26-Apr, Final:
[2] Jon Kemp (Eng) bt [1] Omar Mosaad (Egy)
             11-7, 3-11, 11-5, 11-2

Kemp takes Berkshire title
Whit Sheppard reports

World no. 32 Jonathan Kemp captured his seventh PSA Tour title Sunday in fairly comfortable fashion with a 11-7, 3-11, 11-5, 11-2 win in the Berkshire Open final in Williamstown, Mass. over the top seed, Omar Mosaad of Egypt.

The 28-year-old from Halifax, England, took control of the match early in the third game and cruised to his second title of 2009, adding the Berkshire title to an earlier win in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

"I wasn't nervous at all out there today," said Kemp. "I'm not sure what happened with Omar [in the last two games] but I don't think it was physical. I've had the same thing happen to me before."

Mosaad, a 21-year-old from Cairo, was gracious in defeat. He said, "I played tough matches in this tournament and maybe that's why it came out this way today."

Mosaad falls to 3-4 in PSA Tour finals, and is 0-2 in finals in 2009, having lost in the Kuala Lumpur final earlier in the year.

Kemp's record in finals now stands at a sterling 7-2 overall.

25-Apr, Semis:
Semis in Williamstown
Match points from Whit Sheppard

The hopes of America's top-ranked squash player, Julian Illingworth, the 5-time U.S. national champion, were dashed Saturday evening in the semifinals of the $20,000 Berkshire Squash Open on the campus of Williams College, as top-seeded Omar Mosaad of Egypt beat the world no. 37, 12-10, 11-7, 11-9 in 53 minutes.

Mosaad will play Jonathan Kemp of England in Sunday's 5 p.m. final. The no. 2 seed overcame a determined effort from fifth-seeded Arturo Salazar of Mexico, 9-11, 11-7, 11-4, 9-11, 11-5 in 55 minutes in the day's first semifinal.

Illingworth said of Mosaad, "He's just dangerous... he's got a cannon on his arm and I didn't really find the balance I wanted today."

Illingworth and Kemp are friendly, and the American's advice to his British counterpart is the following: "He's got to attack him straight-on and not hit the ball in the middle of the court. Giving him that angle is not the way to go."

Kemp was glad to get through to last two and saw positives in the test that Salazar gave him. "It's good having had a tough match heading into the finals. It usually helps me play better the next day and takes the edge off the nerves."

Kemp and Mosaad will square off Sunday afternoon at 5 p.m. on an all-glass court temporarily constructed in Chandler Gymnasium to see who takes home the 2009 Berkshire Open title.
  

Finals Gallery

Semis Gallery

Round One Slideshow & Gallery

12-10, 11-7, 11-9 (53m)

[4] Julian Illingworth

 11-7, 3-11, 11-5, 11-2

[2] Jon Kemp

9-11, 11-7, 11-4, 9-11, 11-5 (55m)

[2] Jon Kemp

23-Apr, Round One:
Mexicans advance in Williamstown
Match points from Whit Sheppard

World no. 43 Arturo Salazar started slowly before finding the range against Englishman Shaun Le Roux, wearing down his opponent with superior quickness and good touch in the front of the court.

South African veteran Regardt Schonborn drew on his experience from his unbeaten days as a player and coach at Trinity College to come back from 1-2 down and eke out a win over 4th-seeded Egyptian Omar Abdel Aziz. "It's my first win over a Top-40 player, I believe," said the winner after the day's biggest upset.

America's Chris Gordon gave a valiant effort, particularly in the fourth and final game when he saved four match balls, but Jorge Ferreira proved too tough in the end and advances to Friday's second round.

Second seed Jonathan Kemp was never seriously threatened in a routine win over Patrick Chifunda, the Zambian veteran based in Richmond, VA. "Patrick's a tough player to play against, as he hits a variety of shots," said Kemp, but the Englishman had more weapons in his arsenal and advances to the second round.

Top-seeded Egyptian Omar Mosaad managed to steady himself after South African qualifier TG Raubenheimer evened things at a game apiece and then went on to close out the match in four games.

Crafty left-hander Robbie Temple made short work of Arshad Iqwbal Burki, the qualifier from Pakistan, in a match that featured numerous lets and appeals to the referees. "He plays a very unorthodox game and is not an easy player to play against," Temple said of his opponent.

The American no. 1 Julian Illingworth, recent winner at the Pacific Life Open in Northern California, continued his strong play and overcame a determined effort from young Australian Ryan Cuskelly. "If Ryan had won that third game, who knows?" said Illingworth. "I could have been out there for another 20 minutes at least."

Mexican qualifier Cesar Salazar joined compatriots Jorge Ferreira and his twin brother Arturo in the quarterfinals with a gritty comeback win over Dutch-based Australian Bradley Hindle.

Quarter-Final Gallery

22-Apr, Qualifying Finals:
Cesar Salazar (Mex) bt Michal Reid (Can)                             11-9, 11-3, 11-8 (39m)
T.G. Raubenheimer (Rsa) bt Joshua Greenfield (Nzl)            13-11, 11-9, 11-2 (30m)
Patrick Chifunda (Zam) bt Chris Truswell (Eng)          11-6, 11-7, 4-11, 13-11 (45m)
Arshad Iqbal Burki (Pak) bt Lekgotla Mosope (Bot)             17-15, 11-4, 11-5 (52m)

Roundup from Whit Sheppard

Mexico's Cesar Salazar joined twin brother Arturo in the main draw with a solid win over Canadian Michal Reid. He'll play #8 seed Bradley Hindle of Australia in first-round action Thursday.  South African TG Raubenheimer advanced into the main draw after a closely contested match of wills in the opening two games, setting up a first-round match against the top seed, Omar Mosaad of Egypt.

Zambian veteran Patrick Chifunda fought off a determined challenge from Englishman Chris Truswell, capturing a fourth-game tiebreaker to avoid going to a decisive fifth game. He'll play #2 seed Jonathan Kemp of England. Arshad Iqbal Burki outlasted Lekgotla Mosope in a 26-minute first game before cruising to the win and into the main draw, where he'll face Englishman Robbie Temple.

21-Apr, Qualifying Round One:

Arshad Iqbal Burki (Pak) bt Ehimen Joseph Ehalen (Ngr)             11-9, 11-8, 11-4
Lekgotla Mosope (Bot) bt Lefika Ragontse (Bot)                          11-8, 11-9, 11-9
TG Raubenheimer (Rsa) bt Thomas Brinkman (Can)           11-4, 6-11, 11-5, 11-6
Joshua Greenfield (Nzl) bt Armando Olguin (Mex)                        11-1, 11-2, 11-4
Cesar Salazar (Mex) bt Ryan Thompson (Rsa)                  11-13, 11-5, 11-7, 11-6
Michal Reid (Can) bt Maxym Leclair (Can)                                   11-4, 11-2, 11-4
Chris Truswell (Eng) bt Robby Lingashi (Zam)                             11-3, 11-6, 11-7
Patrick Chifunda (Zam) bt Graham Bassett (Usa)                        11-5, 11-9, 11-5

21-Apr: The court rises in the Chandler Gymnasium ...

2007 Event    2006 Event    2005 Event    2004 Event

"The success of the 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2007 events was evidence of our commitment to bringing world class squash to the Berkshires. We have worked hard to prepare a solid ground for the event which will see the tournament continue as the most prestigious professional sporting event in the Berkshires.

"Hosting the tournament on a glass court is a huge step toward making the Berkshire Squash Open one of the most prestigious tournaments in the US."

 
Tournament Director &
Williams College Head Squash Coach

With prize money of $20,000, the 2009 Berkshire Squash Open is one of the top squash tournaments in the U.S., attracting some of the top-30 players in the international professional ranking system. As in past years the draw features players from many countries such as Australia, England, Egypt, Mexico, South Africa and Pakistan well as the U.S.

"For the fifth time in as many years, True North Financial Services, a Mountain-One Financial Partner, is proud to be the presenting sponsor of the Berkshire Squash Open. True North has always been committed to community involvement and sponsorship of local events.

"The Berkshire Squash Open is a one-of-a-kind competition in this area, and allows non-squash and squash enthusiasts alike the opportunity to see world class athletes at their best. We are excited to be able to help this event take place right here in the heart of the Berkshires.


True North financial

Since the construction of the Simon Squash Center in 1998, Williams’ excellent facilities have been a magnet for a growing body of squash players, consisting of more than 100 Williams faculty and staff, 150 local residents, hundreds of Williams students and a growing number of junior players.

“The goal of the tournament is to provide the rapidly growing number of squash enthusiasts in the area with an opportunity to watch world-class squash at an affordable price,” says Coach Levy.

Williams College Athletic Director Harry Sheehy adds, “Once again, we are pleased to be hosting an event that will bring some of the top squash players in the world to the College and to the community.”
 

Official Charity

Starting this year, the 2009 Berkshire Open will serve as official charity event to support NUSEA, National Urban Squash and Educational Association. NUSEA is a non-profit organization which governs all urban squash programs in the United States.

The goal is to raise $15,000 to sponsor the NUSEA national championship tournament held at Williams College June 19-21. The NUSEA national championship will bring to Williamstown 350 urban squash players for a weekend of squash and fun. For many of the participants, the weekend spent in Williamstown is the only time during the year they visit the countryside.

Amateur Event

There will be an amateur event during the weekend of April 25-26 which will include Williams squash alumni, Williams’ varsity team members, members of the local squash community and out of town visitors who sign up for the event. Williams College plans on hosting a special dinner for all alumni on Saturday night between the two semifinals.