Shock reverberates around the Croquet World .. Three ex-World Champs (+ Mohamed Taha = top 4 seeds) defeated in first Round of Knockout .. All games of a high standard but Reg's game is outstanding and I am going to say that is about equal to the best I have seen him play. The game never quite ran in his favour and on three or four critical moments he was forced into difficult options because of long-distance blocks (perfect pace) by his young (unknown) opponent: Particularly last game at hoop 11 where he was forced to have a go at jumping a ball in the jaws from angled North Boundary .. he "pinged" it 100% BUT the ball jumped over the hoop !?! .. never complained and said already booked his ticket for next year as this is the main Tournament that continues to be "un-won" by an "un-Egyptian" ..I believe he is even sponsoring the creation of a revolutionary new mallet to assist in this ambition.

Dina who beat Ahmed Elmahdy has about the best (straightest) swing possible .. Ahmed Elmahdy (in some discomfort from a banjaxed knee) played sufficiently well to win most matches BUT Dina won on merit, took on big shots and got sufficient number + very few 10 yards misses .. She now meets Soha in the next round so a Lady will be in the semi-finals although anyone's guess as to which one.)

Ben Rothman was just workmanlike to wear down Mohamed Taha (last year's winner) but I suspect he will meet an Egyptian "having a good day" in the later rounds and that may do for him.wide.

Spare a moment for poor Ahmed Nasr (2 times World Champ) who needed the win to finance his trip to the World's next month as he was not selected by the Egyptian Federation and got in only as a "Wild Card" ! However at this stage I have not the slightest idea who is going to win this so I am out of predictions. Incidentally, Reg is lined up for Tasmania and they have a new player I believe. They are taking the avoidance of relegation very seriously .

Evan.