The 2026 Quilter Cheviot British Open continued today with the Qualifying Finals at Solihull Arden Club. Yesterday’s winners battling it out to reach the main draws of ‘the Wimbledon of Squash’.
Afternoon : Sam takes down top seed, Lauren’s 3-0 comeback
The first four qualifiers were decided in the afternoon session, as unseeded Egyptian Farida Walid advanced before Swiss David Bernet got past Dewald van Niekerk in three close, long games.
France’s Lauren Baltayan then overcame Joelle King in straight games. Although technically not an upset – 4th beats 5th seed – coming from 0-8 down in the third to clinch victory over the former world #4 was some feat.
The final match was an all-English affair as Sam Osborne-Wylde twice came from behind to oust top seed Adrian Waller (Waller was drawn as the ‘Lucky Loser’ after the withdrawal of Jonah Bryant).
Evening : Bushma denies an Egyptian clean sweep
Three of the four remaining spots went to Egypt as Ruqayya Salem, Adam Halal and Mohamed Gohar won, but Ukraine’s Alina Bushma prevented a clean sweep as she overcame second seed Jana Swaify in five tense games.
Hawal got the better of Emyr Evans in three tough games, Salem beat Toby Tse in four, leaving Gohar to claim the final spot as he saved match ball to deny Perry Malik 12-10 in the fifth.
Tomorrow is a rest day, before Round One at Solihull Arden on Saturday and Round Two over two days at Solihull and at The Rep.
Women’s Qualifying Finals :
Farida Walid (Egy) 3-0 Noa Romero (Esp) 11-8, 11-7, 11-5 (34m)
[4] Lauren Baltayan (Fra) 3-0 [5] Joelle King (Nzl) 11-9, 11-8, 11-9 (42m)
[16] Ruqayya Salem (Egy) 3-1 [11] Toby Tse (Hkg) 11-9, 9-11, 11-4, 11-7 (35m)
[6] Alina Bushma (Ukr) 3-2 [2] Jana Swaify (Egy) 3-11, 11-6, 11-3, 6-11, 11-5 (54m)
Men’s Qualifying Finals :
[10] David Bernet (Sui) 3-0 [14] Dewald van Niekerk (Rsa) 11-9, 11-7, 11-6 (55m)
[8] Sam Osborne-Wylde (Eng) 3-2 [1] Adrian Waller (Eng) 8-11, 11-4, 8-11, 14-12, 11-8 (67m)
Adam Hawal (Egy) 3-0 [16] Emyr Evans (Wal) 13-11, 11-6, 11-7 (50m)
Mohamed Gohar (Egy) 3-2 [9] Perry Malik (Eng) 13-11, 2-11, 8-11, 11-7, 12-10 (71m)
Sam Osborne-Wylde :
“I grew up watching this tournament, as English player it is probably the biggest tournament of the year, the fact that it is in Birmingham and I live two minutes down the road, makes it a lot more special for me.
“I feel very privileged to have made it through to the main draw, and I am feeling relieved, as Waller made the game so uncomfortable, and he can hit a winner from anywhere. But it was a mental battle more than a physical one. So I am proud to have got through it.”
“Joelle is a very experienced player, and was a World No.4 for a reason, and I knew it was going to be very tough and tricky to play her today, so I am very happy to have got the win.
“In the final game, when I was 8-0 down, I knew that I had to stick to my game plan and focus more on playing a deep game, and not rush it.I stayed focused point-by-point, I told myself there was always the next game, but I am happy that I was able to do it in three.”
Selection of Day Three photos …
