The BVI Open Squash Championship held at the Tortola Sports Club attracted players from around the world, including Pakistan, Brazil, the United States, Guyana, Trinidad, Peru and Mexico.
Last year’s winner was Gonzalo Miranda, of Argentina, but he did not compete this year.
The Virgin Islands top-ranked player Joe Chapman beat Kale Wilson, of Trinidad, in three straight sets to win his first match of the tournament, 11-7, 11-3 and 11-7.
“He was a great player; very competitive,” Mr. Chapman said. “It was a tough match.”
Mr. Chapman showed some fatigue near the end of the third set, but was able to over come it.
“I think I was using my mind a lot more than I have in the past,” Mr. Chapman said. “When I got behind a couple of times, I just stopped, bounced the ball a couple of times and reset my strategy. That is a new development for me. Sometimes you are so tired on the court, that it is hard to think strategically.”
To maintain his stamina and physical fitness he does sprints on the track and plyometrics.
“I take physical fitness very serious,” Mr. Chapman said. “But when you are in a professional match the adrenaline takes a lot out of you.”
In the three years that the tournament has been held at the TSC, Mr. Chapman has never won it, but enjoys it for other reasons.
“My favourite part of this tournament, is the local squash players being able to see squash at a high level,” Mr. Chapman said. “They see it and can’t believe how fast the ball is going and how quick these guys are. … Just to see this, is a treat for them. It gets everyone excited.”
Currently, Mr. Chapman is ranked 111th in the world.
On the court next to Mr. Chapman, was Mr. Creed, who had just won his first match against Chris Hanson, of the US, 11-5, 11-3 and 11-7.
“It was a bit of a cagey affair,” Mr. Creed said. “The first match of a tournament is always a bit of the unexpected.”
The five-time Welsh champion would reach the final — his seventh on the Professional Squash Association Tour — without dropping a game.
“It is not like this on a cloudy day in Wales,” Mr. Creed said. “It is warm in there on the courts. It is nice conditions to train in, but not to play tournaments in.”
At 81st in the world, Mr. Creed was the highest ranked player in the tournament and was confident about winning.
“You want to win every tournament, but you have to be realistic,” Mr. Creed said. “And realistically, I knew I had a great chance of winning this tournament.”
He added that the PSA tour is “small,” and has seen or competed against a lot of the players who were at the tournament.
He won his second match against Phillip Bull, of England, in three sets, 11-5, 12-10, 11-5, to advance to the semi-finals where he faced Matthew Serediak and won, 11-6, 11-7 and 11-8.
In the final, Mr. Creed beat Dane Sharp, of Canada, 11-7, 11-5 and 11-7.
The win was Mr. Creed’s third PSA World Tour title, but his first in two years.
Mr. Creed will now head to New York where he will be coaching for five days.
“It was ideal to come here and make some money, then shoot up to New York and do some coaching and then get back [home] to get ready for the Commonwealth Games,” Mr. Creed said.
Mr. Chapman was knocked out of the tournament in his second match against Mr. Serediak in five sets, 11-4, 5-11, 8-11, 11-4 and 11-3.
Mr. Serediak is currently ranked 126th in the world.
Mr. Chapman will now focus on his busy summer schedule with tournaments in New Zealand, Australia, Colombia and Scotland for the Commonwealth Games.
“I am doing every corner of the world,” He said.
Tournament organiser Mark Chapman said this year’s event was bigger than previous years. Preparations started six months prior to the tournament, which included court preparations, PSA registration, bringing in a referee from Barbados and setting up accommodations for visiting players, who stay with families on Tortola.
“A lot of preparations go into it for several months,” the organiser said. “The players really enjoy coming here. It is a great place to play.”
The organiser said having the ranked players competing in the tournament is impressive, but having visiting competitors from around the region is equally important.
“The standard is a lot better than it has been,” Mr. Chapman said. “There has been some great squash over the past couple of days.”
As matches got under way, the organiser paced between the courts. Not only is he an organiser, but also the father of a player — Joe Chapman. He said it is “hard” to manage both roles.
“I just have to distance myself from Joe’s games,” Mr. Chapman said. “But there is a lot to keep going during the tournament, so I am busy. I just try not to watch his games. If he wins, I try to enjoy it.”
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