The semi-final line-ups for the European World Championships Qualifying event have been confirmed after another scintillating day of squash at Pontefract Squash Club.
The impressive form of Wales’ Lowri Roberts continued today as she upset the seedings once again to beat No.3 seed Madeleine Hylland in straight games. All three games were closely contested but Roberts showed her class once again in familiar surroundings to take the match 11-9, 12-10, 11-8 in 37 minutes. She’ll now face top seeded Irishwoman Hannah Craig after she needed four games to move past German Katerina Tycova.
The bottom half semi-final will see Karina Tyma face Millie Tomlinson. Poland’s Tyma lost the first game against Tessa ter Sluis but recovered strongly to win in four games. Tomlinson, however, needed just three games to see off Swiss Ambre Allinckx.
Czech Viktor Byrtus scored a second successive upset on day two as he beat England’s Ben Smith in four games to book his spot in the semi-finals. Byrtus established a strong 2-0 lead and despite Smith clawing a game back to extend the contest, Byrtus stormed through the fourth game to win 11-5 and earn his spot in the final four. Byrtus will now face former World Junior Champion Rowan Damming, after the Dutchman ended the run of Rhys Evans in straight games.
An all-British semi-final is coming up in the bottom half as No.2 seed Sam Osborne-Wylde will face Emyr Evans for a spot in the final. Osborne-Wylde was in top form as he defeated France’s Edwin Clain 11-3, 11-4, 11-6. Evans was another who brought his best squash to the table yesterday as he beat Perry Malik 3-0 in 48 minutes.
The semi-finals get underway at 17:00 (GMT 0) in Pontefract, live on SQUASHTV.
Results: Women’s QF
[1] Hannah Craig (IRL) bt. Katerina Tycova (GER) 3-1: 11-6, 11-4, 8-11, 11-3 (44m)Lowri Roberts (WAL) bt. [3] Madeleine Hylland (NOR) 3-0: 11-9, 12-10, 11-8 (37m)
Karina Tyma (POL) bt. Tessa ter Sluis (NED) 3-1: 9-11, 11-8, 11-6, 11-9 (34m)
[2] Millie Tomlinson (ENG) bt. Ambre Allinckx (SUI) 3-0: 11-9, 11-8, 11-7 (40m)
Results: Men’s QF
[6] Rowan Damming (NED) bt. Rhys Evans (WAL) 3-0: 12-10, 11-7, 11-3 (34m)Viktor Byrtus (CZE) bt. [8] Ben Smith (ENG) 3-1: 12-10, 11-7, 9-11, 11-5 (53m)
[5] Emyr Evans (WAL) bt. [3] Perry Malik (ENG) 3-0: 12-10, 11-5, 11-8 (48m)
[2] Samuel Osborne – Wylde (ENG) bt. [7] Edwin Clain (FRA) 3-0: 11-3, 11-4, 11-6 (37m)
Draw: Women’s SF
[1] Hannah Craig (IRL) v Lowri Roberts (WAL)Karina Tyma (POL) v [2] Millie Tomlinson (ENG)
Draw: Men’s SF
[6] Rowan Damming (NED) v Viktor Byrtus (CZE)[5] Emyr Evans (WAL) v [2] Samuel Osborne – Wylde (ENG)
