Day EIGHT: The champions are decided in Perth, with upsets, comebacks and more !!
Finals report below the results
Draws & Results Watch LIVE & Replays Best Photos21 Masters Champions Crowned on finals day in Perth
It was an action-packed final day as 21 World Masters Champions were crowned, rounding off an incredible tournament in Perth, Australia. With 1,639 matches completed at this year’s World Masters, there was plenty of exciting finals action across the three venues – Belmont Squash Centre, Squashworld Mirrabooka and Karrinyup Shopping Centre.
Among the action, Australia’s Melissa Martin [2] was crowned the Women’s 50+ Champion after surviving an incredible five-game battle against her compatriot Jane Kennedy [1]. A two-time runner-up in 2014 and 2018, Martin saw a two game lead disappear before regaining control in the decider to take the title..
“I feel so relieved to be honest, this is my third time in the final, so I guess it is third time lucky,” said Martin. “To do it in Perth, in Australia, in front of my friends and families it is really special. Today I just had to focus, and remind myself to go back to basics and go for my shots, which weren’t happening in third and fourth. I just feel so relieved.”
In the Men’s 50+ draw Australia’s former World No.38 Michael Corren [1] added another title to his already illustrious trophy cabinet, lifting the World Masters title for the first time after defeating USA’s Alexander Clark [3/4] in straight games.
Meanwhile, in the Women’s 35+ final, Australia’s Samantha Foyle [2] claimed the title with victory over her compatriot Zoe Petrovansky [1] in a dramatic five-game thriller, with Petrovansky taking a 2-1 lead, before Foyle fought back to take the next two games.
“I’m absolutely stoked,” said Foyle. “I’m so relieved and totally speechless but I’m so happy to have won today. I had wrote myself off today, I kept thinking about Sue Williams (Women’s 60+ Bronze Medalist) who I train with. She was match ball down earlier this week and came back, so I just kept telling myself to keep fighting and leave it all out there and just get one more point and I was able to get through that game some how. To win, I was so relieved and I’m just so so happy.”
That was not the only top seed to fall on the glass court. In the Men’s 40+ draw, Australia’s former World No.49 Matthew Karwalski was beaten by his compatriot and former World No.45 Steven Finitsis [3/4] in straight games.
In the Men’s 45+ draw, England’s James Bowden lifted his first World Masters title, coming from a game down to beat Australia’s Jeff Osborne.
Bowden said: “To become a world champion is amazing, you can’t quite put it into word just how much this means. “From coming so close two years ago in the final, where I was beaten comfortably, to this year’s event, which I saw as unfinished business. I’m over the moon. “I travelled along way to get the title I really wanted, so to get it, with my son watching, is amazing.”
Meanwhile, at the Belmont Squash Centre, WA local Sue Hillier [1] was successful once again, becoming a four-time World Masters Champion after defeating USA’s Phoebe Trubowitz [2].
In the afternoon sessions, England’s Mark Woodliffe lifted the Men’s 65+ title after defeating Ireland’s four-time Champion Willie Hosey [2] in an entertaining five-game battle, following up his win over top the top seed in the semis.
At Squashworld Mirrabooka, Canada’s No.1 Gerald Poulter claimed the Men’s 80+ title in a tightly contested five-game battle against Spain’s Jose Luis Alba [3/4], winning 4-11, 11-9, 11-4, 7-11, 11-6.
In the Women’s 70+ final, Scotland’s Pauline Douglas [1] retained her title after beating Australia’s Gaye Mitchell [2] in an entertaining five-game battle. In the Women’s 75+ draw, Margaret Hunt-Kemp [1] also claimed the prestigious title for the first time after defeating France’s Claire Bryars [2] in straight games, while in the Men’s 75+ draw, Hong Kong China’s Kai Ki Chan [1] claimed the title after beating Australia’s Geoff Chambers [9/16] 11-8, 11-9, 11-8.
South Africa’s Stan Voges [5/8] claimed the Men’s 70+ title after defeating four-time Champion John Macrury [1] of the Cayman Islands in straight games.
The 2026 World Squash Masters Championships brought together more than 900 players from 55 nations, with competitors aged 35 and over competing across 21 age categories over eight days of action in Perth. Congratulations to all the participating players at this year’s event.
Categories range from O35 to O85, with 900 entrants in total, while matches will be played across three venues – Mirrabooka Squash Centre, Belmont Squash Centre, and at the Karrinyup Shopping Centre. Mirrabooka Squash Centre features 14 courts, Belmont 8 courts, and the Karrinyup Shopping Centre will host the all-glass court.
