YouTube stars Pongfinity join Brighton Table Tennis Club for a day of record breaking
An impressive eight GWR certificates were claimed by Finnish YouTubers Pongfinity and Brighton Table Tennis Club on 25 May.
The global talents came together for a day of record breaking at Brighton Dome Corn Exchange in East Sussex, UK.
Despite the heatwave temperatures exceeding 30°C (86°F) and the pressure of attempting multiple records in one day, they managed to secure all but one of the titles on their hit list.
Pongfinity are the most subscribed table-tennis channel on YouTube, with a whopping 4,750,000 fans!
Made up of Emil Rantatulkkila, Otto Tennilä and Miikka O’Connor, they are best known for their trick shots and challenges, such as playing with a racket made of ice.
The trio have been friends since childhood and have all represented Finland on a national level.
Pongfinity’s world record haul got off to a flying start when Otto achieved the fastest table-tennis hit.
On his first go, he struck a ball that reached 90.72 mph (146 km/h).
Otto then bettered this with a top speed of 92.58 mph (149 km/h).
Both attempts surpassed the previous mark of 72.08 mph (116 km/h), which was set by Poland’s Łukasz Budner in 2016.
After showcasing his strength and speed, it was time for Otto to prove he could also go the distance with the longest table-tennis serve.
Stood at the opposite end of the Corn Exchange to the table, Otto successfully launched a ball – making it bounce on both sides of the net – from 18.485 m (60 ft 7.75 in) away.
That’s equivalent to the length of a bowling lane!
From left to right: Emil Rantatulkkila, Miikka O’Connor, GWR Adjudicator Caitlin Hyem, BTTC's Ryan Goodier and Otto Tennilä.
Up next was Miikka, who was attempting the most bounces of a table-tennis ball on a bat handle in 30 seconds.
The YouTuber recorded 106 touches on the bottom of the racket.
Miikka then joined Emil at the table for the most counter hits in 30 seconds, logging a grand total of 75.
They were inspired to attempt this title because the one-minute version (180, by Japan’s Mima Ito and Tacshow Arai) is regarded as one of the most impressive feats in table-tennis history.
Pongfinity then handed the floor over to Brighton Table Tennis Club, who hoped to reclaim the most consecutive opponents in a table-tennis rally.
Back in 2022, they set the record at 117 with co-founder Wen Wei Xu (China).
Since then, it has been broken twice, most recently by Simon Sprenger (Germany) in 2024.
Emil headed up one side of the table and the club members took it in turns to return the ball back to him.
However, with a best effort of 97, they failed to beat the record of 132.
Fortunately, the club still got to celebrate their members with two certificate presentations by GWR Adjudicator Caitlin Hyem.
First, Team GB's Bly Twomey was championed for being the youngest Paralympic table-tennis medallist.
Bly was only 14 years 124 days old when she won her first bronze medal alongside Fliss Pickard in the women’s doubles at the 2024 Paris Games.
Less than a week later, the athlete with cerebral palsy ranked third again in the singles. And this all came just three years after she took up the sport.
Bly, who is one of our Young Achievers in Guinness World Records 2027, revealed: “Table Tennis has really helped me accept my disability and realize it is part of who I am and that it’s OK to be different.”
Sharing her words of wisdom, Bly said: “Never give up on a dream just because of the time it will take to accomplish it.
“Everyone is born for a reason; now it’s time for you to find yours.”
Next to receive their praise was someone else who is proof that amazing things can happen when you never give up...
Harry Fairchild (UK) was awarded his certificate for being the first table-tennis coach with Down syndrome.
He became a member of Brighton Table Tennis Club in 2013, and by 22 May 2016, had completed his Level 1 coaching qualification.
Harry now teaches at the club five days a week.
Read more stories about record-breaking athletes in our Sports and Fitness section.
The last attempt of the day saw Pongfinity’s Emil go head-to-head with five members of Brighton Table Tennis Club.
They were battling it out for the most hits of a table-tennis ball against a wall with alternate sides of the bat in 30 seconds.
Emil was the first in line, and he set the record to beat at 73.
Just minutes later, his mark was surpassed by 15-year-old Ryan Goodier (UK), who scored 76.
Ryan told GWR: “It was such a surreal moment. Not only was I shocked I had won the world record, but to share the moment with Pongfinity was unbelievable.”
Emil is one of Ryan’s biggest inspirations and the YouTubers have been instrumental in his sporting journey. So much so that when Ryan joined Brighton Table Tennis Club, he would often wear a Pongfinity T-shirt!
Tim Holtam, the club's co-founder, reflected: “We couldn't believe how the event at the Brighton Dome Corn Exchange came together with Guinness World Records, and then Pongfinity coming to celebrate and attempt a load of official world records with the Brighton Table Tennis Club.
“Over a thousand people came through the doors throughout the afternoon for what can definitely be described as a ‘Festival of Table Tennis’.
“It was an absolutely magical day in a stunning and iconic venue to conclude the 2026 Brighton Festival.”
All images: Caleb Yule.