The final of the 2018 Linear
Logistics Bankers Hall Club Pro-Am was a straight game victory but it was a lot
closer than that though. In front of packed house #3 seed George
Parker
of England was able to win the tournament without losing a game but was pushed
very hard by second seeded Alfredo Avila of Mexico 11/6, 14/12, 11/9 in a 47
minutes.
First
game saw just too many unforced errors from Avila to produce the lead
for Parker. Game number two was tight all the way with some great
exchanges on the court and some very passionate exchanges from both
player with the officials!
That see saw game could have been what tipped things in Parker’s
advantage no doubt about it but Avila was to push the third game early
on taking a 6-3 lead.
So yet another champion added to the list here to go with the others
starting back in 2001. A very impressive tournament here in the
Stampede city for George Parker as he adds his name with fellow English
players Daryl Selby and Chris Simpson as champions of the Bankers Hall
Club Pro-Am!
Parker was able
to peg it back to 6-6 though then took 9-7 advantage before closing things out
11-9.
(3) George Parker (ENG) bt (2) Alfredo Avila (MEX) 3-0 (11/6, 14/12, 11/9) 47
mins
Report and Results Courtesy Of
Bob Ballinger
Click Image For Larger View
Alfredo Avila and George Parker
with Linear Logistics sponsors
SEMI FINALS-
Official Website
It was down to the final four here at the Linear Logistics Bankers Hall Club Pro
Am in Calgary. There is always a lot of interest in this tournament at every
stage yet even more so in these semis as we had not only Canadian interest
playing with top seed Shawn Delierre but also with defending champion Andrew
Schnell from right here in Calgary! First up was Delierre up against third seed
George Parker of England and it was all Parker as he continued his winning ways
here with his third straight three game victory claiming a 11/3, 11/6, 11/2 win
in 36 minutes. Next up was the 2017 champion Schnell going up against former #35
world ranked and number two seed Alfredo Avila of Mexico. Sadly for the locals
and for Canada it was a zero win day here as Avila had an answer for everything
Schnell put out there with the smooth moving Mexican claiming a 9/11, 11/1,
11/7, 11/4 victory in 48 minutes.
So onto the finals with a great contrast in styles going at it with Parker and
Avila. Parker really has yet to be tested yet and has not dropped a game while
Avila has had two consecutive tough four game matches and is no doubt ready for
this match!
(3) George Parker (ENG) bt (1) Shawn Delierre (CAN) 3-0 (11/3, 11/6, 11/2) 36
mins
(2) Alfredo Avila (MEX) bt (4) Andrew Schnell (CAN) 3-1 (9/11, 11/1, 11/7, 11/4)
48 mins
QUARTER FINALS-
Official Website
Final eight action truly was ramped up a few notches from the first
round with some very close and some very long matches…..all four of
which were highly entertaining. Canadian hopes still in place here in
downtown Calgary with top seed Shawn Delierre coming through in a long
five game battle and defending champion number four seed winning in a
tight three game victory.
(1) Shawn Delierre (CAN) bt (6) Baptiste Masottie (FRA) 3-2 (14/12,
9/11, 6/11, 11/7, 11/4) 87 mins
(3) George Parker (ENG) bt Victor Crouin (FRA) 3-0 (11/7, 11/4, 11/8) 40
mins
(4) Andrew Schnell (CAN) bt (5) Dimitri Steinmann (SUI) 3-0 (11/8, 11/8,
11/8) 53 mins
(2) Alfredo Avila (MEX) bt (8) Juan Camilo Vargas (COL) 3-1 (9/11, 11/9,
11/7, 11/6) 46 mins
ROUND OF 16-
Official Website
As always here there was big crowds settled in even for the first round
lunchtime session as well of course for the evening session matches. All
the seeds went through comfortable except for the only five game match
which saw #7 seed Reiko Peter from Switzerland go down in five games to
young English player Victor Crouin.
(1) Shawn Delierre (CAN) bt WC Jake Hooker (CAN) 3-0 (11/5, 11/5, 11/8)
26mins
(6) Baptiste Masotti (FRA) bt Ondrej Unerka (CZE) 3-0 (11/9, 11/6, 11/6)
33 mins
(8) Juan Camilo Vargas (COL) bt Mark Broekman (ENG) 3-0 (11/6, 11/5,
11/5) 24 mins
(2) Alfedo Avila (MEX) bt Sebastien Bonmalais (FRA) 3-0 (11/7, 11/7,
11/9) 32 mins
(3) George Parker (ENG) bt Kale Wilson (TRI) 3-0 ( 11/5, 11/3, 11/3) 22
mins
(4) Andrew Schnell (CAN) bt Thomas King (CAN) 3-0 (11/2, 11/1, 11/2) 25
mins
Victor Crouin (FRA) bt (7) Reiko Peter (SUI) 3-2 (11/7, 5/11, 11/2,
6/11, 11/4) 63 mins
(5) Dimitri Steinmann (SUI) bt Israr Ahmed (PAK) 3-0 (11/7, 11/6, 11/1)
26 mins
The 2018 Linear Logistics Bankers Hall Club
Pro-Am is ready to roll here at Bankers Hall Club in downtown Calgary,
Alberta Canada. Top seed this year is Canada’s own Shawn DeLierre who is
no stranger to this tournament yet has not yet been able to crack
through and win it here despite many attempts over his long PSA career.
Second seed is Mexico’s Alfredo Avila who like DeLierre has at one time
been ranked as high as #35 in the world rankings. Third seed is
England’s George Parker who is currently sitting at #76 in the PSA
rankings. Rounding out the top four seeds is Calgary and Canada’s own
Andrew Schnell who last year at this event was top seed and carried that
through to a thrilling five game victory in the finals. His ranking has
dropped a bit over the last year but he is excited about this phase of
the season…..here’s hoping the familiar surroundings of Bankers Hall
Club will get him going!
This is the 17th version of the Pro-Am here and there is a long list of
who’s who that have won this event over the years and also have played
in it. Everyone is ready for what should again be a great tournament
here!
The Bankers Hall Club Pro-Am
squash tournament is one of the premier squash tournaments each squash
season in Canada. This season’s Pro-Am squash tournament will be held
January 24 to 28, 2018 and we are pleased to announce that our title
sponsor is once again Linear Logistics.
The tournament will once again be a part of Men’s PSA International pro
circuit and the 16 players will be competing at the $10,000 US prize
level. Most of the players that have competed in this event over the
years have gone on to have successful pro careers with some rising to
top 10 in the world rankings including Miguel Rodriguez, Omar Mosaad,
Simon Roesner, Peter Barker, and Max Lee to name a few. In fact 21 of
the current top 50 in the men’s world rankings have played in the Pro-Am
here.
Past Champions
As well as the highlighted Men’s PSA event there is a full slate of
amateur events for Men and Women to enter into. Entry fee includes an
Orchid Room dinner on Friday night, Saturday morning Continental
Breakfast, Saturday night banquet at Local Pubic Eatery on 8th Avenue, a
tournament souvenir, and of course a beverage ticket. There is also an
Early Bird Draw for all participants that enter by January 7th they will
be put into a draw for a Head Prize package valued at over $300 which
includes a top of the line Head racquet as well other Head product. To
see complete tournament information including the draws for the amateur
events.
Charity
This year the Bankers Hall Club Pro-Am is pleased to be associated with
the Crohns & Colitis Foundation of Canada. Part of the tournament
proceeds will be directed to this charity to support medical research to
help find a cure.
Venues
The 2018 Bankers Hall Club Pro-Am squash tournament is once again hosted
by Bankers Hall Club. The club is a premier, private, adult-only
facility located on the fourth floor of Bankers Hall Retail on Stephen
Avenue Mall, conveniently located in the downtown core of Calgary.
We are also using courts at another club in downtown Calgary, Western
Canadian Place Fitness Centre. Located just a ten-minute walk from our
host club at 707-8th Ave SW, P1 Level. Phone: (403) 662-2240.
A big thanks to Western Canadian Place Fitness Centre and their staff
for being a part of this tournament.
Some of the best up and coming squash players in the world are again
soon to hit Calgary, Canada for the 17th version of the Linear Logistics
Bankers Hall Club Pro Am. This event is the second longest running PSA
event in Canada and one of the longest on tour. A strong field has been
confirmed now for the event. To view the draw and to see complete
tournament information please click here
https://bankershallclub.com/services/squash/pro-am/
Some names to note on PSA players list....first of all is Calgary's own
Andrew Schnell is the defending champion of the tournament after winning
his first ever PSA10 Level here in thrilling fashion last January. Two
of his Canadian team mates will also be here.....Shawn DeLierre is no
stranger to our tournament and has been tabbed as the #1 seed here as
well as the #2 seed Nick Sachvie who lost out to Schnell in a great
match last year. Two Mexican players who have played at this tournament
over the years will be here as Alfredo Avila comes in as the #5 seed
while long time crowd favorite here Eric Galvez returns once again. Two
names to watch out for are Swiss player Reiko Peter who has been playing
very well the last few months after recovering very well from major
surgery and also 19 year old French player Victor Crouin is already at
#118 in the world rankings at such a young age. Lastly Calgary's Jake
Hooker was given the wild card spot in the PSA event as a reward for his
continued improved play, hard work on court, and his all around great
sportsmanship....best of luck to him as well.
