Locals Overpowered In World Open Qualifying

Day one of qualifying for the Endurance World Open in Bermuda was a tough one for the four local players representing the host country. All were beaten by their opponents at the Bermuda Squash Racquets (BSRA) venue, which means that Bermuda's only representative will be James Stout, who has the wildcard entry to the main draw.

The four locals - Nicholas Kyme, Chase Toogood, Melrindo Caines and Patrick Foster - all played valiantly, backed up by a partisan crowd at the Devonshire Club, but were ultimately despatched by better opponents.

Two of the Bermuda representatives, Kyme and Foster, are previous Tour professionals, but the speed and accuracy of Colombian Miguel Angel Rodriguez and US champion Julian Illingworth, respectively, were just too much for them.

The major upsets of the day went to Australia, with Ryan Cuskelly and Scott Arnold both claiming notable wins and progressing to the qualifying finals. Cuskelly, the world No76 from New South Wales, overcame Canadian Matthew Giuffre, ranked 24 places higher, 11-10 (2-0), 11-9, 11-5 in 48 minutes - while Sydney's 21-year-old Scott Arnold, defeated experienced Irishman Liam Kenny, ranked 37 in the world, 11-4, 11-8, 11-8 in 41 minutes.

A marathon encounter saw South African Jesse Engelbrecht fight back from two games down to draw level against Canadian Shawn Delierre. But the world No46 from Montreal - a further 46 places separating him from Engelbrecht - regained his focus to win 11-8, 11-8, 10-11 (0-2), 7-11, 11-9 in 69 minutes.

Teenager Joseph Chapman, whose only previous experience at this level was playing world top ten Australian Joseph Kneipp in the 2006 Commonwealth Games, made his PSA Tour debut at the Devonshire Club. The 17-year-old from the British Virgin Islands put up a courageous fight against Egypt's Omar Mosaad but went down to the world No33 from Cairo 11-2, 11-5, 11-7.

The action for the qualifying finals will produce the eight players who will earn the right to progress to the main draw of the Endurance World Open Bermuda 2007, and have the chance to play on the spectacular glass court overlooking the beautiful South Shore of Bermuda.

1st qualifying round:
Miguel Angel Rodriguez (COL) bt Nicholas Kyme (BER) 11-5, 11-8, 11-3 (24m)
Eric Galvez (MEX) bt Melrindo Caines (BER) 11-0, 11-2, 11-5 (15m)
Ryan Cuskelly (AUS) bt Matthew Giuffre (CAN) 11-10 (2-0), 11-9, 11-5 (48m)
Bradley Ball (ENG) bt Christopher Gordon (USA) 11-5, 11-4, 11-5 (28m)
Yasser El Halaby (EGY) bt Morten W Sorensen (DEN) 11-9, 11-5, 7-11, 11-9 (42m)
Scott Arnold (AUS) bt Liam Kenny (IRL) 11-4, 11-8, 11-8 (41m)
Shawn Delierre (CAN) bt Jesse Engelbrecht (RSA) 11-8, 11-8, 10-11 (0-2), 7-11, 11-9 (69m)
Julian Illingworth (USA) bt Patrick Foster (IRL) 11-6, 11-4, 11-8 (35m)
Omar Elborolossy (EGY) bt Julien Balbo (FRA) 11-6, 11-5, 8-11, 11-7 (62m)
Kashif Shuja (NZL) bt Chase Toogood (USA) 11-6, 11-6, 11-3 (24m)
Saurav Ghosal (IND) bt Dick Lau (HKG) 11-4, 11-3, 11-5 (24m)
Omar Mosaad (EGY) bt Joseph Chapman (IVB) 11-2, 11-5, 11-7 (18m)
Omar Abdel Aziz (EGY) bt Bernardo Samper (COL) 11-4, 11-9, 11-9 (31m)