Cambridge professor retains world Tiddlywinks title after seven-hour match
Cambridge professor Patrick Barrie retained the world Tiddlywinks title by beating American challenger Dave Lockwood 26–23 in a seven-hour match. The close contest shows how the game’s formal challenge format can turn a traditional pastime into a demanding test of skill and nerve.
The match took place at the Castle Inn in Cambridge. Lockwood, nicknamed the Dragon, challenged Barrie after winning a national singles title; only national singles champions can challenge the reigning world champion. The English Tiddlywinks Association says around 120 people have played in a tournament in the past year, and Barrie’s next challenge is expected to come from British champion Tim Hunt.
In short
- Patrick Barrie kept the world title.
- He beat Dave Lockwood 26–23.
- Their match lasted seven hours.
Explained simply
Tiddlywinks is a tabletop game in which players use a larger disc to flick smaller discs into a pot. Though often seen as a pastime, competitive matches follow formal rules and can require sustained accuracy and concentration.
The world title is contested through a challenge system: national singles champions are eligible to challenge the reigning champion. Patrick Barrie represents Cambridge, while American player Dave Lockwood earned his chance after winning a national singles title; the English Tiddlywinks Association oversees the game in England. The system links national competitions to the world championship and gives top players a route to compete for the title.
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Originally published by Daily Mail as “Meet the Tiddlywinks champion of the world! Cambridge professor lands disc-flipping title after SEVEN hour match against American challenger”.