Final : Schnell completes the run
We had a great all Canadian Final with number one seed David Baillargeon taking on local Graeme Schnell.
Schnell came out in the first game with incredible play keeping the pace high throughout all of the rallies forcing Baillargeon to make errors and leading him to an 11-4 win in the first game. The second game saw Baillargeon look more comfortable but after keeping it close to the 6 point mark Schnell pulled away finishing the game 11-7.
In the third game everything went right for Schnell, great length, quick pace and incredible movement led him to a 11-3 win. Although rallies were long throughout the match Schnell was dialed in on all of his shots and ended up taking the match in three straight games 11-4, 11-7, 11-3 in 39 minutes.
Schnell thus completes a run of upsets which included four of the five top seeds, becomes the first player to repeat as champion at the Mount Royal University Open after winning this event back in 2015 when he beat Baptiste Masotti.
Quarters : Schnell makes it a hat-trick of upsets
The first match of the evening saw Canada’s number one seed David Baillargeon take on Colombian Santiago Orozco. It was a hard fought match for Orozco but Baillargeon just seemed to be a slight step ahead and took the match 3-0 in 27 minutes 11-4, 11-7, 11-6
The second quarter final of the evening saw South African Tristan Eysele take on Frenchman Edwin Clain. The match showed strong play from both players with long rallies and the 3 – 0 score was not indicative of the match played with Eysele taking down Clain in 28 minutes 11-9, 11-9, 13-11
Local Connor Turk took on Pakistan’s Naveed Rehman in the third quarter final. Turk seemed to be one step ahead of Rehman in every game but the third when Rehman really put Turk to the test. In the end Turk won 3 -1 in 33 minutes 11-6, 11-2, 5-11, 11-3
Once again the best match of the evening was the last match where spectators were treated to an all-out battle between Calgary local Graeme Schnell and Scotsman Rory Stewart. The match was back and forth throughout which showcased solid movement, great retrieving and incredible shot making. In the end Schnell ended up taking it in the fifth and deciding game, 11-9, 9-11, 8-11, 11-7, 11-7 in 75 minutes.
Round TWO
Canadians Jake Hooker and Connor Turk are familiar opponents who have met before in amateur matches battled early but Turk pulled away as the match went on winning 3-0 11-9, 11-4, 11-8 in 28 minutes
Colombia’s Santiago Orozco who was coming off of a long match yesterday and took on Canadian Thomas King . Orozco’s stamina prevailed and he won in 3 straight games 12-10, 11-8, 11-4 in 39 minutes
Surprise local winner Peter Trafford (local from Calgary) took on another player from Pakistan in his second round match up in Naveed Rehman, but this time Trafford wasn’t so lucky as Rehman took him down in three straight games 11-7, 11-7, 11-7 in 34 minutes
Edwin Claine took on Aaron Allpress and after a slow start from Allpress he battled hard in the second game to tie the match 1-1 but from there Claine took over eventually winning 3-1 in 40 minutes 11-2, 9-11, 11-6, 11-5
In another impressive outing former PSA player Graeme Schnell (another local from Calgary) took down Miled Zarazua in 32 minutes 11-9, 11-4, 11-1
Rory Stewart came ready to play and took care of Fernando Magdaleno in three straight games 3-0 in 27 minutes 11-2, 11-5, 11-2
The battle of the night happened when Wildcard Ryan Picken took on South Africa’s Tristan Eysele this back and forth battle kept spectators on the edge of their seats from start to finish in the end Eysele pulled out win 3-2 11-6, 9-11, 10-12, 11-3, 11-8 in 65 minutes.
Round ONE:
Round one saw a lot of locals getting a taste of PSA action:
Antonio Mendes (CAN, Local from Calgary) took Rafi Khan (PAK) to 5 games but ran out of gas in the 5th game
Santiago Orozco (COL) at his second appearance at the MRU Open faced another local in the first round and this time he beat Brett Schille (CAN, Local from Calgary) in a hard fought 3 game match.
Armando Olguin (MEX) had a tough test in his first round match against Wildcard Ryan Picken (CAN) unfortunately the veteran didn’t have it on this night losing in 3 straight
Fernando Magdaleno (MEX) walked over local Graham Kerford (CAN, Local from Calgary) especially in the 2nd game
Former PSA player Graeme Schnell (CAN, Local from Calgary) who won the inaugural MRU Open had a stiff first round test against young Simon Herbert (ENG) Graeme showed his experience and pulled out the match in 3 straight games
Noman Khan (PAK) returning for a second straight year to MRU had a tough first round match up vs Peter Trafford (CAN, Local from Calgary) in a back in forth match Peter eventually pulled out the win in 5 games
In the all local match up former PSA player Jake Hooker (CAN, Local from Calgary) took on newcomer Mohamed Kamal (CAN, Local from Calgary) and showed his experience by taking down Mo in 3 straight games
