There were five champions from Europe — including one all-time record breaker — at the 2026 World Squash Masters Championships in Perth, Australia.
The tournament featured 1,639 matches completed by over 950 entrants from 55 nations across three venues – Belmont Squash Centre, Squashworld Mirrabooka and Karrinyup Shopping Centre.
England’s top seed Ann Manley extended her all-time record number of World Masters women’s titles to seven – and became the first woman to win an 80+ title – after beating Australia’s Pamela Moran 11-5, 11-6, 11-3 to finish top of the round-robin table.
With that victory, Manley moved level with Australia’s seven-time World Masters title winner Geoff Davenport, who surprisingly lost in the men’s 65+ quarter-finals to eventual winner [5/8] Mark Woodliffe of England.
Downing the title record holder, Woodliffe shared his joy, saying: “Having missed out on several Worlds through injuries, I’m delighted finally to be here, and it was a privilege to play Geoff.”
In a remarkable series of wins, Woodliffe then beat three-time world champion Trevor Wilkinson of South Africa in the semi-finals and four-time champion and Irish legend [2] Willie Hosey in a classic final 11-9, 11-7, 9-11, 6-11, 11-8.
European Masters champion James Bowden of England added a first World title to his collection with victory in the men’s 45+ over Australia’s Jeff Osborne in four games.
Despite falling behind after Osborne claimed the opening game 4-11, Bowden showed his resilience to claw his way back in the second, winning 11-7, before continuing his comeback to win the third 11-6 and the fourth 13-11.
Bowden said: “To become a world champion is amazing. You can’t quite put it into word just how much this means.
“From coming so close two years ago in the final, where I was beaten comfortably, to this year’s event, which I saw as unfinished business. I’m over the moon.
“I travelled along way to get the title I really wanted, so to get it, with my son watching, is amazing.”
In the Women’s 70+ final, Scotland’s Pauline Douglas [1] retained her title after beating Australia’s Gaye Mitchell [2] in an entertaining five-game battle.
The match produced an incredible fourth game, with the pair battling through 34 points before Douglas eventually prevailed 18-16. Winning her fourth World Masters title, Douglas was then able to close out the five-game battle 11-5, 11-8, 7-11, 16-18, 11-9.
France’s top seed Jean-Jacques Pineau took the men’s 60+ crown Aussie 9/16 seed Michael Fullick 11-7, 11-9, 12-10. Pineau won the 45+ title back in 2014 in Hong Kong.
Frenchwoman Claire Bryars was runner-up in the women’s 75+ draw to South Africa’s Margaret Hunt-Kemp while Canada’s No.1 Gerald Poulter claimed the men’s 80+ title in a tightly contested five-game battle against Spain’s Jose [3/4] Luis Alba [3/4] 4-11, 11-9, 11-4, 7-11, 11-6.
Check out all the 2026 World Squash Masters Championships results
