Battle of the Tech Titans

1,000 spectators. 16 Companies. 1 Champion

Hundreds of people shouting and cheering in a striped out warehouse in Shoreditch. Dance music blaring and drinks a-plenty. An underground boxing ring? Perhaps a fight club? Well, sort of…

Last night hundreds of people descended on the Second Home venue for the second annual Ping Pong Fight Club.

Companies including Spotify, Facebook, Mind Candy, Decoded and, of course the Good Relations Group came together for a battle of the tech titans in a no holds barred, underground ping pong tournament.

The tournament started with 64 players – including myself and Steve Cownie from sister-agency Good Relations Technology – from 16 tech companies, arriving with hundreds of supporters in tow. We were given our branded kit and set to work taking on the great and the good of the London tech scene in knock out games of first to 11.

The competition was fierce with some competitors admitting to training daily months before the event. We made a valiant effort with some very close matches – Steve lost to Ticket Master 9/11 and I was up against Moshi Monsters founder and CEO Michael Acton Smith and had the same result.

As the night went on the final two gladiators entered the centre of the arena. On one side the defending champion from Funding Circle, the other Facebook. The match was a best of three and it went down to the wire in the third game. By now the tension was palpable.

Funding Circle’s Rahul Pakrashi took gold and took his crown as king of the table. His not unsubstantial team of supporters erupted into screams and cheers.

Lifted onto the shoulders of his comrades Pakrashi showed he truly is a ping pong legend.

A huge thank you to everyone who came along and especially to the organisers: Listora, Decoded, Mind Candy and Second Home.

Time to get practicing for next year!