Challenger Tour Roundup: Bryant marches on in Ipswich whilst Morris Devred upsets the seedings in Canada

We’re down to the semi-finals in Ipswich as quarter final action concluded yesterday at the Ipswich Sports Club Challenger Cup 2024 sponsored by Security Foiling. England junior No.1 Jonah Bryant continued his impressive run in the tournament as he overcame No.6 seed Jakub Solnicky in three games. The 18-year-old needed just 30 minutes to despatch the Czech International to move into the final four.

Bryant’s opponent will be another unseeded player who is making a comeback, Moustafa Elsirty. The Egyptian overcame giant killer Darren Pragasam in the quarter finals as he bids to return towards the world’s top 30. The top half semi-final will be an all-England affair between training partners Owain Taylor and Declan James. The pair are very familiar with eachother, both training in Nottingham and scored places in the last four by beating Ameeshenraj Chandaran and Ivan Perez.

Wales’ Lowri Roberts saw her run come to an end yesterday as she lost out to No.5 seed Yasshmita Jadishkumar. The Malaysian trailed 2-1 but performed strongly in games four and five to comeback and win in five games. Jadishjumar will face top seed Katie Malliff, who needed just 30 minutes to beat Egypt’s Nour Khafagy.

The bottom half semi-final will be played between two surprise semi-finalists Lauren Baltayan and Nour Heikal. The latter took out No.2 seed Millie Tomlinson earlier in the event and yesterday downed no.6 seed Kaitlyn Watts in straight games. France’s Baltayan upset No.4 seed Rana Ismail in a hard fought four games. Baltayan established a 2-0 lead and responded well in the fourth game after Ismail pulled one back.

Semi-final action starts at 18:00 (UK time) with action available to watch live via the PSA Live Streaming YouTube channel.

Results: Men’s Quarter Finals
[5] Owain Taylor (WAL) bt [9/16] Ameeshenraj Chandaran (MAS) 11-9, 10-12, 5-11, 11-5, 11-6 (81m)
[8] Declan James (ENG) bt [3] Ivan Pérez Saavedra (ESP) 11-9, 12-10, 12-10 (59m)
Jonah Bryant (ENG) bt [6] Jakub Solnicky (CZE) 11-6, 11-5, 11-2 (30m)
Moustafa El Sirty (EGY) bt [9/16] Darren Pragasam (MAS) 11-4, 11-5, 10-12, 11-7 (44m)

Results: Women’s Quarter Finals
[1] Katie Malliff (ENG) bt Nour Khafagy (EGY) 11-8, 11-8, 11-5 (30m)
[5] Yasshmita Jadish Kumar (MAS) bt [9/16] Lowri Roberts (WAL) 11-1, 9-11, 5-11, 11-7, 11-7 (39m)
[9/16] Lauren Baltayan (FRA) bt [4] Rana Ismail (EGY) 11-6, 13-11, 9-11, 11-9 (39m)
[9/16] Nour Heikal (EGY) bt [6] Kaitlyn Watts (NZL) 11-4, 11-5, 11-7 (26m)

Draw: Men’s semi-finals
[5] Owain Taylor (WAL) v [8] Declan James (ENG)
Moustafa El Sirty (EGY) v Jonah Bryant (ENG)

Draw: Women’s semi-finals
[1] Katie Malliff (ENG) v [5] Yasshmita Jadish Kumar (MAS)
[9/16] Nour Heikal (EGY) v [9/16] Lauren Baltayan (FRA)

Over in Edmonton, the Bee-Clean Edmonton Squash Club Winter Open 2024 reached the quarter final stage yesterday as round two matches were concluded.

The result of the round came from Wales’ Elliot Morris Devred, who upset the seedings by defeating No.3 seed Edwin Clain. The Welshman scored a tight opening game 11-9 before storming to victory in games two and three 11-3, 11-4. Morris Devred now faces fellow Brit Perry Malik in the last eight after his win over Hong Kong’s Ka Hei Ho.

That win for Morris Devred makes it two Welshmen in the quarter finals as he joins Emyr Evans, who needed just 24 minutes to defeat wildcard Blake Reinson in emphatic fashion, surrendering just eight points throughout the entire match.

Former British Junior Open winner Finnlay Withington needed four games to move past compatriot Noah Meredith and now faces the No.2 seed Tang Ming Hong in the quarter finals after the Hong Kong player scraped through against New Zealand’s Anthony Lepper in five games, 11-9 in the fifth game.

Results: Second round
[1] Alfredo Avila Vergara (MEX) bt Lam Shing Fung (HKG) 3-0: 11-6, 11-4, 11-6 (25m)
[5] Perry Malik (ENG) bt Ka Hei Ho (HKG) 3-0: 11-7, 11-9, 11-3 (24m)
[4] Emyr Evans (WAL) bt [WC] Blake Reinson (CAN) 3-0: 11-5, 11-1, 11-2 (24m)
[6] Finnlay Withington (ENG) bt Noah Meredith (ENG) 3-1: 5-11, 11-2, 11-8, 12-10 (42m)
[8] Edgar Ramirez (COL) bt Brett Schille (CAN) 3-1: 11-7, 11-5, 9-11, 11-7 (45m)
Elliott Morris Devred (WAL) bt [3] Edwin Clain (FRA) 3-0: 11-9, 11-3, 11-4 (38m)
[7] Wong Chi Him (HKG) bt Wailok To (HKG) 3-0: 12-10, 11-9, 11-2 (34m)
[2] Tang Ming Hong (HKG) bt Anthony Lepper (NZL) 3-2: 11-9, 7-11, 11-4, 3-11, 11-9 (78m)

Draw: Quarter finals
[1] Alfredo Avila Vergara (MEX) v [8] Edgar Ramirez (COL)
[5] Perry Malik (ENG) v Elliott Morris Devred (WAL)
[4] Emyr Evans (WAL) v [7] Wong Chi Him (HKG)
[6] Finnlay Withington (ENG) v [2] Tang Ming Hong (HKG)