Exciting Comebacks and Five-Game Battles Highlight Day Three of World Squash Masters
Sports Correspondent: Imran Sohail
Day Three of the 2026 World Squash Masters Championships delivered another action-packed schedule in Perth, Australia, with players from around the world battling for places in the next rounds.
More than 900 players representing 55 nations are taking part in this year’s championships. Tuesday’s action featured several women’s age categories along with the Men’s 80+ competition, bringing all age groups into action at the tournament.
Van Vlaanderen Makes Strong Start in Women’s 35+
South Africa’s Gill Van Vlaanderen, seeded 5/8, opened her Women’s 35+ campaign against New Zealand’s Stephanie Chambers.
Chambers made a strong start and earned three game balls in the opening game. However, Van Vlaanderen recovered from the pressure, levelled the score at 10-10 and eventually took the game 12-10.
The South African then gained control of the match, winning the next two games 11-3 and 11-4 to complete a 3-0 victory.
Allman Overcomes Nerves on Glass Court
The Men’s 35+ draw at Karrinyup Shopping Centre produced another notable result as England’s David Allman faced Australian home favourite Stretton Evans.
Allman adapted well to the all-glass court and eventually secured a straight-game victory.
After the match, Allman admitted that he had been nervous before and during the contest because of the unfamiliar court conditions and the large crowd.
He said settling into the match became easier as play progressed, allowing him to finish strongly and claim his first win on the glass court.
Oxenham Wins Five-Game Thriller
Squashworld Mirrabooka witnessed a closely fought encounter in the Men’s 55+ category.
New Zealand’s Jason Oxenham, seeded 9/16, defeated South Africa’s Brendon Paul in five games after a match in which neither player was able to establish a significant advantage.
Oxenham eventually secured the deciding game to win 11-9, 6-11, 11-8, 12-14, 11-7.
O’Grady Completes Comeback
South Africa’s Lisa O’Grady produced an impressive comeback in the Women’s 65+ draw against Australia’s Melissa Eliott.
O’Grady fell behind 2-1 but refused to give up. She responded by winning the fourth game 11-9 before taking the decider 11-7 to secure the match.
Peru’s Friedrich Scheuch also advanced in the Men’s 65+ category after overcoming Australia’s Stephen Russell in another five-game contest.
Scheuch won 11-9, 8-11, 11-7, 6-11, 11-2.
Ireland Wins Five-Game Australian Battle
The Belmont Squash Centre hosted a closely contested Women’s 40+ encounter between Australian players Naomi Ireland and Ilse Marais.
Marais took the opening game 11-8, but Ireland responded by winning the next two games 11-9 and 12-10.
Marais then levelled the match at 2-2 with an 11-9 win in the fourth game. Ireland, however, produced her strongest performance in the deciding game, winning 11-3 to complete a five-game victory.
Another all-Australian contest saw Michelle Pym defeat higher-seeded player Geraldine Ricketts in four games. Pym recovered from an 11-8 opening-game loss to win the next three 11-4, 11-5 and 11-9.
Love Edges Taylor in Another Close Match
The Men’s 50+ draw also produced a competitive encounter between New Zealand’s Corey Love and Australia’s Scott Taylor.
The match went the full distance before Love secured a 3-2 victory and progressed to the next round.
Day Four Set for Wednesday
The 2026 World Squash Masters Championships will continue on Wednesday, September 2, with Day Four action scheduled to begin at 10:00 a.m. local time (GMT+8).
Matches will take place across all three venues in Perth, including the glass court at Karrinyup Shopping Centre, Court 5 at Squashworld Mirrabooka and Court 2 at Belmont Squash Centre.
