Gavin top of the table with victory in Ireland

Now focus is on World Ping Pong

Perth table tennis professional Gavin Rumgay has secured his first title on Irish soil.

He did it with a gruelling 6-11, 11-7, 11-7, 6-11, 13-11 final victory over local favourite Ashley Robinson at the Ulster Open.

The previous week, competing for Swiss side UGS Chenois, there was another landmark for Rumgay when he defeated two world top 100 players, Daniel Zwickl and Mattis Burgis, in the same weekend for the first time.

Now aged 32, the Fair City talent is showing no signs of slowing down.

He said: “I had never won an Irish tournament before so it was a major milestone in my career to get that win.

“I think it was fitting that I defeated the Irish number one to win the event too. I won the British Championships in the same hall around 10 months ago so I think that helped. “The matches in Switzerland are very important to me in terms of keeping matchsharp and are good financially too. The regular exposure to high-level matches means that my game is usually sharp and I am making the right decisions in pressurised moments.

“Zwickl is the same age as me and was European number two as a junior so I have always looked up to him. Burgis qualified for the 2012 Olympics so is very high-level too.

“I felt I moved quicker than them and won the big points by have become stronger and my backhand has been winning points under pressure too.

“Confidence is everything in sport. I know when it is close that my record is very good. At Pro Tour level I have won 21 and lost only eight matches when the match goes to a deciding seventh set.

“I have two more Swiss weekends and then it is World Championship Ping Pong in the Alexandra Palace. I am excited to get out there and compete for Scotland.

“I’ve had great support from Brewdog and it will be nice to see James Watt, the CEO, making the trip down to watch me too.”