Joel Makin, the Welsh squash ace rapidly climbing the World rankings, has jumped another three places to number 12.
Welsh number one Makin, who is from Haverfordwest, celebrated his rise by winning for his country at the European Team championships in Birmingham.
Makin now has his sights on a top 10 placed, although he is currently focused on helping Wales at the Euros.
Rhyl-based Tesni Evans has maintained her position at number nine in the women’s World rankings.
Both Makin and Evans won for Wales on the opening day of the European Team Championships at Edgbaston Priory, but both men’s and women’s teams were edged out.
Cardiff’s Stacey Gooding had a big battle with Dutch ace Tessa Der Sluis, who is 10 years younger than her Welsh opponent. Gooding opened in style and took the first two games, but Der Sluis won 11-3, 11-7, 6-11, 3-11, 6-11 in just over half an hour.
Elin Harlow, a 21-year-old from Colwyn Bay, lost in straight games against Natalie Grinham.
Wales then took on England and were again beaten 2-1 with Tesni their winning player.
Emyr Evans, Tesni’s younger brother, took on Welsh Wizards team-mate Edmon Lopez when Wales’ men played Spain.
The match lasted 41 minutes and Lopez had the edge 11-4, 14-12, 13-11.
Both Lopez and Emyr are seeded at the Rhiwbina Welsh Open $11,000 men’s tournament which starts on May 7.
There are four Welsh players in the Welsh Open draw – Peter Creed, Emyr Evans, Morris Devred and University of Nottingham student Owain Taylor.
Eleven countries are represented through the first round draw and they are England, Spain, France, Finland, Croatia, Spain, Italy, India, Pakistan, Germany and Wales.
Purchase Welsh Open tickets here https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/rhiwbina-squash-club-open
ETC Women, match one: Wales 1, Netherlands 2
Results (Wales players first): Tesni Evans beat Milou Van Der Heiuden 11-7, 11-4, 11-6 (26 mins); Stacey Gooding lost to Tessa Der Sluis 11-3, 11-7, 6-11, 3-11, 6-11 (31 mins); Elin Harlow lost to Natalie Grinham 5-11, 8-11, 5-11 (24 mins).
Match two: Wales 1, England 2
Results (Wales players first): Tesni Evans beat Sarah-Jane-Perry 11-9, 11-2, 12-10; Lowri Roberts lost to Millie Tomlinson 6-11, 3-11, 6-11; Elin Harlow lost to Victoria List 1-11, 6-11, 9-11.
ETC men, match one: Wales 1, Spain 3.
Results (Wales players first): Peter Creed lost to Iker Pajares Bernabeu 7-11, 5-11, 8-11 (36 mins); Joel Makin beat Borja Golan 11-4, 11-5, 11-5 (26 mins); Elliott Morris Devred lost to Bernat Jaume 6-11, 6-11, 6-11 (35 mins); Emyr Evans lost to Edmon Lopez 4-11, 12-14, 11-13 (41 mins).
Wales men play England this evening.
Wales squads for ETC:
Men: Joel Makin, Peter Creed, Emyr Evans, Elliott Morris Devred.
Ladies: Tesni Evans, Deon Saffery, Stacey Gooding, Elin Harlow
Coaches: Andrew Evans and David Evans.
The professional PSA Ladies Bangor Open at Bangor University is being held between Wednesday, May 29 and Wednesday, June 5.
The fifth annual Llantrisant Open Squash Championships are to be held in June. Llantrisant are organising their tournament for Friday, June 21 to Sunday, June 23.
World squash rankings as of May 1 – Top 20:
Men’s new rankings: 1 Ali Farag (Egypt), 2 Mohammed Elshorbagy (Egypt), 3 Tarek Momen (Egypt), 4 Karim Abdel Gawad (Egypt), 5 Simon Rosner (Germany), 6 Paul Coll (New Zealand), 7 Miguel Rodriguez (Colombia), 8 Diego Elias (Peru), 9 Mohamed Abouelghar (Egypt), 10 Saurav Ghosal (India), 11 Omar Mossad (Egypt), 12 Joel Makin (Wales), 13 Raphael Kandra (Germany), 14 Zahed Salem (Egypt), 15 Declan James (England), 16 Gregoire Marche (France), 17 James Willstrop (England), 18 Fares Dessouky (Egypt), 19 Ryan Cuskelly (Australia), 20 Daryl Selby (England).
Women’s new rankings: 1 Raneem El Welily (Egypt), 2 Nour El Sherbini (Egypt), 3 Nour El Tayeb (Egypt), 4 Camille Serme (France), Joelle King (New Zealand), 6 Sarah-Jane Perry (England), 7 Norman Gohar (Egypt), 8 Amanda Sobhy (USA), 9 Tesni Evans (Wales), 10 Laura Massaro (England), 11 Annie Au (Hong Kong), 12 Alisob Waters (England), 13 Victoria Lustr (England), 14 Salma Hany (Egypt), 15 Joshna Chinappa (India), 16 Yathreb Adel (Egypt), 17 Hania El Hammamy (Egypt), 18 Nicol David (Malaysia), 19 Joey Chan (Hong Kong), 20 Olivia Blatchford Clyne (USA).