Canada Cup : Elias wins marathon final

Canada Cup Squash 2019 : FINAL
[4] Diego Elias (Per) 3-2 [1] Paul Coll (Nzl)   11-8, 6-11, 11-8, 8-11, 11-6 (98m)

Elias comes through marathon final

Having beaten second seed Marwan ElShorgby in the semi-finals, Diego Elias went one better as he overcame top seed Paul Coll in a marathon final at the Cambridge Club to claim the 2019 Canada Cup title.

Joel Clarke reports

The final match was the perfect finish to cap off the 2019 Troilus Canada Cup. All week, the proceedings were building up for this highly anticipated match between the 22 year old “Peruvian Puma” Diego Elias and Paul “Superman” Coll.

This match had all of the makings of an epic finale and the players did not disappoint. The first game started out at a ferocious pace with both players trading fast paced hitting around the mid court. A few fortunate referee decisions and some well timed nicks from the Peruvian allowed him to edge out the first game 11-8. Having thought he deserved the first game, Coll came back with a vengeance to win the second game 11-6 maintaining a steady lead.

Throughout the next two games the seesaw of action continued. Elias was testing the movement of Coll with a series of holds and deceptive shots and managed to edge out Coll 11-8. In the fourth game the grit, determination and and speed of Coll really tested the mental and physical strength of the Peruvian.

Showing clear signs of cramping and heavy physical fatigue in the fourth, Elias was unable to close out the match and we were headed for a fifth and final game. Before the fifth game kicked off, there was a lot of speculation as to if Elias would be able to maintain this pace for another game. Once the players were back on court, it was as if the Peruvian got a second wind and was back in the match.

Both players maintained an incredible pace going back and fourth controlling the centre of the court. Towards the tail end of the fifth game, Elias was able to open up a small lead which he was able to hold until the end winning 11-7.

Elias was elated to be back in the winners circle with his coaches Jonathan Power and father in the crowd. LIVE STREAM & REPLAYS

Canada Cup Reports on the Blog LIVE STREAM & REPLAYS

Semis: Coll and Elias through to final at Cambridge Club

On the third day of play in this year’s Canada Cup Squash, action moved to the Cambridge Club with the top four seeds in action for the semi-finals.

Top seed Paul Coll despatched Mohamed Abouelghar with a 3-0 win, and Diego Elias created the first upset of the tournament as he beat second seed Marwan ElShorbagy, also in straight games.

Joel Clarke reports

[1] Paul Coll (Nzl) 3-0 [3] Mohamed Abouelghar (Egy)    11-8, 11-8, 11-2 (48m)

The first semi-Final of the evening was a much anticipated match of two different styles of competitors. Paul Coll, arguably one of the best movers on the tour was taking on the fast paced shotmaker in Mohammed Abouelgar.

The Match started off exactly as one would anticipate. Abouelgar was dictating the pace early and managed to find a few nicks in the front corners of the court. In Both the first and second games, Abouelgar started at a extremely high pace and took an early lead.

Paul Coll being the stubborn competitor he is, never let up and battled back to take the first two games 11-8, 11-8.

In the third game we started to see Coll really push ahead and assert himself around the centre of the court and frustrate the Egyptian with his speed. Although the crowd wanted desperately to see more high paced squash, the quality of hitting from the New Zealander was just too good and he went on to finish the match in 3 games.

[4] Diego Elias (Per) 3-0 [2] Marwan ElShorbagy (Egy)     11-7, 11-4, 11-4 (31m)

The Second semi-final of the evening between Marwan Elshorbagy and Diego Elias was a another highly anticipated match between two competitors who have met numerous times in their careers on the PSA tour.

From the first serve, Elias, 22 year old Peruvian dominated the pace of play. Through a series of holds, flicks and faced pace play, Elias was able to upset the movement of Elshorbagy and never allowed him to fully settle into the match.

After winning the first two games 11-7, 11-4 in convincing fashion, Elias kept his foot on the gas and went on to win the 3rd and final game 11-4.

Canada Cup Squash is coming to Toronto

Attention squash fans! The week you’ve been waiting for is nearly upon us with the return of the 2019 edition of the prestigious Troilus Canada Cup Squash! The CCS will take place at the Cambridge Club March 3rd-7th in Toronto and various GTA clubs. The event boasts a spectacular line-up including 8 of the top-20 players in the world.

The event’s top seeds include New Zealand’s Paul Coll, World #6, Egyptian Marwan El Shorbagy WR#8, also from Egypt Mohamed Abouelghar WR#9 and Peru’s Diego Elias WR#10.

The best in the world will battle it out for over $100K CDN in prize money and coveted PSA ranking points at The Cambridge Club, Toronto Athletic Club, Adelaide Club, Ontario Racquet Club, One Health Club, Ten X Toronto, and Barrie Athletic Club.

Hotel X Toronto is the official player hotel. TenX Toronto is the designated practice venue and host of the CCS Junior Jam and UST fund raiser on March 4th.

This is the largest PSA purse in the history of Canadian squash!

“It will be our 12th year running, and 2nd year as PSA event. We look forward to continue growing and showcasing squash in Canada,” said Shahier Razik, Tournament Director

The Cambridge Club is the event’s home venue where select round one & two matches, Quarterfinal, Semifinal, and Final & Championship dinner will be held.

Contact frontdesk@thecambridgeclub.com, 416-862-1077 to reserve your tickets.

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