British number one Joel Makin has become the first Welsh player to win the PSA Squash Tour Finals after he beat world number one Mostafa Asal at Toronto’s Revival Film Studios.
The 30-year-old won the first two games 11-10, 11-7, before Asal, 24, retired from the match due to an ankle injury after the Egyptian went 1-0 behind in the third game.
Makin was appearing in the first major PSA final of his career and he has now won the 10th – and biggest – title of his career.
It is Makin’s second title of the season after also winning the Silicon Valley Open in October 2024.
“I’ve just been chipping away, and it’s not been a short process, that’s for sure,” said Makin.
“It was a really high quality one, the same as last night [against Diego Elias]. We had two really good games, it was frustrating in the third that we didn’t get to keep going.
“At sudden death again in the first game, it was really high quality. It’s upsetting that he [Asal] wasn’t right.
“I’m happy to win, but I want that challenge, I want to win. I want to see how I am against him when he’s playing well.
“It’s been another good week, it wasn’t my best stuff in the group stages, but you’ve just got to keep trying, keep on getting better and come out and bring my best performance on the night.”
World number one Nouran Gohar of Egypt won the women’s trophy after beating world number four Olivia Weaver of the United States 11-10, 9-11, 11-8, 11-3.
The PSA Squash Tour Finals brings the curtain down on the PSA Squash Tour campaign, with the 2025-26 season set to begin in August.
