Challenger Tour Round-Up: Khan Beats Irfan to Title, Solnicky and McGregor Win Titles

Chronicle Wealth Guilfoyle PSA Squash Classic 2024 

Stuart Macgregor claimed the biggest title of his career, fighting back from 2-1 down to beat Diego Gobbi in the Chronicle Wealth Guilfoyle PSA Squash Classic final. 

The English No.6 seed was competing in his first 9K final having knocked out top seed Ibrahim Elkabbani in the last eight and then beaten Colombia’s Juan Torres in the semi-finals. 

Standing in his way of the trophy was another South American in the form of Brazilian No.1 Diego Gobbi, and the pair went toe-to-toe for close to an hour, with Macgregor eventually winning 10-12, 11-1, 9-11, 11-2, 11-5 to get his hands on the prize. 

PSA Poznan Open 2024 

Jakub Solnicky capped an impressive week in Poland, seeing off Scotland’s Alasdair Prott to win the PSA Poznan Open. 

The Czech player – No.2 seed for this event – had only dropped one game coming into this final, and carried that form into the final. 

After winning the first two games 11-8, Solnicky cruised through game three for the loss of only four points, securing his third PSA Challenger Tour title. 

Squash Inspire – Men’s Pro Challenger Tour presented by Play Squash Academy 

Muhammad Asim Khan and Muhammad Ashab Irfan produced another classic in another final, with Khan once again coming out on top, at the Squash Inspire – Men’s Pro Challenger Tour 2024 presented by Play Squash Academy. 

The Pakistani pair had played out a five-game thriller in the Squash On Fire Open Wild Card Challenge final a few weeks ago, and they ran it back in Columbia, Maryland. 

Their matchup in Washington DC had lasted 83 minutes but this one was even longer, swinging back and forth over 99 minutes of tension-filled action, with the first two games alone taking close to 50 minutes. 

Khan had saved a match ball in the fourth during his 3-2 semi-final win over Alejandro Enriquez – a match which had broken the 100-minute mark itself – and had to dig deep once again to win this final. 

After taking the opening two games on lengthy tie breaks – 17-15 and 14-12 – the No.1 seed was pegged back and forced into a decider by his younger opponent, but he came up clutch when it mattered, establishing an early fifth-game lead that he would never relinquish. 

PSA Club Euro Sport 2024 

Mohamed Nasser denied the home crowd an all-Spanish final at the PSA Club Euro Sport, ending Hugo Varela’s run in the semi-finals. 

Varela had enjoyed somewhat of a fairytale run on home soil, knocking out top seed Martin Svec and No.7 seed Robin Gadola on his way to his first Challenger Tour semi-final since 2022, but a spot in the final would be one step too far. 

He went down 3-1 to Egypt’s Nasser, who will now play No.2 seed and home favourite Ivan Perez in the final. 

Perez ensured there would at least be one Spanish player competing for the trophy, sinking Wales’ Owain Taylor 11-5, 11-8, 11-8 in the second semi-final. 

WR Sturricks Design and Build Lexden RFC Open 

Hana Ismail has her sights set on a second consecutive PSA Tour title after reaching the final of the WR Sturricks Design and Build Lexden RFC Open. 

The 19-year-old Egyptian was named Challenger Tour Women’s Player of the Month for February after winning the East Glos Open – her maiden Tour title – and she now has a shot at more glory, with Australia’s Erin Classen, also 19, standing in her way. 

Ismail needed just 21 minutes to see off Yu Ng Chen, while Classen ended the hopes of England’s Olivia Besant, winning 3-1 to reach just her second PSA Tour final. 

In the men’s draw, home hopes now rest solely on the shoulders of Jared Carter, after he beat Dutchman Sam Gerrits to secure his spot in a second straight final. 

Like Ismail, Carter was a finalist at the East Glos Open a week ago, though unlike the Egyptian, he came up short, but he now has a chance to put that behind him and claim a first PSA Tour crown. 

His opponent will be top seed Darren Pragasam, who stunned rising Egyptian star Mohamad Zakaria at the Ipswich Sports Club Challenger Cup sponsored by Security Foiling in February. 

The Malaysian is yet to lose a game this week, continuing that streak with a 3-0 win over fourth seed Will Salter in the semi-finals. 

You can stay up to date with all the results on the PSA Challenger Tour here.