Challenger Tour Roundup: Elsirty brings Bryant run to an end & British stars shine in Edmonton

The Ipswich Sports Club Challenger Cup 2024 sponsored by Security Foiling finalists were confirmed yesterday after four exciting semi-finals entertained the Ipswich crowd.

The impressive run of England’s top junior Jonah Bryant came to end at the hands of Egypt’s Moustafa Elsirty. Both players were unseeded and have been extremely impressive on route to the last four. Elsirty closed out a tight opener 13-11 before going on to dominate proceeidings, using his superior PSA experience to get over the line in straight games.

His opponent in the final will be the returning Declan James. The Nottingham-based former top 20 player is recovering from injury and is determined to get back to the near his best ranking. He overcame training partner and No.5 seed Owain Taylor also in three games to give himself a shot at the title.

In the women’s event, top seed Katie Malliff produced another strong performance to beat Malaysia’s Yasshmita Jadish Kumar in straight games. After a whitewash of a first game, Jadishkumar was competitive in the seance game, narrowly missing out on taking it as she lost 11-9. Malliff regained her focus in game three to win 11-6 and earn a final spot.

Malliff will be up against Egypt’s Nour Heikal in the final after the 20-year-old was forced to dig very deep to defeat France’s Lauren Baltayan. Heikal started the better of the two and earned herself a solid 2-0 lead, looking sure to be booking her place in the final sooner rather than later. Baltayan battled back however and after claiming the third game, clinched a nail-biting fourth 16-14 to set up a decider. Heikal hung tough in the fifth and kept her emotions in check as she ran through to an 11-8 win.

The finals get underway at 15:30 (UK time) with action available to watch live via the PSA Live Streaming YouTube channel.

Results: Men’s Semi Finals
[8] Declan James (ENG) bt [5] Owain Taylor (WAL) 3-0: 11-7, 11-9, 11-7 (44m)
Moustafa El Sirty (EGY) bt Jonah Bryant (ENG) 3-0: 13-11, 11-6, 11-8 (49m)

Results: Women’s Quarter Finals
[1] Katie Malliff (ENG) bt [5] Yasshmita Jadish Kumar (MAS) 3-0: 11-1, 11-9, 11-6 (26m)
[9/16] Nour Heikal (EGY) bt [9/16] Lauren Baltayan (FRA) 3-2: 11-8, 13-11, 4-11, 14-16, 11-8 (60m)

Draw: Men’s Final
[8] Declan James (ENG) v Moustafa El Sirty (EGY)

Draw: Women’s Final
[1] Katie Malliff (ENG) v [9/16] Nour Heikal (EGY)

Over in Edmonton at the The Bee-Clean Edmonton Squash Club Winter Open 2024, it was a day for the Brits as three of the four British players claimed wins to move into the final four.

England’s former British Junior Open winner Finnlay Withington scored an upset over No.2 seed Tang Ming Hong, winning in straight games. The Manchester based Withington was in top form as he stormed to 1-0 lead winning 11-2. From there, Withington always looked in control of the rallies as he claimed 11-8, 11-5 wins to record a 23-minute win.

Withington will now face training partner and friend Emyr Evans for a spot in the final. Wales’ Evans dominated his encounter with Hong Kong’s Wong Chi Him, not allowing the No.7 seed to get above six points in any game. Evans wasn’t the only Welsh winner on day three as his compatriot Elliot Morris Devred claimed a win over Perry Malik. Morris Devred has been in great form this event and backed up strongly from his win over Edwin Clain in the previous round to win in four games against a tricky Malik.

Morris Devred now faces top seed Alfredo Avila Vergara, who is searching for his 22nd PSA title this week. The Mexican has a wealth of experience under his belt and used that superbly to despatch Colombia’s Edgar Ramirez 3-0 in 32 minutes.

Results: Quarter Finals
[1] Alfredo Avila Vergara (MEX) bt [8] Edgar Ramirez (COL) 3-0: 11-8, 11-4, 11-6 (32m)
Elliott Morris Devred (WAL) bt [5] Perry Malik (ENG) 3-1: 11-5, 11-7, 5-11, 11-9 (60m)
[4] Emyr Evans (WAL) bt [7] Wong Chi Him (HKG) 3-0: 11-5, 11-6, 11-4 (29m)
[6] Finnlay Withington (ENG) bt [2] Tang Ming Hong (HKG) 3-0: 11-2, 11-8, 11-5 (23m)

Draw: Semi-finals
[1] Alfredo Avila Vergara (MEX) v Elliott Morris Devred (WAL)
[4] Emyr Evans (WAL) v [6] Finnlay Withington (ENG)