Earlier rounds of the main senior categories at the GTTA Centre largely followed the script, with unseeded Becks O’Keefe’s making the women’s singles final being one exception.
But ahead of playing Lawrence Stacey for the men’s singles crown, Sheffield-based Dodd faced a minor scare from his twin brother in the semi-finals, as 2020 and 2021 winner Josh Stacey rallied back from 2-0 down, taking him to a sixth set.
Yet Dodd’s trademark strong service game edged him through and he was audibly jubilant at reaching yet another final.
On the next table, Division One averages leader Lawrence Stacey defeated Ben Foss 4-0.
Earlier, Lawrence had been given a scare by eighth seed Dan Collenette, who took him to a sixth set.
Dodd will also join Josh Butler to battle the Stacey twins for men’s doubles honours.
After two comprehensive wins, the reigning champions overcame 2024 runners-up Ben Foss and Ryan Bichard 4-1 in their semi-final.
The second-seeded Staceys were taken to six games by in-form Jamie Ferbrache and Steve Ozanne in the quarter-finals, before beating veterans Phil Ogier and Jez Powell 4-0.
The mixed doubles produced some of the most entertaining matches so far as Dodd joined Marli Barker to make the final, where they face siblings Matt and Charlotte Casey.
Dodd and Barker had bounced back from 2-1 down against another sibling pairing – Vicki and Josh Stacey – to win their semi-final 4-2.
In another contender for match of the weekend, siblings Matt and Charlotte Casey survived a topsy-turvy encounter with Andy Gill and Paula Le Ber.
The Caseys led 2-0 only to end up 3-2 down, but they edged a super-close sixth game – ending 14-12 – before triumphing 4-3.
Kay Chivers had an unusually straightforward route to the women’s singles final.
The top seed received a first-round bye and then a quarter-final walkover, before overcoming a spirited Juliette Yeaman 4-0.
Table tennis development officer O’Keefe, in contrast, edged an epic seven-set ‘semi’ against second seed Le Ber. She had just earlier beaten third seed Barker 4-1.
Le Ber has instead made the women’s doubles final, alongside Casey, to face Chivers and Barker.
Le Ber and Casey denied a potential comeback to beat O’Keefe and Yeaman 4-2, while the top seeds raced past juniors Olivia Gilbert and Isla Bretel in four sets.
Tonight’s finals take place from 6.30pm.
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