Australians dominate final day of World Masters Championships

Australia has crowned eight new world champions at the 2026 Squash World Masters Championships in Perth. 

Over 900 competitors from over 55 nations took part in the championships, across three venues, with over 1,638 matches played over the eight days of competition. 

In an all Australian women’s 50+ final Melissa Martin claimed her maiden world title with a five-game battle win over No.1 seed Jane Kennedy. 

Martin raced through the first two games in no-time to charge towards the title, before Kennedy started her fightback in the third. 

“I’ve lost two finals previously, so it is a relief to finally win,” Martin said. 

“Third time lucky - I’m very happy to do it in Australia in front of so many friends and family. 

“I’ve played in lots of settings like this before, but it is a wonderful way to promote the game to have the centre court, hopefully lots of kids watching want to take up the game. It’s great to expose the sport to more people.”

Michael Corren cemented his 50+ World Squash Masters Championship with a dominant 11-4. 11-6. 12-10 victory over American Alexander Clark. The no.1 seed didn’t drop a game all tournament. 

“It’s a relief, there’s been a whole week of build-up, hopefully I’ll start enjoying it tonight,” Corren said. 

“It has been fantastic, it is exciting, so many people from the squash community have come out, there’s a lot of people, plenty who have never seen the game before, they are seeing it at its absolute best with the court here and the professionalism. 

Perth’s Sue Hillier claimed her fourth World Squash Masters Championship with a 11-4. 11-1. 11-5 victory over American No.2 seed Phoebe Trubowitz, while Ray Villarroya added World Champion to his list of accomplishments after winning the 85+ 2026 World Squash Masters Championships. 

The No.1 seed in the Men’s draw, Villarroya went through the tournament undefeated, becoming the first man to ever claim an 85+ World Masters Championship. 

“II like to win,” he said.

“In sport there are two pleasures for choosing, one is winning and the other is losing. Well I don’t like losing.”

Cairns’ Steve Finitsis defeated fellow Australian Matthew Karwalski in three games to claim his first Masters World title. 

“It’s a little bittersweet to be honest, I’m really happy to have won, but I know Matthew was carrying an injury in the final,” he said.

“It’s been an amazing week, and I’m really proud to have won, the crowd have been great, and having all the support from the amazing Cairns Squash club has been great.”

In the women’s 35+ Samantha Foyle came back from championship point to beat friend Zoe Petrovansky in an epic five-game encounter showcasing the very best of the sport in front of a raucous crowd. 

“I don’t have the words right now, it is overwhelming,” Folye said. 

“I just had to keep going and believe I could come back, I’m so happy and proud to win.”

Australia finished the day in style with Josh Larkin claiming the men’s 35+ World Championship in three. 

AUSTRALIAN RESULTS

Women’ 50+ Melissa Martin [2]  Def Jane Kennedy [1]

11-5. 11-1. 11-3. 9-11. 11-1.

Men’s 50+  Michael Corren [1] Def Alexander Clark [3/4] (USA)

11-4. 11-6. 12-10 

Men’s 45+ James Bowden [1] (ENG) def Jeff Osborne 

4-11. 11-7. 11-6. 13-11. 

Men’s 40+ Steven Finitsis def Matthew Karwalski [1] 

11-7. 11-4. 11-3. 

Women’s 35+ Samantha Foyle [2] def Zoe Petrovansky [1]  

6-11. 11-7. 6-11. 14-12. 11-5. 

Men’s 35+ Joshua Larkin [1] def Samuel Kang [2] (SPG)

11-2. 11-7. 11-4. 

Women’s 60+ Sue Hillier def Phoebe Trubowitz [2] (USA)

11-4. 11-1. 11-5

Women’s 55+ Susan Davis def Amanda Hart. 

9-11. 2-11. 11-7. 11-9. 11-8. 

Men’s 85+ Ray Villarroya - Undefeated in the men’s group to claim World Champion status.