Liam Pitchford returns to the Mark Bates Ltd National Championships looking to add a seventh Men’s Singles title to his roll of honour.

Meanwhile, Tin-Tin Ho has the opportunity to win her own seventh title in the Women’s Singles at the event from 21-23 March.

Pitchford missed last year’s Nationals as he was competing at WTT Champions Incheon in South Korea. Paul Drinkhall won the title to bring up his own seventh victory to move into outright second place behind Des Douglas (11).

Pitchford can join Drinkhall in joint second if he wins this year, while Tom Jarvis goes in search of his own third triumph.

A fourth singles national champion is in the field – Andrew Baggaley having won the Guernsey Trophy on three occasions.

In the Women’s Singles, defending champion Ho is the only former winner, though previous beaten finalists Jasmin Wong and Mari Baldwin are competing, as is last season’s under-21 national champion Tianer Yu, who pushed Ho to a deciding game in the senior semi-finals last year.

The para classes will feature a number of Paralympic Games medallists, including Jack Hunter-Spivey and Megan Shackleton in the Class 2-5 (Wheelchair) event and Billy Shilton and Aaron McKibbin in the Class 6-10 (Standing) category.

There are some interesting doubles pairs, with Drinkhall & Sam Walker electing to defend their Men’s Doubles crown, meaning Pitchford & Drinkhall will not have the chance to win a ninth title together. Instead, Pitchford will play in a left hand-right hand combination alongside Ash Facey, who recently retired from the British Para TT pathway.

Last season’s beaten finalists Joseph Hunter & Larry Trumpauskas are also in the field, while England duo Jarvis & David McBeath will line up together.

Ho & Wong are the defending champions in the Women’s Doubles and go again, while Yu & Baldwin make a combination.

In the Mixed, Ho & Walker won last year but Ho this time partners Jarvis. Twins Connor & Anna Green team up, last year’s beaten finalists Shayan Siraj & Wong return – and Baggaley makes a rare doubles appearance, alongside Rebecca Savage.

The full line-up of players, plus draws for the group stages, para and doubles competitions will be confirmed in the days leading up to the competition.

The Men’s Singles and Women’s Singles knockout stages will be drawn live on the morning of Friday 21 March, the first day of the tournament.