Key Points
- Cambridge University professor Patrick Barrie retained his World Singles Tiddlywinks Championship title after a seven-hour match.
- The 61-year-old defeated American challenger David Lockwood at The Castle Inn in Cambridge.
- Barrie won 27 points across five games to secure the victory against Lockwood.
- English Tiddlywinks Association Chairman Harley Jones umpired the five-game contest.
- Barrie will meet current British champion Tim Hunt to arrange his next title defence.
CAMBRIDGE (Cambridge Tribune) October 23, 2026 – Cambridge University academic Professor Patrick Barrie has successfully retained his World Singles Tiddlywinks Championship title after overcoming challenger David Lockwood in a grueling seven-hour contest held at The Castle Inn in Cambridge.
The 61-year-old chemical engineering professor secured victory in the world championship match following a series of strategic games on Thursday.
How Did the World Singles Tiddlywinks Championship Play Out?
As reported by PA News Agency journalists across national news outlets, 61-year-old Professor Patrick Barrie maintained his dominance in competitive tiddlywinks by fending off American challenger David Lockwood. The high-stakes match spanned seven hours at The Castle Inn pub in Cambridge, drawing spectators and enthusiasts from across the competitive circuit.
According to match logs, the contest consisted of five closely fought games. Professor Barrie, representing the English Tiddlywinks Association (ETwA), accumulated 27 points across the session to seal the victory over Lockwood, who represented the North American Tiddlywinks Association (NATwA).
The victory extends Professor Barrie’s long-standing reign in international tiddlywinks competition, adding another major accolade to his extensive playing career.
What Reaction Did the Players and Officials Have to the Result?
As reported by the Press Association, Professor Patrick Barrie reflected on his lifetime dedication to the game following his victory, stating:
“When I was young I took up lots and lots of hobbies and I little thought the only one I would still be doing decades later would be playing tiddlywinks, and competitively.”
The match was officiated by Harley Jones, the 34-year-old Chairman of the English Tiddlywinks Association, who described the encounter as a high-level contest of strategy and skill.
As reported by the Press Association, Harley Jones remarked on the intensity of the competition, stating:
“I think I learn a lot myself for my own game by watching these things. It’s a game that really rewards the time you put in and the thought you put in, the training and practice.”
Jones, residing in Ely, Cambridgeshire, noted that the game of tiddlywinks can be compared to “chess if you could miss,” pointing out the tactical foresight required alongside physical precision. He added that Thursday’s encounter was “really nail-biting” for observers.
According to Jones, competitive tiddlywinks maintains a small but dedicated international player base, with only two recognized national singles championships—the English and the American—and approximately 120 rated players globally who have participated in a formal tournament over the past year.
Background of the Particular Development
The World Singles Tiddlywinks Championship is governed by the International Federation of Tiddlywinks Associations (IFTwA) and represents the pinnacle of competitive play in the sport.
Matches are contested in a series of games where players use a larger disc, known as a squidger, to flick smaller plastic discs (winks) into a central cup or to cover (squop) opposing winks to restrict movement.
Professor Patrick Barrie, who serves as a Reader in the Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology at the University of Cambridge, has been a central figure in world tiddlywinks for several decades. Barrie has held multiple World Singles and World Pairs titles, frequently competing in international matches against top players from both the UK and the United States.
His opponent, David Lockwood, is a veteran American player and former world champion who has regularly travelled across the Atlantic to challenge for international honours. The World Singles title is contested on a challenge basis, where eligible top-ranked players earn the right to challenge the reigning champion in a head-to-head match.
Prediction: How Will This Development Affect the Tiddlywinks Community?
This latest title defense solidifies Professor Patrick Barrie’s position at the top of the international rankings and establishes the framework for the upcoming competitive calendar. Following his win over Lockwood, Barrie announced plans to arrange his next defense against Tim Hunt, the current British national champion.
As reported by the Press Association, Barrie confirmed that he and Hunt are scheduled to meet over the weekend to finalize terms for the next World Singles Tiddlywinks Championship, which is expected to take place in the spring.
For the broader tiddlywinks audience and members of the English Tiddlywinks Association, Barrie’s continued title reign maintains a high benchmark of competitive play.
The upcoming match against Tim Hunt is anticipated to generate increased engagement within university clubs—such as the Cambridge University Tiddlywinks Club (CUTwC)—and encourage active participation among the global community of rated players.
