Following the Association Croquet World Championship

27 players have secured their places in the Association Croquet World Championship Knock-out

by Alison Maugham
10th October (World Championship)

21 October 2025

27 Players Have Secured their Places in the Association Croquet World Championship Knockout, Whilst Playoffs are Required to Determine the Final Five

From the qualifying event right through to the final stages of the blocks, the AC World Championship has already proved to be an exciting ride for many players.

We now reach the 'pointy end' of the block stages. 2019 Golf Croquet World Champion, Ben Rothman (USA) will be competing in a playoff match against Lachlan Berryman (AUS) to qualify for a place from Block C. The Block E playoff will see Edmund Fordyce (NZ) and Gabrielle Higgins (ENG) competing, whilst in Block G, Debbie Lines (ENG), Jordan Waters (ENG) and Callum Hyland (AUS) have a three-way battle to progress. Finally in blocks B and D there are still results to be confirmed and additional playoffs may be required here too.

The entire event is being livestreamed and accompanied by expert commentators from around the world. With viewing figures now in the thousands, croquet is proving to be an exciting spectator sport.

The contenders safely through to the knock-out stages are:

Robert Fletcher AUS
Samir Patel ENG
Alain Giraud ENG
Kyle Maloof USA
Robert Fulford ENG
Jenny Clarke NZL
Stephen Mulliner ENG
Reg Bamford ZAF
Jack Good ENG
Euan Burridge ENG
Logan McCorkindale NZL
Andrew Johnston IRL
Greg Hill AUS
Matthew Essick USA
Greg Fletcher AUS
Ian Lines ENG
Mark Avery ENG
Stephen Morgan USA
Brian Cumming CAN
Jarrod Coutts NZL
Zack Watson USA
Jose Riva ESP
Reece McCorkindale NZL
James Death ENG
Thomas Balding USA
Marcus Evans ENG
Stephen Forster AUS

17 October 2025

News From the Qualifier

By Stephen Allen

The Qualifier tournament for the 2025 AC World Championship was mainly a US affair with 14 out of the 16 players representing the United States. However, the two players from New Zealand and England were keen to make sure their journey was worthwhile, hoping to take one of the 5 places available to progress into the main event. Sincere thanks to Jeff Soo (TD) and Elaine Smith (Asst TD) who managed the event superbly well, patiently guiding us through the criteria and milestones that determine when places would be awarded. With 6 rounds completed at the end of Day 2, there were indeed 5 players whose number of wins was high enough to earn each of them a place.

Whilst Steve Scalpone and Reece McCorkindale lead the group with 5 wins, Reece was the outstanding player, with one TP in a game and rarely missing an opportunity to attempt a TP in a match. Reece also created a distraction having blasted his ball into Corner 2, which leapt over the piping boundary into the pond and was deemed lost (netting has since been installed!). Stephen Allen squeaked a win over Reece +1t to secure his place in the main event with 4 wins along with Americans Jack Rush and Curtis Drake, the latter making a comeback having previously played on the 2002 Solomon and 2003 MacRobertson Shield teams.

Day 3 saw a knockout featuring 5 other players contesting for reserve places in case of any further withdrawals from the main Championship, with Randy Reid (USA) gaining the first reserve spot.

Many thanks to the USCA organisers, local members and staff at the National Croquet Center for their warm welcome in their magnificent setting in West Palm Beach. Best wishes to everyone playing in the Championship in the week to come.

16 October 2025

Stephen Allen Qualifies for the Association Croquet World Championship 2025

Croquet England's newly appointed CEO, Andy Dalby-Welsh, has been following the action closely. He says "I have always been a sports fan, but this is my first time following a Croquet World Championship. I congratulate Stephen on qualifying for his first World Championship and send best wishes for a fantastic tournament to him and all his fellow players. I look forward to enjoying the livestream alongside the Croquet community from around the world."

Link to article >> https://www.croquetengland.org.uk/news_and_media/stephen-allen-qualifies-for-the-association-croquet-world-championship-2025/

14 October 2025

Wishing Stephen Allen a successful and enjoyable tournament as he competes in the qualifying event for the 2025 Association Croquet World Championship.

We are so proud to be supporting Stephen in his bid to qualify for the World Championship. His dedication to the sport is not just as a player, but as a volunteer who has been running the Croquet England livestreams for the past few years.

Good luck Stephen, we hope to see you in the main event on the other side of the camera.

Qualifying event 14-16 October
Follow the results >> https://croquetscores.com/2025/ac/usca-world-championship-qualifier/competition/quallifier

Useful links:
Full Programme
Livestream 18-26 October