Defending champion Jason Ray Khalil survived a scare in his quarterfinal encounter of the 2014 Bounty Farm Mash Handicap Tournament organised by the Guyana Squash Association (GSA) in collaboration with its number one corporate sponsor Digicel Guyana.
As the top ranked player in the tournament Khalil has the task of competing with a -22 handicap, which did not seem to bother him much until Thursday night when he came up against Antonio Joseph. Before that encounter, Khalil swept all his opponents, never conceding a single game. However, Joseph’s 12-point advantage was a close call as it meant that Khalil could be eliminated from the tournament if he committed six total unforced errors or if Joseph won six points in two games. This was heightened by the fact that Khalil had to win at least 37 points in each game before Joseph won three.
As tough at it may sound, Khalil overcame the unlikely odds to win the first game 16/14. On the verge of another spectacular comeback in the second, Khalil was stunned by two quality shots played by Joseph that were almost impossible to retrieve. After surrendering the second game, Khalil was in hot water, but the two-time handicap tournament champ brandished championship calibre heroics. The 19-year-old former Caribbean Under 17 champion got horizontal, fearlessly sacrificing his body to stay alive in the competition. Khalil managed to skim by Joseph with a chilling 18/16 victory in the final game.
Nicholas Narain ended Anthony Islam’s Cinderella run to the quarterfinal of the main draw, but the 12-year-old went down fighting. Islam forced a three-game match after prevailing in the second game 15/10. In the third Islam pushed Narain to the limit before honourably losing the game 16/14. Former national champion Regan Pollard (-16) also defeated junior sensation Benjamin Mekdeci (-10) in three games. Narain and Pollard are expected to contest the first semifinal while Khalil awaits the winner of the match between Lloyd Fung-A-Fat and Ryan Rahaman.
In Category A, Makeda Harding, Savannah Mendes, Jonathan Edwards and Madison Fernandes are the last players remaining in the main draw. Harding overcame Paige Fernandes in straight games, while Mendes took out Zachary Persaud in similar fashion. Madison Fernandes defeated Brandon Debidin in three games, while Edwards was successful against Gianni Carpenter 15/6, 18/16.
Action continues tonight and tomorrow (Saturday) for the finals. The GSA continues to urge all to support its Bounty Farm Mash Handicap tournament and tournament Barbeque this Saturday at the Georgetown Club.
RESULTS
Main draw
Jason Ray Khalil (-22) defeated Antonio Joseph (12) 16/14, 12/15, 18/16
Nicholas Narain (-8) defeated Anthony Islam (12) 15/13, 10/15, 16/14
Regan Pollard (-16) defeated Benjamin Mekdeci (-10) 0/15, 12/15, 6/15
Category A
Madison Fernandes (11) defeated Brandon Debidin (9) 15/13, 13/15, 15/9
Savannah Mendes (0) defeated Zachary Persaud (8) 15/12, 15/11
Makeda Harding (2) defeated Paige Fernandes (12) 15/12, 15/12
Jonathan Edwards (6) defeated Gianni Carpenter (6) 15/6, 18/16
Plate
Alex Cheeks (11) defeated Jamaal Douglas (11) 15/12, 15/13
Wayne Alphonso (12) defeated Rohandev Persaud (13) 15/13, 14/16, 17/15
Ashley deGroot (2) defeated Taylor Fernandes (8) 16/14, 6/15, 15/11
Medhi Ramdhani (6) defeated Kerensa Fernandes (12) 16/14, 16/14
Category A Plate
Ethan Jonas (10) defeated Nathan Rahaman (11) 15/12, 15/13
John Phang (7) defeated Demetrius DeAbreu (9) 15/11, 15/11
Sarah Lewis (-3) defeated Maya Collins (4) 15/12, 15/12
John Phang (7) defeated Dominic Collins (8) 15/12, 15/11
Kirsten Gomes (11) defeated Jamila Da Silva (10) 15/11, 16/14
Michael Alphonso (9) defeated Kirsten Gomes (11) 15/11, 15/12
