What is the World Marbles Championship?

The World Marbles Championship is taking place in West Sussex on Friday.

The competition in Tinsley Green will welcome teams from around the world. There will be five teams from Germany, including the 2025 winners who are returning to defend their crown.

The Good Friday event has been held at The Greyhound pub since 1932 and follows in the tradition of the game dating back to the 16th Century.

It was once one of the few sports that could be played during Lent.

Julia McCarthy-Fox, organiser of the tournament, told the BBC organisers were grateful that the clocks had gone back. In previous years car headlights have been used to provide lighting when the sun set early, resulting in some flat car batteries.

The competition always takes place on Good Friday.

McCarthy-Fox, who now lives in New Zealand, says she returns to the UK every year for the competition.

She says the tournament is popular because people "love something that is traditional and quirky" and players "become attached" to the activity.

McCarthy-Fox says there are two players, one living in France and one living in the US, who come to the UK just for the event.

"Good Friday was always the last day of the marble season, after it started on Shrove Tuesday, so we always play then," McCarthy-Fox added.

"The deadline [to finish] used to be midday but we had to get rid of that as otherwise we would have to start at 04:00 GMT.

"Usually it starts at about 10:30, when the first two teams who have arrived and been drawn against each other have arrived.

"It's a straight knock out, usually finishing about 18:30."

The game works with 49 target marbles grouped closely together in a 6ft (1.8m) raised concrete ring covered with sand.

Two teams of six players take turns using the tip of the finger to aim and project a larger marble to drive the other marbles out of the ring.

The first team to knock 25 marbles out of the ring is the winner.

McCarthy-Fox added: "It gets very competitive.

"It's a bit like snooker, where if you can get spin on the marble and if you are good, it will go where you want.

"There is lots of skill involved but the best have good hand eye co-ordination."

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