Borja Golan and Peter Barker top seeds in high-quality Halifax draw
Spain’s Borja Golan and England’s Peter Barker are top seeds in the forthcoming Bluenose Classic in Halifax, Novia Scotia.
The Fiera Properties Bluenose Squash Classic has attracted one of the best line-ups of professional squash players in the tournament’s nine-year history with three world top-ten and two top-20 players headlining a contingent of 28 players from around the world.
They will compete for a prize of $50,000 at the Homburg Centre for Health and Wellness at Saint Mary’s University, from October 27 to November 1 with defending Bluenose champion Miguel Angel Rodriguez of Columbia joined by top-seeded and World No.6 ranked Golan from Spain, Peter Barker, World No.8, and Daryl Selby, World No.10, both from England.
“This line-up will produce some of the best squash ever seen here in Halifax,” said tournament chair and founder Zal Davar. “We have upped the prize this year to $50,000 from $35,000 last year. This has generated a lot of interest on the Professional Squash Association tour. I am ecstatic about this draw.”
Also joining the 2014 field is Bluenose veteran and fan favourite Laurens Jan Anjema, 15th, from The Netherlands.
Top-30 players include Australia’s Cameron Pilley (No. 22), South Africa’s Stephen Coppinger (No. 23), England’s Adrian Walker (No. 27) and Botswana’s Alister Walker (No. 30).
Rounding out the 12 main-draw entries are England’s Tom Richards (No. 33) and Egypt’s Mohamed Abouelghar (No. 38).
Canadian Andrew Schnell is the wildcard entry. He is ranked 98th.
Sixteen qualifiers will compete for the four final spots in the main draw.
Picture from Squash Mad archive