Tuesday Match Preview – First Round
The players have now all arrived (some very early this morning) and are preparing for the first matches which begin at 3pm EST today. The 2026 NASH Cup got off to a great start last night with the Lightning Matches featuring 16 professionals, 8 western varsity players and 8 London Squash members. The format is simply – a single game to 3 points / must win by 2. A great crowd took in some tight battles which included westerns Caitlyn Ng advancing into the semi-finals – a first for a local player. In the end Bailey Malik of England beat Joachim (Jojo) Chuah of Malaysia in a game that went the full 7 points, and Laila Sedky of the USA beating Madison Lyon if Australia in an equally tight match. Thank you to all who participated, and to Graham Leitch of RBC DS for supporting the event.
Today’s action begins at 3pm and the matches are listed below. All games are streamed live through Squash TV and you can expect a written summary late tonight. There are likely to be some very tight matches. Sofia Mateos (Spain) and Madison Lyon (Australia) gave us a brief preview in the Lightning matches last night (8pm Court 3)) and brothers Bailey and Heston Malik (England) have ended out against each other (3:45pm Court 3). We would also note 17 year old Canadian Kent Rawlinswho was pulled into the draw at the last minute and will also be in the Jack Fairs Open. He will be playing 2nd time NASH Cup competitor Viktor Bytrus of Czeck Republic (5:15 Court 3).
The PSA and Squash TV websites provide head-to-head history. Of the matches above only the Malik brothers have faces off in PSA competition…and shockingly only once with Bailey taking the win.
