Squash Blog - 20th Men's World Team Championship 2005

December 14, 2005 - DAY 7
After 7 days of hard work and a lot of squash, the US team came through with a strong, solid and professional performance against Scotland to take 13th place. The No.1's were drawn to play first and so Preston Quick went head to head with John White (who was world No.1 a little over a year ago). Although Preston pushed John all the way, displaying some impressive hard straight and cross-court drives blended in with some great attacks to the front of the court, John White managed to keep his nose ahead and control the ball and the points sufficiently to contain Preston's barrage of attacks winning in a spirited 3 game encounter.

That meant it was up hill work for the rest of the team - knowing that one further loss out of the next two matches would mean a Scottish victory. So it was Chris Gordon to defend the US pride first..... and he did with vigour and as good a performance as he has produced all week. Winning comfortably in 3 games.

So it was down to Julian Illingworth, the National Champion to put in a champions performance and give the US a chance of clinching the tie. From the start it never looked in doubt as a newly focused Illingworth controlled the rallies and gave very little away to his younger, less experienced opponent. It took just 40 minutes for Julian to do the job and claim the victory that the US team had worked so hard to achieve.

The whole team of Preston Quick, Julian Illingworth, Chris Gordon and Beau River deserve great praise in their professionalism this week and their support for each other as a team.

That's it for this Championships... we are now heading off to the finals dinner.... good night and thank you,

Chris Walker - Team Coach

BLOG From Squash Webmaster:

December 14, 2005 - DAY 7
The All-American Team Makes US Squash History
Today, on the final day of the 20th Men's World Team Squash Championship, Team USA defeated Scotland in the Second Stage Finals. The victory gave US an overall finish of 13th in the world, the best finish by a US Men's Squash Team in 22 Years!

USA Results

[19/22] USA bt [13/18] SCOTLAND 2-1
Preston Quick lost to John White 6-9, 4-9, 7-9
Christopher Gordon bt Stuart Crawford 9-4, 9-6, 9-4
Julian Illingworth bt Harry Leitch 9-6, 9-3, 9-5

For full results click here

BLOG From Chris Walker:

December 13, 2005 - DAY 6
The penultimate day of the World Team Championships witnessed another quality performance from the US team with a convincing win over New Zealand putting in to the playoffs for 13 and 14th place tomorrow.

First on court was Julian Illingworth up against PSA ranked 78, Callum O'Obrien. Julian took no prisoners as he picked up from where he left off yesterday, providing a clinical dismantling of the Kiwi in 4 fiercly contested games. The pace of the play was high and Julian kept his focus as Callum tried to volley virtually everything looking for a weakness in his opponent. Julian answered all the questions and closed out the match 9-2 in the fourth.

With one win in the bank, USA just needed to clinch one of the 2 remaining ties to take them to the next round. Preston Quick entered the court next, up against the New Zealand No.1 and 75 in the world, Kashif Shuhja. Kashif proved to be a tricky opponent with his well chosen shots, trying to move Preston from front to back using the lob and some deft drops. However, Preston had other plans and relentlessly worked Kashif at an uncomfortable pace to expose his laboured court coverage. In a close 4 games Preston came out on top by keeping the errors down to a minimum and not allowing Kashif to settle 9-1, 6-9, 9-6, 10-8.

The 3rd match was hence a dead rubber and played as a best of 3 games between Chris Gordon and the Kiwi, Campbell Grayson. Campbell put New Zealand on the score card with a 2-0 win, 9-6, 9-1.

So our last match of the competition tomorrow morning will be contested against Scotland for 13th place.

Watch this space!

BLOG From Squash Webmaster:

December 13, 2005 - DAY 6
USA Results

[19/22] USA bt [11] NEW ZEALAND 2-1
Julian Illingworth bt Callum O'Brien 9-2, 4-9, 9-6, 9-2
Preston Quick bt Kashif Shuja 9-1, 6-9, 9-6, 10-8
Christopher Gordon lost to Campbell Grayson 6-9, 1-9

For full results click here

BLOG From Chris Walker:

December 12, 2005 - DAY 5
It was definitely a good day for US Squash today as they faced Ireland to continue in their quest for the 13th position in the final order of merit. As the pressure heats up in this, the knockout stage of the tournament, the US team was not wanting in professionalism or producing excellent individual performances when absolutely needed! Their reward was a well earned victory over Ireland 2-1.

First on court was Preston Quick. His task was challenging - playing against the likes of the hardened, full-time PSA player, Liam Kenny who controlled the game with some excellent play. Moving the ball around the court and always keeping Preston under pressure Liam ran out the winner 9-2, 9-2, 9-0.

Second on court, and with the added pressure of knowing that he HAD TO WIN was Christopher Gordon. His opponent was the Irish international Neal Murphy. Chris weathered the storm of a tenacious Irishman who did not give up for one second finally winning in a convincing manner 9-3, 9-6, 9-6.

So at 1-1 each, it was down to the SL Green National Champion Julian Illingworth to fly the flag and try to clinch victory and a place in the 13-16th playoff position. In what I would say was the best performance by a US Player that I have seen to date, Julian was on a mission from the start - displaying focus, control and composure beyond expectation - he closed out what could have been a tricky opponent, Arthur Gaskin, 9-0, 9-0, 9-5.

Victory was the USA's...
The challenge now will be against a tough New Zealand team and the prize will be a place in the 13/14 playoff.. for the loser, the left-overs will be a place in the 15/16th playoff.

We play New Zealand this afternoon at 4pm local Pakistan time!

BLOG From Squash Webmaster:

December 12, 2005 - DAY 5
USA Results

[19/22] USA bt [13/18] IRELAND 2-1
Preston Quick lost to Liam Kenny 2-9, 2-9, 0-9
Christopher Gordon bt Neal Murphy 9-3, 9-6, 9-6
Julian Illingworth bt Arthur Gaskin 9-0, 9-0, 9-5

For full results click here

BLOG From Beau River

December 11, 2005 - DAY 5
Hello everyone,

Today was a good day for us not only because we earned our first win, but also because we did it in a decisive manner.

Julian got things rolling and started his match with more focus and calm than he had in previous days. We have all been encouraging Julian to play with a bit more of the fire that we know is in him. Today he gave us a peek at his game when he plays from that more intense place. After two competitive games Julian was able to lead his opponent to an empty place and take the third with ease.

We have been curious to see how Preston played against a player outside the top 20 and today we saw what we had been waiting for. Preston played with an intense focus that belies his international experience and took the first two games without dropping a point. His opponent may have settled in a bit in the 3rd but it was too little too late and Preston finished the match 9-3.

Chris Gordon was our #3 today and played a best 2 out of 3 to close out the dead rubber. Chris cleaned up his lip curling snarls a bit and it showed in his squash as he won fairly comfortably 2-0.

The USA today had the added support of the Great Hashim Khan - 90 years old, Denver based and occasionally Preston's Doubles partner. Tomorrow we have Ireland and we are all up for the challenge.

BLOG From Squash Webmaster:

December 11, 2005 - DAY 4
USA Results

[19/22] USA bt [13/18] HONG KONG 3-0
Julian Illingworth bt Dick Lau 9-5, 9-5, 9-1
Preston Quick bt Wai Hang Wong 9-0, 9-0, 9-2
Christopher Gordon bt Roger Ngan 9-6, 9-7

For full results click here

BLOG From Chris Walker:

December 10, 2005 - DAY 3
The last pool match today against Finland was in effect competing for the right to a day-off tomorrow (Sunday) with a bye. The line up for the USA was Preston Quick, Julian Illingworth and Beau River. Chris Gordon the resting player partly due to the fact that he had arrived from Hong Kong feeling a little under the weather. Beau was first on and started decisively winning the first game 9-0. The second game was a tussle and probably the turning point of the match which the Fin, Hameed Ahmed, won 9-7. Beau's resistence to the charge started to fade in the 3rd and Hameed took it 9-5, finally closing out 9-1 in the fourth.

Second match on were the No.1 strings and Preston looking to pull off an upset against his experienced world ranked opponent, Olli Tuominen. A tough first game 9-7, that Olli won, took the sting out of Preston earlier than expected and the Fin was able to win convincingly 9-0, 9-1 to take secure the win for Finland.

In the pool part of the draw, all matches are played out to the end - so it was left to Julian and his counterpart Matias Toumi to produce the goods in a match that had little at stake other than the pride of the two individuals on court. Julian started off well and clocked up an 8-0 lead within minutes... with in minutes more Julian had switched off mentally and lost the first game 10-8. Before he could recall what had happened in game one, the Fin had taken the 2nd and a 2-0 lead. Now came what was probably tne of the strongest tests of charactor the Yale Student has faced in his short career. Julian, realising he had something to prove to himself, regrouped and proceeded to out play Matias with a steady, focused 30 minutes of squash that saw him come through as the winner 9-2 in the fifth.

So onto the knock out stages... The USA are in the 13-22 play-off for position. Our first match is tomorrow against the Hong Kong team. The next 4 days are going to be a test of the endurance of the team members. Each match is part of a knock out draw with the ultimate goal of winning through to 13th place. It is definitely a possibility but we can only get there inch by inch... Hong Kong here we come!

BLOG From Squash Webmaster:

December 10, 2005 - DAY 3
USA Results

[13/18] FINLAND bt [19/22] USA 2-1
Hameed Ahmed bt Beau River 0-9, 9-7, 9-5, 9-1
Olli Tuominen bt Preston Quick 9-7, 9-0, 9-1
Matias Tuomi lost to Julian Illingworth 10-8, 9-2, 5-9, 0-9, 2-9

Pool D Final positions
1 Australia, 2 Netherlands, 3 Finland, 4 USA

For full results click here

BLOG From Chris Walker:

December 9, 2005 - DAY 2
Today was day that held a great deal of promise. A bit of history first... The best a US Team has done at World Teams is finish 19th.This is the first time the US Team has been made up entirely of players raised in the States. Coming into this event the team felt they had a chance to do something special by not just making the top 16, but making the top 12.

Today was judgement day.

Chris Gordon, making his debut in the World Teams for his country, started us off playing #3 with a gutsy but streaky performance. After spending the last 5 days recoverying from some sort of virus it was his going to be a test of character. He lost the first and didn't really start playing until the middle of the second which he came back from 4-6 down to win 9-7. The third was again a 'push me pull you' affair, with both players going through mental lapses. Chris closed out in the end coming back from 6-8 down to win it 10-8. He then fell apart in the 4th and lost it 9-3. Chris regrouped well and returned to court to win it 9-0.

That put us 1-0. Our next match was between Laurens Angema and Preston Quick. Preston put up a good fight using the lower tin to great effect with some great attacking shots straight and accross his opponents body. He made Laurens earn his win, in a fast paced 50 minute match.

That meant we went to the deciding match - Julian Illingworth against Dylan Bennet. The two have met at least 8 times over their junior and senior careers. Julian reckons Dylan is overall ahead of him 5-3 in matches. Julian started out well with with steady pressure and took the first game 9-1. But as the second began it became clear this was not going to be quite as easy as the first.

Dylan's strategy is was to break up the rhythm and tempo of the game with his wristy style. Julian's is more orthodox centered on good length and positive attacks to the front. So back and forth it went, leaving us behind the back wall with sweaty palms. Dylan took the 2nd and 3rd comfortably. After a steady start by both players in the 4th, Julian got his nose in front and forced the deciding set. Would the US have a chance of a top 12 finish?

Dylan raced ahead to reach 8-3 match ball, but then there were thoughts of Julian in Tepic last year - down 8-3 in the fifth to Argentina, before coming back to win 10-8 and clinch the bronze medal then). However, today the opposition was going to have none of it, and in the end Dylan took the fifth 9-6.

So tomorrow is a new day against the Finnish and the test is going to be to pick ourselves up from this dissapointment and bounce back to try to finish as high as possible, which is now at position 13.

BLOG From Squash Webmaster:

December 9, 2005 - DAY 2
USA Results

[9] NETHERLANDS bt [19/22] USA 2-1
Tom Hoevenaars lost to Christopher Gordon 9-1, 8-10, 4-9, 9-6, 0-9
Laurens Jan Anjema bt Preston Quick 9-5, 9-2, 9-2
Dylan Bennett bt Julian Illingworth 1-9, 9-4, 9-5, 3-9, 9-5

For full results click here

BLOG From Squash Webmaster:

December 9, 2005 - DAY 2

Australia, Netherlands, Finland and the United States are competing in Pool D, with the top two teams advancing to the play-offs. Fourth seed and record eight-time winner Australia should easily advance leaving one spot for the team who wants it the most.

That "want" was displayed in a Netherland-Finland match yesterday, when World No. 28 and Netherlands No. 1 Laurens Jan Anjema beat World No. 14 Olli Tuominen 9-7, 4-9, 9-1, 6-9, 9-3. In the match that followed, Netherlands No. 2 Dylan Bennett took an easy victory over Matias Tuomi, giving Netherlands a 2-1 win over Finland, but more importantly the team advantage in advancing to the play-offs.

Have heart my US squash fans. With Anjema coming off a tough match and Tommy Berden, Netherlands current No. 2 player, not participating due to a ruptured tendon in his right arm, Netherlands are beatable. The US Men's team know they need this victory, they WANT this victory and are ready to fight for every point.

Rounding out the Netherlands team in positions 3 and 4 are Tom Hoevenaars and Marc Reus.

BLOG From Chris Walker:

December 8, 2005 - DAY 1

The US team woke up refreshed and hungry for business today with a tall order, up against the No.4 seeds, Australia.

Beau River stepped on court to hit the first ball of the 2005 US Men's Team Championships against the Aussie No.3 Joe Kneipp. In his first appearance for the USA, Beau tried to settle in to the game but found the pace and control of Kneipp a handful. Kneipp took the first 2 games without dropping a point. With nothing to lose Beau relaxed in the third game, and collected 3 hard earned points before Kneipp closed out.

Second on court was Preston Quick, up against the World No.3 Anthony Rickets. Quick settled quickly into a fast and furious pace. Preston's style of game, with low drives both straight and cross court, was undoubtedly aided by the lower international 17" tin and it frustrated Ricketts. The first game was taken by Ricketts 9-6, Quick's enthusism to attack too early cost him the 2 game quickly but he rallied in the third to lead 7-4 before Ricketts took control again to peg back the points and win the game and match 9-7.

As this was a pool match the final game between Julian Illingworth and Stuart Boswell was played as a full best of 5 as every point counts. However, Boswell's pace and penetration with consistent, relentless volleying to the back of the court proved too much for Julian who failed to gain control of the rallies for long enough to really hurt him physically. From a coaches point of view, it was a great experience for the boys today and also the perfect preparation for the 2 "big" pool matches we have over the next 2 days.

Tomorrow we face the Netherlands and then on Saturday we will have Finland. Both of these are well with in our reach and come Saturday evening we may be thanking Australia for the lesson they gave us today.

BLOG From Squash Webmaster:

December 8, 2005 - DAY 1
USA Results

[4] AUSTRALIA bt [19/22] USA 3-0
Anthony Ricketts bt Preston Quick 9-6, 9-3, 9-7
Stewart Boswell bt Julian Illingworth 9-1, 9-1, 9-0
Joseph Kneipp bt Beau River 9-0, 9-0, 9-3

For full results click here

BLOG From Squash Webmaster:

December 7, 2005

Tomorrow, at the 20th Men's World Team Squash Championship, United States will take on the fourth seeds, Australia, who have won the past two championships in 2001 and 2003. Australia has a competitive team including; Sydney's world No.3 Anthony Ricketts, Canberra's world No.20 Stewart Boswell, Queensland's world No.24 Joseph Kneipp and New South Welshman's world No.30 Cameron Pilley completes the line-up.

World No.4 David Palmer will not be representing Australia, due to a 13-month World Squash Federation suspension that runs until the end of January, 2006.

Pools

Pool A: 1-England, 12-South Africa, 13-18 Kuwait, 19-22 Austria
Pool B: 2-Egypt, 11-New Zealand, 13-18 Germany, 19-22 Iran
Pool C: 3-France, 10-India, 13-18 Ireland
Pool D: 4-Australia, 9-Netherlands, 13-18 Finland, 19-22 US
Pool E: 5-Canada, 8-Wales, 13/18 Hong Kong
Pool F: 6-Malaysia, 7-Pakistan, 13-18 Scotland, 19-22 Spain.

BLOG From Chris Walker:

December 7, 2005

All the team, except Chris Gordon, arrived safely in Islamabad after a 2 day trip with 2 night flights from JFK via London to Pakistan. Chris Gordon made his own way to the Marriot Hotel, Islamabad, from Hong Kong where he had been competing in the World Open. After being escorted through customs like Rock stars 3/4's of the US team headed for baggage claim to collect their bags. Unfortunately for Chris Walker, the team Coach, and the team masseuse, 4 of their bags didn't make it through the connections in London and are still AWOL in the field somewhere some 36 hours after landing!

Despite this set back for coach and masseuse, the team have settled in and will be in pristine shape come their first match tomorrow (Thursday) after revitalising massages and practises on the match courts at the Roshan Khan and Mushaf Squash Complex's in Pakistan's Jinnah Sports Complex.

The team will be straight into the thick of things as their first match, at high noon, will be 4th seeded Australia.

Preston Quick is the No.1 and Captain, supported by Julian Illingworth at 2, Chris Gordon at 3 and Beau River at 4.