Evans & Crome Shine In Welsh Open

Welshman David Evans and New Zealander Louise Crome emerged triumphant in the Welsh Open Squash Championships at the Welsh Institute of Sport in Cardiff.

Evans joins a select group of players who have claimed PSA Tour title successes as a qualifier: After surviving two round of qualifying without dropping a game, the former world No3 - who retired more than three years ago - shot down the eighth, second and sixth seeds before coming against unseeded Englishman Joel Hinds in the men's final.

Hinds, from Derbyshire, upset event favourite Jaymie Haycocks in the first round before going on to claim his maiden Tour final appearance.

But Evans, the 2003 champion who also holds four Welsh National titles and achieved the most notable triumph of his career in 2000 when he became the British Open champion, was too good for Hinds in the final.

The 33-year-old from Pontypool won 11-4, 11-9, 11-2 in 29 minutes to secure the seventh Tour title of his career.

By contrast, the top two seeds fought out the women's final, with favourite Louise Crome holding off England's second seed Vicky Hynes to win 9-1, 9-3, 5-9, 9-4 in 41 minutes to claim the third WISPA World Tour title of her career.

Men's Final:
[Q] David Evans (WAL) bt Joel Hinds (ENG) 11-4, 11-9, 11-2 (29m)

Women's Final:
[1] Louise Crome (NZL) bt [2] Vicky Hynes (ENG) 9-1, 9-3, 5-9, 9-4 (41m)