The top eight Men’s seeds all progressed last night as expected to the quarter-finals of the 33rd annual Barbados National Squash Championships, which is sponsored by the Barbados Olympic Association. Six of these players did not drop a single game to their opponents while moving into the last eight in the Men’s Main Draw but, surprisingly, both of the #3/4 seeds were given stern examinations by their younger opponents on Wednesday night May 9th at the Barbados Squash Club (BSC).
Eight time former national champion, Mark Sealy, was often caught flat footed in his opening game against former local and Caribbean junior champion, Rhett Cumberbatch, who started at a ferocious tempo and converted an early 6-0 lead into an impressive first game win for the loss of just five points. The vastly experienced Sealy did not panic after this surprising development but simply changed his game plan completely and lobbed the ball relentlessly into the two back corners and thereafter gave his 19 year old opponent no pace on which to feast. Cumberbatch never led again in the match as errors crept into his game and his line and length deserted him. Nearly every loose shot was punished by a Sealy winner and the end came quickly with the newly crowned national over-40 champion winning 27 of the last 29 points to close out with an impressive 5/9 9/0 9/2 9/0 victory in half an hour.
In the closest match of the night the four time national Men’s finalist Marlon White seemed to be struggling with a leg problem which affected his mobility on court. His opponent, Don Benn, seized on this weakness and reeled off a series of stunning front court winners ? straight drops, volley kills and boasts – to run away with the first two games and move into a 4-0 lead in the third game. At this juncture, within sight of one of the biggest upsets in the last decade of squash, Benn mysteriously stopped going for winners and tried to rally with the experienced White who, up to this point, seemed well beaten. In a single hand White moved from 0-4 down to 6-4 up in the third game, which he closed out at six, and never looked back. The urgency and timing that was missing earlier returned with a vengeance and so did White?s confidence and touch. Benn never led in the fourth game which he lost at one and only managed a brief revival at 2-8 down in the fifth when his back was well and truly up against the wall. Four straight points made the score respectable but White was now in no mood for any more drama. Two quick winners saw him home with a 5/9 2/9 9/5 9/1 9/6 victory to his obvious relief.
In the Men’s plate matches also played last night the seasoned veteran Ronald Watson just managed to hang on to beat the youthful Jonathan Foster in five close and exciting games. The other three matches saw the local under-15 champion, Moishe Steinbok, and the local under-15 runner up, Matthew Mackenzie, both lose in straight games to their much older and more experienced opponents, Michael Best and Bertram Butcher respectively. In an all junior clash, Jonathan O?Dowd defeated Ryan Foster in four close games.
Matches in the Ladies and Men’s Quarter-finals, as well as in the Men’s Plate and Men’s Consolation Plate, continue at the BSC on Thursday night, May 10th at the BSC, beginning at 5:45 p.m. The semi-finals are scheduled for Friday, May 11th and all finals are scheduled between 2:00 and 6:30 p.m. on Saturday afternoon, May 12th.
Results of matches played on Wednesday May 9th are as follows:
Men’s Main Draw ? 1st Round
#1 Gavin Cumberbatch defeated Nkosi Ross 9/3 9/4 9/3
#5/8 Bryant Cumberbatch defeated Dean Straker 9/5 9/0 9/0
#5/8 Nigel Griffith defeated Roger Martin 9/5 9/7 9/0
#3/4 Mark Sealy defeated Rhett Cumberbatch 5/9 9/0 9/2 9/0
#3/4 Marlon White defeated Don Benn 5/9 2/9 9/5 9/1 9/6
#5/8 Fabian Goodridge defeated Craig Archer 9/0 9/4 9/5
#5/8 Alex Garcia defeated Leon Truss 9/2 9/7 9/0
#2 Shawn Simpson defeated Liu Ross 9/3 9/2 9/1
Men’s Plate – 1st Round
Ronald Watson defeated Jonathan Foster 0/9 9/2 9/7 3/9 9/5
Michael Best defeated Moishe Steinbok 9/4 9/2 9/4
Jonathan O?Dowd defeated Ryan Foster 3/9 9/7 10/9 9/4
Bertram Butcher defeated Matthew Mackenzie 9/3 9/4 9/6
You can follow the action day by day by downloading the updated tournament draw for National Squash Championships by following the link below.
B’dos National Championships 2007 – Day 6 – file no. 1
