Macau: Elvinn KO’s Larkin To Record Biggest Career Win

28-year-old Elvinn Keo struck a winning blow as he overcame a gap of almost 30 places on the World Rankings to down Australian Joshua Larkin in straight-games during the final round of qualification at the 2016 Macau open and secure a berth in the main draw of the M50 tournament – the first time the Malaysian has ever reached the main draw of an event biggest than M25 in stature.

Keo played with control and precision as he saw of Larkin 11-6, 11-6, 11-5 and will now face number two seed Saurav Ghosal in the first round.

“I’m on cloud nine inside,” said Keo.

“This is my biggest win and the first time I’ve ever mad ether main draw of a M50. I’ve won some M5 and M10 events but this beats them all.

“I was disciplined and focused throughout the match and tried to stay patient.”

Ghosal is also joined in the main draw by compatriot Harinder Pal Singh Sandhu after the 27-year-old from Chennai came through a gripping five-game battle with James Huang while Joshua Masters and Joel Makin also came through their qualification encounters, with Makin set to lock horns with England’s Darly Selby just one week after their thrilling quarter-final encounter in the Open International de Squash de Nantes.

In the women’s qualification Egyptian trio Mayar Hany, Nada Abbas and Hana Moataz dominated their encounters to end the charge of home hopes Bubble Lui and Chan Sin Yuk, restively, while Moataz cruised past South African Cheyna Tucker.

Siyoli Waters, however, ensured South African representation in the main draw after she defeated Hong Kong’s Carmen Lee in 20 minutes to set up a first round battle with top seeded Joelle King in what could be the encounter of the round.

Men’s Qualification Finals – Results
[1] Joshua Masters (ENG) bt [8] Ko Youngjo (KOR) 3-1: 11-8, 11-8, 5-11, 12-10 (43m)
[7] Elvinn Keo (MAS) bt [4] Joshua Larkin (AUS) 3-0: 11-6, 11-6, 11-5 (28m)
[3] Harinder Pal Singh Sandhu (IND) bt [5] James Huang (TPE) 3-2: 11-8, 8-11, 11-7, 7-11, 11-8 (60m)
[2] Joel Makin (WAL) bt [6] Chi Him Wong (HKG) Walkover

2016 Macau Open – Men’s First Round Draw
[1] Marwan ElShorbagy (EGY) v Rex Hedrick (AUS)
[Q] Joshua Masters (ENG) v [8] Alan Clyne (SCO)
[5] Leo Au (HKG) v Ivan Yuen (MAS)
Tsz Fung Yip (HKG) v [3] Max Lee (HKG)
[4] Daryl Selby (ENG) v [Q] Joel Makin (WAL)
[WC] Steven Liu (MAC) v [7] Nafiizwan Adnan (MAS)
[6] Nicolas Mueller (SUI) v [Q] Harinder Pal Singh Sandhu (IND)
[Q] Elvinn Keo (MAS) v [2] Saurav Ghosal (IND)

Women’s Qualification Finals – Results
[1] Mayar Hany (EGY) bt [L] Bubble Lui (HKG) 3-1: 11-4, 11-6, 4-11, 11-5 (21m)
[6] Hana Moataz (EGY) bt [3] Cheyna Tucker (RSA) 3-0: 11-6, 11-6, 15-13 (24m)
[4] Nada Abbas (EGY) bt [L] Chan Sin Yuk (HKG) 3-0: 11-9, 11-5, 11-8 (22m)
[2] Siyoli Waters (RSA) bt [5] Carmen Lee (HKG) 3-0: 11-9, 11-4, 11-3 (20m)

2016 Macau Open – Women’s First Round Draw
[1] Joelle King (NZL) v [Q] Siyoli Waters (RSA)
Olivia Blatchford (USA) v [8] Line Hansen (DEN)
[7] Heba El Torky (EGY) v [Q] Mayar Hany (EGY)
[WC] Liu Kwai Chi (MAC) v [3] Delia Arnold (MAS)
Liu Tsz-Ling (HKG) v [Q] Hana Moataz (EGY)
Line Hansen (DEN) v [7] Donna Urquhart (AUS)
[5] Joey Chan (HKG) v [Q] Nada Abbas (EGY)
Coline Aumard (FRA) v [2] Annie Au (HKG)