DORSET is set to be represented at the World Championship of Ping Pong in London at the end of month.

Poole’s Matt Ware, 26, qualified for the event at Alexandra Palace after recently winning the English Closed tournament in Harlow.

Not to be confused with table tennis, ping pong sees players all using the same sandpaper bats rather than the rubber bats, which have flooded table tennis in recent years.

Matt has qualified for the World Championship for the fourth year in a row. Last year’s event saw him exit at the round of 32 stage, but he is hoping to improve on that this time around.

“I’m feeling really good about my chances going into the championship,” Matt said.

“From last year I think I have made big improvements in my game and hopefully it will all come together on the day.

“It is always a big event and I enjoy being a part of it.”

Matt, who is the head coach of the Dorset Table Tennis Academy, has played the more prominent form of the sport since the age of nine.

Since ping pong was launched by Barry Hearn with the first World Championship in Las Vegas back in 2011, the competition has taken place at Alexandra Palace every year.

Players from all over the world will be in action with a substantial cash prize for the winner. The event is on January 27 and 28 and will be televised on Sky Sports.