Baggaley conquers the world of Ping Pong for a fourth time

The Milton Keynes man had equalled Maxim Shmyrev’s record three titles last year and defended his title with a brilliant performance over an intense weekend. For German Flemming, it was his third final defeat in this event having also come runner-up in 2015 and 2017.

“This was the hardest final to win and it supersedes all of the other ones,” said Baggaley after wins in 2015, 2016 and 2019. “It is incredible, amazing, special. Thank you to everyone supporting me, to my brother, to everyone.

“My mind, my fight, my composure are my weapons. That was the best composure I have ever shown, I was quite calm, and physically strong. All around it was unbelievable.

“Alex is an unbelievable player. In training for this event he was beating me quite easily but I got some revenge today. He will win this one day, for sure. That was the best final we’ve ever seen. Better than my final against Yan Weihao. The quality was so high.”

Flemming drew first blood in the final, claiming the first set on sudden death before the MIlton Keynes man pulled level in style, winning 15-8. The third set was a thriller, with it going right to the wire at 14-14 before Flemming won it. But back came Baggaley again, dominating the fourth 15-8 once again to send it to a fifth set decider.

Baggaley thought he had done enough when he took a 14-11 lead, but Flemming battled back to 14-14. But Baggaley held his nerve to secure his fourth crown.