The 2024 WCF Golf Croquet World Championship Round of 32 and 16 is one of the most entertaining days in croquet and yes, I will say it — all of sport. Eighty players battle for five days in block play to whittle down to 32. That first playoff day is a whirlwind of action as the day brings unpredictable best-of-three action and generally ends with only eight players left standing. It’s a nail-biter for top seeds and anyone following the event.

Except that’s not quite the case this year as we have reached the quarterfinals day yesterday at the Chesapeake Bay Croquet Club near Hartfield, Va., and only four of the second-round matches were able to complete on time. So, four players have made it to the last eight: Robert Fletcher (AUS), Ben Rothman (USA), Euan Burridge (ENG) and Blake Fields (USA).

Ranked #48 in the world GC rankings, Burridge’s 7-6, 6-7, 7-2 upset of #5 Matthew Essick (USA) and the defending world champion was one of the top stories of the day as that ended the possibility of repeat GC World Champion — a feat that seems nearly impossible.

Another world champion fell earlier in the day, as #20 Reg Bamford (ZAF) went to the final hoop before getting knocked out by #17 Felix Webby (NZL) in the first round, 3-7, 7-3, 7-6.

Today’s action is already underway on the official USCA YouTube channel and with Tom Balding (USA) battling Stephen Morgan (USA).