Major PSA squash tournament returns to Tortola Sports Club

June 7, 2023 by

The Carey Olsen Tortola Classic Professional Squash Association (PSA) Challenger Tour will be taking place from June 13-17, 2023 at the Tortola Sports Club. The event will comprise 24 players in total made up of 21 professional players from overseas and 3 of the BVI’s best players. The 21 pro players will be representing 14 different countries including Egypt, Spain, USA and Mexico and others. The number 1 seed for the tournament will be Spanish International Bernat Jaume who is currently ranked 59 in the World.

Other noteworthy names in the draw are the returning American duo of Andrew Douglas and Spencer Lovejoy who are seeded 2 and 4 respectively. The two of them are on top form having recently battled it out with each other in the US National Final with Andrew emerging victorious claiming his first US Senior National Title. This is no mean feat with the US having 4 players between 34 and 54 in the world who were all present in the event.

Pakistan International Muhamad Asim Khan is the tournament’s no.3 seed. He is a very smooth player and will have serious aspirations of progressing deep into the draw.

Mohamad Zakaria of Egypt is another player that is expected to make waves. At only 15 years old he has already cemented himself as one of the best junior players in the world. Mohamad has already scalped players within the top 100 in the world and is hoping to overturn a few of his higher ranked opponents. Like Jonah Bryant who played in the PSA Challenger event last year, Zakaria has the potential to reach the very top of the game making this event a unique opportunity to watch him compete on the courts in the BVI.

Resident players going into the draw will be BVI’s former professional player, Joe Chapman who reached a career high world ranking of 98. Incredibly, Joe has represented the BVI 5 times at the Commonwealth Games.

BVI National Coach Adam Murrills will also be participating in the draw. Prior to arriving in the BVI, Adam reached a highest world ranking of 76.

The BVI Squash Racket Association will hold a play-off amongst several top players for the final spot with the winner having the opportunity to play against one of the best players in the world!

“It really is an honour to welcome truly world class sport to the BVI,” said BVISRA President Mark Chapman. “We encourage everyone, and especially sports enthusiasts, to take advantage of this opportunity to watch a major squash competition on home turf and soak in the action. Whether you’re a regular player or someone who wants to learn more about the sport, come to the courts at the Tortola Sports Club and make the most of what should be a fantastic week of squash.”

All games will start at 5:15pm and will be free to all. The final competition will have a $25 entry fee payable at the door.

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Stefanoni wins Harneys BVI Open Squash Championships

May 22, 2019 by
(l-r) Marina Stefanoni (USA) bt Laura Tovar (Colombia) 7-11, 7-11, 11-4, 11-4, 11-5 in the Harneys BVI Women’s Squash Open 2019 Final – a PSA Challenger Tour 5 event.

16-year old Marina Stefanoni (USA) came in to the 2019 Harneys BVI Squash Open tournament hosted by the BVI Squash Rackets Association at the Tortola Sports Club, Tortola, Virgin Islands from May 16 – 18, with her confidence sky high having won her previous 2 Professional Squash Association (PSA) Events.

Stefanoni had looked very impressive in her semi final victory over Daniela Schumann and appeared the favourite going in to the final. Laura Tovar (Colombia) had other ideas though and she came out playing very aggressive, purposeful squash.

As soon as Tovar worked the opening she was quick on to the ball and then clinical in her attacks. There were some big points at the end of the 2nd which in this heat can eat in to the reserves of the players. Tovar played them well to open up a 2-0 lead

Squash is a game of small margins though and these margins seemed to tip slightly in Stefanoni’s favour from the 3rd onwards. Tovar’s quality and intensity maybe dropped ever so slightly and Stefanoni (who remained level headed throughout) began to start dominating proceedings. It was her now who was slightly on top in the points and who was then finishing the points off confidently.

The 3rd and 4th went in Stefanoni’s favour quite quickly. With it tied at 2-2 we now had a 1 game shoot out for the title. Some high quality squash ensued and at 6-5 to Stefanoni the match was anyone’s. Over the next few minutes Stefanoni held her nerve really well (possibly due to the confidence that her previous two titles had given her) and unfortunately for Tovar she made a few mistakes.

Stefanoni managed to close it out 11-5 and in doing so become the first ever winner of a female PSA Event in the BVI!

Participants came from Canada, America, Egypt, Colombia, Brazil, Germany, Guyana and England as well as players representing the Virgin Islands. The international contingent included players ranked in the PSA world’s top 80.

In the Women’s Club Championships Final, Zoe Sorrentino beat Jane Wyllie 11-0, 11-2, 11-4. Sorrentino really displayed her dominance and stranglehold on the women’s title in this match. Wyllie is a clever player and has several tricky shots. Sorrentino though was hitting the corners well and she used her youth and impressive movement to never allow Wyllie a look in. Sorrentino is a far better player than she gives herself credit for.

Zoe Sorrentino beat Jane Wyllie 11-0, 11-2, 11-4 to take the 2019 Women’s Club Championships title

In the Exhibition Mixed Doubles, Daniela Schumann and Joe Chapman bt Maria Tovar and Adam Murrills 11-9, 6-11, 11-7

Singles squash is one of the fastest sports in the world… doubles takes it to another level though. Four people sharing a small space looking to attack at every opportunity. Wherever you hit it there is somebody there. This means that you have to hit an incredible shot to achieve a winner. Yesterday the winners seemed to be flowing more frequently from our opponents rackets. Both Joe and Daniela hit some outrageous shots to eventually take the spoils!

In an Exhibition Mixed Doubles, Daniela Schumann and Joe Chapman bt Maria Tovar and Adam Murrills 11-9, 6-11, 11-7
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Qualifier matches for BVI Open Squash Championships under way

June 24, 2015 by

By BVI Squash Rackets Association

Stefan Joseph defeated Neville Sorrentino 3/0 in the opening qualifier match of the 2015 British Virgin Islands Open Squash Championship, PSA Challenger 5. Photo: BVISRA

Stefan Joseph defeated Neville Sorrentino 3/0 in the opening qualifier match of the 2015 British Virgin Islands Open Squash Championship, PSA Challenger 5. Photo: BVISRA

The 2015 British Virgin Islands Open Squash Championship, PSA Challenger 5 kicked off this morning, Wednesday, June 24 at the Tortola Sports Club with the first round of the qualifying matches.

The highlight match was between Neville Sorrentino and Stefan Joseph.  Stefan Joseph won 3/0 but had to fight especially for the third as Sorrentino had two game balls.

In other qualifier matches, Rory Thornton defeated Tatenda Gotosa 3/0, Dylan Cunningham (USA) beat Paul Cowlard (IVB) 3/0, Dion Anselm defeated Bradford Betzner 3/0, and Winston Findlay defeated Jonathan Addo 3/1.

The Final round of qualification games continue today at 3.45pm:

  • Dylan Cunningham vs Dion Anselm
  • Winston Findlay vs Tom Chapman
  • Jules Snagg vs Stefan Joseph

Thursday, June 25  sees the first round of the Main Draw which will take place 10.30am and 6pm. With the international pros in action, there will be some excellent matches to be watched.

Friday, June 26 will feature the Semi Finals at 6pm and the Final match will be played on Saturday, June 27 at 6:00pm.

The professional squash players will be on the courts to interact with junior players on Saturday, June 27 at 4.30pm. All young players are welcome.

For information, results, photos, videos and interviews, visit www.britishvirginislandsopen.com.

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British Virgin Islands gears up for Open Squash Championship

June 22, 2015 by

By Professional Squash Association

Joe Chapman will be competing for the 2015 British Virgin Islands Open Squash Championship, PSA Challenger 5 title, June 24 - 27.

Joe Chapman will be competing for the 2015 British Virgin Islands Open Squash Championship, PSA Challenger 5 title, June 24 – 27.

The 2015 British Virgin Islands Open Squash Championship, PSA Challenger 5 event starts on Thursday June 25 with the Tortola Sports Club playing host to some mouthwatering match-ups.

Title-holder Peter Creed is the favourite to retain his crown and is looking for the fifth PSA World Tour title of his career.

Creed, who defeated Dane Sharp in last year’s final, has been consistent recently with three quarter-final finishes or better in his last four tournaments, including a run to the semi-final at the Paraguay Open last month.

The World No.78, whose last PSA World Tour title came at the Austrian Open in April, is set to meet Guatemalan Mauricio Sedano for a place in the next round.

Joe Chapman is competing for the title on home-soil and will be aiming to improve on the quarter-final finish that he achieved at last year’s championship.

The 24-year-old has not made it past the first round of a tournament since that event but will be hoping his home crowd can cheer him on to victory. Chapman meets a qualifier in round one.

Number three seed Joe Green also made it to the quarter-final stage last year before falling to Sharp in a tight five-game encounter. The Englishman has struggled to make it past the first round in 2015 but can challenge for the title if he is on form.

Green will do battle against Wildcard Mike Adamson in a bid to get his campaign off to a competitive start.

Bermuda’s Micah Franklin has taken advantage of Nicolas Caballero’s withdrawal through injury to rise up to his current position as the number four seed and has an outside chance of lifting his first PSA World Tour crown. One of his best performances on the tour came last month at the Rathbones Jersey Squash Classic where he reached the quarter-final and he will look to take confidence from that as he prepares to face Cameron Stafford in his first round fixture.

Main Draw:

PSA Challenger 5, British Virgin Islands Open Squash Championship, Tortola, British Virgin Islands

[1] Peter Creed (WAL) v Mauricio Sedano (GUA)

[Qualifier] v [5] Kale Wilson (TRI)

[7] Antonio De La Torre (ENG) v [Qualifier]

Cameron Stafford (CAY) v [4] Micah Franklin (BER)

[3] Joe Green (ENG) v [WC] Mike Adamson (IVB)

[Qualifier] v [8] Jesus Camacho (MEX)

[6] Anthony Graham (ENG) v Italo Bonatti (GUA)

[Qualifier] v [2] Joe Chapman (IVB)

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Creed celebrates win in BVI/PSA Open Squash Championship

June 25, 2014 by

By: VINO

Joe Chapman may have fallen early, but Peter Creed gave the crowd plenty to cheer about as he beat Dane Sharp to win the BVI PSA Challenger 5 Professional Squash Tournament on Saturday June 21, 2014, at the Tortola Sports Club.

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Challenger 5 Professional Squash Tournament Photo Credit: Charlie E. Jackson

Chapman playing Canadian Matthew Serediak, in the second round on Thursday, recovered from losing the first game, 4-11, to win the next two, 11-5 and 11-8, but could not sustain the pressure and lost the last two games 11-4 and 11-3 to conclude his Tournament, having reached the second round for the first time in the three year life of the event.

“He stayed really disciplined and made me do a lot more work than him to win those two games and he was able to clean up in the last two games. He is more experienced than me, but a year ago I would have probably been beaten by him much easier, so overall, having gone to a 5th game, I’m happy with my progress”, Chapman said.

Chapman also went onto to note how well the Tournament had gone , “The Players say every year that this is one of the best small Tournaments, in terms of the atmosphere, the way they are treated and how well organized it is”.

Although having some extra days off after his defeat Chapman will have little time to rest as he has Tournaments in New Zealand and Australia before heading to the Commonwealth Games and then Colombia.

Serediak went onto lose his semi final 6-11, 7-11 and 8-11 to Peter Creed, the top seed from Wales, who had recorded victories against Chris Hanson (USA) and Phillip Bull (Eng) to progress to the latter stages. Bull had knocked out Tom Chapman in the first round, 11-3, 11-3 and 11-1, in just 21 minutes on court.

Dane Sharp reached the Final, losing just one game, to local entrant, Adrain Ostbye. He also beat England‚  Joe Green and Shahjahan Khan and was much the sharper against Creed, in winning 3-0.

“I won’t say it was easy”, he exclaimed. “I felt like I was playing the best squash all week and having spent less time on court was fresher. I knew if I could show that each and every point then the energy would sap from his legs and I would get stronger and stronger”.

It was Creed’s first time to the Territory and the Caribbean, but he will be back. “I can’t miss this place! It’s hot, but the Country is awesome, everyone is so laid back and it has been a lot of fun”,he said.

Other local players who had progressed through to the main draw met similar defeats to Chapman against their more illustrious competitors with only Ostbye picking up a game, against Sharp. Mike Adamson and Rory Thornton were the other local players to get into the first round proper.

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