Second Berkshire Open Unveiled At Williams College In Massachusetts

The second men's Berkshire Open, a PSA Tour event featuring squash professionals from around the world, will be held at Williams College in Williamstown, in the US state of Massachusetts, from 21-26 September.

The 2-star event will be organised by Williams College squash coach Zafi Levy and presented by True North Financial and Sabre - giving Williams students, local and visiting squash fans, and those curious about the sport, an opportunity to watch many of the best players in the world.

With an increase in prize money from $13,000 to $20,000, this year's event has become one of the top ten squash tournaments in the US, attracting two of the world's top 20 players. Graham Ryding, the world No13, will be the top seed in the draw, which will also feature players from Australia, England, France, Ireland, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, South Africa, and Wales as well as the US.

Squash fans will be especially interested in seeing Stewart Boswell, the former world No4 from Australia, who is making a comeback to the PSA tour after missing most of the last three seasons due to a back injury. Since making his comeback in April, Boswell has won seven PSA Tour titles and jumped from 216 to 39 in the PSA world rankings.

"We are very happy to help make this event possible," says Rob Abel, manager of True North Financial's Williamstown office. "There is an abundance of cultural and natural offerings in the Berkshires, and a tournament of this level only adds to that already lengthy list." Launched in 2004, the Berkshire Squash Open is one of the few professional sporting events in the Berkshires.

Since the construction of the Simon Squash Centre in 1998, Williams' excellent facilities have been a magnet for a growing body of squash players, consisting of more than 60 Williams faculty and staff, 150 local residents, hundreds of Williams students and a growing number of junior players from the Williamstown-North Adams community.

"The goal of the tournament is to provide the rapidly growing number of squash enthusiasts in the area with an opportunity to watch world-class squash at an affordable price," says Coach Levy.

Williams College Athletics Director Harry Sheehy adds: "Once again, we are pleased to be hosting an event that will bring some of the top squash players in the world to the College and to the community."

The week-long competition will kick off on Wednesday, September 21 with the qualifying rounds concluding on Thursday, September 22. From the qualifying rounds, four players will emerge to round out the 16-player draw. Twelve players will enter the main draw without qualifying, including one wild-card entry: Christopher Gordon, the highest-ranking US player, currently ranked 80th in the world.

The official opening round will then begin Friday September 23, leading to the final on Monday September 26, when a second Berkshire Open champion will be crowned.