Yannick Wilhelmi Wins Czech Open

UNSQUASHABLE player Yannick Wilhelmi of Switzerland capped a remarkable week at the 2025 PSA Czech Squash Open with a thrilling 85-minute 11-3 7-11 6-11 11-6 11-7 victory over top seed Declan James of England to lift the biggest title of his career at the Centrum Viktoria in Brno.

The No.5 seed started the final superbly, dominating the opening exchange to win the game 11-3 through relentless accuracy and attacking intent. Although James rallied to take the next two games, the Swiss remained composed and switched tactics effectively, lengthening the rallies and controlling the tempo. His patience paid off as he reclaimed the fourth and fifth games to secure a career-defining victory and his first PSA Tour title of 2025.

Yannick, who received a first-round bye, began his campaign in commanding style with a straight-games victory over Ireland’s Sam Buckley, winning 11-6 11-6 11-6 in 41 minutes to reach the quarter-finals.

In one of the standout matches of the tournament, the young Swiss produced a major upset by defeating England’s No.2 seed Patrick Rooney in a five-game thriller. After taking the opening two games, Yannick was pegged back by a determined Rooney but held his nerve superbly to clinch the decider and complete an 11-8 11-8 6-11 4-11 11-4 victory in 71 minutes.

The 23-year-old carried that momentum into the semi-finals, where he delivered another composed display to overcome Sam Osborne-Wylde of England 11-7 11-7 11-7 in 51 minutes. Yannick’s accuracy and control through the middle of the court proved decisive as he sealed his place in the final.

2025 PSA Czech Squash Open, Centrum Viktoria, Brno, Czech Republic
Final:
[5] Yannick Wilhelmi (SUI) bt. [1] Declan James (ENG) 11-3, 7-11, 6-11, 11-6, 11-7 (85m)

Semi-Finals:
[5] Yannick Wilhelmi (SUI) bt [9/16] Sam Osborne-Wylde (ENG) 11-7, 11-7, 11-7 (51m)
[1] Declan James (ENG) bt [3] Balazs Farkas (HUN) 9-11, 11-7, 15-13, 10-12, 11-4 (87m)

Quarter-Finals:
[5] Yannick Wilhelmi (SUI) bt [2] Patrick Rooney (ENG) 11-8, 11-8, 6-11, 4-11, 11-4 (71m)
[9/16] Sam Osborne-Wylde (ENG) bt [4] George Parker (ENG) 11-5, 11-9, 11-9 (41m)
[3] Balazs Farkas (HUN) bt [6] Rory Stewart (SCO) 11-6, 11-7, 11-9 (37m)
[1] Declan James (ENG) bt [7] Leandro Romiglio (ARG) 11-7, 11-6, 11-6 (51m)

2nd Round:
[2] Patrick Rooney (ENG) bt [9/16] Ameeshenraj Chandaran (MAS) 11-5, 11-5, 13-11 (45m)
[5] Yannick Wilhelmi (SUI) bt Sam Buckley (IRL) 11-6, 11-6, 11-6 (41m)
[9/16] Sam Osborne-Wylde (ENG) bt [8] Muhammad Asim Khan (PAK) 11-5, 11-2, 11-2 (22m)
[4] George Parker (ENG) bt [9/16] Sanjay Jeeva (MAS) 8-11, 13-11, 11-4, 11-8 (59m)
[3] Balazs Farkas (HUN) bt [9/16] Ben Smith (ENG) 11-9, 11-7, 12-10 (37m)
[6] Rory Stewart (SCO) bt [WC] Martin Štěpán (CZE) 2-11, 11-9, 11-2, 11-5 (47m)
[7] Leandro Romiglio (ARG) bt Jakub Solnicky (CZE) 11-13, 11-9, 11-4, 11-1 (51m)
[1] Declan James (ENG) bt [9/16] Rui Soares (POR) 11-2, 11-7, 11-2 (28m)

1st Round:
[2] Patrick Rooney (ENG) bye
[9/16] Ameeshenraj Chandaran (MAS) bt Owain Taylor (WAL) 11-5, 11-8, 11-7 (40m)
Sam Buckley (IRL) bt [9/16] Aly Hussein (EGY) 11-5, 11-7, 11-4 (40m)
[5] Yannick Wilhelmi (SUI) bye
[8] Muhammad Asim Khan (PAK) bye
[9/16] Sam Osborne-Wylde (ENG) bt Khaled Labib (EGY) 11-8, 11-6, 11-5 (33m)
[9/16] Sanjay Jeeva (MAS) bt Dylan Molinaro (AUS) 11-8, 11-5, 11-5 (31m)
[4] George Parker (ENG) bye
[3] Balazs Farkas (HUN) bye
[9/16] Ben Smith (ENG) bt [WC] Martin Svec (CZE) 11-5, 11-7, 11-7 (30m)
[WC] Martin Štěpán (CZE) bt [9/16] Dewald van Niekerk (RSA) 12-10, 11-4, 11-1 (38m)
[6] Rory Stewart (SCO) bye
[7] Leandro Romiglio (ARG) bye
Jakub Solnicky (CZE) bt [9/16] Viktor Byrtus (CZE) 9-11, 11-4, 11-7, 11-8 (52m)
[9/16] Rui Soares (POR) bt Aqeel Rehman (AUT) 15-13, 12-10, 7-11, 11-7 (44m)
[1] Declan James (ENG) bye

The 2025 PSA Czech Squash Open will be staged at the Centrum Viktoria in Brno, Czech Republic from the 23rd to 27th October.

For the latest match updates as they happen and details of how to watch live, visit: psasquashtour.com

UNSQUASHABLE will be represented at the 2025 PSA Czech Squash Open by Yannick Wilhelmi, Rory Stewart and Owain Taylor.