WA squash legend Ray Villarroya praised the 2026 World Squash Masters Championships as the event got underway in Perth, Australia.<\/p>\n
Despite not playing in today\u2019s action, the No.1 seed in the Men\u2019s +85 draw, Villarroya was among the many spectators from the squash community watching the first-round men\u2019s matches at the SquashWorld Mirrabooka Centre.<\/p>\n
A Perth local, the 86-year-old expressed his excitement at watching so many matches take place across the day, while also having the opportunity to meet new people and further expand his squash social network.<\/p>\n
With over 900 players from 55 nations competing for the title of World Champion across the three venues \u2014 Belmont Squash Centre, Mirrabooka Squash Centre, and Karrinyup Shopping Centre \u2014 Villarroya explained what a tournament of this size will mean for squash in Western Australia.<\/p>\n
He said: \u201cTo have a tournament of this size in Perth is great, and to have the magnificent glass court (at Karrinyup Shopping Centre) is just great news.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is amazing to see so many new faces at this event. It is not often that I walk around the centre and not know that many people.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo, to know that so many people are playing at this event this year is a very good thing for the squash community, and to have it in Perth and be playing in the world event is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.\u201d<\/p>\n
And having started his World Masters journey over 25 years ago, at the 2001 Melbourne edition, the Men\u2019s +85 No.1 seed detailed why events like this are important for squash.<\/p>\n
He said: \u201cMy World Masters journey started in 2001, as I lived in Perth, and I don\u2019t travel too well these days, so I knew that I could play there.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut now it\u2019s in Perth, it\u2019s so exciting.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s fantastic, and the opening ceremony for the event couldn\u2019t have been better. It was brilliant from start to finish, and it has carried on today.\u201d<\/p>\n
This year\u2019s event will see multiple players competing in the Men\u2019s +85 draw, and with this inclusion, Villarroya shared his excitement at playing against players his age.<\/p>\n
He continued: \u201cNormally I am playing against people younger than me, so to know that I will be battling it out against this group of players is great news.<\/p>\n
\u201cI have played only one of them once before, No.2 seed Thomas Slattery, and that was back in 2007, and I lost. So, that adds to the excitement as I will be looking to get the win over him this time.\u201d<\/p>\n
Villarroya will play on Tuesday, 1 September, against 5\/8 seed Geoffrey Coyne at 4pm (GMT+8), and you can find the full schedule here.<\/a><\/p>\n Find out all the results from the 2026 World Masters here.<\/a><\/p>\n For the latest World Squash news, follow World Squash on Facebook<\/a>, Instagram<\/a>, Threads<\/a>, TikTok<\/a>, LinkedIn<\/a> and X (formerly Twitter)<\/a> or subscribe to the World Squash Newsletter.<\/a> or subscribe to the World Squash Newsletter.<\/a><\/p>\n Watch all the all-glass court action from the 2026 World Squash Masters Championships at WORLDSQUASH.TV<\/a>.<\/p>\n