Commonwealth Champion and England no.1, Matthew Syed (Surrey/Berkshire) will be performing in the Pondus Cup invitation tournament in Copenhagen, Denmark on Monday, in which two Danish players compete with 4 of the world’s leading players. Appearing alongside Richmond based Syed, will the world’s no.1 and European Champion Vladimir Samsonov (Belarus), former World and Olympic Champion Jan-Ove Waldner (Sweden), and the dynamic topspin looper Kalinikos Kreanga (Greece). Syed has been invited to this event before, partly because his spectacular defensive style is a crowd puller. The winner of the Pondus Cup will gain $6,000 prize money. Players representing England in the Welsh Open Championships at Cardiff this weekend are: Men; Alex Perry (Devon), Terry Young (Berks), Andrew Baggaley (Bucks), Gareth Herbert (Berks), Andrew Rushton (Lancs), Dale Barham (Cambs). Women; Helen Lower (Staffs), Linda Radford (Essex), Louise Durrant (Notts), Katy Parker (Lancs), Natalie Bawden (Essex), Georgina Walker (Notts), Hannah Yardy (Essex). The Joola European Men and Women’s Top 12 competitions are also taking place in Alassio, Italy this weekend. For further information contact Ken Muhr, ETTA Information Officer, Tel. 01424 722525 Fax. 01424 422103