Frankowski back on top as Jersey dominate CI Top 12

GRZEGORZ FRANKOWSKI rolled back the years to reclaim the CI Table Tennis Top 12 crown – 18 years after first lifting the title – as Jersey completed a clean sweep of the podium in a fiercely contested championship.

Leon Pierre finished level with Frankowski, but ended runner up on countback Picture: PAUL ROUTIER

Frankowski finished level on 21 points with fellow Islander Leon Pierre, but edged the title on countback after winning their decisive head-to-head clash in the Jersey leg. The encounter proved the tournament’s defining moment, Frankowski holding his nerve to seal an 11–9 victory in the fifth set.

Chris Wheeler completed an all-Jersey top three, just a point further back on 20, in what was a commanding overall display from the home contingent.

The leading trio underlined their dominance by each winning all six matches against the top Guernsey players, ensuring the title race remained an internal battle. In the end, it was Frankowski’s narrow triumph over Pierre that separated gold from silver.

Wheeler’s campaign was packed with drama. He produced a superb 3–1 win over Frankowski but was left to rue two agonising 2–3 defeats, both decided 9–11 in the fifth, against Pierre and William Cornthwaite. Those narrow losses ultimately proved decisive in the fight for the title.

Chris Wheeler rounded off an excellent Jersey performance with a third place finish Picture: PAUL ROUTIER

Behind the top three, Jersey’s strength in depth was evident.

Mariusz Cieminski secured fifth place with four victories from six matches, his only defeats coming in tight 2–3 contests against Josh Stacey and Guernsey’s Lawrence Stacey. Alfie Sutherland finished sixth after winning five of six, his sole loss another narrow five-setter against Lawrence Stacey, though he did claim an impressive 3–2 victory over Josh Stacey.

Cornthwaite, the only junior qualifier from Jersey, produced a highly creditable performance to finish ninth. He claimed two battling 3–2 wins over Jamie Ferbrache and Matt Casey to underline his promise at senior level.

Guernsey’s strongest challenge came from Lawrence Stacey, who placed fourth with three wins from six in a competition that remained competitive throughout.

But this year’s CI Top 12 ultimately belonged to Jersey – and to Frankowski, whose return to the summit marked a fitting chapter in the championship’s history.