Challenger Tour Roundup: Devred to take on Singh in Goodfellow Classic Final whilst play continues in Calgary and play starts in Cheltenham

The final of the Goodfellow Classic will be contested between top seed Abhay Singh and surprise finalist Elliot Morris Devred from Wales after the pair recorded four-game wins over Robert Downer and Abdelrahman Abdelkhalek to progress.

Devred and Downer will have know each others games very well heading into the semi-final clash having trained and played many times against eachother back in England. But it was the Welshman who took control of the match by taking a crucial 2-0 lead in the Toronto Athletic Club. Downer clawed a game back to breathe more life in the contest but Devred claimed the fourth game 11-2 to advance.

Abhay Singh is no stranger to a final on the Challenger Tour and booked his place in a 13th career final with a confident win over Egypt’s Abdelrahman Abdelkhalek. The pair shared the opening two games, both scoring a game each but from there, the Indian maintained control of the match and always lead as he moved through to a 3-1 win.

Results: Semi-Finals
[8] Elliott Morris Devred (WAL) bt [9/16] Robert Downer (ENG) 3-1: 11-9, 11-3, 9-11, 11-2 (50m)
[1] Abhay Singh (IND) bt [9/16] Abdelrahman Abdelkhalek (EGY) 3-1: 11-5, 6-11, 11-7, 11-6 (54m)

Draw:
[8] Elliott Morris Devred (WAL) v [1] Abhay Singh (IND)

Over in Calgary at the MRU Open, England’s Jonah Bryant and Czech’s Daniel Mekbib scored upsets on quarter final day to set up exciting semi-final clashes.

Bryant has been in excellent form of late and continued that yesterday as he overcame top seed Tang Ming Hong in comfortable style to reach a fourth consecutive semi-final on the Challenger Tour. After a competitive first game went the way of the Englishman 11-9, Bryant moved from strength to strength to seal the victory in straight games, winning the second and third games 11-5, 11-6.

The other quarter final wins came from No.2 and No.3 seeds Edwin Clain and Perry Malik scored wins over Hong Kong duo Wong Chi Him and Harley Lam.

Results: Quarter Finals
[2] Edwin Clain (FRA) bt [7] Wong Chi Him (HKG)3-1: 11-4, 10-12, 11-8, 13-11 (52m)
[6] Daniel Mekbib (CZE) bt [4] Finnlay Withington (ENG) 3-0: 11-7, 11-7, 11-8 (32m)
[3] Perry Malik (ENG) bt [9/16] Harley Lam (HKG) 3-1: 8-11, 11-3, 11-8, 11-5 (44m)
[9/16] Jonah Bryant (ENG) bt [1] Tang Ming Hong (HKG) 3-0: 11-9, 11-5, 11-6 (28m)

Draw: Semi-Finals
[2] Edwin Clain (FRA) v [6] Daniel Mekbib (CZE)
[3] Perry Malik (ENG) v [9/16] Jonah Bryant (ENG)

The East Glos Open 2024 got underway yesterday with 32 men and women looking to move into the quarter finals of the 3k events in Cheltenham.

Three upsets took place in the women’s draw on the opening day as Isabel McCullough, Robyn McAlpine and wildcard Reka Kemecsei scored wins to move into the last eight. The latter was spurred on by the home crowd and managed to defeat Australia’s No.3 seed Sophie Fadaely in straight games.

Only one upset occured in the men’s draw in round one as Anthony Rogal overcame No.6 seed Lewis Doughty to reach the last eight. Rogal lead 2-1 in the match and remained clam and composed as Doughty equalised to force a deciding game. Rogal controlled the fifth game to go through and win 11-5 to set up a quarter final match with No.4 seed Jared Carter.

Results: Women’s RD1
[1] Kiera Marshall (ENG) bt Carys Jones (SCO) 11-6, 8-11, 11-3, 12-10 (38m)
Isabel McCullough (ENG) bt [8] Ellie Jones (SCO) 11-5, 11-8, 11-8 (30m)
[5] Breanne Flynn (IRL) bt Jasmin Kalar (ENG) 7-11, 11-2, 11-1, 6-11, 11-0 (33m)
[4] Hana Ismail (EGY) bt Polly Clark (ENG) 11-5, 11-3, 11-4 (19m)
[WC] Reka Kemecsei (ENG) bt [3] Sophie Fadaely (AUS) 11-8, 11-7, 11-8 (22m)
Robyn McAlpine (SCO) bt [6] Katie Wells (ENG) 10-12, 11-8, 11-8, 12-10 (34m)
[7] Amelie Haworth (ENG) bt Olivia Besant (ENG) 11-5, 11-5, 11-5 (18m)
[2] Lowri Roberts (WAL) bt Nika Urh (SLO) 11-4, 11-3, 3-11, 11-5 (30m)

Results: Men’s RD1
[1] James Peach (ENG) bt [WC] Tayne Turnock (ZIM) 11-6, 11-4, 11-7 (29m)
[5] Aaron Allpress (IRL) bt [WC] Jamie Carmichael (ENG) 10-12, 11-2, 13-11, 11-6 (50m)
Anthony Rogal (ENG) bt [6] Lewis Doughty (ENG) 11-5, 5-11, 11-7, 3-11, 11-5 (51m)
[4] Jared Carter (ENG) bt Heston Malik (ENG) 11-9, 15-13, 11-3 (44m)
[3] Rhys Evans (WAL) bt Tino Mackay Palacios (SCO) 11-9, 11-7, 11-7 (27m)
[7] Conor Moran (IRL) bt Stephen Hearst (IRL) 11-13, 11-7, 11-9, 11-5 (39m)
[8] John Meehan (SCO) bt Oisin Logan (IRL) 11-5, 4-11, 13-11, 11-9 (73m)
[2] Joel Arscott (NZL) bt Michael Andrews (ENG) 11-2, 11-5, 11-3 (20m)

Draw: Women’s QF
[1] Kiera Marshall (ENG) v Isabel McCullough (ENG)
[4] Hana Ismail (EGY) v [5] Breanne Flynn (IRL)
[WC] Reka Kemecsei (ENG) v Robyn McAlpine (SCO)
[2] Lowri Roberts (WAL) v [7] Amelie Haworth (ENG)

Draw: Men’s QF
[1] James Peach (ENG) v [5] Aaron Allpress (IRL)
[4] Jared Carter (ENG) v Anthony Rogal (ENG)
[3] Rhys Evans (WAL) v [7] Conor Moran (IRL)
[2] Joel Arscott (NZL) v [8] John Meehan (SCO)