It was an action-packed final day as 21 World Masters Champions were crowned, rounding off an incredible tournament in Perth, Australia,
With more than 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+ World Masters Champion after surviving an incredible five-game battle against her compatriot Jane Kennedy [1].
A two-time runner-up in 2014 and 2018, Martin was able to use her previous finals experience to establish a quick 2-0 lead, winning the opening two games 11-5, 11-1.
Moving into the third, and with momentum firmly with Martin, it seemed as though she was set to power through and lift the world title. However, Kennedy would delay the celebrations, fighting hard to keep Martin at arm’s length on the scoreboard before winning back-to-back games 13-11, 11-9.
With the title slipping away, the No.2 seed was able to recompose herself and take a commanding lead in the fifth, eventually closing out the game 11-1 to secure her first World Masters title on the all-glass court at Karrinyup Shopping Centre.
“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,” she added
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 World Masters title with victory over her compatriot Zoe Petrovansky [1] in a dramatic five-game thriller.
With Petrovansky taking a 2-1 lead, the most pivotal moment of the match came in the fourth game, when the No.1 seed held match ball at 10-8 and looked certain to lift the title.
However, Foyle had other ideas, halting those plans and fighting back to claim the fourth game 14-12. With momentum firmly in Foyle’s corner, she was then able to close out the tie, winning the fifth 11-5.
After claiming the Women’s 35+ World Masters title and defeating the No.1 seed in dramatic fashion, Foyle said: “I’m absolutely stoked, 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.”
Among today’s finals, this was not the only No.1 seed to fall on the glass court. In the Men’s 40+ draw, Australia’s former World No.49 Matthew Karwalski [1] 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 [1] lifted his first World Masters title after beating Australia’s Jeff Osborne [5/8] in four games.
Despite falling behind after Osborne claimed the opening game 4-11, Bowden showed his resilience to claw his way back in the second, winning 11-7, before continuing his comeback to win the third 11-6 and the fourth 13-11.
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 for the first time after defeating Ireland’s four-time World Masters Champion Willie Hosey [2] in an entertaining five-game battle.
The Englishman, who defeated seven-time World Masters Champion Geoff Davenport in the quarter-finals, continued his strong form and held his nerve after conceding a 2-0 lead.
Despite allowing his opponent back into the match, with the scores level at 2-2, the [5/8] seed was able to take control once again, going on to claim the tie 11-9, 11-7, 9-11, 6-11, 11-8.
Elsewhere, 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.
The match produced an incredible fourth game, with the pair battling through 34 points before Douglas eventually prevailed 18-16. Winning her fourth World Masters title, Douglas was then able to close out the five-game battle 11-5, 11-8, 7-11, 16-18, 11-9.
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] also claimed the Men’s 70+ title after defeating four-time World Masters Champion John Macrury 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.
Click here to view the results from Day Eight
For the latest World Squash news, follow World Squash on Facebook, Instagram, Threads,TikTok, LinkedIn and X (formerly Twitter) or subscribe to the World Squash Newsletter.