|
|
 Talisman Energy Bankers
Hall Pro-Am
2006
Calgary, Canada, 18-22 Jan,
$10k |
|
22-Jan, Final:
[1] Matthew Giuffre (Can) bt
[3] Rafael Alarcon (Bra) 11/7, 6/11, 11/7, 11/9
 Home Win
for Matthew
Top
seed Matthew Giuffre delighted home fans at the Bankers Hall club
in Calgary as he beat Brazilian third seed Rafael Alarcon in four games to
become the first Canadian winner of the Talisman Energy title in the
event's fifth year.
|
Official site from
Calgary
Ryan Barnett's Preview
2005 Event
|
Calgary
Reports:
Giuffre: gets away with the win
Clarke: more strings than he
thinks
Mansi: Room-mates clash
Hindle: mental control
Samper: a sigh of relied
Alarcon: 100% focus
Frankcomb: His business day
|
|
21-Jan, Semis:
Alarcon
denies
all-Canadian final
Hopes of an all-Canadian final in the Talisman Energy Bankers Hall Pro-Am
in Calgary were dashed when Brazilian Rafael Alarcon beat second
seeded Shawn DeLierre in straight games in the semi-finals.
No such problems for top seed Matthew Giuffre, as he scored a
four-game win over Colombian Bernardo Samper to maintain the prospect of a
first home victor in the event's fifth year ... |
 Talisman Energy
Bankers
Hall Pro-Am
2006
Calgary, Canada, 18-22 Jan,
$10k |
Round One
Jan 19 |
Quarters
Jan 20 |
Semis
Jan 21 |
Final
Jan 22 |
[1]
Matthew Giuffre (Can)
11/3, 11/8, 11/9
[Q] Robin Clarke (Can) |
Matthew Giuffre
11/9, 10/11(1-3), 11/5, 11/9
Bradley Hindle |
Matthew
Giuffre 11/10 (5-3), 11/5,
6/11, 11/7
Bernardo Samper |
Matthew
Giuffre 11/7, 6/11,
11/7, 11/9
Rafael
Alarcon
|
[5]
Bradley Hindle (Aus)
7/11, 11/6, 11/3, 11/9
Ian Power (Can) |
[4] Nick
Kyme (Ber)
11/5, 11/2, 11/2
Aaron Franckomb (Aus) |
Aaron Franckomb
9/11, 9/11, 11/9, 11/10(2-0), 11/8
Bernardo Samper |
[8]
Bernardo Samper (Col)
10/11(2-4), 11/3, 11/9, 9/11, 11/10(3-1)
David Phillips (Can) |
[Q] Omar
Mosaad (Egy)
9/11, 11/7, 11/9, 11/8
[6] Amr Mansi (Egy) |
Amr Mansi
11/4, 11/9, 11/10(2-0)
Rafael Alarcon |
Rafael
Alarcon
11/9, 11/5, 11/8
Shawn
De Lierre |
[Q]
Laurence Delasaux (Eng)
11/10(3-1), 11/8, 11/8
[3] Rafael Alarcon (Bra) |
[Q] Simon Rosner (Ger)
7/11, 6/11, 11/8, 11/4, 11/5
[7] Adil Maqbool (Pak) |
Simon Rosner
11/5, 11/6, 8/11, 11/5
Shawn De Lierre |
Keith
Pritchard (Can)
11/6, 11/7, 11/2
[2] Shawn De Lierre (Can) |
|
|
QUALIFYING,
18-Jan:
Finals:
Simon Rosner (Ger) bt Julien Balbo (Fra)
8/11, 11/8, 11/6, 9/11, 11/8
Omar Mosaad (Egy) bt
Tony James (Aus)
6/11, 11/5, 11/5, 11/9
Laurence Delasaux (Eng) bt Steve Finitsis (Aus)
11/0, 11/7, 11/4
Robin Clarke (Can) bt Paul Davis (Aus)
8/11, 11/7, 11/7, 11/3
Round one:
Julien Balbo (Fra) bt Andrew McDougall (Can)
11/7, 11/5, 11/4
Simon Rosner (Ger) bt
Reghard Schonborn (Rsa) 11/4, 11/7, 11/7
Omar Mosaad (Egy) bt Campbell Grayson (Nzl)
11/9, 11/4, 11/5
Tony James (Aus) bt David Letourneau (Can)
11/9, 11/4, 11/5
Laurence Delasaux (Eng) bt Bob Ballinger (Can)
11/6, 11/6, 11/4
Steve Finitsis (Aus) bt
Martin Knight (Nzl)
11/8, 6/11, 11/6, 11/5
Robin Clarke (Can) bt Rob Sutherland (Wal)
11/5, 8/11, 11/9, 11/8
Paul Davis (Aus) bt Darren Thompson (Can)
11/4, 11/10 (2-0), 11/6
|
 |
Calgary Reports ... Quarters:
Matthew Guiffre bt Bradley Hindle
11/9, 10/11(1-3), 11/5, 11/9
An eagerly waited clash of competitors had come. Hindle opened playing
fast intensive squash trying to suffocate Giuffre, taking a 6-2 lead but
Giuffre found some length and composure to counter the assaults, taking
the lead and the game 11/9.
The second game was much the same, however Giuffre building a lead which
he tried to protect but Hindle, playing like his life depended on it, was
diving for recoveries which were starting to wear on Giuffre and squeezed
home 13/11 with fierce aggressive determination.
Giuffre lifted and put some in new shots in the third to unsettle the
fierce Aussie, running way 11/5. Hindle was back to peak performance and
fitness in the fourth, running and hitting perfect length as he built a
9/5 lead. However a number of 'dubious' and 'untimely' decisions prompted
Hindle to comment in Jovial style to the ref, bringing laughs to the
audience but not the game in his pocket.
A standing ovation greeted the players off court ... Giuffre happy to get
away with the win, Hindle back to work to get stronger! |
|
|
Calgary Reports ...
First Round |
Matthew Guiffe v Robin Clarke
An-all Canadian affair with Robin the clear underdog but earning his spot
by playing consistently in the qualifiers to prove his silent presence.
However in the first game Clarke played like he was just happy to be there
and Giuffre just there to get the job done, not messing around and taking
a convincing 11/3 win. Robin coming back from the interval firing powerful
lengths and countering to sting but not cripple Giuffre who remained in
control taking the last two games 11/8 11/9.
Giuffre looking impressively good, Clarke not quite realizing his strings
had to more to them than he thought!
Bradley Hindle v Ian Power
Not much build up to this match, Hindle coming off strong performances in
Vancouver looking to do short work on Power. But that wasn't the case as
Power took the first game from a slow Hindle, looking confident. From
there on Hindle lifted intensity and pace, only dropping a few mistakes
here there to keep Power within touch but not with in Grasp!
A tired Power was constantly speaking to refs, so much so it was
surprising local weather wasn't brought up. The match was more of mental
control effort from Hindle who keeps his role to the next round.
Aaron Frankcomb v Nick Kyme
Nick had been hitting well coming in to this event and was looking to
improve on his ranking, although today was Frankcomb's business day and no
breaks were on the agenda. Playing a dominating pace that Nick replied to
with simple errors, Frankcomb finished his business with an impressive 3/0
under 30 minutes.
David Phillips v Bernado Samper
Bernado, being a fast rising star always impressive in performanc, wasn't
quite expecting the match that was thrown to him. He had few answers to
consistent Phillips who had strong intensions of keeping a strong number
of Canadians in the draw. Neither really dominated 100% with both players
displaying amazing retrievals and shots. The crowd were amazed at both
athleticism and professionalism demonstrated by both players.
Unfortunately someone had to win and Samper sneaks home 13/11 in the fifth
breathing a sigh of relief and Phillips a breath of what could of been!
Amr Mansi v Omar Mossad
What happens when a Qualifier and Main draw player room together? They
draw to play each other first round! And what a classic match it was. A
Fit suffocating player in Mansi against up and coming talent in Mossad!
The referee was on to Mossad from the first rally for interference but it
was not the case ... the ref was 'trigger happy', though Mossad's reaction
was exemplary, never changing and as cool as ice. A see-saw match and
brutal encounter. Mossad claimed the first game but expended a lot energy
as Mansi just kept it going remain the diesel engine that didn't stop
working and taking the remainder games 11/7 11/9 11/8. Mossad showed his
frustration in tense lets ... hope he learns as he talent in abundance!
|
Amr Mansi v Omar
Mossad
What happens when a Qualifier and Main draw player room together? They
draw to play each other first round! And what a classic match it was.
A Fit suffocating player in Mansi against up and coming talent in
Mossad!
The referee was on to Mossad from the first rally for interference but
it was not the case ... the ref was 'trigger happy', though Mossad's
reaction was exemplary, never changing and as cool as ice. A see-saw
match and brutal encounter. Mossad claimed the first game but expended
a lot energy as Mansi just kept it going remain the diesel engine that
didn't stop working and taking the remainder games 11/7 11/9 11/8.
Mossad showed his frustration in tense lets ... hope he learns as he
talent in abundance!
Raphael Alarcon v Lauence Delasuax
Delasaux, playing impressive in previous events and in qualifiers, was
looking to upset a seed here. But the match didn't go to plan for him
with Alarcon playing faultless squash, retrieving everything with
interest for three straight games. Impressive for spectators and other
players watching in 100% focus during every game.
|
|
|
18-Jan-06:
Five up for Calgary
Preview from Ryan Barnett
 The
drive for five, that’s five straight years and counting as the 2006
Talisman Energy Bankers Hall Club Pro-Am squash tournament is set to
begin. Taking place January 18-22nd in dare I say “tropical” Calgary,
Canada (temperature here today was 0 degrees C) qualifying action is set
to begin Wednesday at noon local time.
Past winners of this event read like a who’s who for the sports up and
coming squash talent. Spaniard Borja Golan(2003), Australian
Cameron Pilley(2004), and last year's champ Tommy Berden from
the Netherlands. All have elevated their games and their rankings as a
result of success garnered during their visits to the Stampede city.
This tournament is part of the Canadian Squash Circuit which stops in
Vancouver, Regina, Winnipeg, Toronto, Montreal and Halifax as well.
For
the first time ever a Canadian is the #1 seed. Edmonton’s Matthew
Giuffre by virtue of his world ranking of 40 will be the man everyone
wants to beat. Giuffre had an amazing 2005. His international ranking rose
by 28 spots and he was also part of Canada’s World Championships squad
that finished fourth.
However, not to be overshadowed is another Canadian, Montreal’s Shawn
DeLierre, who had an equally impressive year. DeLierre’s ranking
jumped no less then 30 slots, giving him number 65 on the PSA list and the
#2 seeding for this event.
It will be interesting to see how this one plays. A full compliment of
companion events runs in conjunction with the main draw. For updated match
results and additional information check out the
official tournament website,
Cheers,
Ryan Barnett |
Official site from
Calgary
2005 Event
Tournament Director and BHC
squash pro Bob Ballinger says the pressure to keep this event
at its one star PSA status has been the biggest challenge.
 "This
event continues to get better with every passing year. There has
been talk of bringing in the all-glass court and potentially hosting
a major Super Series event, but just talk.
"I want to stress that the tradition of the Talisman Energy Bankers
Hall Club tournament has always been that this is an event for the
players, specifically for players looking to build their rankings
and make it to the next level. Events this size must remain to grow
the sport as a whole.
"I’ve said it before but it’s worth saying again. Having a title
sponsor like Talisman Energy has been the key to the ongoing
success."
Bob Ballinger |
|
|
