World No.4s Joel Makin and Olivia Weaver have become the first players ever from their respective nations to qualify for the SmartCentres PSA Squash Tour Finals title deciders following wins on a controversial night of squash at Toronto’s Revival Film Studios.
Welshman Makin, 30, has reached the first major PSA final of his career after he toppled British Open champion Diego Elias in a contentious match. Makin will start Friday’s final as the first Briton to reach the finals since James Willstrop in 2017.
Makin saved four match balls in game two to draw level. The third game began with Elias being handed a conduct stroke by the match referee after returning to court after the allotted two minutes break that players are given between games.
😱 This is INCREDIBLE!!!@JoelMakin comes back from the brink to send this match to a third game 😲
What a match this is 🔥#SquashTourFinals pic.twitter.com/UzqwJQrY0f
— PSA Squash Tour (@PSASquashTour) June 27, 2025
A furious Elias continued his remonstrations with the referee and was then handed a second conduct stroke for ongoing dissent. Play resumed but Elias seemed to have little interest in playing out the rallies and went for winners at the front of the court at every opportunity.
Makin kept his composure throughout this period and quickly pulled away to record a 5-11, 11-10, 11-2 victory.
“It’s disappointing, but on the positive side I thought the squash was really good,” said Makin.
“The delay was minimal, but the atmosphere has been great all week and everyone has been getting behind us. I was coming back nicely but I would have liked to have been challenged as well, I like going into those matches and seeing who is better. I was looking forward to it, it’s obviously frustrating, but it’s out of my control.
“Personally I don’t think there was any need for it [the conduct stroke], it wasn’t a delaying tactic. I don’t think it’s the right call, but you’ve got to get on with it and I had to play every point, keep my head down and focus on my stuff.”
Makin is the first Welsh player to reach a major squash final since David Evans won the British Open in 2000, and standing between him and the trophy is World No.1 Mostafa Asal.
Asal has reached the final of this tournament for the fifth year in succession after beating 2019 champion Karim Abdel Gawad 11-4, 11-5.
Asal won the PSA Squash Tour Finals in 2021, 2022 and 2023 and is looking to become the second man since the great Jansher Khan to win it on four occasions.
“Gawad is a legend for me,” said Asal afterwards. “I grew up watching him at the same club. I remember his unbelievable run in the 2016 World Championships, he was playing Nathan Lake in round one and almost lost but then won the tournament. His personality off the court is amazing and I’m really proud to share the court with him again.”
In the women’s event, Weaver became the first player from the United States to reach the final of this tournament after she stormed past England’s Georgina Kennedy, winning 11-3, 11-2.
Like Makin, Weaver will compete in the final of a major PSA Squash Tour event for the first time in her career and she will take on World No.1 Nouran Gohar in the title decider.
“I was definitely a lot happier with my performance today compared to the last few days,” said Weaver afterwards.
“It was great to have Rod [Martin, coach] come in last night, he came on court and worked on a few things. I felt more confident about my swing today. You’re on the road for a period of time and if you stop working on things a lot of factors come into it. I got back in my zone today and I knew I had to play really well to beat Gina, she’s been playing well this week and she’s always tough to play.”
Gohar is the most successful woman ever at the PSA Squash Tour Finals with wins in 2021, 2023 and 2024. She overcame Japan’s Satomi Watanabe by an 11-6, 7-11, 11-4 scoreline.
“It’s going to be a big final and I think I need to make some tweaks for tomorrow,” said Gohar.
“This season I only had half a season and I missed being on tour. This year I’ve played around 13 tournaments and have been getting into the final of every single event aside from the World Championships. There have been ups and downs, mainly ups, and I’m very proud of my season.”
Results – Men’s Semi-Finals: 2024-25 SmartCentres PSA Squash Tour Finals
[1] Mostafa Asal (EGY) bt [7] Karim Abdel Gawad (EGY) 2-0: 11-4, 11-5 (22m)
[4] Joel Makin (WAL) bt [2] Diego Elias (PER) 2-1: 5-11, 11-10, 11-2 (59m)
Draw – Men’s Final: To Be Played June 27th
[1] Mostafa Asal (EGY) v [4] Joel Makin (WAL)
Results – Women’s Semi-Finals: 2024-25 SmartCentres PSA Squash Tour Finals
[1] Nouran Gohar (EGY) bt [4] Satomi Watanabe (JPN) 2-1: 11-6, 7-11, 11-4 (38m)
[2] Olivia Weaver (USA) bt [7] Georgina Kennedy (ENG) 2-0: 11-3, 11-2 (18m)
Draw – Women’s Final: To Be Played June 27th
[1] Nouran Gohar (EGY) v [2] Olivia Weaver (USA)