Liverpool Cricket Club Open: Tournament Preview

One of three events to start on Wednesday, the Challenger 5 level Liverpool Cricket Club Open will feature both men’s and women’s draw.

The tournament returns for its second edition, and this year it will see a women’s draw for the first time. Last year, Scotland’s Rory Stewart was the victor, beating Englishman Joe Lee in the final.

England’s Ben Smith made it to the last four in the 2022 edition. He will be the top seed for the men’s draw this year. Compatriots James Peach and Perry Malik will also be among the eight seeds for this year’s competition.

South Africa’s Dewald van Niekerk will join the Welsh duo of Emyr Evans and Owain Taylor, and the Kiwi pairing of Lwamba and Temwa Chileshe, as the rest of the top eight seeds. Lwamba, the older of the siblings, will be the No.2 seed for the draw.

Scotland’s Alsadair Prott Australian Nicholas Calvert and Spaniard Marc Lopez will be their nation’s sole representatives in the men’s event. The tournament wildcard will be Cory Harding, with the World No.736 featuring for the first time on Tour.

New Zealand’s Kaitlyn Watts will be the the top seed for the women’s event in Liverpool this week. England’s Alicia Mead, Torrie Malik and Anna Kimberley will all be among the top eight seeds, with Malik coming into this competition after winning her biggest Tour title on Saturday, as she won the Mozart Open in Austria.

Australian Alex Haydon, Scotland’s Alison Thomson, German Katerina Tycova and Welshwoman Ali Loke will make up the rest of the top eight seeds this week. Austrian Jacqueline Peychar, Ireland’s Breanne Flynn and Malaysian Yasshmita Jadishkumar will all be in action.

The event takes place from Wednesday, March 29 to Saturday, April 1 at the Liverpool Cricket Club. Follow the PSA Challenger Tour on Twitter and Facebook for daily updates from the event.

Men’s First Round Draw: Liverpool Cricket Club Open
[1] Ben Smith (ENG) v Stuart MacGregor (ENG)
Nicholas Calvert (AUS) v [6] Dewald van Niekerk (RSA)
[7] Temwa Chileshe (NZL) v Marc Lopez (ESP)
Alasdair Prott (SCO) v [4] James Peach (ENG)
[3] Emyr Evans (WAL) v Miles Jenkins (ENG)
[WC] Cory Harding (ENG) v [5] Owain Taylor (WAL)
[8] Perry Malik (ENG) v Elliott Morris Devred (WAL)
Finnlay Withington (ENG) v [2] Lwamba Chileshe (NZL)

Women’s First Round Draw: Liverpool Cricket Club Open
[1] Kaitlyn Watts (NZL) v Lowri Roberts (WAL)
Jacqueline Peychar (AUT) v [6] Alison Thomson (SCO)
[7] Katerina Tycova (GER) v [WC] Katie Cox (ENG)
Yasshmita Jadishkumar (MAS) v [3] Torrie Malik (ENG)
[4] Alex Haydon (AUS) v Emilia Korhonen (FIN)
Breanne Flynn (IRL) v [8] Ali Loke (WAL)
[5] Anna Kimberley (ENG) v Polly Clark (ENG)
Katriona Allen (SCO) v [2] Alicia Mead (ENG)