Gaskin Just Loses Out in Australia
Australia’s seemingly ageless Mike Corren broke yet another record at the City of Perth International Challenge in Western Australia when he became the oldest man ever to win a title on the men’s Professional Squash Association World Tour.
The 39-year-old beat Irishman Arthur Gaskin in four games in the final of the PSA Challenger 5 event at the Terrace Squash Centre in Perth to claim his 44th Tour title.
Corren becomes the first 39-year-old to win a Tour title, and the oldest player since France’s former world champion Thierry Lincou won the Bluenose Classic in Canada in April last year – one month before his 36th birthday.
World No63 Corren won his first title in Hong Kong in 1996 and has been a regular winner ever since – his current title haul being 13 more than his nearest PSA rival, the new British Open champion Ramy Ashour!
The Adelaide-based veteran has struggled in his previous two tournaments in Darwin and Alice Springs – but, after surviving a first round scare against fellow countryman Andrew Fraser, looked increasingly in control in Perth and saw off the dangerous Irishman in four games 12-10, 5-11, 11-6, 11-7.
Corren could add more trophies to his collection at his next two tournaments in his home state of South Australia, where he is once again top seed in both the Toyota Barossa Valley Open and South Australian Open.
RESULTS: PSA Challenger 5 City of Perth International Challenge, Perth, Australia
1st round: [1] Mike Corren (AUS) bt Andrew Fraser (AUS) 9-11, 15-13, 8-11, 11-7, 11-4 [Q] Liam Gutcher (ENG) bt James Skiffington (NZL) 11-8, 9-11, 11-5, 11-7 Sanjay Singh (MAS) bt [Q] T J Rarere (AUS) 11-4, 11-3, 11-7 Rhys Dowling (AUS) bt [6] Micah Franklin (BER) 11-8, 11-5, 11-5 [Q] Addeen Idrakie (MAS) bt [5] Justin Beard (AUS) 4-11, 11-8, 11-7, 5-11, 11-6 Nosherwan Khan (PAK) bt [Q] Thoboki Mohohlo (RSA) 11-5, 12-10, 11-7 Jean-Pierre Brits (RSA) bt Thomas Calvert (AUS) 11-9, 11-5, 11-6 [4] Paul Coll (NZL) bt [Q] Tristan Eysele (ENG) 12-10, 11-9, 11-8 [3] Arthur Gaskin (IRL) bt Luke Sims (AUS) 11-3, 11-2, 8-11, 11-3 [Q] Kwon Hyeon-Jun (KOR) bt Adam Auckland (ENG) 6-11, 11-5, 7-11, 11-8, 12-10 Sunil Seth (AUS) bt [WC] Matthew Bridle (AUS) 11-4, 11-8, 11-5 [7] Robert Downer (ENG) bt Jack Jago (ENG) 11-9, 11-6, 4-11, 11-8 [8] Kim Are Killingberg (NOR) bt [Q] Rohan Toole (AUS) 11-7, 11-3, 11-5 Matias Tuomi (FIN) bt [Q] Jason Patmore (AUS) 11-8, 11-5, 11-4 Arthur Moineau (FRA) bt Tim Cowell (AUS) 11-9, 12-10, 11-9 Tom de Mulder (BEL) bt [LL] Neal Brooker (ENG) 11-4, 11-4, 11-1
2nd round: [1] Mike Corren (AUS) bt [Q] Liam Gutcher (ENG) 11-7, 11-8, 11-7 Sanjay Singh (MAS) bt Rhys Dowling (AUS) 11-7, 11-4, 11-4 Nosherwan Khan (PAK) bt [Q] Addeen Idrakie (MAS) 8-11, 11-6, 10-12, 11-9, 11-4 [4] Paul Coll (NZL) bt Jean-Pierre Brits (RSA) 14-12, 11-5, 11-5 [3] Arthur Gaskin (IRL) bt [Q] Kwon Hyeon-Jun (KOR) 11-5, 11-7, 7-11, 11-6 Sunil Seth (AUS) bt [7] Robert Downer (ENG) 10-12, 11-9, 11-4, 6-11, 11-8 Matias Tuomi (FIN) bt [8] Kim Are Killingberg (NOR) 11-4, 11-7, 8-11, 13-11 Arthur Moineau (FRA) bt Tom de Mulder (BEL) 11-8, 11-4, 12-10
Quarter-finals: [1] Mike Corren (AUS) bt Sanjay Singh (MAS) 12-10, 11-6, 5-11, 11-5 [4] Paul Coll (NZL) bt Nosherwan Khan (PAK) 11-7, 11-7, 11-5 [3] Arthur Gaskin (IRL) bt Sunil Seth (AUS) 11-5, 11-9, 11-5 Matias Tuomi (FIN) bt Arthur Moineau (FRA) 11-9, 3-11, 11-9, 11-7
Semi-finals: [1] Mike Corren (AUS) bt [4] Paul Coll (NZL) 7-11, 11-5, 12-10, 11-5 (54m) [3] Arthur Gaskin (IRL) bt Matias Tuomi (FIN) 11-5, 11-8, 11-9 (40m)
Final: [1] Mike Corren (AUS) bt [3] Arthur Gaskin (IRL) 12-10, 5-11, 11-6, 11-7 (57m)
