PLAYERS from as far afield as China and Europe along wioth Scots from the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games will converge on St Matthew’s Academy this weekend for a top international event.

North Ayrshire Table Tennis Club are staging the two-day third North Ayrshire Open Table Tennis Championship at their home venue in Saltcoats. T The seniors play on the Saturday and the Juniors on the Sunday.

This is the third year the event has been held and this year’s competition promises to be the biggest and best yet.

The top seeds are from China Taipei along with top players from Europe and the UK.

The Scottish women’s and men’s competitors who represented Scotland in the Commonwealth Games are playing as well as the local players from the club.

Last year’s beaten finalist Chris Main from Saltcoats will hope to go one better and win although his younger brother Richard should also be in contention.

This is one of the biggest events in the Scottish calendar with more than 130 competitors featuring ach day.

Play starts at 9.30am each day and finishes around 7pm.

Spectators are welcome and entry is free.

There are various categories throughout the two days - from under 11’s to over 60’s.

In the Under-13 event current Scottish champion and local lad Martin Johnson (11) will aim to win the title again. The Glencairn Primary school pupil was found through the work the club do introducing table tennis into schools and has just returned from Germany, representing Scotland in a major tourney with a bronze medal.

In the run-up to the weekend, the club will be promoting table tennis via the schools and offering free tickets to school kids and families.

For more details visit the website www.northayrshirettc.co.uk.

MAIN CONTENDER: Chris Main is tipped for title glory at the weekend event.