Lauren Briggs scores a first round win (photo © David Probert)

WOMEN'S SEEDS ADVANCE
All the spectators who could fit into the cramped viewing galleries were assembled at 4:00 PM when day 4 matches of the $50,000 EBS DAYTON OPEN began on Thursday.

The small but enthusiastic Dayton crowd were treated to some fabulous matches in the men's 1st round main draw. When the dust cleared, the draw had taken on a slightly unexpected dimension. Including Shahier Razik, the Canadian star who grew up in Egypt, four Egyptians populate the last eight of this draw, flanked by the top seeds John White and Olli Tuominen

The first two matches to take place saw both Egyptian 4 & 5 seeded players make it through to the Quarter Final round. Mohammed Abbas beat countryman Hisham Ashour 3-0 but was tested in games 2 and 3. Wael El Hindi defeated local touring pro Rob McFadzean, who acquitted himself well in front of the home crowd.

In both 5:00pm & both 6:00pm scheduled matches at the Dayton Squash Center the seeded players made it through to the next round although 3 of the 4 winners were severely tested. In the 5:00pm matches, Cameron Pilley dispatched qualifier Gavin Jones 3-0 but #1 seed John White dropped the second game to Mark Chaloner before winning the match 11-10 in crowd thrilling 4th game. The 6:00pm matches saw # 2 seed Olli Tuominen also take 4 games to beat Qualifier Stacey Ross and Dan Jenson & Jonathan Kemp put on a show in a 5 game match that took 1:20! Jenson got down 1 game to 2 and then gutted out a grueling 11-9 fourth game and went on to prevail 11-5 in the fifth.

The stage was set for the 7:00pm matches and all the spectators were crowded in behind court 5 where Ong Beng Hee, former World Jr. Champion and ranked # 15 in the world, was playing current World Jr. Champion Ramy Ashour, currently ranked # 38 in the men's world rankings. The other 7:00pm match saw Shahier Razik quickly dispatch Renan Lavigne 3-0 so that gallery joined the already large group watching Beng Hee & Ashour square off. This final match of the night , lasting 1:27, was an incredible treat to the appreciative audience as they witnessed the attacking & retrieving skills of both players.

Beng Hee won the first game in a tie-breaker and then dropped the second 9-11 and the third 3-11. It didn't look good for Beng Hee, but as a fierce competitor ever since he started climbing the men's rankings once he left the juniors, he regrouped and managed to win a back and forth 4th game 11-7. The stage was set for a 5th game with sponsors and patrons of the event on the edge of their seats and more than willing to postpone the player/sponsor catered dinner brought to the club. Ashour went up 4-1 early and then held this three point lead as they both attacked and retrieved to win rallies but at 7-4, Ashour found another level of strength and pulled away to 10-4 and the 11-5 finish was a foregone conclusion.

Ong Beng Hee, ever the quite warrior, was gracious in defeat and the infectious smile on Ramy Ashour's face at the end of the match told all: the men's ranks are now his playground!

In Women's action, all 4 seeds in the semi-finals were victorious with only # 3 seed Fiona Geaves dropping a game in her match with Lauren Briggs. Friday's semifinal matches, pitting Elriani against Geaves & Nimmo vs. Kawy will not only be good squash, but have the potential to set up a re-match of last year's inaugural final between Elriani & Kawy.

Men's & Women's main draw matches in the $50,000 EBS Dayton Open continue on Friday and over 130 amateur players from all over the U.S. invade the Miami Valley to compete in the 5th Annual version of the Revenge of the Baby Boomers Squash Tournament at the Dayton Squash Center. The Dayton Squash Center is located south of the Dayton Mall just off SR 741 on West Tech Rd. (across from the Wright Brothers Airport) and spectators are welcome to come watch the action.

WISPA RESULTS
Quarterfinals Round, Thursday:  [Complete draw]
[1] Linda Elriani (ENG) def [6] Rebecca Botwright (ENG) 9-0 9-5 9-4
[3] Fiona Geaves (ENG) def [7] Lauren Briggs (ENG) 9-2 5-9 9-1 9-4
[4] Pam Nimmo (SCO) def [5] Sharon Wee (MAS) 9-1 9-0 9-2
[2] Omneya Abdel Kawy def [7] Kasey Brown (AUS) 9-4 9-6 9-4

Men's 1st round Thursday:   [Complete draw]
[1] John White (SCO) def Mark Chaloner (ENG) 11-7 7-11 11-6 11-10(2-0)
[8] Cameron Pilley (AUS)def [Q] Gavin Jones (WAL) 11-4 11-4 11-6
[4] Wael El Hindi (EGY)def Robert McFadzean (USA) 11-4 11-3 11-5
[5] Mohammed Abbas (EGY)def [Q] Hisham Mohd Ashour (EGY) 11-1 11-9 11-8
[7] Shahier Razik (CAN)def Renan Lavigne (FRA) 11-4 11-3 11-7
[Q] Ramy Ashour (EGY) def [3] Ong Beng Hee (MAS) 10-11(0-2) 11-9 11-3 7-11 11-5
Dan Jenson (AUS) def [6] Jonathan Kemp (ENG) 11-6 9-11 3-11 11-9 11-5
[2] Olli Tuominen (FIN) def [Q] Stacey Ross (ENG) 11-9 11-7 8-11 11-6