Joel Makin Karakal Profile
Birmingham based Joel joined the PSA World Tour in 2013 and had a rapid rise up through the PSA World Rankings. Joel is now firmly established as a World top 10 player.
Joel's first PSA final appearance came in the 2014 McWil & Euro Styl Gdansk Open, narrowly losing out to James Earles.
In 2015 Joel again finished runner-up at the Swiss Open, before claiming his first PSA World Tour title at the City of Greater Bendigo International, when he downed Joshua Larkin in straight games in the final.
Joel continued to make consistent final appearances. A runner-up finish in the Pareti Open was followed by back-to-back runner-up spots at the Stotford Classic and the Kent Open before Joel broke in to the world’s top 50 for the first time in 2017.
2018 saw him capture his second PSA title, beating Joshua Masters in the final of the Kent Open, before claiming the runner-up spots at the Nash Cup and the Chicago Open behind Tom Richards and an in-form Cesar Salazar. Later that same year, after making the semis of both the Pittsburgh and Irish Opens Joel claimed his third PSA victory in the Arnold Homes Tring Open, defeating Peter Creed in the final.
Strong performances and a steady rise up the World Rankings continued throughout the 2019 and 2020 seasons, culminating in Joel claiming a spot in the World's top 10 for the first time in his career. By now British #1, Joel also led the Welsh team at the WSF Men’s World Team Squash Championships, as they surprised everyone to finish 3rd, the nation’s best finish at the tournament since 1999.
In August 2021 Joel captured the British National Squash title and in November, added the Welsh National crown to his trophy cabinet.
His 2022 campaign started with a runner-up finish at the Squash on Fire Open in Washington, D.C. quarters at the Windy City Open, Optasia Championships and Canary Wharf Classic, before securing the biggest crown so far with victory at the Manchester Open, before going on to take the Silver Medal in the Men’s Singles at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England.
Joel's great form continued into 2023, as in February he claimed a second PSA Bronze title defeating Victor Crouin at the Oxford Properties Canadian Open.
In May 2024 Joel captured his second Manchester Open titles, defeating Karakal stablemate Greg Lobban in the final.
- Born: October 1994
- Birthplace: Pembrokeshire, Wales
- Height: 180 cm
- Plays: Right Handed
- Joined PSA World Tour: 2013
- Other Interests: Boxing, MMA and Crossfit
PSA World Tour and National Titles:
- 2015 City of Greater Bendigo International
- 2018 Kent Open
- 2018 Arnold Homes Tring Open
- 2021 British National Champion
- 2021 Welsh National Champion
- 2022 Manchester Open
- 2023 Oxford Properties Canadian Open
- 2024 Manchester Open
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Watch In Depth With... Joel Makin