Mexican wins first PSA Tour title

By SEAN REUTHE

World No.145 Jesus Camacho came up with a gladiatorial display to dispatch England’s Adam Murrills in the final of the British Virgin Islands Open Squash Championship, PSA M5 tournament – lifting his first PSA World Tour title in the process.

The 18-year-old Mexican, who hails from Mexico City, reached the third PSA World Tour final of his career courtesy of wins over wild card Jules Snagg, compatriot Leonel Cardenas and second seed Cameron Stafford, while Murrills scored a notable scalp over pre-tournament favourite and home hope Joe Chapman on his way to the title-decider in the Tortola Sports Club.

The early exchanges were dominated by a flurry of intense, attacking squash as both players found themselves neck and neck for much of a high-octane opening game. Camacho saved a game ball at 10-9 down, and then took the next two points to go a game to the good.

An aggressive response from Murrills saw the 26-year-old surge 8-0 ahead in the second game, and he wrapped it up for the loss of just a single point.

The momentum shifted again though in the third, with Camacho injecting pace into proceedings to put Murrills under immense pressure, eventually regaining his lead to put himself on the cusp of claiming a maiden PSA World Tour crown.

Murrills regrouped in a closely-contested fourth game and built up some rhythm with a number of spectacular winners, before unforced errors enabled Camacho to build up a succession of points.

With the score delicately poised at 9-8 in Camacho’s favour, the teenager held his nerve to take the next two points without reply, closing out a 12-10, 1-11, 11-3, 11-8 triumph to open up his title account.

“This is my first PSA win,” said a delighted Camacho. “I must tell my family, I am so happy, thank you.”

Murrills added: “I gave it my best shot today, but Jesus keeps it so fast and tight and doesn’t make many mistakes. It was a tough loss today, but congratulations to the youngster.”

PSA M5 British Virgin Islands Open 2016, Tortola Sports Club, Tortola, British Virgin Islands.

Final:

[4] Jesus Camacho (MEX) bt [3] Adam Murrills (ENG) 12-10, 1-11, 11-3, 11-8 (63m)

Semi-finals:

[3] Adam Murrills (ENG) bt [1] Joe Chapman (IVB) 11-5, 3-11, 11-9, 11-3 (68m)

[4] Jesus Camacho (MEX) bt [2] Cameron Stafford (CAY) 11-6, 10-12, 11-4, 11-7 (59m)

Quarter-finals:

[1] Joe Chapman (IVB) bt [8] Italo Bonatti (GUA) 11-9, 11-5, 7-11, 11-5 (73m)

[3] Adam Murrills (ENG) bt [7] Mauricio Sedano (GUA) 11-4, 11-5, 11-2 (32m)

[4] Jesus Camacho (MEX) bt [Q] Leonel Cardenas (MEX) 11-5, 9-11, 11-5, 10-12, 11-7 (88m)

[2] Cameron Stafford (CAY) bt [5] Kale Wilson (TRI) 11-6, 11-7, 11-6 (38m)

1st round:

[1] Joe Chapman (IVB) bt [Q] Mike Adamson (IVB) 11-6, 11-6, 11-5 (29m)

[8] Italo Bonatti (GUA) bt Antonio de la Torre (GUA) 11-7, 11-3, 9-11, 11-7 (54m)

[7] Mauricio Sedano (GUA) bt [Q] Neville Sorrentino (IVB) 11-3, 11-4, 11-5 (27m)

[3] Adam Murrills (ENG) bt David Cromwell (USA) 11-9, 11-0, 11-4 (33m)

[4] Jesus Camacho (MEX) bt [WC] Jules Snagg (SVG) 11-8, 11-2, 11-6 (31m)

[Q] Leonel Cardenas (MEX) bt [6] Albert Shoihet (CAN) 5-11, 11-8, 11-7, 11-5 (51m)

[5] Kale Wilson (TRI) bt Jonas Knigge Laursen (DEN) 11-9, 11-6, 11-4 (32m)

[2] Cameron Stafford (CAY) bt [Q] Dion Anselm (IVB) 11-6, 11-3, 11-4 (34m)

Qualifying finals:

Leonel Cardenas (MEX) bt Rory Thornton (IVB) 11-3, 11-4, 11-3

Dion Anselm (IVB) bt Winston Findlay (IVB) 11-4, 11-8, 11-9

Neville Sorrentino (IVB) bt Alex Davidson (IVB) 11-8, 11-7, 11-7

Mike Adamson (IVB) bt Lee Osborne (IVB) 12-10, 11-7, 11-6

1st qualifying round:

Leonel Cardenas (MEX) bt Paul Hewlett (IVB) w/o

Rory Thornton (IVB) bt Jonathan Addo (IVB) 11-7, 11-5, 9-11, 12-10

Winston Findlay (IVB) bt Richard May (IVB) w/o

Dion Anselm (IVB) bt Tatende Gotosa (IVB) 11-7, 10-12, 11-5, 11-4

Neville Sorrentino (IVB) bt Tony Campbell (IVB) 11-8, 11-8, 11-8

Alex Davidson (IVB) bt Tom Chapman (IVB) 11-5, 11-4, 11-9

Mike Adamson (IVB) bt Alexander Lower (IVB) 11-3, 11-4, 11-6

Lee Osborne (IVB) bt Mike Leslie (IVB) w/o

Picture from social media