Bluenose Squash Classic, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada

Final:

[1] Laurens Jan Anjema (NED) bt [4] Borja Golan (ESP)
      8-11, 11-10 (2-0), 11-5, 4-11, 11-10 (3-1) (108m)

Anjema Survives Bluenose Classic
Marathon For Halifax Title

In what was, fittingly, the longest and most dramatic match of the tournament, top seed Laurens Jan Anjema edged out fourth seed Borja Golan in a five-game marathon final of the Bluenose Classic to win the $30,000 PSA Tour squash event in its third year at St Mary’s University Tower in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Spaniard Golan, 25, from Santiago DC, took the opening game - then lost out in the second after a tie-break.

After two further games of contrasting scorelines, Anjema missed out on two match balls in the decider before finally clinching his 8-11, 11-10 (2-0), 11-5, 4-11, 11-10 (3-1) title victory in 108 minutes.

It was the first final in three years that did not feature local interest - and new champion Anjema, the 25-year-old world No19 from The Hague, was celebrating the seventh PSA Tour title of his career.
 

Semi-finals:

[1] Laurens Jan Anjema (NED) bt [3] Cameron Pilley (AUS)   10-11 (1-3), 11-5, 11-3, 11-8 (74m)

[4] Borja Golan (ESP) bt [2] Shahier Razik (CAN)                 11-1, 11-10 (2-0), 3-11, 11-8 (70m)

Golan Denies Razik Halifax Repeat

Fourth-seeded Spaniard Borja Golan upset Shahier Razik in a 70-minute semi-final of the Bluenose Classic to deny the No2 seed from Canada a second successive title in the $30,000 PSA Tour squash event in its third year at St Mary’s University Tower in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Golan, 25, from Santiago DC, beat the 30-year-old from Toronto 11-1, 11-10 (2-0), 3-11, 11-8 to reach his second Tour final in Canada in a week. 

Now in his 21^st PSA final - after celebrating his 20^th at last week's Manitoba Open in Winnipeg - Golan faces favourite Laurens Jan Anjema. 

In the other semi-final, the Dutchman recovered from a game down to defeat Australia's No3 seed Cameron Pilley 10-11 (1-3), 11-5, 11-3, 11-8 in 74 minutes - thus avenging his loss to the Australian in last week's National Capital Open final in Maryland, USA.

The 25-year-old from The Hague is marking his 18^th PSA Tour final appearance - and hoping that he will extend his career head-to-head Tour record against the Spaniard to 3-0.

Quarter-finals:

[1] Laurens Jan Anjema (NED) bt [6] Shawn Delierre (CAN)   11-10 (4-2), 7-11, 11-9, 11-6 (70m)

[3] Cameron Pilley (AUS) bt [7] Liam Kenny (IRL)                 11-7, 11-10 (2-0), 11-8 (53m)

[4] Borja Golan (ESP) bt [8] Scott Arnold (AUS)                    11-7, 11-3, 11-8 (50m)

[2] Shahier Razik (CAN) bt [5] Eric Galvez (MEX)                  11-7, 11-5, 7-11, 11-6 (78m)

Razik Keeps Canadian Hopes Alive In Nova Scotia

Defending champion Shahier Razik kept hopes of Canadian success in the Bluenose Classic alive after making it through to the semi-finals of the $30,000 PSA Tour squash event in its third year at St Mary’s University Tower in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

The 30-year-old from Toronto needed 70 minutes to keep fifth-seeded Mexican Eric Galvez at bay before winning 11-7, 11-5, 7-11, 11-6.

In a repeat of last year's final, Razik now meets fourth seed Borja Golan after the Spaniard beat Australian Scott Arnold, the No8 seed, 11-7, 11-3, 11-8.

Canadian interest in the other half of the draw expired when former champion Shawn Delierre bowed out to top seed Laurens Jan Anjema.  The Dutchman beat sixth seed Delierre 11-10 (4-2), 7-11, 11-9, 11-6 in 70 minutes to earn a clash with third seed Cameron Pilley.

Australian Pilley defeated Irishman Liam Kenny 11-7, 11-10 (2-0), 11-8.

1st round:

[1] Laurens Jan Anjema (NED) bt Jan Koukal (CZE)                         11-3, 11-6, 11-1 (36m)

[6] Shawn Delierre (CAN) bt [Q] Morten W Sorensen (DEN)             11-7, 11-5, 8-11, 11-4 (45m)

[3] Cameron Pilley (AUS) bt [Q] Martin Knight (NZL)                       11-8, 11-6, 11-8 (42m)

[7] Liam Kenny (IRL) bt Robin Clarke (CAN)                                  11-8, 11-6, 11-9 (44m)

[8] Scott Arnold (AUS) bt Khawaja Adil Maqbool (PAK)                    8-11, 11-8, 11-9, 11-9 (68m)

[4] Borja Golan (ESP) bt [Q] Tom Richards (ENG)                          11-7, 11-6, 11-6 (40m)

[5] Eric Galvez (MEX) bt David Phillips (CAN)                                 11-9, 11-8, 11-8 (47m)

[2] Shahier Razik (CAN) bt [Q] Andrew McDougall (CAN)                 11-1, 11-8, 11-4 (29m)

Canadians Shine In Nova Scotia

Former champions Shawn Delierre and Shahier Razik delighted the local crowds at the Bluenose Classic by taking local interest through to the quarter-finals of the $30,000 PSA Tour squash event in its third year at St Mary’s University Tower in Halifax, Nova Scotia, in Canada.

Delierre, the 2006 champion from Montreal, beat Danish qualifier Morten W Sorensen 11-7, 11-5, 8-11, 11-4.  The sixth seed will now face favourite Laurens Jan Anjema for a place in the last four.

Shahier Razik, the second seed who won the event last year, took just 29 minutes to despatch fellow Canadian Andrew McDougall, a qualifier from Calgary, 11-1, 11-8, 11-4. 

The 30-year-old from Toronto now lines up against Mexican Eric Galvez, the fifth seed, in the quarter-finals.

Australia's Scott Arnold celebrated his 22^nd birthday by overcoming his first round opponent in the longest clash of the day.  The No8 seed from Sydney recovered from a game down to beat Pakistan's Khawaja Adil Maqbool 8-11, 11-8, 11-9, 11-9 in 68 minutes to set up a last eight meeting with Spaniard Borja Golan.