The 2018 WCF Association Croquet World Championship starts this Saturday in Wellington, New Zealand. Five clubs are being used and I’ll try to send photos from each of them as the event progresses. There are eight blocks of 10 players with the top four qualifying for the knockout from each block, with ties on wins being broken with play-off games, so net points are irrelevant.

Who are the leading contenders? World number 1, Robert Fletcher withdrew a week ago and many people believe that this gives four-time AC World Champion, Reg Bamford, a clear run at the event. Reg is over 100 grade points clear of his nearest rival and has all the skills necessary to tie Robert Fulford's five AC World titles. However, if you try to find a reason for him to fail, there is one hole in Reg’s resume – his record in New Zealand. Reg has played in four Worlds in NZ (2AC, 2GC) and has yet to win even a medal. Will he be able to break this hoodoo?

The second seed is NZ born Paddy Chapman. Paddy has the complete game to win this event and providing he can find some shooting form from the quarterfinals, will be tough to beat.

The third seed is a croquet success story. In 2002, Spaniard Jose Riva played in the Worlds in Wellington as a 15 year old. He did not understand how to play a four-ball break and lost all 10 games. Sixteen years later, he returns as the number three seed having recently won the Presidents Cup. One of the most dynamic and attacking players in the World, the main question mark is whether Jose can adopt optimal tactical lines of play in NZ’s trickier playing conditions.

I believe that these 3 players will win the event 90% of the time between them. Thereafter, there are a number of outsiders, all of whom could make a deep run. I should perhaps start with defending Champion, Stephen Mulliner. Stephen has an excellent record in NZ and is always competitive. His main weakness at present is his hoop stroke, but since the advertised hoop gap is 1/32” rather than the usual 1/64” in NZ, he may find this weakness less of a problem.

Greg Bryant has been the most successful in NZ over the past five years. He relies on good shooting and is a tough player to beat. Toby Garrison was runner-up the last time the event was held in his home city in 2002. He doesn’t play much anymore, but is always a threat and the longer he stays in the event, the better he will become. Aiken Hakes reached the top 10 in the World last season, winning most of the major NZ events and being unbeaten at singles at the MacRobertson Shield. He possesses excellent croquet strokes and providing he can generate the self-belief and self-control required to win a Worlds, he has a chance.

The Australians, despite missing Robert and Malcolm Fletcher, bring plenty of talent. Greg Fletcher will be hoping to do the family name proud and Simon Hockey is a quality player. Recent NZ Open Champion, 19 year-old Edward Wilson simply oozes talent. The question remains as to whether he can produce a sequence of error-free games in what are likely to be easier playing conditions in Wellington compared to Christchurch.

Finally, there is the English contingent – used to heading such previews, but now wallowing outside the top 15. Samir Patel, James Death and Pete Trimmer all possess the ability to make a deep run, but my personal pick as the best “outsider” is Dave Maugham. An under performer for the past two decades when expected to do well, I believe that Dave comes into this event without any pressure or expectation and can make use of his controlled break-play and experience to be a real threat.

Other players of note are 2016 runner-up David Maloof (USA) who was one turn away from winning the last final 3-0. Christian Carter (England) is improving rapidly and is always confident. Jenny Clarke (NZ) has reached the last 8 in both the past 2 events. Finally, if you want a real outsider, how about the first ever World Champion, Joe Hogan? I’ll try and provide a brief daily report with photos from a variety of venues, so stay tuned to Croquet Network.

2018 AC World Qualifing Results | AC World Championship Articles