Fields and Fletcher Go Five Games in Epic Five-Game Final
In a stunning display of power croquet, 18-year-old American Blake Fields claimed the 2024 WCF Golf Croquet World Championship with a 7-5, 7-5, 3-7, 5-7, 7-0 finals win over Australia's Robert Fletcher yesterday at the Chesapeake Bay Croquet Club (CBCC) near Hartfield, Va.
With Fletcher as the #1 world-ranked player in both AC and GC and factoring in his dominant play throughout the event, the possibility of #84 Fields taking a win in the final would have been unthinkable even at the start of the knockout on Wednesday. But for those following the tournament, it became clear that Fields was gearing up for another level during his quarterfinal match against mentor Brian Lozano of Mexico.
KNOCKOUT BRACKET | FINALS VIDEO | PHOTO GALLERY
Including the qualifying event, 120 players participated in the championship and most seemed to have been awed by the challenge presented by the Quadways set in the hard base at the CBCC. The consensus opinion seemed to be that the hoops offered the greatest hoop-running challenge to date in world title history.
But against Lozano, Fields went beyond the "big game" and demonstrated that power could indeed overcome the "unsolvable" Quadways more often than not — if you stick to your guns. The best of five played out with Fields claiming game one 7-6. Lozano came back with his own 7-6 win. Fields then won game three with a 7-5 score, but when the "teacher" took game four, 7-3, to level the match, it looked like the power strategy approach might have finally played out.
Only that wasn't the case. Fields remained calm and steady, showing little emotion in a game five that played out under increasing darkness. It was a true dogfight — an epic match that went to the fishhook with Fields getting a 7-6 win to advance.
Over the short night, fans wondered how Field's extreme power game would hold up against the traditional Egyptian power game of highly ranked Khaled Kamel. Kamel would be coming off his own adventures in the quarterfinals after going five games against American Tom Balding. In the decider, Kamel reversed a 6-5 disadvantage at hoop 12 with a super-clear that left his ball legally set up in front of hoop 13 plus the advantage at 12. He took 12 and after both of Balding's distant clears failed to connect, Kamel claimed the 7-6 decider.
Moving to the semifinal, all questions about the matchup were answered quickly. Fields was in the zone and his relentless power game wore Kamel down as he took the match in three games 7-4, 7-4, 7-1 to earn a spot in the finals.
Robert Fletcher. Photo by Kent Eanes.
Fletcher's path was far less complicated as he didn't drop a game in the knockout, and notably only one game in block play. His form looked near perfect as he took out 2019 World Champion Ben Rothman (USA) 7-6, 7-1, 7-2, in the quarterfinals. In the semifinal, he would go up against England’s Euan Burridge. Burridge had been a sensation as well taking out eventual Bowl winner Sherif Abdelwahab (USA) in round one, then defending champion Matthew Essick (USA) 7-6, 6-7, 7-2 in round two before knocking off Spain’s Jose Riva 7-5, 7-5, 7-1. But in the semifinal, Fletcher’s excellent form continued as he knocked off Burridge in three straight, 7-3, 7-2, 7-1.
That set up a fascinating final. Fletcher looked to be flawless, demonstrating power, tact and precision as needed throughout the event. On the other side, Fields was playing with a level of confidence and power that was unprecedented. The conventional wisdom indicated that Fletcher’s form and experience would likely overcome the mega-power game of Fields.
That theory came apart fast as Fields took game one 7-5 and for the first time in the event, Fletcher was playing from behind in a match. Fields continued and got game two 7-5. Was it going to be a sweep? No. Fletcher fought back 7-3 to stay alive and we started to see some misses from Fields.
After a lunch break, Fletcher evened with a 7-5 win, but Fields appeared to be getting his monster swing back in line. Still, many GC followers felt like in a game five the more experienced Fletcher would surely have the advantage. But, Fields had jawzed position at both one and two and Fletcher ended up peeling both of those. Fields dutifully converted that advantage at three for a 3-0 lead. A battle ensued at hoop 4, but Fields claimed that one as well. Once it got to 5-0, momentum was in play it didn’t take much longer for Fields to closee the door with a 7-0 win to claim the title.
Fields' win represents the third straight win for a U.S. player in the event, which puts the nation at second on the list of GC world titles following Egypt with nine total titles, including the first eight in the event's short history. South Africa has two titles and Ireland has one.
OTHER EVENT WINNERS
Shield: Edmund Fordyce (NZL) over Stephen Morgan (USA) 7-3, 7-5
Bowl: Sherif Abdelwahab (USA) over Andres Alvarez-Sala (ESP) 7-5, 7-3
Plate: James Galpin (ENG) over Patricio Jnr Garay (ESP) 7-5, 6-7, 7-6
EVENT IMPRESSIONS
Many of the players and attendees of the event noted the sizeable volunteer and referee staff that the USCA and CBCC assembled for the event. The entire world of croquet players and supporters is grateful for their efforts because it made for a wonderful event overall. In addition, the USCA YouTube Channel video team also deserves recognition and praise for working diligently to make this tournament available to the world and for preserving croquet world championship history in video.
WCF GOLF CROQUET WORLD Champions
2024: Blake Fields (USA)
2022: Matthew Essick (USA)
2019: Ben Rothman (USA)
2017: Reg Bamford (South Africa)
2015: Ahmed El Mahdi (Egypt)
2013: Reg Bamford (South Africa)
2011: Mark McInerney (Ireland)
2008: Ahmed Nasr (Egypt)
2006: Mohammed Nasr (Egypt)
2004: Ahmed Nasr (Egypt)
2002: Khalid Younis (Egypt)
2000: Salah Hassan (Egypt)
1998: Khalid Younis (Egypt)
1997: Salah Hassan (Egypt)
1996: Khalid Younis (Egypt)
Learn more about the World Croquet Federation at www.worldcroquet.org.