Fifth Annual DragonDoc a Success     [PSA Draw]

The Finals of the 5th annual DragonDoc Squash Championshipswere a fitting end to a great weekend of competition. The final pitted number one seed Mark Heather, currently based in Chicago, against number three seed Tony James, currently based in Cleveland. The first game was a lightning quick affair with Jones jumping to a quick lead and never looking back.

After barely 4 minutes on court game one was over with James winning it 11-3 The second game started a bit slower with Heather trying to negate the quickness of James with length and a slower pace. James however, was not to be undone. On one brilliant point he got passed and made a full dive to hit a back wall boast to keep the rally alive. It went another 8 or 10 shots before James won it. he closed out the second game 11-6 from there.

The third game was a sharp contrast. heather started using pace to good effect and James stuck to retrieving. In the end that strategy failed as heather too the third game 11-7.

The real battle was the fourth game. Neither player could get more than 2 points clear until heather made a run to 8-4. james continued his retrieving and made several unbelievable gets in the back left corner. James leveled the game at 8-8 and moved ahead to 10-8. Heather had a brief return to get to 9-10, but on the next rally Heather hit a loose shot up the forehand side and the match ended on a stroke to James.

The crowd was thrilled by the entire pro draw, from veterans like heather and James to the newcomers Laursen and Fulham.

Hopefully all will return again next year.

Finals: Sunday Aug. 27
[3] Tony James (AUS) def. [1] Mark Heather (ENG) 11-3, 11-6, 7-11, 11-9

Semifinals: Saturday Aug. 26
[1] Mark Heather (ENG) def. Reggie Schonborn (RSA) 13-15, 12-10, 8-11, 11-1, 11-4
[3] Tony James (AUS) def. [8] Patrick Chifunda (ZAM) 6-11, 11-8, 6-11, 11-6, 11-6

QuarterFinals: Saturday Aug. 26th
[1] Mark Heather (ENG) def. 7) Karim Yehia (EGY) 8-11, 11-5, 10-12, 11-7, 11-7
Reggie Schonborn (RSA) def. [5] Patrick Bedore (CAN) 15-13, 7-11, 11-3, 11-2
[3] Tony James (AUS) def. [6] Ryan Donegan (USA) 11-7, 11-6, 11-6
[8] Patrick Chifunda (ZAM) def. [2] Raj Nanda (AUS) 11-8, 12-10, 2-11, 11-7

First Round: Friday Aug. 25th:
[7] Karim Yehia (EGY) def. Jonas Laursen (DEN) 11-5, 11-9, 11-8
[5] Patrick Bedore (CAN) def. Andre Maur (IRE)) 11-8, 11-3, 11-6
Reggie Schornborn (RSA) def. [4] Wade Johnstone (AUS) 14-12, 6-11, 11-6, 13-11
[3] Tony James (AUS) def. Michael Gilman (USA) 12-10, 11-4, 11-2
[6] Ryan Donegan (USA) def. John Fulham (USA) 11-7, 6-11, 11-7, 11-8
[8] Patrick Chifunda (ZAM) def. Chris Tham (MAS) 11-5, 11-6, 11-8