The 2019 Mega Match This event brought with it an exciting change to the competition format that increased the chances for anglers to qualify for a Mega Match This Final! In addition to the Grand Final for the twenty four qualifying finalists, Maver (UK) hosted an additional event on the day of the 2019 Mega Match This Final.
This brand new addition was made up of twenty four anglers who recorded the highest cumulative weight from any five qualifier events during the 2019 series. Anglers could opt to fish as many qualifier events as they like with those fortunate enough to qualify for this additional event competing for an automatic final qualification place in the 2020 Maver Mega Match This Grand Final.
For clarification:-
- Each Angler could enter as many qualifying events as he or she liked
- If not already through to the final, their top 5 weights were added together
- The top 24 anglers with the highest weights went through to the additional event held on Mega Match This Grand Final day.
The first lucky angler to achieve automatic qualification for the 2020 Final from this new event was Tri-Floats/Rive UK backed rod Tony Coates. Tony had fished 11 qualifying events and finished in fourteenth place on the leader board with a cumulative total from his 5 top weights of 297kgs 095grms. Drawn on Big Adams Peg 81, with the blustery wind blowing towards him he opted to start on long pole slapping and mugging fish using banded 6mm pellet for the first 2 hours to net Carp to 8lbs. As the wind picked up, presentation and handling the long pole became more difficult he switched to the short pole at 4 metres on the deck where he picked up a couple more Carp before switching to his margin at 4 metres with Micros and Corn hook bait to finish the match with a total of 35kgs 725grms.
2nd on the day went to Dynamite Baits backed, Les Marshall. Les had fished 11 qualifying events and finished in twelfth place on the leader board with a cumulative total from his 5 top weights of 301kgs 299grms. Les drew Big Adams Peg 67 in a much more sheltered area of the lake and was able to fish long for most of the match with pellet to weigh in a total of 30kgs 850grms
In 3rd place was Dale Shepherd (Bag Em Baits), who drew Big Adams Peg 35. Dale had fished 9 qualifying events and finished in second place on the leader board with a cumulative total from his 5 top weights of 337kgs 359grms. Again with the blustery wind in his face he fished long and short with pellet to finish the match with a weight of 28kgs 975grms
4th – Jon Whincup – (Frenzee) – Peg 39 – 27kgs 725grms
5th – Matthew Dawes – (Preston Innovations/Sonubaits) – Peg 66 – 27kgs 125grms
6th – Paul Burton – (Anglers World Holidays) – Peg 73 – 26kgs 625grms