Makin Outlasts Top Seed Coleman in Stortford Classic

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Welshman Joel Makin advanced to the quarter-final of a PSA World Tour event for the first time in 2016 after upsetting top seed Ben Coleman in a gruelling encounter in the Flo.Money Stortford Classic, PSA M10 tournament.

Makin narrowly edged the opener, before a determined Coleman battled back to bring the match all square again. A crucial third game went all the way to a tie-break, which Makin won, and that acted as a catalyst for his victory in game four, which enabled him to take an 11-9, 7-11, 13-11, 11-6 triumph in 96 minutes to reach the last eight.

“I’m really happy to get a win against Ben tonight in a tough match that lasted ages,” said Makin.

England’s Chris Fuller will go up against Makin for a place in the semi-final after he came through a dramatic five-game affair against compatriot Joe Green.

Coleman was the only seeded player to bow out in round one as second seed Charles Sharpes led the charge through to the quarter-final courtesy of a 3-1 win against Matthew Hopkin. Sharpes dropped the first game, but stormed back to take the next three and secure his place in the next round where he will face off with Carlos Cornes Ribadas, who beat Rui Soares.

Elsewhere, England’s Richie Fallows will meet Ireland’s Arthur Gaskin in the quarter-final after they achieved respective wins over wildcard Nick Mulvey and Ashley Davies.

Number four seed Peter Creed and Jaymie Haycocks were the other victors on the opening day of main draw action and are set to face each other. Creed dispatched Michael Harris in straight games, while Haycocks saw off Jamaica’s Lewis Walters in four.

Results – First Round: Flo.Money Stortford Classic 2016
Joel Makin (WAL) bt [1] Ben Coleman (ENG) 3-1: 11-9, 7-11, 13-11, 11-6 (96m)
[7] Chris Fuller (ENG) bt [Q] Joe Green (ENG) 3-2: 11-5, 9-11, 11-6, 9-11, 11-9 (74m)
[5] Jaymie Haycocks (ENG) bt [Q] Lewis Walters (JAM) 3-1: 9-11, 11-7, 11-6, 11-8 (50m)
[4] Peter Creed (WAL) bt [Q] Michael Harris (ENG) 3-0: 11-4, 11-6, 11-5 (34m)
[3] Richie Fallows (ENG) bt [WC] Nick Mulvey (ENG) 3-0: 11-7, 11-7, 11-8 (37m)
[6] Arthur Gaskin (IRL) bt Ashley Davies (ENG) 3-0: 11-8, 11-9, 11-5 (29m)
[8] Carlos Cornes Ribadas (ESP) bt [Q] Rui Soares (POR) 3-1: 8-11, 11-6, 11-5, 11-6 (45m)
[2] Charles Sharpes (ENG) bt Matthew Hopkin (AUS) 3-1: 8-11, 11-8, 11-8, 11-4 (59m)

Draw – Quarter-Final
Joel Makin (WAL) v [7] Chris Fuller (ENG)
[5] Jaymie Haycocks (ENG) v [4] Peter Creed (WAL)
[3] Richie Fallows (ENG) v [6] Arthur Gaskin (IRL)
[8] Carlos Cornes Ribadas (ESP) v [2] Charles Sharpes (ENG)