PSA BTMI / TDC B’dos Open 2017 – R16 & QF – Barbados Squash Association

3 OF 4 TOP SEEDS THROUGH TO BARBADOS SQUASH OPEN SEMI-FINALS

Three of the top four seeds made it through to the semi-finals to be held this evening (Thursday) as even more exciting squash action in the second annual PSA BTMI / TDC Barbados Squash Open continued at the Barbados Squash Club (BSC) on Wednesday June 28^th.

With both the 2^nd round and quarter-finals being played on Wednesday there was plenty of squash to be enjoyed but the drama was mainly confined to the afternoon’s encounters in the 2^nd round. The three local players that had advanced from the 1^st round all lost with Barbados’ second ranked player, Rhett Cumberbatch, putting up a gallant fight against the #3 seeded Trinidadian Kale Wilson, and after dropping the first two games managed to snatch the third game to the delight of his vocal supporters on the junior national squash team. But it was not to be as Wilson proved to be the steadier player and closed out the fourth game to win 13-11 11-8 9-11 11-6 in 36 minutes which was the second longest contest for the day. The other Barbadian players both lost 3-0 to superior opponents. Rhett’s younger brother Bryant Cumberbatch was defeated by the very promising young American #8, Spencer Lovejoy, 11-3 11-3 11-4 while local junior player Joshua Seale was defeated by the #2 seed from Colombia, Juan Vargas 11-2 11-5 11-3.

The only upset in the 2^nd round was caused by Vargas’ unseeded Colombian compatriot, Edgar Ramirez Bautista, who is an attacking shot maker and pounced on anything loose from Joe Chapman, the #6 seed from the British Virgin Islands. The Colombian never allowed Chapman to settle into the steady rhythm that he prefers and won in straight games 11-7 11-6 11-4. The longest match of the tournament thus far was contested between two Canadians with the # 5 seed, Thomas King just outlasting Cory McCartney in four games 15-13 11-9 11-13 13-11 in an 84 minute marathon that was dominated by long, punishing rallies and steady measured squash, mainly played in the back of the court. By way of contrast there was much more attacking squash player by two of the Caribbean’s top players with the #4 seed, Cameron Stafford (Cayman) defeating Sunny Seth (Guyana) in straight games with a blistering array of attacking kills 11-7 11-6 11-5 in 31 minutes.

The evenings quarterfinal encounters were all won in straight games in around half an hour as the better players who had managed to keep their earlier matches short were fresher for the evening contests.

Eddie Charlton races to return a deep backhand vs Edgar Ramirez Bautista

The tall top seeded Englishman, Eddie Charlton, was too steady for the exciting Colombian Edgar Ramirez Bautista, and won 11-4 11-7 11-2 in 32 minutes.

Kale Wilson (L) about to take the court vs Spencer Lovejoy

Yale University student, Spencer Lovejoy, the #8 seed was too quick for the Trinidadian #3 seed Kale Wilson and won 11-7 11-3 11-3.

Cameron Stafford returning a forehand vs Timothy Lasusa.

Another American, Timothy Lasusa, #7 had no answers for the blistering attacking shots unleashed by only Caribbean player left in the draw, Cameron Stafford (Cayman), the #4 seed who won the third game easily after claiming the first two games that were much closer 11-7 11-8 11-3.

Thomas King about to face Juan Vargas (r)

The #2 seeded Colombian Juan Vargas had no problems with Canadian 6^th seed Thomas King and also won in straight games 11-5 11-7 11-5.

The PSA BTMI / TDC Barbados Squash Open is being held by the Barbados Squash Association under the auspices of the Professional Squash Association and is being played at the BSC, which is located in Marine Gardens, Christ Church. The two semi-final matches will be played this evening (Thursday) at 6:00 PM (#1 Charlton vs. #8 Lovejoy) and 6:45 PM (#2 Vargas vs. #4 Stafford) ending around 8:00 PM and the final will take place on Friday evening starting at 6:00 PM with the presentation of awards immediately thereafter.

The results of the eight 2^nd round matches that were played on Wednesday afternoon were as follows (players from Barbados unless otherwise indicated):

#1 Eddie Charlton (ENG) bt. Ahad Raza (CAN) (3-0) 11-5 11-6 11-6

Edgar Ramirez Bautista (COL) bt. #6 Joe Chapman (BVI) (3-0) 11-7 11-6 11-4

#8 Spencer Lovejoy (USA) bt. Bryant Cumberbatch (3-0) 11-3 11-3 11-4

#3 Kale Wilson (TRI) bt. Rhett Cumberbatch (3-1) 13-11 11-8 9-11 11-6

#4 Cameron Stafford (CAY) bt. Sunny Seth (GUY) (3-0) 11-7 11-6 11-5

#7 Timothy Lasusa (USA) bt. Armando Olguin (MEX) (3-0) 11-3 11-3 11-3

# 5 Thomas King (CAN) bt. Cory McCartney (CAN) (3-1) 15-13 11-9 11-13 13-11

#2 Juan Vargas (COL) bt. Joshua Seale (3-0) 11-2 11-5 11-3

The results of the four quarterfinal matches that were played on Wednesday night were as follows:

#1 Eddie Charlton (ENG) bt. Edgar Ramirez Bautista (COL) (3-0) 11-4 11-7 11-2 (32 mins.)

#8 Spencer Lovejoy (USA) bt. #3 Kale Wilson (TRI) (3-0) 11-7 11-3 11-3 (26 mins.)

#4 Cameron Stafford (CAY) bt. #7 Timothy Lasusa (USA) (3-0) 11-7 11-8 11-3 (30 mins.)