Shawn Shifts Shuja In Bluenose Upset

Canadian qualifier Shawn Delierre became the lone North American to survive the first round of the Bluenose Classic when he upset eighth-seeded New Zealander Kashif Shuja to reach the quarter-finals of the $40,000 PSA Tour squash event in Halifax in Nova Scotia, Canada.

The 26-year-old from Montreal, ranked 23 places behind the Kiwi, fought back from a game down to win 11-9, 11-5, 6-11, 11-9 in exactly one hour.

Delierre will now meet David Palmer, the top-seeded Australian who beat England's unseeded Tom Richards 11-3, 11-9, 11-6.

Spain's Borja Golan carried on where he left off last week when he won the Motor City Open over the border in Detroit. The third seed began his campaign to reach the final for the third year in a row when he beat South African qualifier Stephen Coppinger 11-3, 11-6, 11-6.

Hoping to win the title for the first time, Golan faces Australia's fifth seed Cameron Pilley for a place in the semi-finals.

1st round:
[1] David Palmer (AUS) bt Tom Richards (ENG) 11-3, 11-9, 11-6 (39m)
[Q] Shawn Delierre (CAN) bt [8] Kashif Shuja (NZL) 11-9, 11-5, 6-11, 11-9 (60m)
[3] Borja Golan (ESP) bt [Q] Stephen Coppinger (RSA) 11-3, 11-6, 11-6 (37m)
[5] Cameron Pilley (AUS) bt Julian Illingworth (USA) 11-2, 13-11, 11-6 (48m)
[7] Chris Ryder (ENG) bt Martin Knight (NZL) 4-11, 11-7, 9-11, 11-6, 11-6 (93m)
[4] Laurens Jan Anjema (NED) bt Jan Koukal (CZE) 11-5, 11-6, 11-6 (48m)
[6] Miguel Angel Rodriguez (COL) bt [Q] Wade Johnstone (AUS) 11-8, 11-9, 11-7 (31m)
[2] Peter Barker (ENG) bt [Q] Liam Kenny (IRL) 11-6, 11-5, 11-6 (37m)