Welsh Wizards are intent on becoming the most powerful squash team in the World. Don’t dare write off their hopes of achieving that ambition.
There is no question Premier League squash is the best in World squash and Welsh champion Peter Creed, made Wizards’ ambitions clear, saying: “We’re not just here to make up the numbers.. we’re here to win it!!!”
Newly-formed Wizards won 3-2 against London-based Coolhurst in their opening Premier Squash League match and that was after leading player Marwan ElShorbagy withdrew because of a family illness in Egypt four days before the fixture.
A sell-out attendance of more than 200 spectators produced a remarkable atmosphere with Cardiff-based Elliott Morris-Devred, called up when ElShorbagy was forced to pull out, leading the way.
Devred’s come-from-behind victory, 12-10, 11-5 against Nick Mulvey, a player ranked more than 150 places above the Cardiff SRC player in the World, set the tone on a fantastic evening.
Smiles all round! Great way to kick start the @pslsquash season last night for the @welsh_wizards who beat Coolhurst 3-2 overall.
We caught up with Wales' number one @tesnievans after her 11-1, 11-7 win against Margot Prow.Listen to the interview here:https://t.co/n9rvCzTceb pic.twitter.com/JtYDXkHqaB
— Lloyd Bell Productions (@Lloydbell) September 26, 2018
League squash at all levels far different from tournament play and the Welsh fans loved cheering their Wizards to victory. There were spectators of all ages, from children to pensioners, at the Sport Wales National Centre, and they loved what was a special occasion.
Wales have twice boasted the best League team in World squash. Leekes Welsh Wizards, playing out of Cardiff, were champions and Dunraven Windows Maesteg followed their lead by winning the title three times.
Australian Chris Robertson led the original Wizards, backed up by Llanelli’s World-ranked Adrian Davies, while World Open champion David Palmer and runner-up John White were key players for Maesteg.
It was a remarkable achievement for Maesteg, a four-court members venue in the Welsh Valleys, to become the best team in League squash around the World.
Maesteg were prolific league title and cup winners and there is no question the 2018-19 Wizards are going for glory.
They earned nine League points to Coolhurst’s four in a 3-2 victory thanks to wins from Elliott Morris-Devred, Emyr Evans and Tesni Evans.
Wizards set up a bar and food outlet just along the corridor from two squash courts where the action was played out and the presentation of this first match was spot on.
https://twitter.com/welsh_wizards/status/1044997039954829313
The next test for Wizards is against RAC@Tradition away on Tuesday, October 23, while they are at home against Chichester on Tuesday, November 6.
Tickets for Wizards next home match available via buff.ly/2vVfso1
https://twitter.com/welsh_wizards/status/1044968641253560323
Results v Coolhurst (Welsh Wizards players first): 1 Peter Creed lost to Greg Lobban 8-11, 8-11; Edmon Lopez lost to Adrian Waller 6-11, 4-11; Emyr Evans beat Ondrej Uherka 12-10, 12-10; Elliott Morris devred beat Nick Mulvey 12-10, 11-5; Ladies, Tesni Evans beat Margot Prow 11-1, 11-7.
Wizards have a hugely talented squad including two players ranked inside the men’s World’s top 10, four in the top 20 plus women’s World number 12 and British Champion Tesni Evans from Wales.
Welsh wizards squad
Marwan Elshorbagy (Egypt). Ranked 3. Former World Open junior champion who has won PSA World tour titles and is pushing hard to catch older brother Mohamed, who is the World’s leading player.
Gregory Gaultier (France). Ranked 7. World Open Champion in 2015, lifting the crown after being runner-up three times, and has won the British Open on three occasions.
Nicknamed ‘The General’ and has been World number one three times. During 2016-17, Gaultier dominated squash like never before in his career.
He won six successive tour titles in that season, had a 27-match unbeaten run and was once again ranked the best player in World squash.
Omar Mosaad (Egypt). Ranked 14 (formerly ranked 4). Popular Egyptian Omar Mosaad is a tall, imposing figure with a hard-hitting style.
Nicknamed ‘The Hammer of Thor’, a term from an American fantasy novel.
Made his debut for Egypt in the 2013 World Team Championship and had a 100 per cent record, winning all four of his matches. Edged out by Gaultier in the 2015 World Open final.
Lives in Prague.
Max Lee (Hong Kong). Ranked 19. The best player from Hong Kong on the PSA World Tour.
Reached career-high ranking of World number 12 in December 2015. Helped Hong Kong win the Asian Team Championships, beating Pakistan, in April 2018.
Edmon Lopez (Spain). Ranked 58. A 22-year-old from Barcelona. Climbing the rankings steadily, currently at the highest point in his career and aiming to move again.
Peter Creed (Wales). Ranked 53.
One of the most energetic and exciting players to watch on the PSA World Tour.
Caerphilly-born Creed, who has trained under six-times British Open Champion Jonah Barrington, plays out of Rhiwbina SRC in Cardiff. Has won seven PSA World Tour titles.
Emyr Evans (Wales). Ranked 124. Cardiff-born Evans, who is Tesni’s younger brother, is number three in Wales behind Joel Makin (Pembrokeshire) and Caerphilly’s Peter Creed. Aged 21 and a hugely competitive player with big potential.
Elliott Morris Devred (Wales). Ranked 388. Three-time Welsh under-19 Junior Champion, number four player in Wales.
Member of the Wales Squash National Academy at the Cardiff Squash Club. The 20-year-old from Barry has represented Wales at junior and senior levels, making his senior debut at the 2017 European Team Championships in Finland.
Tesni Evans (Wales). Ranked 12. British champion, Welsh champion five times. Highest-ranked Welsh player of all-time, won singles bronze medal at 2018 Commonwealth Games.
Milou van der Heijden (Holland). Ranked 39. Former Dutch champion. Won the Jersey Squash Classic last year.
Grace Gear (Hatfield, Hertfordshire). Ranked 94. Promising 20-year-old competitor who is climbing the rankings.
PSL first night results:
North Division: Warwick/Kenilworth 3, Birmingham 2 (10-5); Pontefract 4, Bristol 1 (11-3); Newcastle 0, Nottingham 13.
South Division: Welsh Wizards 3, Coolhurst 2 (9-4); St George’s 3, RAC 2 (10-7).
Friday fixture: Bexley v Chichester.
Fixtures:
October
Friday 19: Coolhurst v Bexley.Tuesday 23: Bristol v Warwick/Kenilworth, RAC@Tradition v Welsh Wizards, Nottingham v Pontefract, Chichester v St George’s, Birmingham v Newcastle.
November
Tuesday 6: Warwick/Kenilworth v Nottingham, Welsh Wizards v Chichester, Bristol v Birmingham, RAC v Coolhurst, Pontefract v Newcastle, St George’s v Bexley.
Tuesday 27: Warwick/Kenilworth v Pontefract, Welsh Wizards v St George’s, RAC v Bexley, Birmingham v Nottingham.
Friday 30: Bristol v Newcastle, Coolhurst v Chichester.
December
Tuesday 4: Newcastle v Warwick/Kenilworth, Nottingham v Bristol, Chichester v RAC, Pontefract v Birmingham, St George’s v Coolhurst.
Friday 7: Bexley v Welsh Wizards.
Second Half fixtures reversed, dates to be confirmed.
Note: with matches now played as best of three, the points system has altered to ONE point per Game won plus a win bonus of THREE points.