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Site updated on 02/05/2001
The CSFBdirect
Tournament of Champions 2001,
presented by NYSC Feb 3 - Feb 9 2001,
Grand Central Terminal, New York
Tournament of Champions round one, day one - evening
Reported by Martin Bronstein
TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS 2001
Martin Bronstein reporting from Grand Central Terminal Saturday Feb 3 2000.
FIRST ROUND SECOND SESSION SATURDAY FEB 3
POWER
HAS AN EASY TRAINING SESSION
Jonathon Power
is looking for his third straight win in Grand Central Station and his opening
match against the ever-wronged Anthony Hill was amusing, unconventional, tiresome
and finally unsatisfying.
It could well be argued that these are the two most talented players on the circuit. Indeed Power once told me that he learned more about squash from Hill than anybody. But whereas Power has made the most of his talent, Hill squandered his with countless clashes with referees. Their series of jousts with each other and the officials lasted 32 minutes and while there were flashes of glorious squash for the most part it was play acting. Power won as expected in three and Hill had another set of stories to tell about referees.
DARWISH ROBBED?
There was an interesting clash between Mark Chaloner of England and Karim
Darwish of Egypt. Chaloner, once the epitome of the English hacker game is
now a fine all -court player and more than held his own in the shotmaking
department with the brilliant young Darwish.
But Darwish is at his best when he is in full attack mode, when he completely dominates the play. When forced into the defensive and reactive role he is less effective. The far more experienced Chaloner - he must be a decade older than Darwish - knows how to soak up the attack and reverse the roles.
Chaloner won the first game 15-12 and then lost the second 9-15 setting the stage for a great tussle….but Darwish lost focus and/or determination in the third and lost it quickly 15-5. He got back on track in the fourth and then it was a point for point battle with Chaloner working Darwish all over the court and Darwish answering every call. Thirteen all; Chaloner wins the point to serve for the match. Hits the tin to make it 14-all and he calls set one!
A hard rally, both of them at the front of the court and Darwish hits a ball straight at Chaloner's bellybutton. Chaloner catches it in his hand and gestures to the referee that he couldn't make the stroke. Well….ummm…really? The referee thinks he couldn't hit the ball and calls no let…..Darwish wins the game. No he doesn't because Chaloner appeals. Decision overturned, Yes Let! They play the point through another four lets before Darwish, with youthful over- exhuberance, goes for a drop and hits tin. A whoop of joy from Chaloner and he's through to the second round. Never mind Darwish, your day will come very soon. Chaloner now faces Power. Some reward…
A
SMALL UPSET
Australian Stewart Boswell claimed the first upset when he took out England's
Nick Taylor in three straight. Both have been making rapid progress with Taylor
reaching a career high of 14 last month but dropping to 15 in the latest rankings.
Boswell is up to 16 but on this showing should be ahead of Taylor. His length
is better and his error rate . Taylor makes grief for himself by soft volleys
leaving the ball in mid-court and Boswell needs no second invitations to turn
that into winning rout. So much for the bottom half of the lower half of the
draw.
On Sunday we get to the top half and see whether Peter Marshall has recovered and how well the feisty young Amr Shabana does against David Palmer.
FULL
SATURDAY FIRST ROUND RESULTS:
Ong Beng Hee (Mal) beat Derek Ryan (Ire) 15-4, 13-15, 15-8, 17-15. (5) David
Evans (Wal) beat Rodney Durbach (RSA) 15-10, 15-13, 12-15, 15-7.
( 12) Del Harris (Eng) beat Lee Beachill (Eng) 15-13, 6-15, 15-12, 15-9.
(3)
Simon Parke (Eng) beat Davide Bianchetti (Ita) 15-9, 15-11, 15-12.
Stewart Boswell beat (14) Nick Taylor (Eng). 15-6, 15-11, 15-7
(6) Martin Heath (Sco) beat Peter Genever (Eng) 15-9, 15-9, 15-13. (11) Mark
Chaloner (Eng) beat Karem Darwish (Egy) 15-12, 9-15, 15-5, 15-14.
( 2) Jonathon Power (Can) beat Anthony Hill (Aus) 15-4, 15-7, 15-6
