Shropshire’s top table tennis star has made an even bigger mark on the national stage after ripping up the formbook.

Damien Nicholls reached the final of the latest round of the ETTA Grand Prix series at the weekend in Doncaster.

The 20-year-old from Quatford, near Bridgnorth, was seeded No 5 in the men’s open but upset the seedings to reach the final before losing to No 1 Liam Pitchford.

Nicholls was on fire during an incredible run that saw him defeat Owe Karlsson and Will Maybanks in a five game cracker.

He then went up through the gears to take the huge scalp of second seed Danny Reed in the quarter-final from 2-1 down and followed up with a last four victory against Stephen Jenkins – who had replaced Gavin Rumgay in the draw — in straight sets.

Nicholls’ superb run came unstuck at the hands of Pitchford in the final, but not before he had gained huge credibility for his efforts and the reward of a runners-up cheque for £125.

Tough fight

This weekend Nicholls plays in the British Universities Championships at Nottingham University representing Sheffield Hallam University, where he is currently doing Business Studies there.

Nicholls is seeded No 1 based on English rankings, but will have a tough fight as the championships usually throws up foreign players who are studying over here but do not have an English ranking.