Michael Conlon will contest Saturday’s M70+ European Masters Championships final in Wroclaw after dethroning defending champion – and fellow Irishman – Kieran Hurley in Friday’s semi-final.
Seeded No.2, Hurley was fancied to take another successful step towards retaining the title he won at Hamburg 2023. However, court seven at the Hasta La Vista club witnessed a five-game, 34-minute thriller where Conlan came from 1-2 down to win 3-2 courtesy of hard-fought 12-10 and 11-8 games.
Hopes of an all-Irish final, though, were dashed as Peter Stephens lost 0-3 to Kale Leskinen [1, Finland]. Saturday’s decider is scheduled 12:50pm local Polish time.
Conlon was one of eight Irish male players who went into Friday’s action still chasing a main draw title success, but he was left the last man standing by the close of business.
Ireland had three quarter-finalists in the M50+, but David Ayerst [5/8] and Nick Staunton [3/4] respectively lost 0-3 and 2-3 to Christian Drakenberg and Jonathan Gallacher. Drakenberg, the No.1 seed from Sweden, then eliminated defending champion Rob Staunton 3-0 in the semi-finals.
Ireland’s third defending champion from 2023 also came unstuck at the semi-final stage. Neil Macarron, the M45+ No.2 seed, defeated Germany’s Armin Hameed in his quarter-final, but retired from his semi-final fixture against another German, Heiko Schwarzer.
Nigel Peyton was beaten 1-3 in his quarter-final versus the top-seeded James Bowden of England.
In the women’s section, Maureen Duke was beaten 0-3 by Lynne Davies, the No.2 W65+ seed from Wales, and finished second in her round-robin pool.
European Masters Individual Squash Championships – Main Draw results (Friday)
MEN 45+: Quarter-final
Nigel Peyton [5/8] LOST 1-3 (8-11, 11-8, 6-11, 8-11) v James Bowden [1, England]
Neil Macarron [2] WON 3-0 (11-4, 11-3, 11-9) v Armin Hameed [5/8, Germany]. Semi-final: RETIRED v Heiko Schwarzer [3/4, Germany]
MEN 50+: Quarter-final
David Ayerst [5/8] LOST 0-3 (6-11, 1-11, 5-11) v Christian Drakenberg [1, Sweden]
Rob Staunton [3/4] WON 3-1 (2-11, 11-9, 11-5, 12-10) v Conrado Ramos [9/16, France]. Semi-final: LOST 0-3 (6-11, 4-11, 7-11) v Christian Drakenberg [1, Sweden]
Nick Staunton [3/4] LOST 2-3 (12-10, 11-6, 6-11, 8-11, 6-11) v Jonathan Gallacher [5/8, Austria]
WOMEN 65+
Pool B: Maureen Duke [3/4] LOST 0-3 (7-11, 4-11, 5-11) v Lynne Davies [2, Wales]
MEN 70+: Semi-final
Peter Stephens LOST 0-3 (12-14, 10-14, 5-11) v Kale Leskinen [1, Finland]
Michael Conlon [3/4] WON 3-2 (11-9, 8-11, 4-11, 12-10, 11-8) v Kyran Hurley [2, Ireland]
