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11/04/2005
IRISH OPEN: Fitzwilliam LTC, Dublin.
Ong Beng Hee and Perry Triumph in Irish
RESULTS:
(Note: Results are in draw order.)
MEN'S: 1st round:
[1] Ong Beng Hee (MAS) bt Arthur Gaskin (IRL) 11-5, 11-7, 11-2
Liam Kenny (IRL) bt [6] Ben Garner (ENG) 11-7, 11-9, 11-9
[4] Rodney Durbach (RSA) bt [Q] Sherif Moustafa Kamel (EGY) 11-9, 10-11, 11-4, 11-5
[7] Phillip Barker (ENG) bt [Q] Sam Miller (ENG) 11-6, 11-3, 10-11, 11-3
Stacey Ross (ENG) bt [5] Hisham Mohd Ashour (EGY) 11-9, 11-5, 4-11, 11-4
[3] Laurens Jan Anjema (NED) bt [Q] Scott Handley (ENG) 11-9, 11-5, 11-2
[8] Stephane Galifi (FRA) bt Niall Rooney (IRL) 11-3, 11-7, 11-8
[2] Alex Gough (WAL) bt [Q] Laurent Elriani (FRA) 11-8, 11-8, 11-4
MEN’S: Quarter-finals:
Ong Beng Hee, Mas. (1) beat Liam Kenny 7-11 11-3 6-11 11-7 11-6 (80 mins)
Rodney Durbach RSA (4) beat Philip Barker (Eng) (7) 11-8 11-8 11-5 (40 mins)
Laurens Jan Anjema, Ned (3) beat Stacey Ross, Eng. Retired
Alex Gough def Stephane Galifi 3/2 (11/7, 6/11, 11/8, 3/11, 11/5) 60mins
MENS: semi-finals:
[1] Ong Beng Hee (MAS) bt [4] Rodney Durbach (RSA) 9-11, 11-7, 11-6, 11-8 (58m)
[3] Laurens Jan Anjema (NED) bt [2] Alex Gough (WAL) 11-7, 11-7, 5-11, 4-11, 11-6 (67m)
Final:
[1] Ong Beng Hee (MAS) bt [3] Laurens Jan Anjema (NED) 11-9, 7-11, 11-7, 11-4 (75m)
WOMEN'S: 1st round:
[1] Madeline Perry (IRL) bt [Q] Jenna Gates (ENG) 9-2, 9-1, 9-2
[8] Sarah Kippax (ENG) bt Manuela Manetta (ITA) 9-1, 8-10, 4-9, 9-4, 9-2
[3] Stephanie Brind (ENG) bt [Q] Kirsty McPhee (ENG) 9-2, 10-9, 9-2
[6] Lauren Briggs (ENG) bt [Q] Jana Smeralova (CZE) 9-1, 9-0, 9-3
[5] Rebecca Botwright (ENG) bt Karen Kronemeyer (NED) 9-5, 10-8, 9-6
[4] Tegwen Malik (WAL) bt Aisling Blake (IRL) 9-4, 9-1, 9-3
[7] Olga Puigdemont Sola (ESP) bt [Q] Margriet Huisman (NED) 9-10, 9-3, 9-3, 9-0
[2] Annelize Naude (NED) bt Suzie Pierrepont (ENG) 9-4, 9-3, 9-0
WOMEN’S: Quarter-finals:
[1] Madeline Perry (IRL) bt [8] Sarah Kippax (ENG) 9-3, 9-0, 9-6 (33m)
[3] Stephanie Brind (ENG) bt [6] Lauren Briggs (ENG) 9-6, 9-7, 9-3 (26m)
[4] Tegwen Malik (WAL) bt [5] Rebecca Botwright (ENG) 9-7, 9-3, 10-9 (40m)
[2] Annelize Naude (NED) bt [7] Olga Puigdemont Sola (ESP) 9-4, 9-4, 10-8 (38m)
Women's semi-finals:
[1] Madeline Perry (IRL) bt [3] Stephanie Brind (ENG) 3-9, 10-9, 9-0, 9-4 (45m)
[2] Annelize Naude (NED) bt [4] Tegwen Malik (WAL) 9-4, 9-5, 9-4 (31m)
Women's final:
[1] Madeline Perry (IRL) bt [2] Annelize Naude (NED) 9-4, 2-9, 7-9, 9-4, 9-6 (90m)
REPORTS:
Top Seeds Triumph In Irish Open
Top seeds Ong Beng Hee and Madeline Perry claimed the titles in the Irish Open Squash Championships after marathon finals at the Fitzwilliam Lawn Tennis Club in Dublin.
Craigeavon-born Madeline Perry thrilled the packed audience by bringing the women's title back home after two years in Dutch hands. The 28-year-old Irish National champion took the first game easily 9-4. But her Netherlands opponent Annelize Naude, the No2 seed, powered her way through the next two games to go 2/1 up.
Perry retained the initiative to level the match and force the final into a decider. The fifth game became a very contentious affair with most points being replayed on let decisions. However, Perry finally came through to take the match 9-4 2-9 7-9 9-4 9-6 in 90 minutes - one of the longest women's matches on record.
The triumph marked Perry's second WISPA World Tour title of the year, and the fourth of her career.
The men's final produced a confidence-boosting win for former world junior champion Ong Beng Hee. The UK-based Malaysian was stretched for 75 minutes by third seed Laurens Jan Anjema, the fast-improving 22-year-old Dutchman who knocked out second seed Alex Gough in the previous round.
But Beng Hee ultimately prevailed 11-9 7-11 11-7 11-4 to claim his first PSA Tour title of the year and the ninth of his career.
SEMI-FINALS:
Anjema Axes Alex In Irish Open
Dutchman Laurens Jan Anjema upset second-seeded Welshman Alex Gough in a dramatic five-game battle in the semi-finals of the Irish Open Squash Championships at the Fitzwilliam Lawn Tennis Club in Dublin to achieve his third breakthrough result on the PSA Tour this year.
The 22-year-old third seed from The Hague took a two games lead against the experience Gough, ranked 25 in the world, before losing his way as the Welsh national champion fought back to level the match.
But Anjema, who reached the quarter-finals of both the Windy City Open and Dayton Open earlier in the year as a qualifier, reasserted himself in the decider to clinch an 11-7 11-7 5-11 4-11 11-6 victory in 67 minutes.
In his tenth PSA Tour final, Anjema will meet top seed Ong Beng Hee after the Malaysian overcame a first game loss to defeat South Africa's fourth seed Rodney Durbach 9-11 11-7 11-6 11-8 in 58 minutes.
A tense opening game in the first semi-final of the women's event had spectators on edge. Irish number one Madeline Perry, the favourite, took a game to settle down before beating her English opponent Stephanie Brind 3-9 10-9 9-0 9-4 in 45 minutes.
Third seed Brind played a focused opening game, with plenty of lobs followed by drops to unsettle Perry. The local favourite played with better length in the second to race to an 8-3 lead. Brind, however, played her way back into the game until her racket broke in two at 8-8. Perry played a superb volley to get game ball at 9-8, but Brind fought back to serve at nine-all.
But a brave drop gave Perry a second chance, which she finally won on a stroke to level the match.
Madeline then raced ahead to take the third game 9-0. With renewed confidence the outcome was never in doubt. Stephanie's mistakes mounted while Madeline's winners increased. A magnificent drop volley gave Perry an 8-4 lead, and another nicked shot won the match in style for the top seed.
Perry, now in her third WISPA World Tour final this year, will face Annelize Naude of the Netherlands, seeded two and ranked 15 in the world. Naude won her semi-final against Tegwen Malik, the fourth seed from Wales, 9-4 9-5 9-4.
QUARTER-FINALS
Ong Finally subdues Kenny
The quarter finals of both the men’s and women’s Irish Squash Open Championship were played at Fitzwilliam Lawn Tennis Club last evening where all games went according to seeding. However, Ireland’s No 1, Liam Kenny, put up a superb performance against the No 1 seed, Ong Beng Hee losing in a nail-biting fifth set. Kenny, playing beautifully, led by two games to one and later led by six points to five in the fifth set before Ong Beng Hee showed his class rating of sixteenth in the world and eventually pulled away to win the final set.
Eighty minutes of thrilling squash by the Irishman clearly demonstrated how Irish squash can comfortably compete at this level. This result should boost Kenny’s ranking up the ladder from his current position at forty six.
By contrast Ireland’s Madeline Perry, the No 1 seed had an easy passage into the semi-finals, comfortably beating Sarah Kippax of England in three straight sets.
ROUND 1:
Kenny Has Irish Eyes Smiling In Dublin
Unseeded Liam Kenny delighted local crowds on the opening day of the Irish Open Squash Championships when he upset England's sixth seed Ben Garner in straight games to earn an unexpected place in the last eight of the combined PSA and WISPA World Tour event at the Fitzwilliam Lawn Tennis Club in Dublin.
The 27-year-old Irish champion defeated Garner 11-7 11-9 11-9 to set up a quarter-final meeting with top seed Ong Beng Hee. The Malaysian will be facing his second successive Irishman after beating Arthur Gaskin, a lucky loser, 11-5 11-7 11-2.
There was another upset earlier in the day when Englishman Stacey Ross removed fifth-seeded Egyptian Hisham Mohd Ashour 11-9 11-5 4-11 11-4. The 31-year-old from Surrey now faces third seed Laurens Jan Anjema, the Dutch Open champion from The Hague who knocked out English qualifier Scott Handley 11-9 11-5 11-2.
Irish hopes for success in the women's event are being confidently led by favourite Madeline Perry. The 28-year-old world No12 despatched England qualifier Jenna Gates 9-2 9-1 9-2 and now meets another English opponent Sarah Kippax for a place in the semi-finals. The eighth seed from Cheshire had to come from 1/2 down to overcome Italian Manuela Manetta 9-1 8-10 4-9 9-4 9-2.
Madeline Perry is now the sole Irish survivor in the women's event after Dublin-born Aisling Blake went down 9-4 9-1 9-3 to fourth-seeded Welsh player Tegwen Malik.
No.5 seed crash out in first round
Stacey Ross, the unseeded English player proved that his winning streak continues. Today he beat fifth seed Hisham Modh Ashour in a dogged four set match. Ross went 2 sets up before Hisham shopwed some magical court agility to win the fourth game. Ross was not to be denied a victory, unperturbed by his opponent’s renewed efforts he closed off the match, 11/4 in the fourth game.
QUALIFYING
Men's qualifying finals:
Scott Handley (ENG) bt Brian Byrne (IRL) 11-3, 11-2, 11-3
Sam Miller (ENG) bt Arthur Gaskin (IRL) 11-9, 11-8, 11-2
Sherif Moustafa Kamel (EGY) bt Wade Johnstone (AUS) 11-10 (2-0), 6-11, 11-6, 11-7
Laurent Elriani (FRA) bt Neal Murphy (IRL) 11-5, 11-5, 11-6
Women's qualifying finals:
Jenna Gates (ENG) bt Laurence Bois (FRA) 9-7, 9-4, 9-5
Jana Smeralova (CZE) bt Orla Noom (NED) 10-9, 5-9, 9-7, 9-2
Margriet Huisman (NED) bt Daniela Schumann (GER) 9-4, 9-4, 4-9, 4-9, 9-2
Kirsty McPhee (ENG) bt Lauren Siddall (ENG) 8-10, 10-9, 2-9, 9-7, 9-0
Butt Withdrawal Boosts Local Chances In Irish Open
The late withdrawal of Pakistan's Yasir Butt has paved the way for young Irishman Arthur Gaskin to take an unexpected place as lucky loser in the main draw of the Irish Open Squash Championships at the Fitzwilliam Lawn Tennis Club in Dublin.
Gaskin, a much-improved player had a great struggle with England's Sam Miller in the qualifying finals, holding the 24-year-old from Warwickshire to two closely-contested games before going down 11-9 11-8 11-2. Gaskin joined two other Irishman thwarted in their qualifying finals bids - before winning the 'Lucky Loser' honour to face Malaysia's top seed Ong Beng Hee in the first round of the PSA Tour event.
In a fiercely-contested all-English battle in the women's qualifying finals, Kirsty McPhee twice came from behind to edge out fellow Yorkshire woman Lauren Siddall 8-10 10-9 2-9 9-7 9-0 to earn a first round fixture with compatriot Stephanie Brind, the third seed.
Men's Qualifying Round 1:
Byrne and Murphy go through
Brian Bryne who will go on the Professional tour when he completes his studies in June, confirmed his ability to play world class squash with a win over Armando Olguin of Mexico. Byrne won 11/6, 11/10,11/9. He is one match away from a place in the main draw where he could join other Irish contenders, Liam Kenny and Niall Rooney.
Other Irish qualifyer, Neal Murphy had a comprehensive win over English player, Philip Knightingale, 11/10, 11/9, 11/9. Both men have a chance to qualify for the main draw which begins on Wednesday at 12 noon.
Irish player, Nigel Peyton lost to the acomplished Egyptian player, Sharif Kamoz, 11/6, 11/6, 11/5.
Women's Qualifying:
Jenna Gates (ENG) bt Katie Wilson (IRL) 9/2, 9/0, 9/0
Laurence Bois (FRA) bt Jemma Saxby ( AUS) 9/5, 9/4, 9/1
Jana Smeralova (CZE) bt Carrie Hastings (ENG) 9/5, 9/0, 9/3
Orla Noom (NED) bt Kerri Shields (IRL) 9/5, 9/0, 9/3
Daniela Schumann (GER) bt Jenny Dillon (IRL) 9/3, 9/6, 9/3
Margriet Huisman (NED) W/O Toyen Emmanuel (NIG)
Lauren Siddall (ENG) bt Dagmar Vermeulen ( NED) 9/2, 9/4, 9/3
Kirsty Mc Phee ( ENG) bt Claire O' Brien (IRL) 9/0,9/0, 9/1
MEN'S: 1st round draw:
[1] Ong Beng Hee (MAS) v Arthur Gaskin (IRL)
[6] Ben Garner (ENG) v Liam Kenny (IRL)
[4] Rodney Durbach (RSA) v [Q] Sherif Moustafa Kamel (EGY)
[7] Phillip Barker (ENG) v [Q] Sam Miller (ENG)
[5] Hisham Mohd Ashour (EGY) v Stacey Ross (ENG)
[3] Laurens Jan Anjema (NED) v [Q] Scott Handley (ENG)
[8] Stephane Galifi (FRA) v Niall Rooney (IRL)
[2] Alex Gough (WAL) v [Q] Laurent Elriani (FRA)
WOMEN'S: 1st round draw:
[1] Madeline Perry (IRL) v [Q] Jenna Gates (ENG)
[8] Sarah Kippax (ENG) v Manuela Manetta (ITA)
[3] Stephanie Brind (ENG) v [Q] Kirsty McPhee (ENG)
[6] Lauren Briggs (ENG) v [Q] Jana Smeralova (CZE)
[5] Rebecca Botwright (ENG) v Karen Kronemeyer (NED)
[4] Tegwen Malik (WAL) v Aisling Blake (IRL)
[7] Olga Puigdemont Sola (ESP) v [Q] Margriet Huisman (NED)
[2] Annelize Naude (NED) v Suzie Pierrepont (ENG)
Men's Qualifying Round 1:
Byrne and Murphy go through
Brian Bryne who will go on the Professional tour when he completes his studies in June, confirmed his ability to play world class squash with a win over Armando Olguin of Mexico. Byrne won 11/6, 11/10,11/9. He is one match away from a place in the main draw where he could join other Irish contenders, Liam Kenny and Niall Rooney.
Other Irish qualifyer, Neal Murphy had a comprehensive win over English player, Philip Knightingale, 11/10, 11/9, 11/9. Both men have a chance to qualify for the main draw which begins on Wednesday at 12 noon.
Irish player, Nigel Peyton lost to the acomplished Egyptian player, Sharif Kamoz, 11/6, 11/6, 11/5.
Women's Qualifying:
Jenna Gates (ENG) bt Katie Wilson (IRL) 9/2, 9/0, 9/0
Laurence Bois (FRA) bt Jemma Saxby ( AUS) 9/5, 9/4, 9/1
Jana Smeralova (CZE) bt Carrie Hastings (ENG) 9/5, 9/0, 9/3
Orla Noom (NED) bt Kerri Shields (IRL) 9/5, 9/0, 9/3
Daniela Schumann (GER) bt Jenny Dillon (IRL) 9/3, 9/6, 9/3
Margriet Huisman (NED) W/O Toyen Emmanuel (NIG)
Lauren Siddall (ENG) bt Dagmar Vermeulen ( NED) 9/2, 9/4, 9/3
Kirsty Mc Phee ( ENG) bt Claire O' Brien (IRL) 9/0,9/0, 9/1
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