Earles Earns Tour Title Glory In Gdansk

Englishman James Earles became the latest player to claim his maiden title on the PSA World Tour when he beat fellow Briton Joel Makin in the final of the inaugural McWil & Euro Styl Gdansk Open in the Polish city of Gdansk.

The PSA Challenger 5 squash event at the new Stangiel Tenis & Squash Club in Gdańsk is the first in the series of the PSA Polish Squash Tour 2014-15. The Polish Tour is organised by the Polish Squash Federation in cooperation with MMSPORT company (distributor of McWIL Squash Courts).

"In this tournament we got players from the top 200 PSA rankings and Polish players, for whom Polish Squash Tour series is the big chance to get new experiences," said tournament director Maciej Maciantowicz, vice-president of the Polish Squash Federation and McWIL representative.

Earles, the World No.147, was the event's No.5 seed - who made his breakthrough in the semi-finals when he defeated Paul Coll, the top seed from New Zealand. The 21-year-old from Hull twice came from behind to despatch the higher-ranked Kiwi in five games - thereby reaching the first Tour final of his career.

It was in the quarter-finals that Welshman Makin made his breakthrough. Seeded eight, the Pembrokeshire-born 20-year-old survived a 100-minute marathon against second-seeded Spaniard Alejandro Garbi Caro - then upset Switzerland's sixth seed Patrick Miescher to make the first final of his career.

Both players were keen to make the most of their Gdansk glory - and it took almost an hour for Earles to prevail 7-11, 11-3, 11-6, 11-4 to take his place on the winner's podium for the first time.

"I am extremely happy - I still do not believe it happened," said the jubilant Earles at the presentation ceremony. "It has been fantastic time here for me. Playing good squash and winning my first PSA title is great! I do not know what to say!"