Miguel Makes It Third Time Unlucky For Selby At Bluenose

Colombian squash star Miguel Angel Rodriguez upset top seed Daryl Selby in the final of the Fiera Properties Bluenose Classic to consign the Englishman to runner-up of the PSA World Tour International 35 event at Saint Mary's University Homburg Centre in Halifax in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia for the third time since 2010.

Third seed Rodriguez, the world No16 from Bogota, reached the final after upsetting Alister Walker, the No2 seed from Botswana, in the semi-finals of the eighth edition of the Bluenose Classic.

But after the Colombian built up a 3-0 lead in the opening game of the final, it was Selby, the world No14 from Essex, who reclaimed the initiative - taking eight consecutive points en-route to an 11-4 game one win.

Rodriguez changed his tactics in the second game, and soon drew level after conceding just two points - an achievement he duplicated in the third.

"In the fourth game, Rodriguez had so much confidence in his drop, the first two points were secured in drops executed in exchanges immediately after the serve," explained tournament spokesman Blair Cook. "Another three perfectly-executed drops and Rodriguez grew the lead to 5-0."

Selby fought back to 4-7, but the 27-year-old from Bogota continued his dominance to close out the match 4-11, 11-2, 11-2, 11-6 in 58 minutes to win his first Bluenose Squash Classic Championship.

"I didn't play badly today and played well in the first game," said Selby later. "Credit to Miguel, he played unbelievable squash after that. He upped the intensity, and did it absolutely perfectly.

"I take my hat off to him, and he definitely deserved to win."

When asked whether he was disappointed, having lost in the finals now three time, Selby responded: "It will definitely keep me coming back, however, one more loss and it's not bad luck is it?"

Rodriguez pronounced the final as "one of the best matches I've ever played".

"I was ready to play this match," continued the highest-ranked South American of all-time, who now boasts 23 PSA World Tour titles from 31 final appearances.