Colwyn Classic: Whitlock Claims First Title Of 2023

Welshwoman Emily Whitlock is the first winner on Tour of the New Year, after she claimed the spoils on home soil at the Colwyn Classic.

The World No.22 came into the competition as the top seed and favourite to take home the glory. She won the first event of the year without dropping a game.

Whitlock started the week by losing only six points in the first round against England’s Katie Wells, before only losing seven against No.6 seed Polly Clark in the quarter finals.

The Welshwoman continued her solid form to overcome another English woman in the semis. The tournament’s top seed got the better of No.3 seed Anna Kimberley, winning 11-5, 11-3, 11-4 to book her spot in the first final of 2023.

In the final, Whitlock took on England’s Katie Malliff, one of the sport’s rising stars. It was a much tighter contest, with the World No.22 winning the opening two games by an 11-7 scoreline. She then took the third 11-9 to take her 19th Tour title, and the first victory of this year.

Results: Colwyn Classic
Final
[1] Emily Whitlock (WAL) bt [2] Katie Malliff (ENG) 3-0: 11-7, 11-7, 11-9 (32m)

Semi-Finals
[1] Emily Whitlock (WAL) bt [3] Anna Kimberley (ENG) 3-0: 11-5, 11-3, 11-4 (27m)
[2] Katie Malliff (ENG) bt [4] Elise Romba (FRA) 3-0: 11-4, 11-6, 11-1 (20m)

Quarter Finals
[1] Emily Whitlock (WAL) bt [6] Polly Clark (ENG) 3-0: 11-4, 11-1, 11-2 (21m)
[3] Anna Kimberley (ENG) bt [5] Kiera Marshall (ENG) 3-2: 6-11, 8-11, 11-9, 11-9, 11-7 (50m)
[4] Elisa Romba (FRA) bt Juliette Permentier (NED) 3-0: 11-8, 11-9, 11-6 (23m)
[2] Katie Malliff (ENG) bt [8] Lowri Roberts (WAL) 3-0: 11-8, 11-8, 11-7 (22m)

First Round
[1] Emily Whitlock (WAL) bt Katie Wells (ENG) 3-0: 11-3, 11-1, 11-2 (16m)
[6] Polly Clark (ENG) bt Chloe Foster (WAL) 3-0: 11-8, 11-6, 11-4 (24m)
[5] Kiera Marshall (ENG) bt Sanne Veldkamp (NED) 3-0: 11-3, 11-5, 11-6 (22m)
[3] Anna Kimberley (ENG) bt Ellie Jones (SCO) 3-0: 11-6, 11-6, 11-9 (27m)
[4] Elise Romba (FRA) bt Kincso Szasz (HUN) 3-0: 11-5, 11-5, 11-6 (40m)
Juliette Permentier (NED) bt [7] Sofia Aveiro Pita (POR) 3-1: 11-9, 6-11, 11-9, 11-9 (31m)
[8] Lowri Roberts (WAL) bt [WC] Elin Harlow (WAL) 3-2: 13-11, 7-11, 12-14, 11-6, 11-6 (37m)
[2] Katie Malliff (ENG) bt Jasmin Kalar (ENG) 3-0: 11-2, 11-2, 11-2 (19m)