Joe Kennedy held off the challenge of Luke Walsh to win the World Championship of Ping Pong qualification event at Rowhedge.
Both made it through their groups with unblemished records of seven victories and no defeats, while the other two groups were won by Eli Baraty, also with a 100 per cent record, and Paul Worrallo, who won six and lost one.
And the group winners all advanced through the last 16 and quarter-finals to reach the semis.
Walsh needed three games to see off both Rik James and Martin Gunn, while Worrallo went through in two against Glenn Johnson and Keith Baker. But it was the Herts player Walsh who prevailed in the last four as he took the tie 15-11, 15-6.
In the bottom half of the draw, Baraty beat Andrew Warner in two, before needing three to see off Richard Hutchinson, while Kennedy prevailed over Robin Ashleigh and Fred Dove without dropping a game.
Kennedy’s good form continued with a 15-11, 15-14 victory over Baraty to advance to the final, and he completed the job with a 15-12, 15-9, 15-9 win over Walsh.
By Paul Stimpson
September 3, 2014