The Cannon Kirk Gillen Markets Irish Open in Squash is taking place at the Fitzwilliam Lawn Tennis Club in Dublin and will run until Saturday.
The tournament is featuring a €70,000 prize fund split equally across the men’s and women’s events and is part of the PSA World Tour Copper circuit.
Wildcard entry Conor Moran delivered the breakout Irish performance of the tournament.
Fresh from winning the national title in February, Moran shocked the squash world by defeating Argentina’s Jeremias Azaña, ranked nearly 150 places above him, in straight games, marking the biggest PSA level win of his young career.
He then went on to give a good account of himself against Number 8 seed and World Ranked number 65 Rui Soares, taking the second set to 12-10.
Irish number one Sam Buckley, a three-time national champion, entered the main draw via wildcard and faced England’s Tom Walsh.
His appearance drew sizeable home support, although he bowed out in a competitive match.
Buckley’s recent form, coming off a win over World No.7 Marwan El Shorbagy at the European Team Championships.
Hannah Craig, Breanne Flynn, and Hannah McGugan also competed in the Women’s tournament.
Having so many players competing is an indicator of Ireland’s rising presence in the sport, ahead of its debut at the Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
Qualification became tougher for that when the expected 32 competitior tournament for bit men and women was reduced to 16. Still, with each country only able to send a maximum of two players, and Egypt having half of the top 20 men and women in the World rankings, there is hope.
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The tournament continues until Saturday at the Fitzwilliam Club in Dublin.
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