Victors crowned in exciting 2025 Bangor Open
The second edition of the Bangor Open was a resounding success, attracting players of all ages from South and North Wales, England, and Ireland. Across the weekend, competitors showcased their skills and sportsmanship in a series of thrilling matches.
Saturday Matches
The tournament kicked off on Saturday with the Senior Open and the Over 60s Veterans events.
Senior Open
Top-seeded Ian Parkin of Wales lived up to expectations, overcoming tough opponents such as ex-Isle of Man national player Andre Baille Searle, Angelo Robles, and Vitalij. In a fiercely contested final, he triumphed over the talented Abhishek Bathula to claim victory.
Senior Plate
Players finishing at the bottom of their groups entered the Plate competition. England’s Mark Rhodes emerged victorious, defeating Barna Kustan in the final. Barna had previously battled past his sibling and rival, Szabolcs Kustan (Sebi), in the semi-final before falling to Rhodes.
Over 60s Veterans
Top local player and No. 1 seed, Paul Collins, demonstrated his class by securing the title. He dominated his matches and clinched victory over Mariusz Piechota in the final.
Over 40s Veterans – Main Knockout
Saturday afternoon saw the Over 40s and Under 21s events take place.
Andre Baille Searle showed great form, eliminating Paul Collins and Mark Rhodes en route to the final. Meanwhile, Brett Haslam put on an impressive performance, defeating strong contenders such as Stephen Collins and content creator Neil Myatt. In the final, Haslam’s superior play secured him the Over 40s title.
Over 40s Plate Event
Szabolcs (Sebi) took home the Over 40s Plate title, overcoming North Wales player John Lovegrove in the final.
Under 21s Main Event
The Under 21s featured a high standard of competition. Joseph Ilia displayed skill and composure, defeating North Wales local Ellis Hughes and Tom Bird, a recent representative of Wales at the School Games. In the other half of the draw, South Wales’ Oliver Jordan overcame tough rivals Jack Morgan and Jacob Davies. However, he fell short in the final against Ilia, who claimed the Under 21s Main Event title.
Under 21s Plate Event
Liam Pinder proved too strong in the Under 21s Plate, overcoming Abbas Walji from Bangor University in the final.
Sunday Matches
Sunday began with the Under 15s Cadets event.
Under 15s Cadets Main Event
Top seeds Ellis Phillips Pugh and Jessie Daniels performed strongly, making their way to the semi-finals. The final saw a gripping five-set battle, with Dylan Williams edging out South Wales rival Oliver Jordan to take home the gold.
Under 15s Cadets Plate
A group of three competitors—Pollyanna Protheroe, Will Bell (Trinity, North Wales), and Eloise Burnell—contested the Cadets Plate. Will Bell secured gold for the second consecutive year, with Eloise taking silver.
Juniors Under 18s
The Junior Main Event saw Oliver Jordan defeat Tom Bird and Joseph Ilia beat Jacob Davies in the semi-finals. In a rematch of the Under 21s final, Oliver Jordan and Joseph Ilia faced off again—this time, Jordan claimed gold.
Junior Plate Event
South Wales players Jayden Tang and Jack Morgan made it to the Junior Plate final, where Morgan proved too strong for Tang and secured the title.
Under 13s Main Event
The Under 13s featured a strong contingent from South Wales. Dylan Williams and Oliver Harvey dominated their groups and progressed to the final, defeating rising talents Jessie Daniel and Eloise Burnell along the way. Another electrifying five-set final saw Oliver Harvey claim gold, levelling the score between the two for the day.
Under 13s Plate Event
Young and promising South Wales talent Sebastian Green reached the Under 13s Plate Final after overcoming Anaya O’Leary. However, he was ultimately defeated by North Wales’ Ellis Pugh, who also overcame Pollyanna Protheroe in the semi-final to secure gold.
Final Thoughts
The Bangor Open was another outstanding tournament, bringing together a diverse range of talented players. The event was marked by high-level competition, sportsmanship, and a great atmosphere. A huge congratulations to all the participants, and a special thank you to Bangor University staff for their incredible efforts in both preparation and packing up.
A special mention to Martin Vines for his invaluable assistance and to Peter Higgins, the tournament referee, who worked tirelessly throughout the weekend to ensure everything ran smoothly.
We look forward to seeing you all at the next Bangor Open!