The 2025 English Junior Championships will embark on an “innovative change”, with only the top 50 ranked players will be eligible to enter the tournament, with entries based on England Squash’s junior rankings.
The Nottingham event returns from Feb 7-9 next year designed, says England Squash, to showcase the country’s finest junior players.
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This shift in direction will maximise the standard of squash on display and ensure the tournament continues to be a thrilling spectacle.
The English Junior Championships’ new format is as follows:
- Each age category will feature a 16 player monrad main draw. The top 12 seeded players will go straight into the main draw, leaving 4 qualifying spots. The top 8 seeds will be seeded by the seeding panel.
- There will be a maximum of 16 players in all qualifying draws. Qualifying draws will be based on number of entries, and all players in the qualifying draws will play a minimum of 2 matches.
- Only the top 50 ranked players will be eligible to enter the competition. Acceptance into the draw will be based on England Squash rankings.
- A maximum of 28 players will compete in each age group.
- Players within the entry criteria that are not accepted into the qualifying draw will be placed on a waitlist.
Split across 12 categories, over 300 players are expected to battle at the competition which has launched the careers of so many professionals. The likes of Patrick Rooney, Declan James, Lucy Beecroft, Sam Todd and Millie Tomlinson have all lifted the coveted titles since its inception.
England Squash CEO Mark Williams said: “We’re excited to be heading to Nottingham for the 2025 edition of the English Junior Championships.
“The innovative new format being implemented for the coming season signals an exciting new chapter for the tournament as the country’s highest ranked junior squash players battle it out on the biggest stage.
“We’re all looking forward to what is set to be a fantastic event.”
Tournament Organiser Tim Vail said: “With an exciting new format now confirmed, the 2025 English Junior Championships looks set to be better than ever as we welcome the country’s premier junior talents.
“I’m really looking forward to the event and alongside our partners and host venues, we will deliver a high-quality event, whilst also preserving the history of this prestigious competition.”