Losone Swiss Classic 2006

Losone Swiss Classic 2006

06-May, Final:
[2] Rafael Alarcon (Bra) bt [4] Laurent Elriani (Fra)
9/11, 11/8, 7/11, 11/5, 13/11 (70m)

Three in a Row for Rafael

Brazilian Rafael Alarcon collected his third PSA Tour Title on the trot, with yet another nail-biting win in the final over Frenchman Laurent Elriani.

Elriani, competing in his first final for many years, started well winning the first game. With the momentum swinging over the next three games, the match eventually stood level at two games all.

The fifth produced the best squash of the match, Alarcon taking an early lead, then Elriani hitting back with some positive attacking play to reach 10-9 match ball. The Brazilian however showed once again why he's been so good in close finishes the last few months, holding strong to win 13-11 in the end.

A fantastic finish to a great event, Alarcon walking away not only with the points for his ever improving ranking but also a watch to the value of 1,700USD which was kindly sponsored by the company 'George J Von Burg'...

George J Von Burg watches

"I'm glad to come back here....Losone Open is always a great tournament.

I hope do my best, and keep the squash level to the crowd…"

Rafael Alarcon

Losone Swiss Squash Classic 2006 Losone, Switzerland, 01-06 May, $11k
Round One May 03	Quarters May 04	Semis May 05	Final May 06
[1] Gavin Jones (Wal) 11/3, 11/4, 11/9 (27m) [Q] Patrick Gassler (Ger)	Gavin Jones 10/12, 11/9, 11/3, 11/0 (45m) Kashif Shuja	Kashif Shuja 11/7, 3/11, 11/2, 11/8 Laurent Elriani	Laurent Elriani 9/11, 11/8, 7/11, 11/5, 13/11 (70m) Rafael Alarcon
Callum O'Brien (Nzl) 11/9, 6/11, 11/5, 11/3 (45m) [7] Kashif Shuja (Nzl)
[4] Laurent Elriani (Fra) 11/5, 10/12, 11/4, 9/11, 11/1 (49m) Luca Mastrostefano (Ita)	Laurent Elriani 11/9, 5/11, 11/8, 5/11, 11/5 (58m) Amr Swelim
[6] Jan Koukal (Cze) 11/13, 7/11, 12/10, 11/2, 11/8 (58m) [Q] Amr Swelim (Egy)
Ian Power (Can) 13/11, 11/6, 11/6 (31m) [5] Omar Mosaad (Egy)	Omar Mosaad 12/10, 11/8, 11/9 (35m) Amr Mansi	Omar Mosaad 6/11, 11/5, 12/14, 14/12, 12/10 (95m) Rafael Alarcon
[Q] Philip Nightingale (Eng) 11/6, 11/5, 11/7 (25m) [3] Amr Mansi (Egy)
[LL] Andre Holderegger (Sui) 11/8, 10/12, 11/6, 11/8 (48m) Sherif Moustafa Kamel (Egy)	Sherif Moustafa Kamel 11/9, 11/2, 11/8 (25m) Rafael Alarcon
[Q] Nicolas Muller (Sui) 11/9, 11/13, 11/5, 11/5 (40m) [2] Rafael Alarcon (Bra)

2005 Event

     Qualifying Finals:
        Patrick Gaessler (Ger) bt Andreas Fuchs (Aut)     11/6, 9/11, 9/11, 11/6, 11/8 (44m)
        Nicolas Müller (Sui) bt Friedrich Scheel (Ger)        11/5, 13/11, 11/7 (35m)
        Philip Nightingale (Eng) bt Aqeel Rehman (Aut)    11/9, 11/6, 11/5 (37m)
        Amr Swelim (Egy) bt Andre Hascker (Ger)            11/8 11/5 8/11 11/9 (43m)

     Qualifying Round One:
        Patrick Gaessler (Ger) bt Michel Haug (Sui)       9/11, 11/4, 11/6, 11/9 (35m)
        Friedrich Scheel (Ger) bt Reiko Peter (Sui)        11/7, 11/9, 11/2 (24m)
        Nicolas Müller (Sui) bt Arthur Gaskin (Irl)          11/8, 11/5, 11/1 (30m)
        Aqeel Rehman (Aut) bt Armando Olguin (Mex)   11/2, 11/6,11/1 (17m)
        Philip Nightingale (Eng) bt David Barnett (Eng)   11/8, 8/11, 11/8, 5/11, 11/9 (46m)
        Andre Haschker (Ger) bt Beni Fischer (Sui)        11/6, 11/5, 11/2 (36m)

05-May, Semis:
Alarcon Squeezes into
Swiss Final ...

In today's semis of the Losone Swiss Squash Classic the crowd were provided with a nail-biter in the first match. Barzilian second seed Rafael Alarcon held off the 18 year old Omar Mosaad of Egypt, with some desperate defence, saving three match balls in the fourth game. In a tight and often disputed finish, the Brazilian held his nerve and won his way into his second PSA final in seven days.

His opponent will be Laurent Elriani of France, who won his way through with a comfortable four-game victory over New Zealand's Kashif Shuja.

04-May, Quarters:
Kashif Shocks Jones ... results

03-May, Round One:
Few upsets in Swiss Classic
Andre Holderegger reports

It was another exciting day in Losone. Biggest upset was Amr Swelim beating Jan Koukal after being 0-2 and 2-6 down in the third game. He took the third game 12-10 in the tiebreak.

Top seed Gavin Jones had a tough match against german Patrick Gässler and was pleased to win it in three, after Gässler started to play brilliantly in the third game.

Italian Luca Mastrostefano had a great match against Laurent Elriani. Mastrosefano won the fourth game in a close set 9-11, but was too tired in the 5th and Elriani won it comfortably with 11-1 in the end.

Local boys Andre Holderegger and Nici Mueller both lost in four games. Holderegger lost to Kamel from Egypt and the 16 year old Mueller took a game from brazilian Rafael Alarcon, continuing to show that he has a promising career in front of him.

Amr Mansi, Kashif Shuja and Omar Mosaad also advanced to the quarter finals.

The players are really enjoying their stay in Losone. It's a spectacular venue and and the off-court activities offer the players a great chance to relax when they're wanting to get away from the squash court. Once again Daniele Bricci is putting up a great event and a big thanks goes out to him from all the players..

02-May, Qualifying finals:
Qualifying Complete in Losone ...
John Williams reports

In the second round of qualifying in the Losone Swiss Squash Classic Patrick Gässler of Germany caused the first upset of the day by putting out top seeded Andreas Fuchs in five hard fought games.

Nicolas Müller, the 16 year old from Switzerland, showed why he is a name to watch for the future, with a clear 3-0 victory over Friedrich Scheel.

Another clear winner was England's Philip Nightingale, with a 3-0 win against Aqeel Rehman, and finally Amr Ramzy Swelim had too many answers at the front of the court for the never-say-die German, Andre Hascker, winning in four games.