All photographs in this article are the property and copyright of Sasha Hartman.
The Eland Cables FISTF World Cup in Tunbridge Wells was promised to be the biggest World Cup ever; a festival of flicking, a celebration of seventy-five years of history, and a triumphant homecoming of Subbuteo to its humble Kentish roots.
What we experienced was all of this, but also so much more.
Across three days of barely believable levels of skill, nerve-wracking tension, and tears of joy and disappointment, new friendships were formed and old rivalries rekindled. Spectators were drawn closer and closer to the tables as the drama unfolded and players battled to write their names into Subbuteo history.
Friday – Old Skool Rules
The action begins on Friday in Royal Victoria Place, Tunbridge Wells’ main shopping centre. It’s an inauspicious start, entering the centre via the backdoor and finding little more than an empty soft play area, a largely abandoned food court, and a lonely-looking Thomas the Tank Engine kid’s ride.
However, as we ascend from the gloomy bowels of the lower levels towards the daylight streaming through the glass roof, evidence of what is happening starts to emerge: a young man in a Dutch team shirt, and an older man in a green shirt sporting a badge with the tricolour of Ireland on his chest.
Up on the second floor, barely discernible through the frothing of milk and grinding of beans from the coffee shop, is the tantalising murmur of something happening.. A shout of YES! confirms we are heading in the right direction and then there it is, nestled between a clothing store and a jewellery shop – a pod of Subbuteo tables!
The first trophy to be contested over the weekend is the ‘old rules’ Subbuteo World Cup. I am surprised to see players dressed in full team kits, and as someone watching live competitive Subbuteo for the first time, I’m also impressed by the speed of the game – the moves, the counter moves. Some of the intricate flicks are incredible to watch, and it’s easy to observe tactical similarities of actual football – isolating defenders, creating 2-on-1 situations, closing down space, etc. The kind of low-block Jose Mourinho can only dream of.
I mention the speed to a couple of players and am told, “This is nothing, wait ’til you see the new rules players tomorrow!” Paul Andreas of Cyprus tells me that games are often open and exciting early on in tournaments, before becoming more tactical and like a chess match in the latter stages. Varant Kurkeyerian of the USA emphasises how the top players just don’t miss chances – a flick misplaced by even 2-3mm can give away a goal.
The matches are played in good spirits; there are a lot of firm handshakes and hearty back slaps as old friends cross paths again. The general public gathers in larger numbers and seems ever more engaged, applauding a skilful flick, gasping at a good save, and giving a large cheer of appreciation when Portugal’s Manuel Santos scores a great goal. For many supporters, a trip to the shopping centre has turned into a hugely enjoyable trip down memory lane.
As the sun dips lower and the small plastic goals cast dark shadows across the green pitches, the group stage comes to an end. We move into the knockout stages – the business end of any tournament. Although still friendly, the pre-match base polishing is a little more vigorous, handshakes are a little more firm, and faces are a little more serious. Not so serious though to prevent Marco Bevilacqua (representing Scotland) and Manuel Santos from posing for a halftime selfie, epitomising the spirit of the day.
Although seen by some as a slightly lesser event – the Subbuteo starter to the FISTF main course – today very much still matters. In the first final of the weekend, the overall Old Rules World Cup title is won by Christian Filippella of Team USA, who beat Greece’s Cesare Santanicchia 2-0. This is the first ever Subbuteo world title won by the United States, ensuring history is being created right from flick-off.
Saturday – Individual Glory
On Saturday, the main action moved to Tunbridge Wells Sports Centre.
Walking into the massive sports hall, it’s clear I’ve underestimated the sheer scale of this event. The windowless hall is vast; filled with 48 tables, there are four pitches rigged up for live streaming and one of these is housed under a temporary steel structure to allow live overhead shots. The technical set-up – providing online streams and live commentary – is highly impressive, and the administration station is a hive of activity. For the Subbuteo World Cup, the stage is very much set.
Although the friendly atmosphere remains, there is definitely an added tension in the air today. Beneath the convivial exterior, there is a seriously competitive underbelly. Some of these players are here for one reason, and one reason only – to win.
This year’s World Cup hosts 300+ players from 26 countries, covering almost every continent on the planet – competing in the Open, Women, Veteran, and Youth categories. I pause to contemplate how a game like Subbuteo – developed in the home of a retired RAF Flight Sergeant on the edge of Tunbridge Wells – spread so far around the globe.
An answer is proffered by USA Veteran player Varant Kurkeyerian: Brighton-born, Kurkeyerian emigrated to the States when he was young and he believes it is expats – like the school teacher from Manchester, UK, that introduced Subbuteo to a generation of kids including himself in Maryland – who are responsible for the global reach.
Players prepare for their games by picking their players from a wonderful array of carry cases. Ranging from material pouches and metal briefcases to old wooden boxes and original green packaging, cases are often covered in stickers, badges, and flags – each item mapping the history of the owner’s career. All players are decked out in team shirts, many in full kit, and Ireland’s Andy Fitzpatrick compliments his emerald green strip with Christmas socks. Some players go through a vigorous table-side stretching routine – always important to reduce the risk of injury.
As games start, the excitable hubbub of chit-chat drops to a murmur of concentration, only punctuated by the odd strangled shout of “VAMOS! YES! or ALLEZ!” to celebrate a goal. In between games, the noise level is ratcheted up a few notches with the World Cup-specific playlists curated by DJ Stew keeping everyone pumped.
Escaping from the booming music at the end of the group stage, I catch up with old rules winner Christian Filippella. Born in Italy, Filipella emigrated to the US aged 21 and decided to step back from competitive Subbuteo. However, he was convinced to come out of retirement and quickly won the US National Championship, in an environment that convinced him to re-engage with international competitive Subbuteo.
Although he has progressed from his group, he is not happy with his performance, having struggled to adapt from the heavier old-rules cloth to the new-rules lightweight pitches – the main reason most top players don’t compete in both events. The man from Los Angeles also highlights the faster pace of the European game and the mental drain of going deep in three tournaments as factors that can impact performance.
As the tournaments progress to the knockout stage, goals are celebrated with guttural roars and chest-beating – at least in the Open. In the Women’s tournament, goals are acknowledged much more serenely. Indeed, sometimes the only evidence a goal has been scored is the calm resetting of the teams for a restart. That said, I can’t help but be simultaneously dazzled and amused by French Women’s star Françoise Guyot, who shows some wonderful skills but seems to be expressing her displeasure with her own performance with an almost constant under-the-breath muttering monologue. Zut alors!
The first flashpoint of the day occurs in the Round of 32 game between Filipella and Austrian, Wolfgang Haas, which goes to a shootout after the players are locked at 2-2 after extra time. A disagreement threatens to erupt as Wolfgang’s brother Christian Haas complains Filipella has taken too long over his shot, but as the American is poised to flick, a camera flash goes off in his face and overall, his shot counter reaches 18 seconds – on a 10-second limit. Unfazed by the distractions, the Austrian eventually triumphs on the 18th flick of the epic shootout.
There was further controversy in the Round of 32 in the tie between a favourite for the Open tournament, Malta’s Samuel Bartolo, and England’s star player, Elliott Bellefontaine. On the stroke of half-time, Bartolo scores right on the buzzer; despite some noisy protestations from watching teammates that the goal should not stand, Bellefontaine magnanimously accepts the strike came mere milliseconds before the buzzer, allowing the Maltese player to lay the foundations for a comprehensive victory. The skilful Bartolo then beats Wolfgang Haas in the last 16, before falling in the quarter-finals to the dangerous Greek player Dimitrios Dimopoulos.
Two Maltese players fall at the quarter-final stage and are left with contrasting emotions. Jurgen Balzan, competing in his second Open World Cup, although disappointed to have lost, can smile and admit he is happy and proud to have achieved his best-ever result. Bartolo, by contrast, is bitterly disappointed to have ‘only’ made the quarters, having set his sights on winning the whole tournament. How expectations can moderate the experience of the outcome.
As we reach the World Cup final stage, the crowds have somewhat thinned, but the tension is sky-high. What is left is the best of the best, and everything is on the line. In no less than thirty minutes, a player in every final will be crowned World Champion. As they flick off, silence descends, and it’s the quietest the hall has been all day.
In the Open competition final, Greek favourite Dimitrios Dimopoulos faces Justin Leroy of Belgium. The opening moves are reminiscent of a chess match, as each player sizing the other one up, probing for weaknesses, seeking that tiny but definitive advantage. First blood is drawn by Dimopoulos, and he heads into the second half with a 1-0 advantage. He looks to have done enough until four minutes from the end, Leroy equalises and forces the match into golden goal extra time.
The levels of skill and tension are through the roof. Dimopoulos’ frown is heavy, his brow furrowed deep as he operates at maximum concentration. Noone can afford a mistake. As the crowd holds its breath, the Greek carves an opening and quick as a flash, smashes the ball into the back of the Belgian’s net, and it’s all over.
Dimopoulos collapses into a heap on the floor, hands covering his face as his teammates mob him. There’s shouting, there’s tears, and there is a new World Champion. Gone is the frown, and once the tears of joy are wiped away, the young Greek wears a smile that stretches across his entire face.
The drama is no less in the Women’s competition final, where two titans of the Women’s game go head-to-head. Thirteen-time winner Delphine Dieudonne from Belgium faces off against Italy’s World Cup holder Eleonora Buttitta, and it’s the seemingly invincible Belgian who races into a two-goal lead. However, unwilling to surrender the title she fought so hard to win on home turf two years ago, the Italian fights back for a stunning 3-2 victory to retain the trophy she won in Rome.
In the Veteran tournament, Mario Camilleri of Malta emerges victorious from a titanic battle against Greece’s Antonios Kastellanos. The man from Malta secures his victory in a tense shootout following a 1-1 draw. Young players from Italy largely dominate the age group categories; in the U’20 competition, Matteo Esposito beats compatriot Christian Fricano 2-1, whilst in the U’16 final the free-scoring Francesco Manfredelli thumped Nicolo Colossi 5-0 in another all Italian affair. The U’12 title was won by Portugal’s Max Pereira, who beat Italy’s Alberto Capoferri 2-1 in a closely fought match.
With those epic victories, day 2 comes to a close. There was controversy, there was passion, there was joy, and there were tears. Open champion Dimitrios Dimopoulos’ first phone call was to his Mum, and Women’s champion Eleonora Buttitta celebrated in a more understated style with a kiss from her husband and a snuggle with her child. Emotional scenes, to end an emotion-filled day.
Sunday – Brothers and Sisters in Arms
Individual champions barely have time to savour their respective Saturday night victories before the all-important team competitions flick off bright and early on Sunday morning. If supporters thought the Saturday action was dramatic, they had no idea what was to unfold in the team events.
Perhaps a result of tired feet, stiff backs, and maybe even a few sore heads, the Sunday morning atmosphere is somewhat muted, the constant humdrum of noise more a gentle murmur than an excitable buzz. Most definitely the calm before the storm.
The team events operate a little like the Ryder Cup in Golf, or the Davis Cup in Tennis. Teams consisting of four players face an opponent from the other team, scoring a single point for a victory. If the points are even after four matches, goal difference comes into play. Matches are played in clusters of four tables, so each player knows what is happening elsewhere and what they must do in their own game, which only serves to add to the pressure.
Handshakes precede matches, there are group huddles, back-slapping, and motivational words. Every team is in this together.
England have high hopes for a deep run in the Open and start well, easing past Japan and Tunisia. The home side faces a tough must-win tie against Malta to avoid a play-off, one of three heavyweight clashes in the last round of group games: Belgium overcome Austria to avoid a play-off of their own, whilst tensions run high in the dead rubber game between Italy and France – pride is definitely the biggest thing at stake here. Malta ease past England, consigning the hosts to the playoffs.
In the Team events, the gulf in class becomes more apparent. Greece brush Scotland aside without breaking a sweat, as newly crowned World Champion Dimitrios Dimopoulos’ concentration frown barely ploughs a furrow on his brow, as his side ruthlessly dispatches a plucky but ultimately outclassed Scottish side.
As the players take a moment to prepare for the knockout stages, I am able to speak with the new World Champion. The 24-year-old from Athens – who plays with an all-green team to honour his beloved Panathinaikos – describes winning the final as the best moment of his life; he is very happy but at the same time he arrived in Tunbridge Wells expecting to win, so anything less than victory would have been a disappointment. He was able to go out for a quick pizza to celebrate his victory, but now he is focused on his team and wants to complete an Individual and Team double.
Dimopoulos is not the only one who believes his team can win the title; I also manage to get a word with England team player Matt Lampitt, who believes that if they can be consistent, the England team have the talent and the ability to go all the way. As English Circuit National Champion, Lampitt was a somewhat controversial omission by England from the Individual Open event and admits yesterday was tough to watch from the sidelines, but is determined to make amends today, as team events – the shared battles – always seem to mean more.
Singles Trophy Presentations
The break in play is also to allow the trophy presentations from yesterday’s individual tournaments. Semi-finalists, runner-ups, and winners are all called onto the podium. Honestly, many of the U’12s look a little bemused by the whole thing, although winner Max Pereira from Portugal could not look happier. He’s presented with a Mitre football and a hefty shield, which looks a little heavy for the youngster’s arms by the end of the Portuguese anthem.
U’16 winner Francesco Manfredelli is a popular winner; the talented Italian flicked in a whopping 23 goals in four knockout games, including a 5-0 final victory, and draped in an Italian flag, leads his compatriots in a rousing rendition of Il Canto degli Italiani. U’20 winner Matteo Esposito tosses his Mitre match ball prize into the masses like a wedding bouquet and by now, we should all know the words to the Italian national anthem.
It’s a good job she’s so skilled at Subbuteo, as Women’s runner-up Delphine Dieudonne would make a terrible poker player; the disappointment at losing in the final is written all over her face, whilst champion Eleonora Buttitta seems to take the whole thing calmly in her stride.
After Malta’s Mario Camilleri receives his Veteran’s title, last but not least, it’s time to crown the Open champion, and the Greeks around me can barely contain their excitement. Dimopoulos – a brilliant champion – looks like he might burst with pride, and with an extraordinarily passionate rendition of Greece’s national anthem, it seems they are determined to outdo the Italians in every way.
Gallery of Champions
Back Underway
Back to the action on the tables, and everyone quickly gets their game faces back on. England eases past Austria 4-0 in their knockout playoff, but the drama comes in the Veterans quarter-final between Greece and Italy. The teams finish with two points apiece and level on goal difference, so we head to a four-table golden goal extra time. The first goal in any of the four games settles the whole tie – and it goes to Italy. Unbelievable pressure, and high drama indeed.
In the Open, having overcome Austria, England now face the might of Italy. A delay to the start only serves to heighten the tension, and once we finally flick off, England concedes early in one game but scores early in another. The tie fluctuates with every twist and each goal for either team is met with roars from players and fans alike.
Perhaps the pivotal moment of drama comes just before halftime; England captain Kaspar Bennett – already leading 1-0, thinks he’s scored a second. The ref says no, not over the line! There are arguments in the crowd that briefly threaten to boil over. Bennett is clearly rattled and a momentary loss of focus allows Italian Luca Battista to equalise, a goal itself not without controversy as the England management believed the goal was after the half-time buzzer. To Bennett and England’s dismay, the goal stands and instead of going 2-0 up, the England captain finds himself level at 1-1.
In the second half, Italy remain composed and pull clear of their hosts, and sadly it’s all over for England. Italy, Belgium, Malta, and Greece make the semi-finals – arguably the four best teams on show. Elsewhere, the England Veterans team face Belgium in a semi-final that remains deadlocked and heads into golden goal extra time. English Subbuteo Association vice-chairman Bob Varney flicks home a magnificent winner and England have a team in a final!
The excitement has been building as the tournaments have progressed throughout the day. A number of delays to flick-off only increase the tension as we wait for the finals to start, but finally, we reach the Open team final, perhaps the most dramatic final of the entire weekend. A strong Belgian team containing world number two and highest ranked male player at the tournament, Christophe Dheur, and Open finalist Justin Leroy take on perennial favourites Italy.
The Italians dominate the early exchanges and are leading in all four games at half time. However, the Belgians refuse to buckle and fight back on all tables to head into the very last minute with a single-point lead.
Three games end and there is momentary confusion as the Belgians think they have won but then we all realise the final game, for some reason a minute behind the other three tables, has Sami Targui doggedly defending a single-goal lead. Just when it appeared he and his teammates had done enough, Italy’s Filippo Cubeta scored with literally the final flick of the entire weekend to level the score at 2-2, bringing the teams level overall at 1-1 and leaving Italy to win on goal difference.
Absolutely unbelievable scenes. Belgium can’t believe it and furiously argue the goal should not stand, however, protestations are more in desperation than expectation. A colossal battle, won by the finest of margins. The inquisition continues long after the final buzzer. This rivalry will only deepen, and the Belgians still can’t believe it. This will sting for a very, very long time.
Italy also tasted team victory in the U’20 tournament, again beating Belgium in the final – this time 2-0. The Italian U’12 team were also victorious, overcoming Greece 3-1 in the final.
Although there was heartbreak for the Open team, there was plenty to cheer elsewhere in the hall for the other Belgian sides. In the Women’s tournament – although not resolved by last-flick drama – the match actually finished even closer than the Open. Following two wins each, Belgium beat France 7-6 on goal difference – a World Cup settled by a solitary goal.
The Belgian Veterans team whitewashed a valiant England side 4-0, whilst the U’16 were able to extract some modicum of retribution for the Open team, beating Italy 2-1 to secure the title. With three team titles apiece, both Italy and Belgium achieved impressive success.
Gallery of Team Champions
All Over Bar the Singing..
As the fallout from the last-flick final drama slowly dissipates, all that remains is for the teams to make their way to the podium to receive their medals and trophies. The contrast in emotions is clear to see; as the Belgian and Italian anthems play out a now familiar tune in our ears, trophies are triumphantly held aloft, whilst some eyes stay firmly fixed on the floor. The Belgian Open team can barely drag themselves to the podium, such is the bitterness of their disappointment.
Some of my favourite moments of this weekend have been found not in the big drama, but in the little moments; the notes between the lines. It’s the goofy pride of all around when a kid does something brilliant, but also the warmly reassuring hug of a parent for the 12-year-old who was in floods of tears after losing a shootout. It’s the synchronised movement around the table of two players and the referee, almost like a dance; it’s the little nods of mutual respect, the fist bumps, the knock on the table, the acknowledgement of the skill of the opponent. All just brief moments in time, but moments that epitomise what this has all been about.
This World Cup showed us everything that is beautiful about Subbuteo; there was immense skill, intense passion, and incredible drama. There were goals galore, unbridled elation, and bitter disappointment. But, beyond what happened on the tables, there were friendships forged, connections made, and above all, an experience that not a single player will ever, ever forget.
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