WORLD SQUASH NEWS

RESULTS: Irish Open Squash Championships, Fitzwilliam LTC, Dublin, Ireland

Men's final:
[1] Ong Beng Hee (MAS) bt [3] Laurens Jan Anjema (NED) 11-9, 7-11, 11-7, 11-4 (75m)

Women's final:
[1] Madeline Perry (IRL) bt [2] Annelize Naude (NED) 9-4, 2-9, 7-9, 9-4, 9-6 (90m)

Top Seeds Triumph In Irish Open

Top seeds Ong Beng Hee and Madeline Perry claimed the titles in the Irish Open Squash Championships after marathon finals at the Fitzwilliam Lawn Tennis Club in Dublin.

Dublin-born Madeline Perry thrilled the packed audience by bringing the women's title back home after two years in Dutch hands.  The 28-year-old Irish National champion took the first game easily 9-4.  But her Netherlands opponent Annelize Naude, the No2 seed, powered her way through the next two games to go 2/1 up.

Perry retained the initiative to level the match and force the final into a decider.  The fifth game became a very contentious affair with most points being replayed on let decisions.  However, Perry finally came through to take the match 9-4 2-9 7-9 9-4 9-6 in 90 minutes - one of the longest women's matches on record.

The triumph marked Perry's second WISPA World Tour title of the year, and the fourth of her career.

The men's final produced a confidence-boosting win for former world junior champion Ong Beng Hee.  The UK-based Malaysian was stretched for 75 minutes by third seed Laurens Jan Anjema, the fast-improving 22-year-old Dutchman who knocked out second seed Alex Gough in the previous round.

But Beng Hee ultimately prevailed 11-9 7-11 11-7 11-4 to claim his first PSA Tour title of the year and the ninth of his career.