![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/australia\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Australias-Melissa-Martin-2--800x533.jpg\")
<\/p>\nIt was an action-packed final day as 21 World Masters Champions were crowned, rounding off an incredible tournament in Perth, Australia, <\/p>\n
With more than 1,639 matches completed at this year\u2019s World Masters, there was plenty of exciting finals action across the three venues \u2013 Belmont Squash Centre, Squashworld Mirrabooka and Karrinyup Shopping Centre.<\/p>\n
Among the action, Australia\u2019s Melissa Martin [2] was crowned the Women\u2019s 50+ World Masters Champion after surviving an incredible five-game battle against her compatriot Jane Kennedy [1].<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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\u2019s length on the scoreboard before winning back-to-back games 13-11, 11-9.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cI feel so relieved to be honest, this is my third time in the final, so I guess it is third time lucky,\u201d said Martin<\/p>\n
\u201cTo 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\u2019t happening in third and fourth. <\/p>\n
\u201cI just feel so relieved,\u201d she added<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
In the Men\u2019s 50+ draw, Australia\u2019s 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\u2019s Alexander Clark [3\/4] in straight games.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, in the Women\u2019s 35+ final, Australia\u2019s Samantha Foyle [2] claimed the World Masters title with victory over her compatriot Zoe Petrovansky [1] in a dramatic five-game thriller.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
However, Foyle had other ideas, halting those plans and fighting back to claim the fourth game 14-12. With momentum firmly in Foyle\u2019s corner, she was then able to close out the tie, winning the fifth 11-5.<\/p>\n
After claiming the Women\u2019s 35+ World Masters title and defeating the No.1 seed in dramatic fashion, Foyle said: \u201cI\u2019m absolutely stoked, I\u2019m so relieved and totally speechless but I\u2019m so happy to have won today.<\/p>\n
\u201cI had wrote myself off today, I kept thinking about Sue Williams (Women\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cTo win, I was so relieved and I\u2019m just so so happy.\u201d<\/p>\n
Among today\u2019s finals, this was not the only No.1 seed to fall on the glass court. In the Men\u2019s 40+ draw, Australia\u2019s former World No.49 Matthew Karwalski [1] was beaten by his compatriot and former World No.45 Steven Finitsis [3\/4] in straight games.<\/p>\n
In the Men\u2019s 45+ draw, England\u2019s James Bowden [1] lifted his first World Masters title after beating Australia\u2019s Jeff Osborne [5\/8] in four games.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Bowden said: \u201cTo become a world champion is amazing, you can\u2019t quite put it into word just how much this means.<\/p>\n
\u201cFrom coming so close two years ago in the final, where I was beaten comfortably, to this year\u2019s event, which I saw as unfinished business. I\u2019m over the moon.<\/p>\n
\u201cI travelled along way to get the title I really wanted, so to get it, with my son watching, is amazing.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/australia\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/2026-SQA-World-Masters-RGPM5868-800x533.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
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\u2019s Phoebe Trubowitz [2].<\/p>\n
In the afternoon sessions, England\u2019s Mark Woodliffe lifted the Men\u2019s 65+ title for the first time after defeating Ireland\u2019s four-time World Masters Champion Willie Hosey [2] in an entertaining five-game battle.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Elsewhere, at Squashworld Mirrabooka, Canada\u2019s No.1 Gerald Poulter claimed the Men\u2019s 80+ title in a tightly contested five-game battle against Spain\u2019s Jose Luis Alba [3\/4], winning 4-11, 11-9, 11-4, 7-11, 11-6.<\/p>\n
In the Women\u2019s 70+ final, Scotland\u2019s Pauline Douglas [1] retained her title after beating Australia\u2019s Gaye Mitchell [2] in an entertaining five-game battle.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
In the Women\u2019s 75+ draw, Margaret Hunt-Kemp [1] also claimed the prestigious title for the first time after defeating France\u2019s Claire Bryars [2] in straight games.<\/p>\n
While in the Men\u2019s 75+ draw, Hong Kong China\u2019s Kai Ki Chan [1] claimed the title after beating Australia\u2019s Geoff Chambers [9\/16] 11-8, 11-9, 11-8.<\/p>\n
South Africa\u2019s Stan Voges [5\/8] also claimed the Men\u2019s 70+ title after defeating four-time World Masters Champion John Macrury of the Cayman Islands in straight games.<\/p>\n
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\u2019s event.<\/p>\n
Click here to view the results from Day Eight<\/a><\/p>\n You can find all the images and action from today\u2019s matches in our 2026 World Squash Masters Championships gallery here.<\/a><\/p>\n For the latest World Squash news, follow World Squash on\u00a0Facebook<\/a>,\u00a0Instagram<\/a>,\u00a0Threads,<\/a>TikTok<\/a>,\u00a0LinkedIn<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0X (formerly Twitter)\u00a0<\/a>or subscribe to the\u00a0World Squash Newsletter.<\/a><\/p>\n