As more and more interest grows in the new match fishing competition, Mega Match This, the stakes continue to get higher and one lucky winner will walk away with a significant amount of money from the biggest prize money final in UK coarse angling.

The qualifiers are being held over a number of venues across the country and winners have had to endure a range of conditions and some heavy competition to secure their place in the final on the 20th August. Those who have qualified so far who get an opportunity to fish for the big money pot include Grant Albutt, Steve Rothery, Warren Martin, Andy Geldart, Des Shipp, Andy Power and Graham Dack.
Heaviest weight in the competition so far has been claimed by Warren Martin who secured his place in the “Match This” Grand Final with a massive 216-10-00 win at Barford Lakes on the 23rd April by using a combination of pole and waggler, fishing banded pellet presented mid-depth to take carp up to 9lbs.
Steve Rothery won his qualifier on a late bought golden ticket transferred from Ben Fisk. Steve had not bought a ticket prior to the event as he had had all of his fishing tackle stolen in the run-up. The tackle he used on the day at Lindholme Lakes was very kindly supplied by the on-site tackle shop. Having qualified for the final, it doesn’t take much working out what the winnings will be spent on if he is fortunate enough to go all the way!
Andy Power, winner of the qualifying round at Viaduct Fishery commented: “There was a top class field competing and I felt I had to go all out for it if I wanted to win, and thankfully, it paid off. It hasn’t quite sunk in that I’m going to be fishing a match where the winner will get at least £50,000 but it’s always great to be in with a chance of winning such a prize.”

The competition is open to everyone from any background, any age and any part of the country.  Current qualifiers include students who are still at school and others who operate machines for a living.  The youngest person who’s qualified so far is only 17; other finalists include people from South Wales, West Midlands and Yorkshire.
Second place qualifiers who get to fish the £5,000 Runner Up competition on the same day as the final include Geraint Powell, John Kelly, Danny Grimsey, Pete Richmond, Ray Hayward, Ben Leach and Paul Hiller.
But there is a new benefit to buying a Mega Match This ticket.  Due to the withdrawal of the Angling Times sponsorship of the AT / Maver Pairs competition, Maver (UK) have decided to enhance their support for ‘Match This’ and add a further incentive – the top 5 anglers from every qualifying event will automatically be entered to fish the newly created Maver British Pole Championships.

The final will be at Larford Lakes on Sunday August 14th, 2011 and so another lucky winner will be crowned British Pole Champion and will walk away with a £5,000 cash prize and loads of tackle.
So, five times world champion Alan Scotthorne, who came third at The Oakes Fishing Lakes qualifier on the 24th April with a very competitive weight of 98-07-00, will qualify for this new event.

To summarise, buying a ‘Match This’ ticket entitles you to the following:
• A chance to fish for the potential £100,000 ‘Match This’ winners purse (£50,000 guaranteed) on the 20th August
• A chance to qualify for the £5,000 winner take-all runner-up final on the 20th August
• Top 5 from every qualifier automatically qualifies for the British Pole Championship on the 14th August. No entry fee will be applicable for this new event and the prize fund will be in excess of £13,000!

It’s not too late to buy tickets to enter the Mega Match This. 

For the ticket price of £50, the winner will walk away with a guaranteed minimum of £50,000.  But if all the tickets sell out, the winner will walk away with a life changing £100,000.  Buy your tickets online at www.mavermatchthis.co.uk.

Cut-off dates for ticket sales have now been extended to two days before the event if anglers wish to pay by credit or debit card. If anglers wish to pay by cheque, the cut off dates of a week prior to the qualifier date remain.