Top seed Declan James overcomes tricky Qatari Mohamed Al Tamimi to win Toronto final
By Squash Mad Reporter
England’s Declan James fulfilled his seeding in the Guilfoyle Financial PSA Classic in Canada when he lifted the inaugural PSA Challenger 5 squash event trophy at the Toronto Cricket Skating & Curling Club in Toronto.
The event favourite from Nottingham reached his eighth PSA World Tour final when he overcame fellow countryman Anthony Graham 12-10, 12-10, 14-12 in a rare semi-final featuring all-tie-break games. Unseeded Graham had earlier upset local hope Michael McCue, the fourth seed.
James’s opponent in the final was Qatar star Abdulla Mohd Al Tamimi, the 20-year-old world No.68 from Doha who has become his country’s highest-ranked squash player of all-time.
Seeded two, Al Tamimi defeated Canada’s No.3 seed Dane Sharp 6-11, 11-3, 11-4, 11-7 to celebrate the first PSA Tour final appearance of his career.
The tricky young Qatari seemed on course to spring a surprise in the final – and twice led experienced top seed James, ranked just a single place higher.
But from 4-3 down in the fourth, James grabbed 19 of the next 22 points to claim his 7-11, 11-7, 5-11, 11-5, 11-2 title triumph.
The win marks the Englishman’s fourth PSA Tour title – and his first in North America.
$5,000 Men’s Guilfoyle Financial PSA Classic 2015, Toronto Cricket Skating & Curling Club, Toronto, Canada (February 23-28, 2015).
Final:
[1] Declan James (ENG) bt [2] Abdulla Mohd Al Tamimi (QAT) 7-11, 11-7, 5-11, 11-5, 11-2
Semi-finals:
[1] Declan James (ENG) bt Anthony Graham (ENG) 12-10, 12-10, 14-12
[2] Abdulla Mohd Al Tamimi (QAT) bt [3] Dane Sharp (CAN) 6-11, 11-3, 11-4, 11-7
Quarter-finals:
[1] Declan James (ENG) bt [Q] Nicholas Sachvie (CAN) 11-7, 11-7, 11-1
Anthony Graham (ENG) bt [4] Michael McCue (CAN) 11-9, 8-11, 9-11, 11-9, 11-9
[3] Dane Sharp (CAN) bt Cameron Stafford (CAY) 6-11, 11-3, 11-9, 11-5
[2] Abdulla Mohd Al Tamimi (QAT) bt [5] Sunil Seth (GUY) 11-7, 16-14, 7-11, 13-11
1st round:
[1] Declan James (ENG) bt David Clegg (AUS) 11-9, 11-5, 11-4
[Q] Nicholas Sachvie (CAN) bt [6] Ashley Davies (ENG) 8-11, 3-11, 11-9, 11-6, 11-4
Anthony Graham (ENG) bt [7] Josue Enriquez (GUA) 11-7, 11-3, 11-9
[4] Michael McCue (CAN) bt [Q] Albert Shoihet (CAN) 12-10, 11-6, 11-4
[3] Dane Sharp (CAN) bt [Q] Jesus Camacho (MEX) 11-6, 11-8, 11-8
Cameron Stafford (CAY) bt [8] Kale Wilson (TRI) 11-4, 11-5, 11-9
[5] Sunil Seth (GUY) bt [Q] Stefan Houbtchev (CAN) 11-9, 11-4, 11-3
[2] Abdulla Mohd Al Tamimi (QAT) bt [WC] Rahul Sehrawat (CAN) 11-6, 11-6, 11-6
Qualifying finals:
Albert Shoihet (CAN) bt Ahad Raza (CAN) w/o
Stefan Houbtchev (CAN) bt Francisco Mendez Correa (MEX) 11-5, 11-9, 8-11, 12-10
Jesus Camacho (MEX) bt Akasham Rajagopaul (CAN) 11-8, 11-6, 12-10
Nicholas Sachvie (CAN) bt Graeme Williams (CAN) 11-8, 11-6, 11-5
1st qualifying round:
Albert Shoihet (CAN) bye
Ahad Raza (CAN) bt Thomas Manley (CAN) 11-9, 11-1, 11-9
Stefan Houbtchev (CAN) bt Adam Vanwyngaarden (CAN) 11-5, 11-6, 11-9
Francisco Mendez Correa (MEX) bt William Kuhn (CAN) 11-0, 11-3, 11-6
Jesus Camacho (MEX) bye
Akasham Rajagopaul (CAN) bt Alex Riedelsheimer (CAN) 11-6, 11-4, 13-11
Graeme Williams (CAN) bt Bryan Bonilla (GUA) w/o
Nicholas Sachvie (CAN) bye