Fans Urged to Book Seats as Tin-Tin Ho Chases Eighth National Title

Tin‑Tin Ho heads to the Mark Bates Ltd National Championships in Nottingham, scheduled for March 20-22, 2026, chasing an eighth Women’s Singles title that would move her clear of Jill Parker on the all‑time list, and Table Tennis England urged fans on March 5, 2026 to "book your seat" to see her attempt the record. Ho arrives as England No.1 with seven national singles crowns to her name.

Ho’s run to seven titles began with her first Women’s Singles win in 2016 when she beat five‑time champion Kelly Sibley, having lost to Sibley in the 2015 final. Table Tennis England notes Ho "has won seven of the nine titles" since 2016, with one blank year because of the pandemic, and that she reached the final in the other two years but lost both to Maria Tsaptsinos. An Instagram post dated March 27, 2025 confirmed Ho had by then equalled the all‑time record with seven titles.

Recent form underlines why attention is focused on Ho. Ettu reported Ho beat Tianer Yu 4-3 in the 2024 semi‑final, then survived a dramatic 2025 final where she recovered from 0-3 down to beat Yu 4-3 with set scores 7-11, 9-11, 5-11, 11-7, 11-6, 11-5, 11-5. Ho told reporters, "It feels good to be going for the record, but I’ll approach it the same as all the other years, it doesn’t feel any different in that way." She added, "It would be an honour to have the record. I think it would mean a lot to my family as well, so I really hope I can do it for them."

Table Tennis England quoted Ho on preparation, publishing her line, "I think I’m in good shape. I’m playing full-time now and I’m trying to level up. It’s going quite well and I’m hoping to bring my best game to the Nationals." The governing body’s promotion repeatedly encouraged fans to buy tickets and to "book your seat" to watch Ho’s bid in Nottingham.

Key challengers named include Tianer Yu, who led 3-0 in last year’s final before Ho’s comeback, and players who represented England at the 2025 European Championships, Jasmin Wong and Ella Pashley. Sophie Earley and Mari Baldwin are also listed among medal contenders, with Yu and Mari Baldwin having won last year’s Women’s Doubles as their first senior National title.

The men’s draw carries its own storylines: defending Men’s Singles champion Liam Pitchford, a seven‑time winner, will not compete as he recovers from an operation. Tom Jarvis is the top seed this year, Paul Drinkhall remains a seven‑time Men’s Singles winner aiming to move closer to the all‑time singles record of 11 held by Desmond Douglas, and Andrew Baggaley brings three national singles titles. David McBeath, last year’s beaten finalist, and rising star Connor Green will also be looking for podium places.

Doubles context from last year is relevant to the Nationals build-up: Connor and Anna Green won the Mixed Doubles for the first time, Tianer Yu and Mari Baldwin took Women’s Doubles as their first senior National title, and Paul Drinkhall teamed with Sam Walker to win the Men’s Doubles — a victory recorded as Drinkhall’s 15th title in that event, moving him level with Douglas at the top of an all‑time list. Ettu’s feature on March 1, 2026 included a photo credited to Michael Loveder accompanying its preview of the Nottingham field.

If Ho completes the task in Nottingham on March 22, she will stand alone on eight Women’s Singles titles, a milestone she has framed as both personal and family‑important in her remarks.