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25-Jan, Final:
Salazar ends Clyne’s run in Calgary
Bob Ballinger reports
Well sometime as the saying goes, all good things must come to an
end. For the squash fans at the Talisman Energy Bankers Hall Club
Pro-Am in Calgary that was the case for Scotland’s Alan Clyne but at
the same time Mexico’s Arturo Salazar could argue that as his good
fortune here in Calgary continues on.
The second seeded Salazar is now 7 wins and 1 loss in his two times
here as he held off the impressive run of unseeded qualifier Clyne
in the final in three straight games. The first game was decidedly
one sided as Salazar took advantage of perhaps some nerves which led
to several unforced errors from Clyne to win quickly in 9 minutes.
As he has done all week here though Clyne was able to regroup after
losing a game and he came out strong in the second game, picking up
the pace which Salazar was noticeably trying to keep slow.
Clyne was a lot quicker onto the ball and much more aggressive in
this game and had leads of 8-3 and 10-7. But the young Mexican
showed how mentally tough he is and managed to peg back from 10-7
game ball down to tie the score at 10 each; a second game ball for
Clyne at 11-10 did not faze Salazar and he took the next 3 points to
close the game out at 13-11.
The third and what would be final game was tight all the way. For
the first time all week we saw a bit of frustration from the top
player in Scotland as well as perhaps some fatigue too but never to
be questioned was his determination to try and find a way back into
this match. In perhaps one of the best tactical games seen here in
along time both players used all parts of the court, varying speeds
and angles in many long rallies which took Salazar to a match ball
at 10-9 which he could not convert and then another at 12-11 which
he did capitalize on.
A standing room only crowd gave both players a much deserved long
round of applause at the conclusion of the very very well played
match.
So another successful event here and Arturo Salazar joins Borja
Golan, Cameron Pilley, Tommy Berden, Matthew Giuffre, Daryl Selby,
and Shahier Razik as champions of the Talisman Energy Bankers Hall
Club Pro-am.
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 Talisman
Energy
Bankers
Hall Pro-Am 2009
20-25 Jan, Calgary, Canada, $10k |
Round One
22 Jan |
Quarters
23 Jan |
Semis
24 Jan |
Final
25 Jan |
[1]
Jan Koukal (Cze)
11/8, 11/3, 11/4
[Q] Phil Nightingale (Eng) |
[1] Jan Koukal
11/6, 11/5, 4/11, 11/3 (41m)
[Q] Alan Clyne |
[Q] Alan Clyne
12/10, 11/5, 10/12, 11/6 (59m)
[4]
Nafiizwan Adnan |
[Q] Alan Clyne
11/2, 13/11, 13/11 (48m)
[2] Arturo Salazar |
[6]
Martin Knight (Nzl)
11/3, 11/5, 11/7
[Q] Alan Clyne (Sco) |
[4]
Nafiizwan Adnan (Mas)
15/13, 11/9, 5/11, 11/8
Cesar Salazar (Mex) |
[4]
Nafiizwan Adnan
8/11, 13/11, 9/11, 11/7, 11/6 (92m)
[8] Robin Clarke |
[8]
Robin Clarke (Can)
11/9, 12/10, 11/6
[Q] Michal Reid (Can) |
Andrew McDougall (Can)
12/10, 4/11, 11/5, 11/7
[7] David Phillips (Can) |
[7] David Phillips
11/5, 11/7, 12/10 (41m)
Regardt Schonborn |
[7] David Phillips 11/2, 11/8,
11/2, (26m)
[2] Arturo Salazar |
Regardt Schonborn (Rsa)
6/11, 11/8, 9/11, 11/9, 11/8
[3] Jesse Engelbrecht (Rsa) |
[Q] Tyler Hamilton (Can)
11/3, 7/11, 11/6, 11/4
[5]
Campbell Grayson (Nzl) |
[5] Campbell Grayson
11/8, 11/9, 11/7 (39m)
[2] Arturo Salazar |
Matthew Giuffre (Can)
11/5, 11/6, 11/4
[2] Arturo Salazar (Mex) |
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22-Jan, Qualifying Finals:
Tyler Hamilton (Can) bt Thomas Brinkman (Can)
11/4, 11/9, 11/5
Phil Nightingale (Eng) bt Colin Ramasra (Tri)
11/5, 11/3, 11/5
Alan Clyne (Sco) bt Andrew Schnell (Can)
11/7, 11/5, 11/4
Michal Reid (Can) bt Dave Glass (Can)
11/5, 13/11, 4/11, 11/7
21-Jan, Qualifying Round One:
Thomas Brinkman (Can) bt Daniel Sibley (Can)
11/9, 11/7, 11/1 (20m)
Andrew Schnell (Can) bt Bernard Reid (Can)
11/7, 11/3, 11/2 (16m)
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2008
Event 2007 Event
2006 Event
2005 Event |
24-Jan, Semis:
Clyne makes Calgary final
Scottish qualifier Alan Clyne
continued his impressive run in Calgary as he ousted fourth seed
Nafiizwan Adnan to reach the final. His opponent there will be
Mexican second seed Arturo Salazar who maintained his record
of straight-game wins as he ended the hopes of Canada's last
representative, David Phillips.
23-Jan, Quarters:
Upsets continue in Calgary
Bob Ballinger reports
As has been the trend over the 8 years of the Talisman Energy
Bankers Hall Club Pro-Am in Calgary, upsets are common and perhaps
to be expected here. Only twice has the top seed managed to win this
event and this year will not be one of them.
In perhaps the most stunning result in the history of this event,
unseeded Scottish player Alan Clyne continued to impress here
as he added world #42 and top seed Jan Koukal to his list of
victims. In the first match of the evening session in front of yet
another packed gallery, he overpowered the top seed in four
relatively routine games. Koukal never seemed to threaten even
though he won the third game with an impressive streak of points
going from 6-4 to win the game 11-4. Most thought the younger Clyne
would now buckle and allow Koukal to take over but it was not to be
that way as the current #1 player in Scotland raced away to a 7-0
fourth game lead and never looked back to secure his spot in the
semi finals here.
In the second evening match Arturo Salazar continued his
impressive form in this years tournament as he held the challenge of
New Zealand’s Campbell Grayson in three tight games. Salazar showed
an impressive maturity at such a young age as he was able to win the
big points in each of the three games; those big points being at 9-8
in the first game, 10-9 in the second game, and 9-7 in the third.
Not much to choose from between these two young talents though in
each of those games early on as they stayed with one another point
for point until those late game crucial points. So Salazar is into
the semis for a second consecutive year here in Calgary and is
hoping no doubt to go further.
The first match of the lunch time session was perhaps the match of
the tournament thus far. In front a truly jam packed noon hour crowd
(they are always that way here for the lunch matches) Malaysian
Nafiizwan Adnan and Canada’s Robin Clarke staged an epic 92
minute battle. In the end the #3 seeded Adnan came from 2-1 down in
games to prevail in five games. Clarke won the first game and had
two game balls in the second game only to see Adnan take that one
narrowly at 13-11 to tie the match at one game each after 47 minutes
of play. Clarke won the third but it may have taken its toll as
Adnan looked to be a bit quicker onto the ball in the last two
games, perhaps sensing a combination of fatigue and frustration from
Clarke as he could not finish off some well executed rallies.
And lastly but surely not least is David Phillips securing a
semi final berth at the expense of South Africa’s Regardt Schonborn
in three straight games. Phillips has quietly worked his way into
the late stages of the tournament here and is no doubt glad to take
a victory over Schonborn in straight games to remain Canada’s final
hope to claim the title here. A year ago these two played in Toronto
and Phillips seemed to be on his way to victory only to have
Schonborn battle back to win, but today the Canadian stuck it out to
move on.
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"It’s a match I shouldn’t have let get
away from me. The first game was hard and long and that set tone for
the rest of the match. There were a lot of long rallies. I f I could
have won that second game, I think it would have been really hard
for him to come back."
“I think Regardt was a bit tired after
yesterday’s match and I capitalized on that. I played my game and
tried to keep the pressure on him as much as possible. My first two
matches in the tournament haven’t been too long so far so that’s a
good situation heading into the semis. I’m feeling pretty good."
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22-Jan, Round One:
Canadians Phillips and Clarke
win opening matches
CALGARY – David Phillips of Pointe-Claire, Que., and Robin Clarke of
Ottawa won their first round matches on Thursday at the $10,000 2009
Bankers Hall Pro-Am men’s squash tournament.
The competition is an event on the Canadian Squash Circuit for the
2008-09 season as well as a stop on the men’s pro circuit.
Phillips, the tournament’s seventh seed defeated Andrew McDougall of
Calgary.
‘’It was a good start to the tournament and I’m happy to get the
win,’’ said Phillips, playing in his second event this year. ‘’The
first rounds are always tough especially against a solid player like
Andrew. And you always need to adjust to a new court. Overall it was
O.K.’’
In Friday’s quarterfinal, Phillips faces Regardt Schonborn of South
Africa who upset third-seed and compatriot Jesse Engelbrecht.
Clarke, seeded eighth, eliminated qualifier Michael Reid of Montreal.
Up next for Clarke, who won his first pro tournament last year, is
fourth-seed Mohammed Nafizwan Adnan of Malaysia. He took Cesar
Salazar of Mexico in four games.
There was some success for the Salazars though as Arturo, the second
seed, put the brakes on the comeback hopes of Matthew Giuffre, and
he faces Kiwi Campbell Grayson for a place in the semis.
Top seed Jan Koukal beat England's Phil Nightingale and now meets a
second qualifier after Alan Clyne, the Scottish number one, upset
New Zealand's sixth seed Martin Knight.
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21-Jan, Qualifying Finals:
Four qualifying matches saw three of them go in quick and rather
routine fashion while the very last one was a great battle between
two Canadians. In that match Michal Reid and Dave Glass entertained
the packed Bankers Hall Club with a fast paced match complete with
great shot making, retrieving, change of pace, and a bit of
controversy to top it off.
The other three matches all went by in under 30 minutes as Phillip
Nightingale of England, Scotland’s Alan Clyne, as well as Canadians
Tyler Hamilton and Michal Reid made their way into the main draw
where there will no doubt be some outstanding first round matches.
20-Jan, Day One:
CANADA DAY IN CALGARY
Bob Ballinger reports
There were only two matches in the first round of qualifying play at
the 2009 Talisman Energy Bankers Hall Club Pro-Am Squash tournament
on Tuesday night in Calgary and it was all Canadians playing in each
of the matches.
Based on the current PSA world rankings both results were upsets as
Thomas Brinkman and Andrew Schnell made short work of their higher
ranked opponents. Brinkman and Daniel Sibley exchanged points in the
first game right to 10-9 but a fall on the court from Sibley
drastically changed this match and he was noticeably unable to move
as well as he did in the first game.
The second match saw 17yr old local star Andrew Schnell make his PSA
debut against Bernard Reid. Reid started strong in first game taking
a 5-0 and 6-1 lead but after that Schnell started to change his pace
and move Reid around the court. From there Schnell lost only 6 more
points enroute to his straight game victory.
A current member of Canada’s junior team, Schnell is starting to
embark on playing the PSA tour and will no doubt receive some great
experience playing in this event.
Final round of qualifying sees five Canadians in the eight spots and
we are assured of two going through to the main draw.
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20-Jan, Day One:
Canadians have mixed fortunes
after tournament re-draw
Bob Ballinger reports
With the main draw having been re-drawn due to late withdrawals of
two seeded players, Canadian players had mixed fortunes with this
new draw. Ottawa’s Robin Clarke is now #8 seed and draws a qualifier
which is a big improvement from previously being drawn to play top
seed Jan Koukal.
Montreal’s David Phillips also benefitted from the new draw as he is
now the #7 seed where he previously had drawn the #2 seeded Arturo
Salazar of Mexico. Phillips now plays local PSA star Andrew
McDougall. And Matthew Giuffre of Canada was elevated from the
qualifying draw to the main draw and will face the previously
mentioned Salazar in what should be the most anticipated first round
matchup.
The other potentially exciting first round match has the two South
Africans in the draw going head to head as #3 seed Jesse Engelbrecht
takes on country mate Regardt Schonborn.
Action in the tournament begins though with the PSA qualifying event
which sees seven more Canadians in the running for one of the four
spots in the main draw.
The full slate of amateur events begin here on Wednesday and as
usual it’s a complete sell out to get into this big tournament on
the Alberta squash scene.
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Official Site |
15-Jan-09:
Canadians face tough road at Talisman Energy
Bankers Hall Club Pro-Am
Preview from Bob Ballinger
The draw for the 7th annual Talisman Energy Bankers Hall Club Pro-Am
has just been released and it will be a tough road if there is
going to be a Canadian champion.
This annual event in Calgary has seen two Canadian champions over
the years and this years draw has the top two seeds facing Canadians
in the first round. Top seed Jan Koukal of the Czech Republic
takes on Ottawa’s Robin Clarke while number two seed
Arturo Salazar of Mexico faces Montreal’s David Phillmps
in first round matchups.
This is the second appearance for Koukal at this tournament.
Currently ranked at #42 in the world Koukal reached the semi finals
here in 2004 and was involved in perhaps the most exciting matgh in
the tournament history when he came from two games down to defeat
Eric Galvez of Mexico 15-14 in the fifth game to reach the semis. To
claim his ninth tour title though he will have to deal with the
exciting Salazar who is at a career high of #51 in the world ranks.
Salazar made his first appearance here last year where he came
through the qualifying rounds and then defeated the #3 and #7 seeds
to reach the semi finals where he lost to eventual champion Shahier
Razik. Salazar has soared through the world rankings coming from
#361 in June 2007 to where he is currently.
Rounding out the top four seeds is world #55 Jesse Engelbrecht
of South Africa and Malaysia’s Naafiizwan Adnan who is ranked
#58 in the world.
Another player to watch out for is the number five seed Campbell
Grayson of New Zealand. Grayson had a very successful 2008
season which saw his world ranking go from #124 to his current high
of #65.
Canada’s other main draw entrant is Andrew McDougall who was
given the wild card spot in the main draw. McDougall is from Calgary
but has been based in Toronto for most of the past year. This move
has no doubt helped his squash career and he will be trying to crack
into the world top 100 this season from his current ranking of #116.
Perhaps the most intriguing story line though involves Ganada’s
Matthew Giuffre. He won this tournament in 2006 as the top seed
in the tournament and achieved a career high ranking that year of
#38. But this past year of 2008 has seen his ranking drop to as low
as #115. He will be in the qualifying round of this tournament and
should still be considered a favourite to win the tournament despite
this tough
road. |
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