Anaya Smith and Susie Howells are out of contention for the top prizes at the Gnosis Bermuda National Squash Championships after they exited the competition in the quarter-finals on Tuesday.

Both players were involved in pulsating encounters at the Bermuda Squash Club, but both lost 3-2.

Howells, the women’s fourth seed took the first two games 11-8, 11-9, but Sydney Wallace, the fifth seed, fought back to clinch the remaining three 11-7, 11-8, 11-5 to progress to the semi-finals.

Smith, the men’s No 4 was bested 13-11, 5-11, 11-9, 3-11, 12-10 by fifth-seed Kristian Muldoon.

Despite the loss, Howells was satisfied with the way she played against the 24-year-old Wallace, and the 40-year-old still has something to play for as she is through to the over-40 final against Joann Bielby.

“I was actually expecting a 3-0 loss as I lost by that scoreline to her in December, so I’m really happy with how I played,” Howells said.

“I just couldn’t find that last little bit that was needed. I won the first two games and I was going for the kill in the third one, but I think I got too relaxed.

“It’s good to see the young talent coming through. It’s really exciting to see these girls develop their game. Abby is 22 and Sydney is 24, so it’s really good for women’s squash on the island.

“The tournament is shaping up with some really good matches and I’m looking forward to my over-40 final.”

In the men’s semi-finals, which will be played on Thursday, Muldoon has a tougher assignment against No 1 seed Taylor Carrick. Champion Micah Franklin’s path to the final features Noah Browne standing in his way.

Melina Turk, the women’s champion, will face Wallace for a place in the final, while No 2 seed Eilidh Franklin has to contend with third seed Abigail Brewer.

John Fletcher and Anthony Fellowes look most likely to meet in the men’s over-40 final with the two expected to brush aside their semi-final opponents. No 1 seed Fletcher takes on fourth-seed Hadleigh Farrer in the last four and No 2 seed Fellowes has an encounter with the unseeded Jordache Rawson in the last four.

In the men’s over-50 division, top seed Nick Leach has set up a semi-final contest with Anthony White and No 2 seed Peter Cooper has a tough tie with third seed Spencer Moss. For the women in the same age bracket, Suzanne Rose meets Tracy Shott with the other fixture between Deanna Didyk and Deborah Sagurs.

Eugene Bothello, the No 1 seed in the men’s over-60 takes on Colin Alexander, with the winner of that encounter to meet the winner of the match between Jan Brewer and Adam Hawley.

There is also an interest in the men’s B division, where most of Bermuda’s top young talent are entered. Rhys Puddy, who defeated rising star Mason Smith in the quarter-finals, faces William Frith, another future champion, in the semi-finals. In the other side of the draw, Owen Rosorea and Derek Wheeler slug it out for a spot in the final.

Micah Franklin, the head of squash at the Bermuda Squash Racquets Association, highlighted that things usually go according to seeding.

“Normally for nationals things go according to seeding, but we had two big upsets,” he said.

“That was really great to see, the matches have been entertaining and we've had a great turnout in all divisions.”