Kevin Cordell Triumphs in Kent: English Championships Round 5 Recap
- Simon Bodily
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
The fifth round of the ESA English Championships took place yesterday, hosted superbly by Kent Invicta Subbuteo Club in Gillingham. Going into the event, tensions were high as players would be chasing points in the race for the national title. The day delivered exciting knockouts, tight finishes, and standout moments across both the main competition, the consolidation Plate, and the Youth Final.
Cordell Seals Another Win to Top the Table
Kevin Cordell once again demonstrated why he’s one of the most feared players in English Subbuteo. Navigating a tough draw, he powered his way to the final and held his nerve to defeat Aaron Skinner in a competitive 2-1 win.
Cordell’s day included a strong 5-1 win over Gage Badger in the Last 16, a 2-0 quarter-final over Alan Lee, and a convincing 3-1 semi-final victory against Richard Badger.
Skinner also impressed, beating fellow Bristol player Steve Wonnacott 3-0 in the quarters before a nail-biting Golden Goal triumph over Rudi Peters in the semis (1-1 FT, 1-1 GG). In the final, however, Cordell's clinical edge proved decisive.
Main Knockout Highlights
The Groups: A special mention goes to England U12 international Hadley Chapman, who produced one of the feel-good stories of the day by progressing from his group. Competing against experienced adult players, Hadley showed maturity beyond his years and proved once again why he's one of the brightest young talents in the English game. A brilliant achievement for the rising star.
Last 16: Notable wins came from Marco Ghigliotti (4-1 vs Connor Gregory), Alan Lee (5-1 vs Kye Arnold), and Richard Badger (4-0 vs Neil Doherty).
Quarter-finals: The four semi-finalists emerged as Cordell, Skinner, Peters, and Badger, all in strong form.
Final Result: Kevin Cordell 2 – 1 Aaron Skinner
Main Event Runner-up Aaron Skinner
Paul Sutton Dominates the Plate Event
In the Plate competition, Paul Sutton was untouchable. After a commanding 7-1 victory in the Plate Last 16 and narrow shootout success in the quarter-final over Malcolm Jamieson, Sutton hit top gear in the final stages. A 7-1 semi-final win over Dave Cope set up the final, where he produced a faultless performance to beat Robert Paterson 3-0 and take home the Plate title.
Youth Final: Warren Edges Gregory in a Five-Goal Thriller
In the Youth Final, Jamie Warren and Connor Gregory put on a show. In a back-and-forth battle, it was Warren who came out on top, winning 3-2 in an entertaining and closely fought contest that highlights the bright future of English Subbuteo.
Championship Standings: Cordell Leads with One Round to Go
With just one round remaining in the 2025 ESA English Championships, Kevin Cordell has taken the lead on 280 points. Hot on his heels are Rudi Peters (250), Mick Hammonds (240), and Aaron Skinner (240), with a handful of others still mathematically in the hunt.
The final round promises fireworks, with the top prize still within reach for several contenders.
Top 5 After Round 5:
Kevin Cordell – 280 pts
Rudi Peters – 250 pts
Mick Hammonds – 240 pts
Aaron Skinner – 240 pts
Kye Arnold – 220 pts
Looking Ahead
As the ESA circuit moves toward its final showdown, the Kent round has added new twists to an already thrilling campaign. The performances in Gillingham proved that no lead is safe and no match is predictable.
With one final chapter left to write, who will be crowned ESA English Champion 2025? We’ll find out soon.
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