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Talisman Energy Bankers Hall Club Pro
Am
19-22 Jan, Calgary, Canada, $10k |
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22-Jan,
Final:
SIMPSON REPEATS IN CALGARY
Bob Ballinger reports
 For
the second year in a row Chris Simpson has won the Talisman Energy
Bankers Hall Club Pro Am squash tournament. The number two seed was
clearly the class of the field this week as did not lost a single
game throughout the tenth annual event at Bankers Hall Club in
downtown Calgary.
In the final Simpson was never threatened in either of the first two
games winning them both comfortably by scores of 11/3 and 11/4.
Simpson was determined not to let Au have any opportunity to get in
front of him with time to utilize his great front court game. The
third game saw the players go point for point until Simpson broke
free from 5/5 to take an 8/5 lead. Upon winning the final rally a
fist pump from Simpson signalled his satisfaction at securing his
title here for the second time. Simpson showed his experience in
each match here against younger opponents and his ability to solve
the lively/altitude aided conditions left all of them shaking their
heads at times as well.
Two things should be noted here...first of all the success of a trio
of players here this week. Calgarians Andrew Schnell, Graeme
Schnell, and David Letourneau all had great success here this week
with national team member Andrew Schnell making his way to the semi
finals. Along with another Calgary player Andrew McDougall
(currently injured) they grew up watching matches in this tournament
in the PSA event as kids playing in the local amateur divisions. All
of them are now one of those PSA "big boys" playing in front of
packed galleries and no doubt there are other youngsters here
wondering if they too will be doing the same thing here in years to
come.
Secondly, in the ten years of this event the champions list has
names of players that were, or are, well known on the world
circuit.....players such as two time champions Chris Simpson and
Arturo Salazar, Borja Golan, Cameron Pilley, Tommy Berden, Matthew
Giuffre, Shahier Razik, and Daryl Selby. Other great players and
crowd favorites that have played this event but were unable to win
it include Peter Barker, Miguel Rodriguez, Simon Rosner, Jonathon
Kemp, Rafael Alarcon, Eric Galvez, Ben Garner, Martin Knight, Alan
Clyne and Jan Koukal to name only a few of many. A big thanks to our
title sponsor Talisman Energy for their support not only this year
but for each of the ten years of this event. We hope that
relationship continues here for another ten years!
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 Bankers
Hall Club Pro Am 2012
19-22 Jan, Calgary, Canada, $10k |
Round One
19 Jan |
Quarters
20 Jan |
Semis
21 Jan |
Final
22 Jan |
[1] Nafiizwan Adnan (Mas)
10/12, 11/9, 11/9, 7/11, 11/9 (94m)
Charles Sharpes (Eng) |
Charles Sharpes
9-11 11-8 13-11 11-8 (93m)
Lewis Walters |
Charles Sharpes
11/7, 11/4, 11/7 (61m)
Leo Au |
Leo Au
11/3, 11/4, 11/7 (40m)
[2] Chris Simpson |
Matthew Serediak (Can)
1/4, 11/9, 11/6 (32m)
Lewis Walters (Eng) |
Erik Tepos Valtierra (Mex)
11/7, 11/7, 12/ 10 (45m)
Leo Au (Hkg) |
Leo Au
9-11, 11-6, 11-6, 11-5 (55m)
Scott Arnold |
Scott Arnold (Aus)
11/5, 12/10, 11/6 (34m)
[4] Dick Lau (Hkg) |
[3] Jan Koukal (Cze)
11/5, 6/11, 11/5, 11/13, 12/10 (87m)
Andrew Schnell (Can) |
Andrew Schnell
11/7, 11/7, 11/1 (41m)
Graeme Schnell |
Andrew Schnell 11/4, 11/5,
11/3 (45m)
[2] Chris Simpson |
Alfredo Avila (Mex)
11/9, 12/10, 3/11, 11/8 (64m)
Graeme Schnell (Can) |
David Letourneau (Can)
11/5, 11/3, 11/4 (25m)
Fred Reid (Can) |
David Letourneau
11/7, 11/7, 11/6 (46m)
[2] Chris Simpson |
Dane Sharp (Can)
11/5, 11/5, 12/10 (54m)
[2] Chris Simpson (Eng) |
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22-Jan, Final: Simpson retains the title
21-Jan, Semis:
SIMPSON SETS UP REPEAT CHANCE IN STAMPEDE CITY
Bob Ballinger reports
Defending
champion Chris Simpson is poised to join Arturo Salazar as
the only back to back winners of the Talisman Energy Bankers Hall
Club Pro Am in Calgary, Alberta Canada.
To do so though he will have
to overcome the very impressive world #87 Leo Au of Hong Kong
who like Simpson has seemed to get better each match of this tenth
annual event here.
Leo Au (HKG) vs Charles Sharpes (ENG)
 In front of a packed afternoon crowd in downtown Calgary Leo Au put
an end to the impressive run of Charles Sharpes in a straight games
victory. Sharpes had spent over 90 minutes on court in each of his
previous two matches and possibly was a half step off his pace of
the first two matches.
This is not to take anything away from Au who has shown the squash
enthusiasts here a wonderful combination of smooth movement on court
as well as great touch on the lively altitude courts here. In each
game of their 61 minute match Au was always a comfortable number of
points ahead of Sharpes, who was unable to put himself into Sunday's
final.
#2 Chris Simpson (ENG) vs Andrew Schnell (CAN)
 In the second semi final of the day it was a rematch of a first
round encounter between these two players from last year at this
tournament where Simpson started his run to winning the tournament
by beating Schnell in straight games. So could Schnell after one
more year of experience on the PSA circuit as well as international
team play with Canada's national team improve on last years result
with Simpson?
Sadly for the young Calgary player there would not be a victory
today as the defending champion Simpson turned in a near perfect
match as he took out Schnell in three games lasting 45 minutes. A
total of 3 unforced errors from Simpson as well as precision tight
shots that did not allow Schnell to have any opportunity to put any
sustained pressure on Simpson where a big reason why the local could
get any sort of rhythm going in his favour.
Simpson's game today truly was one of the most impressive displays
of squash we have seen here for quite some time as showed not only
his experience of being on the circuit for longer than Schnell but
also how he was able to cope with the lively courts here with
altitude in downtown Calgary.
So we are suddenly down to two......and it should be a great match
with the very fluid smooth style of the Hong Kong player Leo Au up
against the all round game of the defending champion Chris Simpson.
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20-Jan,
Quarters:
ORDER RESTORED IN THE STAMPEDE CITY
Bob Ballinger reports
After
a week of abnormal freezing winter temperatures and a first day full
of upsets on the court, things have come back to order here in
Calgary after quarter final play in the 10th annual Talisman Energy
Bankers Hall Club Pro Am.
A week that had seen winter finally arrive with temperatures as low
as minus 40C and a day of squash where three of the top four seeds
were sent packing, we are back to normal here as all the players
moved true to form and the weather is back near zero degrees.
Charles Sharpes (ENG) vs Lewis Walters (ENG)
The biggest giant killer of day one, Charles Sharpes continued his
impressive run here as followed up his 94 minute dismissal of the #1
seed by beating fellow Englishman Lewis Walters in a long four game
match that went 93 minutes. That gives Sharpes a total of three
hours and seven minutes of court time in his two matches! There was
never more than a three point difference at any time between these
two with Sharpes being able to string a crucial run from 6-6 in the
fourth game to take a 9-6 lead which he rode to 11-8 final game
result thus enabling him to be the first player here to reach the
semi finals.
Leo Au (HKG) vs Scott Arnold (AUS)
Neither of these two players were given too much of a test in round
one so it was assured that they would be fresh for this match. Tough
no doubt for them to get going after waiting for the marathon match
before them to end and it was Arnold who was able to squeeze out a
tight first game 11-9. From there on though it was the very
impressive young Hong Kong star who displayed his smooth patient
game and rode that to a comfortable four game victory.
#2 Chris Simpson (ENG) vs David Letourneau (CAN)
Defending champion and number two seed Simpson was in fine form
tonight and demonstrated once again that his game really can match
up against whatever style is thrown his way. Tonight it was the
aggressive and attacking style of Letourneau that came his way with
Simpson showing his disappointing result in last weeks Vancouver
tournament was no doubt a thing of the past. A very entertaining
straight games victory for Simpson but no doubt a great shot of
experience for the talented youngster who was playing in his
hometown in front of family and friends.
Andrew Schnell (CAN) vs WC Graeme Schnell (CAN)
There has been many memorable matches in the history of this
tournament as well as many much anticipated matches here too. This
was one that was very highly anticipated due in large part to the
fact that the brothers were playing in their hometown as well as
that many in the crowd had watched them play numerous local
tournaments over the years.
No doubt the heavy favourite was the younger Schnell but some
wondered how he would handle playing not just his brother and great
friend, but doing it on such a big stage....the reward to be a berth
in the semi finals here. The match was much like others with these
two.....Andrew being able to dictate play most of the time with long
rallies and great retrieving by both players. With their father
nervously looking on and their mother just too anxious to even come
and watch them it was Andrew who secured his spot in the semis.
So its onto the semis now ... one must wonder just how much can be
left in the tank for the impressive Charles Sharpes as he will take
on the talented young Leo Au. And in a rematch of their first round
match here one year ago, the defending champion Chris Simpson will
have his hands full with not only the local star Andrew Schnell but
also knowing the home crowd will surely be pulling for Schnell to
reach his first ever PSA final!
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19-Jan, Round One:
BIG DAY FOR CALGARIANS AS
MAJOR UPSETS HIGHLIGHT DAY ONE
Bob Ballinger reports
Despite
sub zero temperatures hitting the city of Calgary early this week
first round play was very heated in many aspects as day one of the
tenth annual Talisman Energy Bankers Hall Club Pro Am is now in the
books.
Never in the history of this tournament has there been so many
upsets on the first day and never before have three Calgarians made
their way into the quarter finals!
#1 Nafiizwan Adnan (MAS) vs Charles Sharpes (ENG) - top seed
and current world #32 Adnan was the first seed to bow out of the
tournament as he went down in five long tough games to impressive
Charles Sharpes of England in a five game 95 minute battle. The
packed lunch time crowd at Bankers Hall Club were treated to a real
back and forth match that never saw more than a four point
difference between the two players and after 95 minutes Sharpes had
pulled out a huge huge win.
Lewis Walters (ENG) vs Matthew Serediak (CAN) - Canada's
first hope of the day was with Serediak who was added to the draw
after the withdrawal of Stephane Galifi. Suffering from the after
effects of a bad cold he was unable to keep up with the pace that
Walters put him under going down in three games.
#4 Dick Lau (HKG) vs Scott Arnold (AUS) - court 4 here
claimed its second successive seeded victim as Lau went down rather
quietly to the tall Aussie in three straight games. Arnold who was
ranked in low 50's at one point showed that he just may start to
push back to that level again in an all round impressive match.
Leo Au (HKG) vs Erik Tepos Valterra - Hong Kong hopes stayed
alive here as Au was able to hold off his Mexican opponent in a 45
minute straight games victory as the lunch time session of four
matches wrapped up with this one.
#2 Chris Simpson (ENG) vs Dane Sharp (CAN) - defending
champion Simpson show cased his impressive all round game here as he
took out the improving Canadian Sharp in a long three game match to
start off the evening session of matches here. In a repeat of their
four game quarter final of last year in this tournament Sharp was
able to put a big push in the third game losing that one 12-10 to
close out the match.
WC Graeme Schnell (CAN) vs Alfredo Avila (MEX) - in his first
official PSA event local Calgarian and tournament wild card Schnell
thrilled the hometown crowd with a very exciting four game victory
over Mexican national team member Avila. After winning a very tight
first two games Schnell lost his way in third game only to prevail
with a strong fourth game to take the victory.
#3 Jan Koukal (CZE) vs Andrew Schnell (CAN) - in a much
anticipated match, Canadian Mens team member Schnell joined his
older brother in the quarter finals with a hard fought victory over
tour veteran Koukal in 87 minutes. Things looked to be well in hand
for Schnell as he led two games to one and 8-3 in the fourth only to
see Koukal impose his experience to steal that game 13-11 despite a
match ball against him. The fifth game then seemed to be in Koukal's
control as he led 7-3 only to see Schnell win seven straight points
to reach match ball at 10-7. Again Koukal dug in and tied things up
at 10-10 only to see Schnell secure a quarter final berth against
his older brother.
Fred Reid (CAN) vs David Letourneau (CAN) - the final match
of the night showcased two more of Canada's impressive young players
with Calgary raised Letourneau joining the Canadian crowd in the
quarter finals with an impressive straight games win over Reid.
So its onto the quarter finals here in the Stampede city........some
exciting match ups to come no doubt about it! For the first time
ever here we having three Calgarians in the quarter finals and we
are assured on one to be in the semis! Sharpes and Walters; Arnold
and Au; Schnell and Schnell; and defending champ Simpson and
Letourneau.......each match has potential to be outstanding!
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Ten and counting for Bankers Hall Club Pro Am
Bob Ballinger reports
The
2012 Talisman Energy Bankers Hall Club Pro-Am Squash Tournament
is all set to go later this week at Bankers Hall Club in
downtown Calgary, Alberta.
This year was once again a sell out on the amateur side and in
record time too with entries having to close a mere three and a half
hours after they opened on December 1st!
With 160 amateur entries and another 55 on the waiting list it is
once again one of the most popular tournaments anywhere squash is
played.
Again a part of this tournament is the Men’s PSA event with 16 of
the world’s best up and coming professionals playing for $10,000 US
prize money.
This is the tenth year of PSA squash at Bankers Hall Club making it
the second longest running event in Canada. Top seed is world #37
Nafiizwan Adnan of Malaysia; second seed is defending champion
Chris Simpson of England; Jan Koukal of the Czech
Republic who is pretty much a regular at this event is the number
three seed; and Dick Lau from Hong Kong rounds out the top
four seeds.
Canadian content is highlighted by three Calgary players led by
local star Andrew Schnell who is playing full time on the PSA
circuit and is also a member of Canada’s National Men’s team; his
brother Graeme Schnell makes his first official PSA debut as
the tournament wild card; and David Letourneau who had a
great junior then college career and is now making his climb quite
nicely up the PSA rankings. Other Canadians in the field include
Dane Sharp, Matt Serediak, and Fred Reid.
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