Richie Powers To Welsh Open Success at Rhiwbina SRC

England’s Richie Fallows is the 2018 Welsh Open champion, beating Caerphilly-born Peter Creed in the final at Rhiwbina Squash Club.

A packed attendance watched Fallows, 22, won the final in straight games, taking 22 minutes to overcome his Welsh opponent in this World ranking $10,000 tournament.

Fallows, ranked 60 in the World, looked the sharper and fresher player with Creed looking drained after competing in the European Championships, Commonwealth Games and the Open.

Squash Wales coach Andrew Evans (centre) pictured with Richie Fallows (left) and Peter Creed.

Creed plays out of the Rhiwbina club and club official Richard Murphy said: “Peter gave everything he had, but it was obvious from the start that, despite his efforts, there was very little left in the tank from previous weeks.

“He remains a true legend at Rhiwbina.

“Richie did what he had to do and claimed his second World ranking title.

“He has been superb all week and ran out a deserved victory.

“His variety of play across the court was immaculate as was his show of humility after the match had finished.

“Richie was a credit to himself and his family throughout the week.

Richie Fallows pictured during his winner’s speech at Rhiwbina SRC.

“It will be great to welcome him back to Cardiff as defending Welsh Open champion in 2019.”

Both finalists spent almost an hour on court during their semi-finals. Creed won 12-14, 12-10, 11-7, 11-9 in 56 minutes, while Fallows beat holder and second seed George Parker 11-8, 12-10, 3-11, 11-3 during a clash which lasted five minutes under the hour.

Creed and fellow Welshman Joel Makin, who is from Pembrokeshire, are both at the University of Hull today for the British Open qualifying tournament.

Creed plays German Raphael Koudra in his first game, while the winner will take on Tsz Fung Yip (Hong Kong) or Ivan Yuen (Malaysia).

Makin’s first opponent is England’s Patrick Rooney, who reached the Welsh Open semi-finals before going down against Creed, and the winner will take on Tom Richards (England) or Tom Walsh (England).

Tesni Evans, who is based in Rhyl has a place in the British Open women’s main draw and has been drawn against a qualifier.

Rhiwbina’s Peter Creed was top seed for the Welsh Open.

Welsh Open results

Final

Richie Fallows beat Peter Creed 11-4, 11-2, 11-9 (36 mins)

Semi-finals

Peter Creed beat Patrick Rooney 12-14, 12-10, 11-7, 11-9 (56 mins)

Richie Fallows beat George Parker 11-8, 12-10, 3-11, 11-3 (55 mins)

Quarter-finals: 

Peter Creed beat Lyell Fuller 11-6, 11-5, 11-7 (39 mins)

Richie Fallows beat Ahsan Ayaz 9-11, 11-6, 11-6, 11-8 (50 mins)

Patrick Rooney beat Mohd Syafiq Kamal 6-11, 11-6, 11-8, 11-8

George Parker beat Ammar Altamimi 11-6, 11-7, 11-7 (36 mins)

2017 Welsh Open squash champion George Parker went out in the semi-finals this time.

Main draw, first round results: 

Peter Creed (Wales) beat Vini Rodriges (Brazil) 11-4, 11-8, 16-14 (43 mins)

Lyell Fuller (England) beat Mohammad Alsarrai (Jordan) 11-6, 11-5, 11-5 (36 mins)

Patrick Rooney (England) beat Emyr Evans (Wales) 7-11, 11-7, 6-11, 13-11, 11-4 (69 mins)

Mohd Syafiq Kamal (Malaysia) beat Michael Harris (England) 11-5, 9-11, 8-11, 11-9, 11-8 (57 mins)

Richie Fallows (England) beat Lewis Walters (Jamaica) 11-3, 11-6, 11-7 (37 mins)

Ahsan Ayaz (Pakistan) beat Miles Jenkins (England) 11-6, 11-7, 12-10 (43 mins)

Ammar Altamimi (Kuwait) beat Carlos Cornes Ribadas (Spain) 11-6, 11-7, 11-3 (47 mins)

George Parker (England) beat Jaymie Haycocks (England) 11-8, 11-3, 13-11 (36 mins)

Second round qualifying: Vini Rodrigues (Brazil) beat Tom Walsh (England) 3-1; Michael Harris (England) beat Owain Taylor (Wales) 3-0; Miles Jenkins (England) beat Nick Wall (England) 3-2; Lewis Walters (Jamaica) beat Matias Tuomi (Finland) 3-2.

Qualifying results, first round: Tom Walsh (England) beat David Haley (Wales) 11-1, 15-13, 11-5; Vini Rodrigues (Brazil) beat Owen Heyes (Wales) 11-3, 11-1, 11-4; Owain Taylor (Wales) beat James Peach (England) 5-11, 11-6, 12-10, 11-7; Michael Harris (England) beat Phil Nightingale (England) 11-3, 11-7, 11-2; Miles Jenkins (England) beat Elliott Morris (Wales) 11-8, 3-11, 11-7, 11-7; Nick Wall (England) beat Chris Leiper (Scotland) 11-7, 9-11, 11-7, 7-11, 11-5; Lewis Walters (Jamaica) beat Lewis Poole (Wales) 11-5, 11-6, 11-8; Matias Tuomi (Finland) beat Frazer Richards (Wales) 11-3, 11-4, 11-2.

Seeded players: 1 Peter Creed (Wales, World ranking 55), George Parker (England, 56), Richie Fallows (England, 62), Chris Hanson (USA, 76), Mahd Syafiq Kamal (Malaysia, 81), Ammar Altamimi (Kuwait, 86), Ahson Ayaz (Pakistan, 87), Mohammed Alsarraj (Jordan, 90), Patrick Rooney (England, 92), Jaymie Haycocks (England, 93), Carlos Cornes Ribadas (Spain, 104), Emyr Evans (Wales, 134).