The Wrexham International Open 2026 marked a successful return for Welsh FISTF competition after a five-year absence, with top players and teams battling it out across a packed weekend of action.
In the Individual Main Event, Matthias Averlant of Avenir Subbuteo Hennuyer claimed the title, finishing ahead of Bessim Golger of Bormla SC, who took runner-up spot.
The Plate competition, fittingly titled It’s Always Sunny in the Plate, was won by Micheal Mayes of Godiva Subbuteo Club, while Marco Bevilacqua of Derry City TFC finished as runner-up.
In the Shield competition, named Deadpool, Richard Grimley of Godiva Subbuteo Club came out on top, with Nick Pearson of Wolverhampton TFC taking second place.
The team events also produced some excellent performances. Bormla SC were crowned Team Main Event winners, with Avenir Subbuteo Hennuyer finishing as runners-up. In the Team Plate, Cardiff Bluebirds TFC took the title, while Glasgow TSA finished second.
With competitive matches played throughout the weekend in the right spirit, the event proved to be a welcome and successful return for international table football in Wrexham. Organisers will no doubt be delighted with both the standard of play and the smooth running of the tournament.
Now that the dust has settled and a decent night’s sleep has finally been had, it is also important to recognise the many people who helped make the event possible.
Special thanks go to Lawrence Watson, Frankie Connolly, and everyone at Derry City Table Football Club. Their support from the very beginning, including the offer to transport tables across the sea, was crucial to making the event happen at all. Their effort and commitment played a huge part in getting the tournament off the ground. Derry City TFC will host their own Grand Prix in June, and it is already being highlighted as one of the standout events on the FISTF calendar.
Thanks are also due to Kye Arnold of Kent Invicta, whose experience and knowledge in running events smoothly were invaluable throughout the weekend. His contribution behind the scenes helped ensure everything stayed on track.
A big mention must also go to Richard Roper, who kept players informed and the event moving through the PA system. Finishing an event of this size before 5:30pm on Saturday and 4:30pm on Sunday is no small task, but it was achieved with impressive organisation.
Further appreciation goes to local supporters Cayne Matthews, Ruby Matthews, Chris Bedford, and Emma for their help with extra tables, transport, advice, and support before, during, and after the event.
Thanks also to everyone who came along on Friday evening to help with setup, a gesture that was both unexpected and greatly appreciated, with Jos Ceulemans receiving a special mention.
Recognition is also due to John Lauder and Dave Samuel for presenting the trophies and for their trust and support in helping bring the event to Wrexham. Their presence was warmly welcomed by many across the weekend.
The organisers also expressed sincere gratitude to the Wrexham Railway Club for hosting the tournament, and especially to Kathryn, who went above and beyond to keep everyone supplied with drinks and opened the venue earlier than usual. The warmth shown by the club’s local members helped make all players feel welcome.
Finally, thanks go to every single person who attended the first Welsh FISTF event in five years. The tournament was played fairly, competitively, and in exactly the right spirit. It was a memorable weekend for Wrexham, and one that many will hope is the first of many more to come.
Brendan Ashley