Makin Fights Back From Match Ball Down To Beat ElShorbagy

Wales’ Joel Makin booked his spot in the last four of the GillenMarkets London Classic with a thrilling comeback to beat England’s Marwan ElShorbagy.

No.5 seed ElShorbagy, who beat No.4 seed Makin in a five-game epic in December’s New Zealand Open, came charging out in game one with an attacking barrage.

The Englishman’s shot selection was faultless as he tested Makin’s movement, playing some of his best squash as he took game one 11-8.

Makin came out strongly at the beginning of game two and opened up a narrow lead on several occasions, only for ElShorbagy to reel him in each time.

At 10-9, Makin had an opportunity to level, only for ElShorbagy to save the game ball to force a tie break.

The Welshman made no mistake with his second game ball at 11-10, playing an inch-perfect drop to the front right on the stretch to level.

Both players fought hard in a competitive and high-quality last game, with game two’s pattern of Makin building a lead only for ElShorbagy to fight back continuing.

At 6-6, it was all to play for for both men. Having trailed for most of the game, however, ElShorbagy was finally able to regain his incisiveness from game one, with the Englishman going on a three-point run to go 9-6 up.

Makin then levelled the score at 9-9 before going match ball down at 9-10.

The Welshman saved it to force another tie break and set up another grandstand finish.

Makin then had match ball of his own and, after a video review, clinched the contest on a stroke decision to leave the Welshman delighted and the Englishman apoplectic. 

Afterwards, Makin said: “You know what you’re going to get with Marwan, the intensity was up for that and we both knew we had a chance here after a few good matches.

“That’s what I like about him, believe it or not, we’re both going at each other with a lot of respect. We just want to compete and we want the same thing, he’s a good lad who competes well and we had a good match there.”

Result: [4] Joel Makin (WAL) bt [5] Marwan ElShorbagy (ENG) 2-1: 8-11, 12-10, 12-10 (64m)

The semi-finals of the GillenMarkets London Squash Classic take place tomorrow, 31 March, at Alexandra Palace. Action will be streamed live on SQUASHTV from 15:00 (GMT).

For more information on the GillenMarkets London Squash Classic, visit the PSA website or follow the PSA on X, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube. You can also keep track of all of the live scores from the event by clicking here.