Victor Crouin & Tinne Gilis Crowned 2026 ESF European Champions

Victor Crouin and Tinne Gilis both added another European Individual Squash Closed Championship title to their impressive records after producing straight-games victories at Ormai László Hall in Budapest, with both players extending their dominance on the continental stage.

French No.1 Victor Crouin claimed his fourth consecutive European crown after overcoming Switzerland's Dimitri Steinmann 11-2 11-7 12-10 in the men's final, while Belgium's Tinne Gilis defeated her older sister Nele Gilis-Coll 12-10 11-7 14-12 to secure her fourth European title.

The victories ensure that both Crouin and Gilis will head into next year's championship targeting a fifth continental crown. The 2027 edition will form part of the European Games in Istanbul, with the men's and women's champions also securing qualification for LA28 Olympics.

Victor Crouin's route to the final was anything but straightforward. The Frenchman was pushed to five games by Slovenian debutant Mohamed ElSherbini in the quarter-finals, recovering from a two-game deficit to win 9-11 9-11 12-10 11-4 11-8.

A further test followed in the semi-finals against Spain's Bernat Jaume. Crouin made a difficult start, losing the opening game 11-3, but once again demonstrated his ability to respond under pressure. He gradually took control to complete a 3-11 11-9 11-9 11-3 victory and book his place in the championship match.

Steinmann, competing in his first European final, endured a difficult opening against the World No.6. Crouin raced into a 9-0 lead before the Swiss managed to get on the scoreboard, eventually taking the opening game 11-2.

The second game was a much closer affair, with Steinmann matching Crouin through the early stages and drawing level at 7-7. The Frenchman then raised his level at the crucial moment, winning the next four points to move within one game of the title.

Steinmann made his strongest push in the third, moving further forward on the court and finding success with his attacking volleys to establish a 9-6 advantage. Crouin remained composed, however, using his accuracy and consistency to overturn the deficit before closing out the championship with a decisive forehand kill.

Reflecting on his fourth European title, Crouin highlighted the significance of his long-standing rivalry with many of the players competing at the top of the European game and admitted that next year's championship will carry additional importance with Olympic qualification on the line.

The women's final provided another chapter in the remarkable rivalry between the Gilis sisters. Tinne and Nele had both reached the championship match without dropping a game, setting up a highly anticipated all-Belgian showdown.

The opening game developed into a tense battle, with neither player able to establish a clear advantage. Tinne eventually edged the tie-break 12-10 after a disputed stroke decision, giving her the early advantage.

The world No.9 then took control of the second game, moving to an 11-7 lead and putting herself within one game of another European title.

Nele produced a determined response in the third, opening up a 9-5 advantage and appearing on course to extend the contest. Tinne refused to relinquish control, however, fighting back and saving several game balls before eventually completing a 14-12 victory with a superb backhand volley drop.

The result marked Tinne's fourth European Individual Championship title and her third victory over Nele in a European final. Despite the competitive nature of their rivalry, the champion acknowledged the unique significance of facing her sister on one of the biggest stages in European squash.

Nele had enjoyed a particularly straightforward route to the final after French opponent Melissa Alves withdrew from their semi-final through injury. Tinne, meanwhile, had defeated Ukraine's Alina Bushma 11-7, 11-8, 11-5 in her last-four encounter.

There was also a significant milestone for UNSQUASHABLE player Iván Pérez, who secured his first European Championship podium finish after winning a thrilling all-Spanish Men's Bronze Medal Match. Pérez recovered from twice falling behind to defeat his compatriot 6-11 11-7 11-5 6-11 12-10 in an absorbing 78-minute battle.

In the women's championship, Bushma was awarded the Bronze medal after Alves was unable to compete.

With four European titles now secured, Crouin and Gilis have firmly established themselves among the continent's leading players. Their attention will now turn towards Istanbul in 2027, where the stakes will be even higher with European Games gold and a place at the 2028 Olympic Games on offer.

2026 ESF European Individual Squash Championships, Ormai László Hall, Budapest, Hungary
Men's Final:
[1] Victor Crouin (FRA) bt [2] Dimitri Steinmann (SUI) 11-2, 11-7, 12-10 (47m)

Women's Final:
[1] Tinne Gilis (BEL) bt [2] Nele Gilis (BEL) 12-10, 11-7, 14-12 (59m)

Men's Third Place Play-Off:
[5/8] Ivan Perez (ESP) bt [5/8] Bernat Jaume (ESP) 6-11, 11-7, 11-5, 6-11, 12-10 (78m)

Men's Third Place Play-Off:
[3/4] Alina Bushma (UKR) bt [3/4] Mélissa Alves (FRA) w/o

Men's Semi-Finals:
[1] Victor Crouin (FRA) bt [5/8] Bernat Jaume (ESP) 3-11, 11-9, 11-9, 11-3 (64m)
[2] Dimitri Steinmann (SUI) bt [5/8] Ivan Perez (ESP) 11-4, 11-6, 11-5 (42m)

Women's Semi-Finals:
[1] Tinne Gilis (BEL) bt [3/4] Alina Bushma (UKR) 11-7, 11-8, 11-5 (39m)
[2] Nele Gilis (BEL) bt [3/4] Mélissa Alves (FRA) w/o 

Men's Quarter-Finals:
[1] Victor Crouin (FRA) bt [5/8] Mohamed ElSherbini (SLO) 9-11, 9-11, 12-10, 11-4, 11-8
[5/8] Bernat Jaume (ESP) bt [3/4] Nicolas Mueller (SUI) 11-8, 8-11, 11-4, 11-7
[5/8] Ivan Perez (ESP) bt [3/4] Baptiste Masotti (FRA) 8-11, 11-4, 3-11, 11-7, 11-9
[2] Dimitri Steinmann (SUI) bt [9/16] Jakub Solnicky (CZE) 11-3, 11-7, 11-2

Women's Quarter-Finals:
[1] Tinne Gilis (BEL) bt [5/8] Noa Romero (ESP) 11-1, 11-4, 11-6
[3/4] Alina Bushma (UKR) bt [5/8] Madeleine Hylland (NOR) 7-11, 11-6, 11-4, 11-5
[3/4] Mélissa Alves (FRA) bt [5/8] Cindy Merlo (SUI) 9-11, 11-4, 11-9, 11-9
[2] Nele Gilis (BEL) bt [9/16] Karina Tyma (POL) 11-1, 11-6, 11-6

Men's 3rd Round:
[1] Victor Crouin (FRA) bt [9/16] Marek Panacek (CZE) 11-3, 11-3, 11-5
[5/8] Mohamed ElSherbini (SLO) bt [9/16] Balazs Farkas (HUN) 11-8, 14-12, 11-7
[5/8] Bernat Jaume (ESP) bt [9/16] Edwin Clain (FRA) 11-6, 11-9, 11-5
[3/4] Nicolas Mueller (SUI) bt Dmytro Shcherbakov (UKR) 11-4, 11-4, 11-7
[3/4] Baptiste Masotti (FRA) bt [9/16] David Bernet (SUI) 11-5, 11-8, 11-4
[5/8] Ivan Perez (ESP) bt [9/16] Rui Soares (POR) 10-12, 11-7, 3-11, 11-8, 11-9
[9/16] Jakub Solnicky (CZE) bt [5/8] Raphael Kandra (GER) 8-11, 15-13, 10-12, 11-9, 11-2
[2] Dimitri Steinmann (SUI) bt [9/16] Henrik Mustonen (FIN) 11-9, 5-11, 11-2, 12-10

Women's 3rd Round:
[1] Tinne Gilis (BEL) bt [9/16] Ambre Allinckx (SUI) 11-4, 11-9, 11-4
[5/8] Noa Romero (ESP) bt [9/16] Saskia Beinhard (GER) 11-7, 6-11, 11-4, 11-9
[5/8] Madeleine Hylland (NOR) bt [9/16] Franka Vidovic (CRO) 11-13, 11-3, 11-2, 11-3
[3/4] Alina Bushma (UKR) bt [9/16] Maya Weishar (GER) 11-6, 11-4, 11-1
[3/4] Mélissa Alves (FRA) bt [9/16] Karolína Šrámková (CZE) 11-3, 11-7, 11-4
[5/8] Cindy Merlo (SUI) bt [9/16] Énora Villard (FRA) 7-11, 7-11, 11-4, 11-3, 11-7
[9/16] Karina Tyma (POL) bt [5/8] Marie Stéphan (FRA) 7-11, 13-15, 11-6, 12-10, 11-4
[2] Nele Gilis (BEL) bt [9/16] Cristina Tartarone (ITA) 11-1, 11-4, 11-1

Men's 2nd Round:
[1] Victor Crouin (FRA) bt Bruno Gomes (POR) 11-1, 11-0, 11-0
[9/16] Marek Panacek (CZE) bt Vojtech Martinovsky (CZE) 11-4, 11-4, 11-2
[9/16] Balazs Farkas (HUN) bt Guido Lindner (NED) 11-9, 11-6, 11-4
[5/8] Mohamed ElSherbini (SLO) bt Jakub Pytlowany (POL) 11-5, 11-5, 11-2
[5/8] Bernat Jaume (ESP) bt Jan Samborski (POL) 11-6, 11-6, 11-8
[9/16] Edwin Clain (FRA) bt David Maier (LIE) 11-7, 11-5, 11-3
Dmytro Shcherbakov (UKR) bt [9/16] Will Salter (ENG) 11-5, 11-4, 9-11, 9-11, 11-9
[3/4] Nicolas Mueller (SUI) bt Kamocsai Bendegúz (HUN) 11-8, 11-8, 11-5
[3/4] Baptiste Masotti (FRA) bt Oriol Salvia (ESP) 11-5, 11-8, 11-3
[9/16] David Bernet (SUI) bt Miguel Mathis (SUI) 11-3, 11-6, 11-5
[9/16] Rui Soares (POR) bt Sebastiaan Hofman (NED) 11-3, 11-6, 11-2
[5/8] Ivan Perez (ESP) bt Robert Lindner (NED) 11-6, 11-5, 7-11, 11-3
[5/8] Raphael Kandra (GER) bt Marc Altarriba (ESP) 11-2, 11-3, 11-1
[9/16] Jakub Solnicky (CZE) bt Sebastian Hylland (NOR) 11-4, 11-4, 8-11, 11-5
[9/16] Henrik Mustonen (FIN) bt Valentin Rapp (GER) 11-8, 9-11, 11-8, 11-4
[2] Dimitri Steinmann (SUI) bt Benedek Takacs (HUN) 14-12, 11-9, 11-9

Women's 2nd Round:
[1] Tinne Gilis (BEL) bt Renske Huntelaar (NED) 11-5, 11-2, 11-5
[9/16] Ambre Allinckx (SUI) bt Estela Martín (ESP) 11-2, 11-2, 11-1
[9/16] Saskia Beinhard (GER) bt Gabriella Csókási (HUN) 11-7, 11-9, 11-7
[5/8] Noa Romero (ESP) bt Riina Koskinen (FIN) 11-2, 11-5, 11-4
[5/8] Madeleine Hylland (NOR) bt Lijana Sultana (MLT) 11-3, 11-0, 11-8
[9/16] Franka Vidovic (CRO) bt Tamara Holzbauerová (CZE) 11-8, 11-6, 11-2
[9/16] Maya Weishar (GER) bt Catarina Nunes (POR) 11-4, 11-7, 13-11
[3/4] Alina Bushma (UKR) bt Chloe Celine Kalvø (NOR) 11-3, 11-4, 11-2
[3/4] Mélissa Alves (FRA) bt Nóra Juhász (HUN) 11-6, 11-2, 11-4
[9/16] Karolína Šrámková (CZE) bt Pika Rupar (SLO) 11-3, 11-8, 11-7
[9/16] Énora Villard (FRA) bt Csenge Kiss-Máté (HUN) 11-8, 11-4, 11-7
[5/8] Cindy Merlo (SUI) bt Tereza Široká (CZE) 9-11, 12-10, 11-7, 11-1
[5/8] Marie Stéphan (FRA) bt Anna Serme (CZE) 11-7, 11-4, 7-11, 11-7
[9/16] Karina Tyma (POL) bt Caroline Lyng (DEN) 11-4, 11-9, 11-7
[9/16] Cristina Tartarone (ITA) bt Camillia Hendy (NOR) 11-3, 11-2, 11-4
[2] Nele Gilis (BEL) bt Tola Otrząsek (POL) 11-2, 11-2, 11-3

Men's 1st Round:
[1] Victor Crouin (FRA) bye
Bruno Gomes (POR) bt Leonidas Benovias (GRE) 11-5, 11-6, 9-11, 11-2
Vojtech Martinovsky (CZE) bt Martin Kegel (CRO) 11-6, 11-7, 9-11, 2-11, 11-9
[9/16] Marek Panacek (CZE) bt Ville Eskola (FIN) 11-5, 11-4, 11-2
[9/16] Balazs Farkas (HUN) bye
Guido Lindner (NED) bt Amir Samimi (LUX) 11-4, 11-6, 11-8
Jakub Pytlowany (POL) bt Daniel Lutz (AUT) 11-9, 11-6, 11-9
[5/8] Mohamed ElSherbini (SLO) bye
[5/8] Bernat Jaume (ESP) bye
Jan Samborski (POL) bt Adrian Ostbye (NOR) 12-10, 11-6, 11-4
David Maier (LIE) bt Nikita Panov (UKR) 11-1, 11-6, 11-5
[9/16] Edwin Clain (FRA) bye
[9/16] Will Salter (ENG) bt Odysseas Menexelis (GRE) 11-2, 11-5, 11-1
Dmytro Shcherbakov (UKR) bt Žan Bombek (SLO) 11-1, 11-5, 11-3
Kamocsai Bendegúz (HUN) bt Olli Soini (FIN) 11-3, 11-4, 12-14, 13-11
[3/4] Nicolas Mueller (SUI) bye
[3/4] Baptiste Masotti (FRA) bye
Oriol Salvia (ESP) bt Ivan Krznaric (CRO) 11-1, 11-6, 11-9
Miguel Mathis (SUI) bt Fotis Zafiriou (GRE) 12-14, 11-2, 11-6, 11-3
[9/16] David Bernet (SUI) bt Regő Komlódi (HUN) 11-8, 11-4, 11-4
[9/16] Rui Soares (POR) bye
Sebastiaan Hofman (NED) bt Filip Jarota (POL) 11-8, 11-13, 11-8, 11-5
Robert Lindner (NED) bt Daniel Simon (HUN) 12-10, 8-11, 6-11, 12-10, 14-12
[5/8] Ivan Perez (ESP) bye
[5/8] Raphael Kandra (GER) bye
Marc Altarriba (ESP) bt Andreas Knoph (NOR) 11-7, 11-8, 5-11, 11-6
Sebastian Hylland (NOR) bt Philip Georgiev (BUL) 11-5, 11-9, 11-5
[9/16] Jakub Solnicky (CZE) bt Leon Krysiak (POL) 15-13, 11-7, 11-2
[9/16] Henrik Mustonen (FIN) bt Lukas Tuzincin (SVK) 11-4, 11-0, 11-8
Valentin Rapp (GER) bt Barnabás Sáli (HUN) 11-6, 11-6, 11-2
Benedek Takacs (HUN) bt Ergin Yörükoğlu (TUR) 11-8, 11-3, 11-3
[2] Dimitri Steinmann (SUI) bye

Women's 1st Round:
[1] Tinne Gilis (BEL) bye
Renske Huntelaar (NED) bt Jane Kotila (FIN) 11-2, 11-2, 13-11
Estela Martín (ESP) bye
[9/16] Ambre Allinckx (SUI) bye
[9/16] Saskia Beinhard (GER) bye
Gabriella Csókási (HUN) bt Elisenda Ruiz-Kaiser (LUX) 11-5, 9-11, 7-11, 11-0, 17-15
Riina Koskinen (FIN) bt Karina Seiner (AUT) 11-2, 11-5, 11-3
[5/8] Noa Romero (ESP) bye
[5/8] Madeleine Hylland (NOR) bye
Lijana Sultana (MLT) bt Linda Páj (HUN) 11-8, 12-10, 11-4
Tamara Holzbauerová (CZE) bye
[9/16] Franka Vidovic (CRO) bye
[9/16] Maya Weishar (GER) bye
Catarina Nunes (POR) bt Eveli Mälk (EST) 11-4, 11-5, 11-4
Chloe Celine Kalvø (NOR) bt Krisztina Kun (HUN) 8-11, 11-6, 11-7, 11-4
[3/4] Alina Bushma (UKR) bye
[3/4] Mélissa Alves (FRA) bye
Nóra Juhász (HUN) bt Reka Kemecsei (ENG) 13-11, 7-11, 7-11, 11-9, 4-10 dsq.
Pika Rupar (SLO) bye
[9/16] Karolína Šrámková (CZE) bye
[9/16] Énora Villard (FRA) bye
Csenge Kiss-Máté (HUN) bt Suzanne Peters (NED) 11-7, 10-12, 11-5, 11-4
Tereza Široká (CZE) bye
[5/8] Cindy Merlo (SUI) bye
[5/8] Marie Stéphan (FRA) bye
Anna Serme (CZE) bye
Caroline Lyng (DEN) bt Villő Varga (HUN) 11-4, 11-1, 11-2
[9/16] Karina Tyma (POL) bye
[9/16] Cristina Tartarone (ITA) bye
Camillia Hendy (NOR) bt Victoria Syvoplyas (UKR) 11-4, 11-7, 2-11, 6-11, 12-10
Tola Otrząsek (POL) bt Mariana Ventura Martins (POR) 11-2, 11-3, 11-3
[2] Nele Gilis (BEL) bye