circuit takes players to another iconic venue: Knighton, home to the original Subbuteo shop, Woodentop brand run by Tom Taylor.
Barrages: Phil Dacey - Cayne Matthews 3-0
Darren Barnes - Brian Daley 1-0
Semi-finals: Chris Bedford - Darren Barnes 2-1
Phil Dacey - Ruby Matthews 1-1*
Final: Chris Bedford - Ruby Matthews 1-0
Plate:
1. David Lauder
2. David Samuel
3. Brendan Ashley
Shield:
1. Richard Stock
2. Luca Lanzani
3. Rob Fitch
Dublin (Ireland), June 9 2025
(Report by Andy Fitzpatrick - original link)
The felt was fast and the flicks were fierce at this week’s edition of Monday Night Flicks at The Cherrytree Walkinstown. With the Irish circuit heating up and momentum building, this session delivered narrative, nostalgia, and a few battles. Whether chasing ranking points or shaking off the weekend cobwebs, every player brought something to the board.
Player Highlights:
Adrian Piggott made his return to the scene tonight and A rock solid defensive showing (just 3 goals conceded all night).
Louis, recently crowned Plate Champion in Tralee, brought a fresh swagger to the table. The results didn’t all go his way this time, but the spark is back and it shows.
Mark “The Machine” was, once again, relentless. Five wins. Zero losses. Twelve goals scored. The man’s a metronome.
Elliot, only 11 years old, continues to capture hearts and rack up goals. He led Andy at half-time, scored consistently throughout the night, and left with more experience under his belt. With Roisín Hogan edging him out in recent shootouts, the hunger to improve is crystal clear.
Andy held his nerve after a tricky start and pulled out some important wins. His draw with Daniel and narrow win over Adrian added layers to what was a fiercely competitive evening.
1. Mark Farrell
2. Andy Fitzpatrick
3. Daniel Kaliszewski
4. Adrian Pigott
5. Louis Herbert
6. Eliott Fitzpatrick
Vienna (Austria), June 8 2025
At the recent Baumfalken Cup in AUstria, the consolation tournament of the FISTF event was played under WASPA banner. Four players contested in a round robin and loal player Karl Vranovitz took the honors. Thanks to Alfred Strommer for making things happen.
1. Karl Vranovitz (AUT/Royal)
2. Marian Flemer (GER/Sparta Spreeathen)
3. Marios Strommer (AUT/Phoenix)
4. Marcus Tilgner (GER/Sparta Spreeathen)
Néchin (Belgium), June 13 2025
After a few weeks, the Templeuve United club was back in the club venue for the usual WASPA evening, which attracted 10 players from different clubs. Matthias Averlant was the clear favorite of the night and won all his games while Michaël Dupret was a well-deserved runner-up.
Final standings after 4 sessions in Swiss system (all players Belgians unless noted):
1. Matthias Averlant (Hennuyer)
2. Michaël Dupret (Tournai)
3. Raphael Dhondt (Templeuve)
4. Vincent Coppenolle (Templeuve)
5. Jordan Bonte (Wattrelos)
6. Sébastien Sorge (FRA/Wattrelos)
7. Ursule Dhondt (Templeuve)
8. Nicolas Malfait (FRA/Wattrelos)
Gouda (the Netherlands), June 18 2025
On Wednesday the Dutch Legends had a successful evening with 10 players taking part and the MVV Rijnmond players were in great shape to dominate the tournament!
Final: Casey van Os - Jerrel van Keimpema 1-0
Final 3rd place: Rinaldo van Dijk - Fabrizio Cavazza 3-0
Final 5th place: Marco de Bruin - Xavier Aret 1-0
Final 7th place: Martijn de Jong - Richard Oranje 0-4
Final 9th place: Sjoerd van Bentem - Fedde Aret 1-2
Sydney (Australia), June 18 2025
A delightful premiere game night a The Station in Pyrmont on Wed 18 June was attended by seven fine flickers. Theoretically hosted by the Hipfingerz Sydney East (homeless since the sale of the much-loved Captain Cook Hotel), the schmick new venue was really the ‘find’ of Northern Falcon stalwart and local Pyrmont denizen Eliot aka ‘Doc’ aka ‘Elbow’ Kennedy. It worked beautifully, cost-free, neat, well-appointed with good storage, a kitchen and a helpful caretaker, it’s clear this space will not only suit monthly club nights but also decent sized invitational tournaments – with room for probably 9 boards.
On this night, four boards were sufficient, but extra tables and chairs were all on hand to make for a comfortable pizza dinner and a viewing of State of Origin II on the big screen (nice tech ‘casting’ by Louis Dettre!).
For this Swiss System WASPA, it was also mate against mate; and fittingly Steve Dettre – mid-rehab after an ankle operation - arrived with a surgical boot and wheelie scooter, doing a good impression of an injured ‘rugba league gladiator’. In the event, he ‘took it easy’ playing only two of the four rounds on offer and picking up 6 of his 7 points (and all his goals) with byes. It was a brave performance though – and what he lacked in mobility, he made up for in cheeky banter.
As it transpired, local boy Eliot won the day with three wins and a draw – the latter a 0-0 draw (‘whose way, mate?”) against a plucky Geoff. The Hipfingerz man picked up two wins (against Louis and stablemate Greg) but lost to Franck. Frank and Adrian pulled out similar results (two wins and a draw) and only goal difference determined that Adrian and Geoff shared the ‘silva medal’ - named after Bernardo of course. Franck and Steve also ended up on 7 points, but Steve’s two 2-0 byes put him ahead… yep, sucked in Franck! It was, nevertheless, a night when everyone took some points - and a share of the glory.
Thanks to all for coming… we’ve definitely begun a new chapter in Sydney Subbo history. See you all – and many more no doubt – next time round. Diarise Tuesday Tues 15 July 6pm set-up for 6.30 flick-off.
Go the Blues! (report by Geoff Sirmai - Facebook link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1063342333730453)
Final standings:
1. Eliot Kennedy
2. Adrian Grunbach
3. Geoff Sirmai
4. Steve Dettre
5. Francis Cozzarin
6. Greg Werner
7. Louis Dettre
Ellicott City, MD (USA), June 14 2025
June 14 saw the playing of a challenge cup by the Maryland Subbuteo Club. 7 players competed in a round robin group. Daniel Cranston took the title with 6 wins. Final standings with points:
1. Daniel Cranston - 18
2. Paul Eyes 13
3. Bryan Arnold 11
4. Collin Dohner 9
5. Claudio Santos 5
6. Zach Swope 2
7. Ryan Belcher 1
