RESULTS: PSA Challenger 10 Bankers Hall Club Pro Am,
Calgary, Canada
Leo Lands Bankers Hall Double
The
repeat of last year's final of the Bankers Hall Club Pro Am in
Canada produced a repeat of last year's result when Hong Kong's Leo
Au beat Raphael Kandra of Germany to successfully retain the
PSA World Tour Challenger 10 squash title at the Bankers Hall
Club in Calgary, Alberta.
"Defending champion Leo was flawless in the defence of his crown here at
the Bankers Hall Club Pro Am in downtown Calgary," explained tournament
host Bob Ballinger, the club's Head Squash Professional.
"Matching Kandra shot for shot and with virtually no mistakes he was
going to be tough to be on this day."
Top
seed Au, the 23-year-old World No.41, took just 42 minutes to record his
third successive Tour win over fourth seed Kandra, ranked 28 places
below, 11-5, 11-4,
11-5.
The
win marks Au's fifth PSA Tour title.
"So
next year we will see if Au can be the first three-time champ of the
tournament," added Ballinger. "He has now joined Arturo Salazar
and Chris Simpson as back-to-back two-time champions!"
Comeback Kandra Into Calgary Climax
Germany's Raphael Kandra mounted two mighty comebacks in the
semi-finals of the Bankers Hall Club Pro Am - one from an 11-0
game loss - to upset second-seeded New Zealander Martin Knight to
reach the final of the PSA World Tour Challenger 10 squash event
celebrating its 11th year at the Bankers Hall Club in Calgary,
Canada.
The
fourth seed from Essen finally triumphed 6-11, 11-6, 0-11, 11-4, 11-5
after exactly an hour to reach his second Tour final in a row - and the
11th of his career.
Kandra
now faces top seed Leo Au, the title-holder from Hong Kong. The
23-year-old World No.40 reached the Bankers Hall Club final for the
third year in a row after prevailing in a 91-minute marathon - stemming
a determined comeback by Czech star Jan Koukal before beating the
No.7 seed 14-12, 11-5, 5-11, 8-11, 11-3.
Au is
celebrating his 10th Tour final appearance.
"Two
electric semi-finals here at the Bankers Hall Club Pro Am have produced
a repeat of last year's final," said tournament host Bob Ballinger,
the club's Head Squash Professional. "Before a truly jam-packed
audience, top seed and defending champion Au held off the comeback
attempt of Koukal in a tremendous 91-minute match.
"Au
played a flawless final game and despite that final game score line it
was just as impressive from Koukal who did not do much wrong it was just
that Au was oh so accurate.
"The
other semi saw last year's finalist from Germany Kandra come from a 2/1
games deficit to knock out Knight the second seed here. Knight went up
4-0 in the final game but Kandra pegged off nine straight points to
eventually gain the victory."
Koukal Conquers Calgary Hero Schnell
Czech
squash star Jan Koukal disappointed the local crowd at the
Bankers Hall Club Pro Am in Calgary when he defeated hometown
hero Andrew Schnell in the quarter-finals of the PSA World
Tour Challenger 10 event celebrating its 11th year at the Bankers
Hall Club in the Alberta city in Canada.
"Koukal has been pretty much a regular at this event from the early
years, while Schnell is from the host city and was hoping to continue a
three-year streak of sorts that has seen himself and brother Graeme oust
Koukal the last two years of this tournament," said tournament host
Bob Ballinger, the club's Head Squash Professional.
"But
the so called Family Streak is over as Koukal played a flawless match in
this straight games victory over the local star in an entertaining three
game match."
The
11-7, 11-6, 11-7 win takes the No7 seed from Prague, the runner-up in
2010, into a semi-final clash with Leo Au, the top seed from Hong
Kong. Defending champion Au, ranked 41 in the world, defeated
fifth-seeded Australian Rex Hedrick 11-6, 6-11, 11-6, 13-11 in 73
minutes.
Germany's Raphael Kandra took one step closer to his second
successive appearance in the final after beating event debutante
Alejandro Garbi Caro. But the Spaniard led 2/1 before fourth seed
Kandra regained control to win 11-4, 8-11, 9-11, 11-6, 11-4 in 76
minutes.
Kandra
now faces No2 seed Martin Knight after the 30-year-old New
Zealander beat Taiwan qualifier James Huang 11-5, 11-5, 11-5.
"So -
two great looking semis coming up," added Ballinger. "Defending champ
Leo Au and Jan Koukal on one side with Raphael Kandra
going up against number two seed Martin Knight.
"Both
matches promise to be great squash here in the Stampede city of
Calgary!"
