Elias & Weaver Named Top Seeds As The London Squash Classic Returns
British Open Champion Diego Elias and USA No.1 Olivia Weaver have been named as the top seeds for the upcoming London Squash Classic 2025 as the Gold event returns for its second edition between 2-7 September.
The glass court will once again be staged at the famous Alexandra Palace, which proved to be a match made in heaven for the event in 2024, providing a unique and electric atmosphere to elevate the sport. Best known for hosting the always popular PDC World Darts Championships, ‘Ally Pally’ provides the perfect setting for world class sports entertainment to which the London Squash Classic is no exception.
Peru’s World No.2 Diego Elias is the top seed for the men’s event, set to feature in his first London Squash Classic but tenth PSA event in the nation’s capital. After battling through some injury troubles, Elias ended last season in mixed spirits. A first British Open title was the highlight of his season in June but a disappointing end to the campaign at the PSA Squash Tour Finals will have left a sour taste for the Peruvian. He’ll be looking to start the new season on the right foot and capture a first Gold event title since 2022.
Reigning champion Paul Coll is back to defend his title from 2024. The New Zealander defeated Joel Makin and Mostafa Asal on route to victory in the inaugural event last year and will be determined to retain his title in September. Coll has been a consistent figure in the world’s top five for the last few seasons but knows that only claiming wins over Elias and Asal will enable him to challenge at the top of the world rankings once again.
British duo Joel Makin and Marwan ElShorbagy are the No.3 and 4 seeds for this year’s event. Makin recorded his best season on the PSA Tour last season, bursting into the world’s top four and scoring his biggest event in at the PSA Squash Tour Finals. He’s been drawn in the same half as Elias, with whom he had a controversial semi-final with in Toronto, all eyes will be on that match if the pair advance to the final four.
ElShorbagy is therefore in the same half as Coll. The Englishman went under the radar last season and crept his way back into the world’s top five after a three-year absence. Elshorbagy and Coll met five times last season with the Englishman only winning the first encounter in September.
USA’s Olivia Weaver has been named as the top seed in the women’s event as she looks to claim a third Gold event title in the space of 12 months. Weaver captured the Silicon Valley Open and Australian Open last season to cement herself as the World No.4. She’ll be looking to score an 11th career title in only her second competitive visit to London.
No.2 seed Amina Orfi claimed wins over three of the top four players in the world last season, highlighting her intent to attack the top four spots in the rankings for this new campaign. The 17-year-old World Junior Champion holds nothing back on the court and will no doubt bring the same intensity to only her third PSA event in England and first in London.
Fourth seeded Tinne Gilis is in the same half of the draw as Orfi as she looks to mount a charge towards her first Gold event title. The Belgian was a consistent name in the quarter finals of major events last season but would love to turn that into titles in this campaign. She’s set to face defending champion Sivasangari Subramaniam in the last eight, a challenging match in any event but could be even tougher given the good memories attached to this event for the Malaysian.
Japan’s No.3 seed Satomi Watanabe has been based just 20 miles south of Alexandra Palace in Roehampton for a few years now, under the tutelage of former World No.3 Alison Waters. Her breakthrough 24/25 season included a first World Championships quarter final and two Gold event final appearances. She’s been drawn in the same half as top seed Weaver and will be determined to score a first win over the American to reach another final if the pair both advance.
The London crowd have plenty of British players to rally behind with the likes of Jonah Bryant, Declan James, Georgina Kennedy and Georgia Adderley all looking to utilise the home support to go far in the competition.
Tickets for the event are available to buy here.
Men’s Draw
[1] Diego Elias (PER) Bye
Raphael Kandra (GER) vs Baptiste Masotti (FRA)
Greg Lobban (SCO) vs [WC] Perry Malik (ENG)
[7] Youssef Ibrahim (EGY) Bye
Jonah Bryant (ENG) vs Mazen Hesham (EGY)
Miguel Rodriguez (COL) vs Mohamed ElSherbini (EGY)
[3] Joel Makin (WAL) Bye [4] Marwan ElShorbagy (ENG) Bye
[WC] Adrian Waller (ENG) vs Leonel Cardenas (MEX)
Abdulla Mohd Al-Tamimi (QAT) vs Curtis Malik (ENG)
[8] Eain Yow Ng (MAS) Bye [6] Youssef Soliman (EGY) Bye
Mohamed Abouelghar (EGY) vs Dimitri Steinmann (SUI)
Nicolas Mueller (SUI) vs Declan James (ENG)
[2] Paul Coll (NZL) Bye
Women’s Draw
[1] Olivia Weaver (USA) Bye
Lucy Beecroft (ENG) vs Rachel Arnold (MAS)
Hana Moataz (EGY) vs [WC] Grace Gear (ENG)
[8] Nele Gilis-Coll (BEL) Bye
Nour Aboulmakarim (EGY) vs Tesni Murphy (WAL)
Lucy Turmel (ENG) vs Kenzy Ayman (EGY)
[3] Satomi Watanabe (JPN) Bye [4] Tinne Gilis (BEL) Bye
Mariam Metwally (EGY) vs Jasmine Hutton (ENG)
Tomato Ho (HKG) vs [WC] Torrie Malik (ENG)
[5] Sivasangari Subramaniam (MAS) Bye [6] Georgina Kennedy (ENG) Bye
Hana Ramadan (EGY) vs Georgia Adderley (SCO)
Sabrina Sobhy (USA) vs Hollie Naughton (CAN)
[2] Amina Orfi (EGY) Bye
Matches from both Coolhurst LTSC and Alexandra Palace will be broadcast live on SQUASHTV, with the semi-finals and finals being shown live by PSA’s broadcast partners.
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