Viral for Endurance World Open 2007
Posted by Tom Quinn on 26-Oct-2007Categories: News Comments: [add a comment]
Tournament Draw Posted
Posted by Tom Quinn on 13-Oct-2007Categories: News Comments: [comments closed]
The draws for the Main and Qualifying events have been posted - please visit the Draw Details section of the site to see them.
Draw announced for the Endurance World Open Bermuda 2007 Squash Championships – Bermudian James Stout receives the wildcard
Posted by Ross Triffitt on 11-Oct-2007Categories: News Comments: [comments closed]
Squash fans around the globe will be focused on Bermuda in November when the Bermuda Squash Racquets Association (BSRA) hosts the Endurance World Open Bermuda 2007 Squash Championship, proudly sponsored by Endurance Specialty Holdings Ltd. This is the final phase of what was the biggest contract in the history of squash, which has seen Bermuda hosting the PSA Masters for the past 2 years.
The Endurance World Open Bermuda 2007 Championship is the ultimate tournament for the world’s greatest squash players who will assemble in Bermuda from 25th November through 1st December to compete for $175,000 in prize money, and the title “Endurance World Open Champion”.
Tournament Director, Ross Triffitt, formally announced today that the Professional Squash Association (PSA) has made the official draw for the main event, along with the name of the Bermudian wild card entry, the four local players who will have an opportunity to compete in the qualifying tournament, along with the remaining qualifiers, and four World Squash Federation (WSF) Invitees, who will also be competing in the qualifying tournament.
Director of Squash, Ross Triffitt, says “We are delighted to announce that literally all of the world’s top players are competing in the World Open, with the exception of just one player who has had to withdraw because of an injury. Our seedings are based on the players’ rankings as of 1st October, and the top 23 players as of that date are included in the main draw.
“The only other player to gain automatic entry into the main draw of 24 is our own wild card entry. I am pleased to announce that after careful consideration we have chosen - James Stout to represent Bermuda. James is presently working as squash professional and coach at the New York Racket Club, one of the most prestigious squash cubs in the world. He has been drawn against Mohammed Abbas of Egypt ranked #15 in the world, and they will have the distinction of playing the opening match on 25th November.
A qualifying tournament will be held just prior to the main event, and Triffitt explains who will be competing; “Joining those 24 players in the main draw will be 8 players from the qualifying tournament. A total of 32 players will be battling it out for these 8 qualifying spots. This will be an exceptionally tough field, consisting of the next 24 players in the world rankings - ranging from the world #27 to world #55 - together with four of our top local players, and four players invited by the World Squash Federation (WSF).
“I am pleased to announce that the four local players selected for the qualifying tournament are former world #69 Patrick Foster, our National Development Coach and National Champion, former world #63 Nicholas (Nick) Kyme who recently left the professional squash circuit and is a former Caribbean Champion, Chase Toogood current world#350 and Melrindo Caines who has been representing Bermuda since competing in the World Junior Championships in Hong Kong in 1992 and is currently ranked 368 in the world.
“The final four places in the qualifying tournament are reserved for four World Squash Federation invitees who are chosen because they are the national #1 players from their respective countries, and those are all countries which do not have a player in either the main draw or the qualifying draw. These invitees are from Sweden, South Africa, Hong Kong, and Denmark.
This is a truly World Open Championship with over 50 players from 25 countries spread across six continents coming to Bermuda to compete in the Endurance World Open.
Heading the line-up is Amr Shabana of Egypt who made history here in Bermuda when he took over the world #1 ranking last April after winning the Virtual Spectator Bermuda Masters 2006. He has remained at #1 since his victory in Bermuda. Shabana will certainly be challenged by the current World Open champion, David Palmer of Australia who resides here in Bermuda when he’s not on the circuit. Other strong contenders for the title will include world #3 Greg Gaultier and world #6 Thierry Lincou, both from France, and both of whom just reached the final of the British Open, along with a strong English contingent led by world #5 James Willstrop, a popular local favourite, world #7 John White of Scotland, and the new wonderboy of squash, world #2 Ramy Ashour of Egypt who has recorded victories against literally all of the worlds top players.
For the information of Bermuda residents who have attended our previous major tournaments at the Jessie Vesey Sports Centre at BHS in Hamilton, our venue for the Endurance World Open is the Fairmont Southampton where we are erecting an all glass court under a state-of-the-art see-through tent, complete with comfortable theatre style seating It will be located on Turtle Hill overlooking Horseshoe Bay and the magnificent South Shore. The Clear Span tents, from Regal Tent Productions, will ensure uninterrupted play and clear views, whatever the weather.
The Endurance World Open Bermuda 2007 Championship will draw extensive global coverage, including presence from Reuters, BBC World, NBC News, Fox Australia and Orbit ESPN. TV coverage will be provided to potential viewers totalling up to 2.1 billion worldwide who will be provided with unique opportunity to see Bermuda at its best while watching the world’s greatest squash players in action.
All matches on the glass court will be played at Turtle Hill in the evenings, starting at 6pm, on 25th November and we can promise you a feast of squash from start to finish, with the final being played on Saturday 1st December.
Tickets go on sale to the general public on October 22 through, www.boxoffice.bm, Gateway Systems Limited and the BSRA. For more information about the Endurance World Open Bermuda 2007 Squash Championships check their website at www.squashworldopen.com
For more information about the Endurance World Open 2007 Bermuda, please contact:
Ross Triffitt, Tournament Director,
Email: RossT@bermudasquash.com
Tel: +1 441 292 6881
Bank of Bermuda Foundation Junior Open Squash Championships 2007
Posted by Ross Triffitt on 03-Oct-2007Categories: News Comments: [comments closed]
The BSRA is pleased to announce that Junior squash players from Bermuda and abroad will have a unique opportunity to compete in their own squash championship while the world’s top players will be in Bermuda competing in the Endurance World Open Bermuda 2007 Squash Championships.
Squash spokesman, Roger Sherratt, says, “With all of the world’s top professional players coming to the Island to compete in the Endurance World Open Bermuda 2007 Squash Championship at the end of November, it is a real plus for us to be hosting the Bank of Bermuda Foundation Junior Squash Championships 2007, being held from 30th November – 2nd December, to coincide with the World Open. It is an excellent tournament for junior boys and girls ranging in age from Under 13 to Under 19 and is open to juniors from overseas who can experience the trip of a lifetime where they not only enjoy their own tournament, but they can also see the best players in the world competing for the biggest prize in squash - the World Open title.
This prestigious junior championship is sanctioned by the U.S. Squash Racquets Association, allowing our local juniors the opportunity to play for US ranking points on home soil, which can be invaluable when seeking entrance to US schools.
David Lang on behalf of the Bank of Bermuda Foundation says, ““Bank of Bermuda Foundation is pleased to be title sponsor of the Bank of Bermuda Foundation Junior Open Squash Championships 2007. Bermuda is brimming with young, talented athletes and we see this tournament as a great opportunity for the Island’s young squash players to showcase their skills here at home while competing with their peers from around the globe”.
When asked about interest from overseas, Roger Sherratt, told the Mid Ocean News, “We are already receiving entries from around the world, from several Caribbean Islands, the U.S. and Canada, and from as far away as India and Pakistan. Two of the girls from the U.S. are ranked in their top 10 - Amanda Sobhy being ranked U.S. #1 in Girls Under 15.”
The deadline for entries is 1st November and entry forms are available on-line at
www.squashworldopen.com
