Grand Prix Era Ends with Vlasov and Silcock Claiming Top Titles in London

The curtain has fallen on the Grand Prix era, with the 2024 London GP marking the final chapter of the prestigious tournament series. Top seed Grigory Vlasov shone brightly, clinching the Men’s Singles title, while Hannah Silcock secured a memorable double by winning both the Women’s Singles and Under-21 Women’s Singles events.

Vlasov Dominates Men’s Singles

Vlasov, a multiple Grand Prix champion over the years, continued his dominance by defeating Radoslav Kamberov 3-1 in the Men’s Singles final. The Russian top seed had cruised through the earlier rounds, culminating in an emphatic 11-2, 11-5, 11-3 victory over Crawley GP champion Josh Bennett in the semi-finals.

Silcock Secures Memorable Double

In the women’s draw, Silcock emerged victorious, sweeping aside Mabel Shute 3-0 in the final. The young talent also secured the Under-21 Women’s Singles title, overcoming Rachael Iles 3-1 in the decider to complete a superb double.

Other Notable Performances

Elsewhere, Jaycee Chan tasted success in two categories, while father-son duo Lorestas and Larry Trumpauskas both claimed titles. The Grand Prix format will now transition to Tiered Open Tournaments over the next two seasons as part of the ongoing Competition Review.

“This London GP marked the end of an era, but the future looks bright for table tennis with the new tournament structure set to be implemented. Fans can look forward to more thrilling action and the continued rise of talents like Vlasov and Silcock in the seasons ahead.”

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