Senior British Clubs League players and local challengers are being served up high-class competitions to fill the standard ‘blank’ in the BCL fixture calendar in January.

Six SBCL club venues around the country are hosting 1* or 2* open tournaments on Sunday 18 January – and entries are now open, both to SBCL players and those based locally to the tournaments.

The initiative arose out of a proposal from players and clubs at the BCL Conference in 2024 to utilise the ‘free Sunday’ of the season’s third weekend of fixtures, when only two rounds of league matches are scheduled on the Saturday.

Singles tournaments on the following Sunday have tended to be limited in previous seasons, and not necessarily in the same parts of the country where players were already gathered – but no longer.

Following the proposal from players and clubs, a consultation with existing and recent former BCL venues evidenced overwhelming general support to host, with 13 of 16 venues expressing interest.

And six of them have now finalised entry forms for competitions this season, all on Sunday 18 January:

• Topspin Nottingham 2*
• Halton 2*
• Ormesby 2*
• Cippenham 2*
• Scarborough 1*
• Highfield TTC Wellingborough 1*

All events will also be open to local players to take on the Senior BCL visitors. Click here for entry details.

Neil Rogers, Table Tennis England Head of Competition & Events, said: “This exciting synergy provides new and valuable Senior ranking competitions at the appropriate level for national league players already physically in the area – also giving hosts and local players the opportunity for new blood in their tournaments.

“We are delighted with this initiative, and very grateful to the six clubs hosting events in this already record-breaking Senior BCL season.”