The finals featured the top two seeds of the tournament.  Kemp, the number two seed, won in four games.  The Berkshire Squash Open title is the seventh Professional Squash Association (PSA) title of his career.

Below are results from the semifinals and final of  the Berkshire Squash Open.

Semifinals:
1. Omar Mosaad (EGY) def. 3. Julian Illingworth (USA), 12-10, 11-7, 11-9
2. Jonathan Kemp (ENG) def. 5. Arturo Salazar (MEX), 9-11, 11-7, 11-4, 9-11, 11-5

Finals:
2. Jonathan Kemp (ENG) def. 1. Omar Mosaad (EGY), 11-7, 3-11, 11-5, 11-2

Two players from the United States, Julian Illingworth and Christopher Gordon, are in the event.  Gordon, currently ranked 82nd in the world, lost in the first round to Jorge Isaac Baltazar Ferreira of Mexico. Illingworth, ranked 37th, will face top seed Omar Mosaad of Egypt in Saturday’s semifinals. Mosaad currently sits at 24th in the rankings.

Below are results from the first few rounds of the Berkshire Open.

First Round of Qualifying Tournament:
Arshad Iqbal Burki (PAK) def. Ehimen Joseph Ehalen (NGR), 11-9, 11-8, 11-4
Lekgotla Mosope (BOT) def. Lefika Ragontse (BOT), 11-8, 11-9, 11-9
TG Raubenheimer (RSA) def. Thomas Brinkman (CAN), 11-4, 6-11, 11-5, 11-6
Joshua Greenfield (NZL) def. Armando Olguin (MEX), 11-1, 11-2, 11-4
Cesar Salazar (MEX) def. Ryan Thompson (RSA), 11-13, 11-5, 11-7, 11-6
Michal Reid (CAN) def. Maxym Leclair (CAN), 11-4, 11-2, 11-4
Chris Truswell (ENG) def. Robby Lingashi (ZAM), 11-3, 11-6, 11-7
Patrick Chifunda (ZAM) def. Graham Bassett (USA), 11-5, 11-9, 11-5

Finals of Qualifying Tournament:
Arshad Iqbal Burki (PAK) def. Lekgotla Mosope (BOT), 17-15, 11-4, 11-5
TG Raubenheimer (RSA) def. Joshua Greenfield (NZL), 13-11, 11-9, 11-2
Cesar Salazar (MEX) def. Michal Reid (CAN), 11-9, 11-3, 11-8
Patrick Chifunda (ZAM) def. Chris Truswell (ENG), 11-6, 11-7, 4-11, 13-11

First Round:
1. Omar Mosaad (EGY) def.  TG Raubenheimer (RSA), 11-6, 10-12, 11-5, 11-4
2. Jonathan Kemp (ENG) def.  Patrick Chifunda (ZAM), 11-6, 11-7, 11-6
3. Julian Illingworth (USA) def. Ryan Cuskelly (AUS), 11-6, 11-5, 12-10
4. Omar Abdel Aziz (EGY) defeated by Regardt Schonborn (RSA), 11-9, 10-12, 2-11, 11-8, 11-8
5. Arturo Salazar (MEX) def. Shaun le Roux (ENG), 4-11, 11-3, 12-10, 11-5
6. Jorge Isaac Baltazar Ferreira (MEX) def. Christopher Gordon (USA), 11-7, 3-11, 11-6, 12-10
7. Robbie Temple (ENG) def.  Arshad Iqbal Burki (PAK), 11-5, 11-7, 11-9
8. Bradley Hindle (AUS) defeated by Cesar Salazar (MEX), 11-13, 11-8, 5-11, 11-4, 11-3

Quartefinals:
1. Omar Mosaad (EGY) def. 7. Robbie Temple (ENG), 8-11, 11-9, 11-6, 11-9
2. Jonathan Kemp (ENG) def. 6. Jorge Isaac Baltazar Ferreira (MEX), 11-7, 11-2, 11-5
3. Julian Illingworth (USA) def. Cesar Salazar (MEX), 11-6, 11-13, 11-4, 11-3
5. Arturo Salazar (MEX) def. Regardt Schonborn (RSA), 14-12, 9-11, 11-7, 11-9

Semifinals:
1. Omar Mosaad (EGY) versus 3. Julian Illingworth (USA), 6:00 PM
2. Jonathan Kemp (ENG) versus 5. Arturo Salazar (MEX), 4:00 PM

Tim Bacon’s Science of Coaching Squash

• The Psychology of Squash: Staying Focused Between Points
• Do you have innovative squash coaching ideas? You’re worth 40K+ (sterling)

BBC

• August D-Day for Olympic hopefuls

The Crimson

• Young women’s squash team sends four players to round of 16 at CSA Individual Championships

Canary Wharf Squash Classic

• Latest

GamesBid.com

• Squash 2016 Bid Launches Dedicated Website
• Sports Campaign For Olympic Status at SportAccord

The Independent

• Brian Viner: Nicol stretched to the limit by squash’s race for Olympic prize

MSNBC

• Today Show: Squash in the City

Reuters UK

• Olympics-Squash is economical choice for 2016 inclusion

Richmond Times-Dispatch

• Ashour defeats Matthew for squash title

Scotland on Sunday

• Squash star set to defect to US

Squash Republic

• Whatever Happened to World Squash Day?

SquashTalk

• CSA Women’s Rankings: 2008-09 Final
• US Squash expels National Capital Squash district

Telegraph.co.uk

• Peter Nicol has high hopes for 2016 Olympics
• Gregory Gaultier urges Professional Squash Association to fulfil promises

Times Online

• 60-second interview: James Willstrop, squash player

US Squash

• Illingworth Wins First PSA Title
• U.S. SQUASH Junior Development Campaign Launches Nationwide!

The World Games

• Squash: 2016 Day

Vanity Fair

• Memo to Pelosi: Earmarks for Squash!
• Diving and Kissing at Squash’s North American Open
• It’s World Squash Day! (Not)
• Squash Gets Its Moment in the Morning-Show Sun

In response to its growing popularity, all main draw matches of 2009 Berkshire Squash Open will be hosted on a McWill portable glass court staged at Chandler gymnasium. The Berkshire Squash Open is one of three squash tournaments in United States to stage a professional squash tournament on a glass court.

“The success of the 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2007 events was evidence of our commitment to bringing world class squash to the Berkshires. We have worked hard to prepare a solid ground for the event which will see the tournament continue as the most prestigious professional sporting event in the Berkshires. Hosting the tournament on a glass court is a huge step toward making the Berkshire Squash Open one of the most prestigious tournaments in the U.S.,” said Zafi Levy, tournament director and head squash coach at Williams College.

With prize money of $20,000, the 2009 Berkshire Squash Open is one of the top squash tournaments in the U.S., attracting some of the top-30 players in the international professional ranking system. As in past years the draw is likely to feature players from many countries such as Australia, England, France, Ireland, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, South Africa, and Wales as well as the U.S.

“For the fifth time in as many years, True North Financial Services, a Mountain-One Financial Partner, is proud to be the presenting sponsor of the Berkshire Squash Open. True North has always been committed to community involvement and sponsorship of local events.  The Berkshire Squash Open is a one-of-a-kind competition in this area, and allows non-squash and squash enthusiasts alike the opportunity to see world class athletes at their best.  We are excited to be able to help this event take place right here in the heart of the Berkshires,” said Rob Able from True North financial.

Since the construction of the Simon Squash Center in 1998, Williams’ excellent facilities have been a magnet for a growing body of squash players, consisting of more than 100 Williams faculty and staff, 150 local residents, hundreds of Williams students and a growing number of junior players.  “The goal of the tournament is to provide the rapidly growing number of squash enthusiasts in the area with an opportunity to watch world-class squash at an affordable price,” says Coach Levy.  Williams College Athletic Director Harry Sheehy adds, “Once again, we are pleased to be hosting an event that will bring some of the top squash players in the world to the College and to the community.”

The week-long competition will kick off on Tuesday, April 21st with the qualifying rounds concluding on Wednesday, April 22nd.  From the qualifying rounds, four players will emerge to round out the 16-player draw.  Twelve players will enter the main draw without qualifying, including one wild-card entry.  The official opening round, or round of 16, will then begin on the magnificent McWill Glass court on Thursday, April 23rd, with the quarterfinals to be held on Friday, April 24th and the semifinals on Saturday, April 25th. The two finalists will then square off on Sunday, April 26th, when a fifth Berkshire Open champion will be crowned. Matches will begin each day at 5 P.M.

Starting this year, the 2009 Berkshire Open will serve as official charity event to support NUSEA, National Urban Squash and Educational Association. NUSEA is a non-profit organization which governs all urban squash programs in the United States.

Our goal is to raise $15,000 to sponsor the NUSEA national championship tournament held at Williams College June 19-21. The NUSEA national championship will bring to Williamstown 350 urban squash players for a weekend of squash and fun. For many of the participants, the weekend spent in Williamstown is the only time during the year they visit the countryside.

There will be an amateur event during the weekend of April 25-26 which will include Williams squash alumni, Williams’ varsity team members, members of the local squash community and out of town visitors who sign up for the event. Williams College plans on hosting a special dinner for all alumni on Saturday night between the two semifinals.

For more information about the 2009 Berkshire Squash Open, please visit SquashAndBeyond.com.

Below is a video featuring highlights from the finals.

In preparation of the Tournament of Champions, below is a SQWeek.tv video featuring Illingworth. Unfortunately for Illingworth, New Yorkers fail to recognize his fame.  Perhaps a victory over Lincou would make him a household name.

Link to New York Times Sports Briefing: Second Egyptian Reaches No. 1

Tim Bacon’s Science of Squash Coaching:

• Getting to #1 with Squash Coach Neil Harvey: Technique
• Developing a World Squash Champion: A Cultural Approach
• What Does a World Champion do on Defense in the Back-Court?
• Biomechanical Analysis of the Squash Forehand Drive
• Biomechanics for Squash Coaches
• How Many Minutes Should a Squash Drill Last?

Baltimore Examiner:

• For city kids, the game of squash brings hope

Alex Beam’s Squash the Blog:

• The Squash Revolution Will Not Be Televised – Interesting perspective on why squash will not earn an Olympic bid for 2016.
  
• Hangin’ At the Simon – Alex Beam visits Williams College.
  
• Talking to Mr. Big – William Simon, Jr.  started playing at Williams.
  

College Squash Association/SquashTalk:

• Division One school introduces squash scholarships
  
• Kiran keeps busy in squash, in her studies and in life
• Letter to the Editor – On the US Women’s Team in Cairo

NY1:

• StreetSquash Facility Opens In Harlem – Western Mass native and Vassar alumna Katie Siegel is in the video.

Professional Squash Association:

• Richard Graham Departs PSA – Graham leaves after only seven months.
  

Squash Canada:

• WSF Sets Up Olympic Task Force

Squash Republic:

• A squash player’s Christmas list

Squash Rochester:

• ‘Tis the season to be …on court!

SquashSite:

• Happy Families…
• World’s Best Head for New York…Tournament of Champions 2009

Telegraph:

• Richard Graham quits Professional Squash Association

US Squash:

• 11 Reasons for PAR 11
• U.S. SQUASH to Adopt PAR 11 Scoring System – The only surprise in this announcement is that PAR 11 is effective immediately.
  

Williams College:

• Successful Week of Training, Coaching, and Playing for the Ephmen in California

Women’s International Squash Players Association:

• 30 Months Notched Up for Nicol David

The tournament featured a professional division.  In the Professional Squash Association final,  Jesse Engelbrecht defeated Liam Kenny.  Below is a video (part 2 of 2) of the match.

Western Mass Squash would like to thank Steve O’Brien for the video footage.

Link to Part 1.

The tournament featured a professional division.  In the Professional Squash Association final,  Jesse Engelbrecht defeated Liam Kenny.  Below is a video of the match.

Western Mass Squash would like to thank Steve O’Brien for the video footage.

Link to Part 2.

Squash360 presented multiple sides of an issue.  It often published conflicting opinion pieces and let the reader form his or her own opinion on the issue.  Occasionally, the site became a soapbox for an issue; however, its coverage of such topics as the governance of the Professional Squash Association, the Olympic movement, and Point-A-Rally scoring benefited the entire squash community.

Shawn Patton, the owner and editor of Squash360, is a very passionate and controversial individual in the squash community.  He is a squash addict from British Columbia, Canada, who is a former A level player. Alex Beam’s Vanity Fair Squash Blog recently discussed Patton:

Shawn has an operatic demeanor. He sends out a lot of e-mail blasts that can’t help but annoy the people trying to run the sport. As he admits, the squash world is so small, and so lacking in “resources” (read: money) that accusations of mismanagement and bad faith aren’t always warmly received. “I want to cover the parts of the game that haven’t been covered,” he explains. “I’m not an investigative reporter but I’m the closest thing to it. We’re not just writing puff pieces.” Like the other Web sites.

Shawn knows all the challenges squash faces in the sports world; he once organized a tournament himself, and he admits it was uphill sledding. “I really want to improve the management of our sport,” he says. “I want the pro game to be successful”

Since the beginning of Squash360, Western Mass Squash has discussed squash with Patton.  He is an individual with a truely impressive Rolodex of squash contacts.  Despite his busy schedule, his passion was obvious.  He wanted Squash360 to become the site for all squash players.

The past few months have not been ideal for squash websites. SquashNow, whose chief reporter was Colin McQuillan, closed on October 8th.  The statement announcing the closing was simple, like SquashNow’s design:

That’s All Folks…We Are Now Officially Done

SquashSite (and its French counterpart SiteSquash) announced its closure on October 19th.  SquashSite had been negotiating with the Professional Squash Association (PSA) to become the Association’s official website; however, after negotiations ended unsuccessfully, SquashSite was faced with a tough decision.

On October 19th, Steve Cubbins and Framboise Gommendy, SquashSite’s and SiteSquash’s owners and founders, explained their sites’ closure in greater detail:

For a while now we’ve been struggling to find a way to keep it going, and the conclusion is that it just isn’t financially viable – never was – so we have no choice but to close and go back to our real lives.

However, the announcement appears to have been a ploy. SquashSite reopened eight days later.  The site claims it was inundated with business propositions:

One in particular attracted our attention, from Mick Todd, Pontefract Squash Club owner and James Willstrop’s manager among other things, who made us a ‘proposition we couldn’t refuse.’

“You two just keep on doing what you are doing best, as in letting the world know about squash, and you let me handle the rest. How does that sound?”

SquashSite’s recent closure and reopening was the deciding factor in Patton’s decision to end Squash360. In Patton’s “Thank You & Good Bye” article, he makes the following statement:

SquashSite’s feigned closure, re-capitalization and re-organization has caused much soul searching and a two paths diverged in the wood moment for me and squash360.com.

It crystallized a need for Shawn and Squash360 to unequivocally either:

1. try and find partners, resources to have any hope of effectively “competing” head-to-head or becoming a credible supplement to their dominant web offering or
2. use the website as a “soap box” or vehicle to communicate some last unvarnished, uncensored ideas, concerns and then “Ride into Sunset.”

To be blunt, I have no plans, ideas, energy or interest in going cap in hand for #1 above.  This [is] against my capitalist values and would be hypocritical as I believe this was the tactic of squashsite in their announced “closure.”
…
Quite frankly I am emotionally, physically and financially spent.  I have realized with much regret, I don’t have any of the reserves necessary to be able/willing to continue the uphill battle.  The light at the end of the tunnel is quite simply not getting or likely to get brighter.

Patton promoted all levels of squash and squash websites.  On the Western Mass front, he republished and linked to articles from Western Mass Squash and Tim Bacon’s Science of Coaching Squash.

There are a limited number of quality squash websites in the world. Squash360 will be missed.

The 2009 Tournament of Champions will be held January 23rd through January 29th.  This year, JP Morgan Chase will take over for Bear Stearns as the tournament’s official sponsor. For more information, please visit the tournament’s official website.

Like last year, the tournament will include a Professional Squash Association (PSA) 1-star event that features 16 world-class players.  The PSA players will be competing for prize money and to improve their rankings. The professional tournament begins on evening of November 19th at Brown University.  On November 21st, the PSA draw will join the Rhode Island Open and play at St. George’s School.

In the amateur draw, the men’s tournament will have divisions for the following skill levels: 5.5, 5.0, 4.5, 4.0, 3.5, 3.0, and 2.5.  On the women’s side, the tournament will include the following skill levels: 5.0, 4.0, and 3.0.

St. George’s Hoopes Squash Center has eight glass-backed squash courts.

The entry form for the Rhode Island Open must be received by November 15th.

For more information about the tournament, please visit the official Rhode Island Open website.

The change unifies the sport’s multiple scoring methods. Now, Professional Squash Association (PSA), Women’s International Squash Association (WISPA), and recreational players will use the same scoring methods.

In June, Western Mass Squash published an article, Pick a Scoring Method, that explains the different squash scoring systems and recommended a unified scoring method.

It will be interesting to see if the new scoring method will be quickly adopted by recreational players. Although PAR to 11 will help tournaments with scheduling, many recreational players enjoy the back and forth nature of Hand-In Hand-Out (International) scoring.

This issue has divided the international squash community since it was first proposed several years ago. Recently, Ian McKenzie, the editor of Squash Player Magazine, wrote an open letter to Jahangir Khan requesting the the PAR to 11 motion be withdrawn from consideration.

The WSF hopes that the PAR to 11 change will help squash become an Olympic Sport.

Although Western Mass Squash welcomes the move, Hand-In, Hand-Out scoring will be missed. It has been approximately 12 years since New England Interscholastic Squash Association (NEISA)  and the College Squash Association switched from PAR to 15 scoring to Hand-In, Hand-Out scoring. The sport has grown tremendously in that interval. Coaches and players will need to adjust their playing styles to suit the new scoring system.

It will be years before the final verdict will be known.

In June, Western Mass Squash published an article, “Pick a Scoring Method,” that explains the different squash scoring methods and recommended a unified scoring method.

To present the opposing view, below is Ian McKenzie’s letter:

An Open Letter to the President of the

WORLD SQUASH FEDERATION

Jahangir Khan

We have admired you as a player, as an ambassador and as a leader in our sport. We know you have served it courageously, selflessly and intelligently. Your time as president of the World Squash Federation (WSF) is coming to an end and we write to request you to perform one last great service to your sport – withdraw the motion that will compel all players to move to a scoring system most of them do not want.

To force this motion through, to compel all players to move to PAR to 11, will not unify our sport. It will divide it.

We already have PAR (to 9 and 15) offically in the rules (in Appendix 7). We believe that PAR to 11 should be included immediately but not be compulsory for all. The ‘win by two principle’ at 8, 10 or 14 also needs to be included, at least as an alternative to ‘setting’.

We believe that standard ‘hand-in, hand-out’ scoring to nine should be maintained as the standard scoring system of the sport. It has a beautiful balance between shots and tactics, speed and endurance and players can fight right to the end. This we believe is one of the fundamental ingredients of our game, one that makes it a great competitive sport. It is also the system that players generally wish to play.

The men’s Professional Squash Association (PSA) introduced PAR to 11 for reasons that applied specifically to the professional game. And the Women’s International Squash Association did exactly the same thing. It was not argued nor intended that this be imposed as a means of compulsory ‘unification’.
We are unconvinced by the various arguments proposed for universal PAR to 11:

• Hand-in, hand-out scoring is not a difficult system to understand.
• The recommendations of the Working Group have reportedly been corrupted by ‘political interference’ – to the shame of our sport.
• The justification claimed for a uniform scoring system is weak.
• The so-called ‘I can do that’ effect of players wanting to play the same scoring system as the top players has not occured and is irrelevant.
• Players and organisations have for some time had the option to use PAR scoring; in general they have chosen not to take it.

Compelling all players to use PAR to 11 will not unify the sport. All that will be achieved is that more competition will happen outside the auspices of the WSF ‘rules’. This will be to the detriment of our sport.

Signed
Ian McKenzie
Editor, The Squash Player magazine

Hand-in-hand-out (International) Scoring: The server, on winning a rally, scores a point; the receiver, on winning a rally, becomes the server. Games are usually played to nine points; however, if the game is tied at 8-8, the receiver may decide to play the game to 9 or 10.

Point-A-Rally (American) Scoring: The winner of each rally earns a point. Games are usually played to fifteen; however, there are complex tie breaker methods. According to the North American Singles rules, at 13-13, the first player to reach 13 chooses one of the following options:

• Set to 5 points (18 points for the winner)
• Set to 3 points (16 points for the winner)
• No set (15 points for the winner)

At 14-14, presuming the game never reached 13-13, the first player to earn 14 points chooses one of the following options:

• Set to 3 (17 points for the winner)
• No set (15 points for the winner)

Professional Scoring: In 2004, the Professional Squash Association adopted point-a-rally scoring. Games are usually played to 11; however, at 10-10, a player must win by two points. Until June 2008, the score of tie-breakers was reported in a questionable manner. If the tie-breaker game ended 15-13, the score was reported as 11-10 (5-3). Now, the score is reported as 15-13. Women’s International Squash Players’ Association (WISPA) will begin using Pro Scoring in July 2008.

Are we confused yet?

Most recreational and tournament players use the hand-in-hand-out scoring method. This scoring method allows for long games in which players are content to trade serves without feeling immediate pressure.

PAR scoring is played with a sense of urgency. Games and matches may end extremely quickly. More tournaments are being played with Pro scoring. The quicker games allow for easier match scheduling. In addition, many players believe the shorter games in a tournament are easier on their bodies. According to the May 2008 edition of Squash Magazine, the World Squash Federation is conducting a feasibility study for developing a single scoring system. The magazine states that matches are around 30 percent shorter using Pro Scoring.

Squash needs to pick a scoring method. The same scoring method is needed for the PSA, WISPA, colleges, prep schools, and recreational squash. James Poole’s recent piece (“What’s the Score?“) discusses the Olympic implications of a consistent scoring method and consistent tin height. From a common sense point of view, a single scoring method would only have positive implications. If recreational players cannot explain or understand the scoring method used in professional or international play to a novice, how can squash be taken seriously?

Poole’s theory about consistent tin heights between the PSA and the WISPA has merits, but squash is not the first sport to have different size equipment. For example, men’s and women’s basketball have different size balls and rims. Yet, all basketball is scored by the same method. In addition, the inconsistency between the size of basketballs in the men’s and women’s game may be attributed to the average size of men’s and women’s hands. In squash, a consistent tin height should be established, but a consistent scoring method should be the top priority.

Will squash choose a single scoring method anytime soon? It is doubtful. The different national associations (US Squash, Squash Canada, etc.) must all decide to adopt a single method. Only then will squash become easier to understand for the casual fan. The Olympics may be out of reach without a unified scoring method.

The Players Cup field will be composed of eight players – the top six money winners from the preceding events and two qualifiers.

For more information and tickets to the Players Cup, visit the event’s website.