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Power and White Warm Up the Crowd

Before the final we were treated to some footage from the upcoming Hashim Khan film (here seen with Roshan and Azam). (photo:©2006 SqashTalk archive)

For those spectators lucky enough to arrive early at Chelsea's Newspace this evening, there was an unusually interesting preview to the finals between David Palmer, Australian from Brussels and Mohd Azland Iskandar, Malaysian from England.

First up was a preliminary screening of film footage for the upcoming proposed documentary film by Josh Easdon about Hashim Khan's life and significance to squash and Pakistan.

Filmmaker Easdon together with his director, Beth Rasin, are currently raising additional money to complete production and distribution of the film. According to Easdon, filming is about 90% complete at this time, and the clips which we were given the privelege of viewing this evening are very interesting. The themes intertwined with the footage of Hashim, include the deep interrelationship of Hashim's rise to squash fame and the identity of Pakistan, as well as cultural and squash storylines.

Power and White engaged the crowed in a pre-final exhibition. (photo:©2006 Debra Tessier)

Following the filming, it was a surprise exhibition appearance by two of the most inventive players of today - just retired Jonathon Power and active pro John White. Power, who had RUN from Grand Central Station to the venue to make it in time (he said he couldn't find a cab) - it's about 27 blocks - put on an engaging performance with the always exciting John White. Power showed he's still on top of his game, minus maybe a few elements of fitness, and the two of them showed that they have even more shots and moves when in exibition mode, that don't see the light of day in real competition.

Next up were the CitySquash guys, including a compelling and interesting speech by CitySquash student and "MVP," Chris Fernandez. (text of Chris' speech.)

And finally, the finals.

The problem with David Palmer (for Azlan Iskandar) is that there are almost no chinks in the armor, when Palmer is playing well.

There were virtually no chinks in the armor today.

But as for Azlan Iskandar, he was very good indeed tonight as well - almost no chinks in his armor.

Palmer was given all he could handle by Iskandar's well-crafted and well-executed game plan.(photo:©2006 Debra Tessier)

Palmer was given all he could handle by  Iskandar's well-crafted and well-executed game plan. "It was my experience that took me through," Palmer said afterwards. "This was an awfully tough match and my only advantage was a slight bit of experience that let me come up with some way to win those crucial points."

So, this was as good as a three game match as one will see. This was wonderful squash with both players at a level of almost error free squash. Both players exhibited a combination of good patience, wonderful attacks and phenomenal defense. The result was a very fine and enervating match. And some of the best points and varied points one will see.

For Iskandar, the story of the match was the crucial points. "Not good enough," said Azlan to SquashTalk after the match. "It was the big points that I didn't handle well enough." Iskandar was completely in each of the three games.

A case in point was game two, where Iskandar worked and attacked and played Palmer toe-to-toe to reach nine-all. But somehow, despite some great attacks and defensive heroics from Iskandar, Palmer came away with the final two points of the game.

Likewise, in game three, Azlan fought fearlessly to reach 8-8, but he just couldn't collect the big point he needed at that point to put just that little bit extra pressure on David Palmer.

With only a very few exceptions, the points were all long, hotly contested, and riveting. The only way for either player to win a point was to hit an outright dead winner, or a length shot so perfectly executed that virtually no space was left from the back wall to retrieve it. Aside from those point enders, virtually anything else - drops, low cross courts, almost perfect lobs, hard drives, spinning boasts - were retrieved by these two players who were both moving in exemplary fashion.

Despite the length of the points, the scrambling, the reaching, the angles — it was an exceedingly clean match with only a few interferences.

The points all developed in similar fashion — with parrying along the backhand wall, both players trying to drive the other to the back corner, looking to somehow create a somewhat open shot from the opponent to attack from.

But each the the score reached 8-8, and it did in all three games, Palmer seemed to hold the advantage. "I was just a bit too impatient at the end of the games," Iskandar admitted. "But I will remember that, and next time I will be that much better, he promised."

PRAISE FROM PALMER

From the fans point of view, it was superlative final.(photo:©2006 Debra Tessier)

"This might be a turning point for Azlan, tonight here," said David Palmer. "After he beat Nick last night and tonight ... well it was three games, but boy was it tough, he really shone through this week."

As for Iskandar, he was rueing the fact that he couldn't keep Palmer on court for just a bit longer. "The match went maybe 65 to 70 minutes," Iskandar said. "I would have liked it to go somewhat longer. There were some really brutal points out there. But I wanted it to last longer."

Iskandar has a point, because he looked quite fresh at the end and Palmer was looking as though there might have been some major momentum and fatigue issues should Iskandar have been able to steal game three.

From the fans point of view, it was superlative. In a measure of respect, a whole group of fans filed past Azlan shaking his hand and thanking him for a great match.

For most of the players at the Village Open, it's a short night of rest and then an early flight on to Hong Kong, where they will have a few days to overcome jetlag before the high-stakes Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Open begins.

[The DAVID PALMER STORY: Get this unique DVD today and see inside a champion.]

Finals:
[1] David Palmer (AUS) def [5] Mohd Azlan Iskandar (MAS) 11-8 11-9 11-8

From the fans point of view, it was superlative final.(photos:©2006 Debra Tessier)

City Squash director Tim Wyant, the three tournament directors Sean Gibbon, Robert Osborne, and Gerry Ouderkirk with David Palmer and Azlan Iskandar. .(photo:©2006 Debra Tessier)

The Palmers celebrate David's first NYC win. (photo:©2006 Debra Tessier)