Challenger Tour Roundup: Seeds fall in Ipswich whilst play commences in Edmonton

The Ipswich Sports Club Challenger Cup 2024 sponsored by Security Foiling continued yesterday with the top seeds taking on the round one winners for spots in the quarter finals.

The biggest upset of the day came from Malaysia’s Ameeshenraj Chandaran, who downed top seed Viktor Byrtus in just over half an hour. Chandaran was in fine form and never let the Czech international get himself into the match at any point as he ran out to an 11-6, 11-4, 11-5 victory to claim a surprise place in the next round.

Recent English U19 champion Jonah Bryant continued his impressive run as he overcame No.4 seed Noor Zamam from Pakistan also in straight games. Hot prospect Bryant took a convincing 2-0 lead over the No.4 seed before finding his best form in the third game to seal the win, claiming an 11-2 victory in the final game.

The emerging Mohamed Zakaria saw his event end early as he lost out to an incredible performance by Malaysia’s Darren Pragasam. The match was closely contested all the way through with high octane squash taking place for the full 51 minutes. Pragasam held his nerve the best in the big moments and after establishing a 2-0 lead, battled back after losing the third game to win in four games. He’ll now face Moustafa Elsirty in the quarter finals in what is expected to be an intense clash.

Women’s No.2 seed Millie Tomlinson also saw her event come to an abrupt ending as she lost out to Egypt’s Nour Heikal. The Egyptian has been in great form of late and showed that once again as she claimed a close straight games win over the experienced No.2 seed, winning the opening game 11-7 before clinching games two and three both 11-9.

Another Egyptian upset took place earlier on as Nour Khafagy overcame Scotland’s Alison Thomson to secure a place in the final eight. Khafagy was forced to battle back from 2-0 down to earn her quarter final spot but after claiming the third and fourth games both 11-7, the Egyptian looked to have broken Thomson in the deciding game as she won 11-4 to complete the comeback.

Wales’ Lowri Roberts came through a tough contest in the opening round but backed up well to win an all-British clash with No.3 seed Asia Harris to advance. Roberts found winner after winner to run out to a strong 2-0 lead and despite losing the third game 11-9, responded in great style to win 11-3 in the fourth game and claim a first win over Harris.

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

Results: Men’s RD2
[9/16] Ameeshenraj Chandaran (MAS) bt [1] Viktor Byrtus (CZE) 11-6, 11-4, 11-5 (32m)
[5] Owain Taylor (WAL) bt [9/16] Elijah Thomas (NZL) 11-6, 11-9, 11-4 (41m)
[8] Declan James (ENG) bt [9/16] Brice Nicolas (FRA) 11-7, 11-4, 11-4 (50m)
[3] Ivan Pérez Saavedra (ESP) bt Miles Jenkins (ENG) 4-11, 14-12, 11-9, 9-11, 11-7 (78m)
Jonah Bryant (ENG) bt [4] Noor Zaman (PAK) 11-6, 11-7, 11-2 (27m)
[6] Jakub Solnicky (CZE) bt [9/16] Dewald van Niekerk (RSA) 10-12, 11-9, 11-2, 11-7 (62m)
Moustafa El Sirty (EGY) bt [7] Aqeel Rehman (AUT) 11-4, 11-4, 7-11, 11-7 (37m)
[9/16] Darren Pragasam (MAS) bt [2] Mohamed Zakaria (EGY) 11-9, 12-10, 8-11, 11-9 (51m)

Draw: Men’s RD2
[9/16] Ameeshenraj Chandaran (MAS) v [5] Owain Taylor (WAL)
[3] Ivan Pérez Saavedra (ESP) v [8] Declan James (ENG)
Jonah Bryant (ENG) v [6] Jakub Solnicky (CZE)
[9/16] Darren Pragasam (MAS) v Moustafa El Sirty (EGY)

Results: Women’s RD2
[1] Katie Malliff (ENG) bt [9/16] Léa Barbeau (FRA) 11-1, 10-12, 11-4, 11-6 (29m)
Nour Khafagy (EGY) bt [7] Alison Thomson (SCO) 6-11, 7-11, 11-7, 11-7, 11-4 (66m)
[5] Yasshmita Jadish Kumar (MAS) bt [9/16] Catalina Pelaez (COL) 7-11, 11-8, 12-10, 11-4 (40m)
[9/16] Lowri Roberts (WAL) bt [3] Asia Harris (ENG) 11-4, 11-6, 9-11, 11-3 (35m)
[4] Rana Ismail (EGY) bt [9/16] Ingy Hammouda (EGY) 11-3, 11-6, 7-11, 11-9 (32m)
[9/16] Lauren Baltayan (FRA) bt [8] Au Yeong Wai Yhann (SGP) 11-8, 8-11, 11-6, 5-11, 11-9 (44m)
[6] Kaitlyn Watts (NZL) bt Hana Ismail (EGY) 11-7, 11-3, 2-11, 9-11, 11-4 (45m)
[9/16] Nour Heikal (EGY) bt [2] Millie Tomlinson (ENG) 11-7, 11-9, 11-9 (38m)

Draw: Women’s RD2
[1] Katie Malliff (ENG) v Nour Khafagy (EGY)
[9/16] Lowri Roberts (WAL) v [5] Yasshmita Jadish Kumar (MAS)
[4] Rana Ismail (EGY) v [9/16] Lauren Baltayan (FRA)
[9/16] Nour Heikal (EGY) v [6] Kaitlyn Watts (NZL)

Over in Canada, play at The Bee-Clean Edmonton Squash Club Winter Open 2024 got underway yesterday with eight matches taking place to determine who would be moving through to round two.

Wildcard Blake Reinson claimed the win of the round as he delighted the home crowd, beating compatriot Connor Turk to advance to the second round.

Hong Kong duo Lam Shing Fung and Wailok To also claimed upsets as they overcame home duo Liam Marrison and Cory McCartney 3-1 and 3-0 to advance.

England’s Noah Meredith has set up an all-English clash with No.6 seed Finnlay Withington after he battled his way to a 3-2 win over Hong Kong’s Harley Lam.

Results: RD1
Lam Shing Fung (HKG) bt [9/16] Liam Marrison (CAN 3-1: 6-11, 13-11, 11-9, 11-6
[9/16] Brett Schille (CAN) bt Akifumi Murakami (HKG) 3-1: 11-6, 8-11, 11-8, 11-8
[9/16] Ka Hei Ho (HKG) bt Will Harris (CAN) 3-0: 11-3, 11-8, 11-4
[9/16] Elliott Morris Devred (WAL) v [WC] Youssef Taha (CAN) 3-0: 11-4, 11-6, 11-1
[WC] Blake Reinson (CAN) bt Connor Turk (CAN)
Wailok To (HKG) bt Cory McCartney (CAN) 3-0: 11-1, 11-5, 11-2
Noah Meredith (ENG) bt [9/16] Harley Lam (HKG) 3-2
[9/16] Anthony Lepper (NZL) bt Mahmoud Abouelleil (CAN) 3-0: 11-1, 11-0, 11-2

Draw: RD2
[1] Alfredo Avila Vergara (MEX) v Lam Shing Fung (HKG)
Brett Schille (CAN) v [8] Edgar Ramirez (COL)
[5] Perry Malik (ENG) v Ka Hei Ho (HKG)
[3] Edwin Clain (FRA) v Elliott Morris Devred (WAL)
[4] Emyr Evans (WAL) v [WC] Blake Reinson (CAN)
Wailok To (HKG) v [7] Wong Chi Him (HKG)
[6] Finnlay Withington (ENG) v Noah Meredith (ENG)
[2] Tang Ming Hong (HKG) v Anthony Lepper (NZL)