The 5th edition of the Italian Open Masters, the first tournament of the 2018/2019 season of the European Masters ESF Championship, was held in Riccione, from 14 to 16 September 2018.
At the Figs National Technical Centre, with its 7 courts, there were 102 athletes competing, coming from 16 different countries, in 8 age categories.
Excellent support of the officers and referees of the Italian Squash Tournament, who have had assured a smooth running of the tournament & 220 matches took place.

These are the results:

M35 +:

The Italian Filippo Madella, N ° 2 of the European classification, wins the gold medal, preceding the other Italian Raffaele Vespi in the pool for positions 1-4. Bronze medal for the Czech Filip Nosek.
W35 +

The Polish Dorota Grzechowiak climbs on the top of the podium, conquering at the last breath, the first place in the W35+ pool, due to the victory in the last pool match of Welsh Rhian Davies (third classified) on the Hungarian Leonora Udvardi (second classified).

M40 +

A surprising unseeded Riccardo Bogani gives to Italy the second gold medal in this open masters, winning in the final on Polish # 1 seed Bartolomej Woijtnunk. Third place for the German M45 + Marko Kruse, winner on the Ukraine’s Oleksander Bulgakov
 

M45 +

Another gold medal for Italy, this time thanks to Alessandro Marcolini, a long-standing No. 1 in the European M45 + ranking, who despite having just passed the category decides to play again in the M45 +. The Italian overcome in the final the strong French Stephane Gallenne, # 2 of seeding; third place for the Spaniard Francisco Molina, winning against the Italian Isaac Aroyo.
 

M50 +

It was the most numerous age group of the tournament, with 26 entries. In the end, as in 2017, the victory went to the German Farman Khan, who confirmed once again his superiority on court. The final against the other German Hassan Meguid was very impressive, ended with Khan's 3/1 victory. The Hungarian Peter Nagy finished third winning against the surprise of the tournament, the Englishman David Box.
 

W50 +

Fourth win for Italy, this time thanks to the beautiful Elena Cambi, which was clearly superior to the opponents faced in the group of 5, ending unbeaten. French silver medal # of seeding Valerie Neoschil, bronze for another French athlete, Valerie Hartmann. An applause to the Dutch Fieny Hartkonen, athlete of the W60 + category, which has figured well against the younger opponents.
 

M55 +

Pedro Rios brings Spain to the top of the podium, thanks to the beautiful victory over English # of seeding Stephen Edmonson, in a very high-level final. Bronze medal for another Spanish athlete, Francisco Josè De Juan, who beats the Riccione home based Frenchman Alain Barnham.
 

M60 +

The # 1 seed, the English Alan Hathway, confirms the prediction winning in the M60 category, beating the Czech Milan Vlasak in the final. Third place for the French Alain Ferard, who win against the German Christian Brocker. The two M65 + athletes, the Italian Loris Petrelli and the Dutch Erik Hartkonen figured well in the tournament, concluding at 7^th and 9^th place.
 

Thanks to all the participating athletes and their supporters, who played the tournament with great correctness, friendship and fair play, making these intense three days of squash in the beautiful city of Riccione, really enjoyable.

 

Davide Babini

Tournament Director Italian Open Masters 2018