Italian shot-maker Guido Cerullo (WRk 114) (ITA/GCT DLF Gorizia) produced a string of upsets to win the 2025 Derry Grand Prix Open category, edging England’s Mick Hammonds (65) (ENG/Wolverhampton Table Football Club) 2-1 in a balanced final.
Road to the title
Semi-finals
Cerullo edged out tournament favourite Aaron Skinner (58) (ENG/Langton Green Subbuteo Club) 2-0, while on the opposite side of the draw, Hammonds survived a sudden-death thriller, outlasting French legend Lionel Abecassis (169) (FRA) 3-2 after the pair were locked at 2-2 in regulation time.
Quarter-finals
Skinner eliminated rising star Ruby Matthews (194) (ENG/Avenir Subbuteo Hennuyer) 2-1 in extra-time.
Cerullo shaded Cayne Matthews (258) (ENG/Yorkshire Phoenix) 2-1, while Abecassis edged Kevin Cordell (76) (ENG/Langton Green Subbuteo Club) in a sudden death 1-0 win.
Hammonds pipped veteran Martin Hodds (238) (ENG/Yorkshire Phoenix) 2-1.
The final
Cerullo was delighted with his final win against Hammonds.
“It was a very fair match and Mick is a friend. He beat me in Birmingham in March at the satellite of Pedmore, and now I got my revenge,” Cerullo said.
Hammonds paid tribute to the champion: “Guido took his chances.”
Finalist Mick Hammonds
Notable performances
Teenager Ruby Matthews (194) reached the quarter-final, eliminating Gareth Christie (205) (SCO/Derry City TFC) in the last-16. She won all 3 group games, beat Christie, and her only defeat of the day was 1-2 golden goal to Aaron Skinner.
Local hope Barry Spence (580) (NIR/Irish Premier League) topped his group before falling to Skinner 3-1 in the first knock-out round.
Jason Christopher (ENG/Wolverhampton Table Football Club) took out the Plate/WASPA event, beating Jeremy Bradley (ENG/TSPA White Star) in the final.
The Derry Open featured 32 competitors from eight nations.
The dynamic duo!
Organisers also produced a video compilation of tournament action and post event celebrations.