Swiss Open: Kobayashi Captures Title

Japan’s World No.80 Ryosei Kobayashi has captured the fourth PSA title of his career after overcoming home player Yannick Wilhelmi 3-0 in the final of the Swiss Open, PSA Challenger Tour 5 event last night.

Held at the Squash Arena in Uster, the Swiss Open saw players from six nationalities compete at the tournament, which had limited cross-border participation due to COVID-19 protocols in place in Switzerland.

Ranked 38 places above the No.2 seed, Kobayashi was the heavy favourite for the tournament and his run to the final saw him complete four successive 3-1 victories, beating David Bernet, Nils Roesch, Edwin Clain and Robert Downer en route to a sixth PSA final.

Meanwhile, World No.225 Wilhelmi was appearing in his maiden PSA final after downing Louai Hafez, Andreas Dietzsch, Valentin Rapp, while his semi-final victory saw him upset No.2 seed Yannik Omlor, a player who is ranked over 100 places above him.

But he was unable to stop Kobayashi in the final, with the man from Japan completing an 11-8, 11-5, 11-7 in 36 minutes to make it back-to-back PSA titles after his win at the Hampshire Open all the way back in March.

Squash fans can watch all the action from the final back on our new YouTube Channel.

PSA Challenger Tour Livestreams will be a hub for fans to find streams (run by the events themselves), all in one place.