Denis Dias, Lydia Fraser and Narendra Singh were successful category winners for Guyana at the BCQS Masters Squash tournament, which concluded on Saturday evening at the Georgetown Club Courts, Camp Street.
Dias won the Over-65 category, defeating Winston Findlay of Tortola in a three-game match (11/9, 12/10, 11/4). The home boy stamped his authority with an 11/9 win in the opening game. Findlay brought up his game covering the court faster to retrieve Dias’ crisp shots, taking him to 10/10.
Poised at a vital juncture, Dias calmly placed a killer to move ahead and then secured the game. Findlay couldn’t match Dias in the third and Guyana took the crown in the 3-0 bout.
The man responsible for bringing BCQS Masters to Guyana, Sanjay Amin of Barbados, faced Guyana’s seasoned player Narendra Singh in the Over-55 final (8/11, 11/5, 11/2, 11/9).
With a calculated game, Singh used well placed shots and clever deception to keep the talented Amin on his toes.
In another 3-1 match, despite a strong first game win from Amin, Singh took the lead in the second and remained on top to win the next three and earn his title.
The final of the Women’s Over-35 saw a victorious Fraser dominate Barbadian Hazel-Anne Sandy in acrobatic fashion.
Hunting every ball, Fraser retrieved well and used her athleticism to pressure Sandy. Fraser’s stronger technique and level of play outmatched Sandy and Fraser took her title in three games (11/3, 11/8, 11/5).
In the Over-45 category, maestro Mark Sealy of Barbados showed his calibre against fellow countryman Marlon White in three straight sets.
Sealy’s brilliance was evident as the experienced athlete worked every corner of the court, and was in charge throughout. Both players displayed some fantastic squash, entertaining spectators and supporters. Sealy’s win was never in question and he took a deserved title.
In the youngest Men’s category, the Over-35, the pace really picked up as the fitness level was evidently higher. An outstanding Shaun Simpson of Barbados defeated Regan Pollard of Guyana in three straight sets (11/6, 11/3, 11/3).
Pollard rallied out some lengthy points with great flair and faced the national champion with strength, but could not match the reach, placement and court coverage of Simpson.
Amin, who is also the Director of BCQS, applauded Guyana for the hospitality shown and affirmed that the tournament will be an annual feature and he hopes it grows even more.
MEN’S OVER 65: WINNER – Denis Dias (GUY)
SECOND- Winston Findlay (TOR)
THIRD- Orson Simpson (BAR)
MEN’S OVER 55: WINNER – Narendra Singh (GUY)
SECOND- Sanjay Amin (BAR)
THIRD – Lloyd Fung A Fat (GUY)
MEN’S OVER 45: WINNER- Mark Sealy (BAR)
SECOND- Marlon White (BAR)
THIRD- Joe Mekdeci (GUY)
FOURTH- Tony Mackenzie (BAR)
MEN’S OVER 45
CLASSIC PLATE: WINNER Robert Natiello (USA)
MEN’S OVER 35: WINNER Shaun Simpson (BAR)
SECOND Regan Pollard (GUY)
WOMEN’S OVER 35: WINNER Lydia Fraser (GUY)
SECOND Hazel- Anne Sandy (BAR)
