THIRD PROFESSIONAL SQUASH TOURNAMENT AT WILLIAMS COLLEGE OCTOBER 2– 7, 2006

Second seed LJ Anjema will be playing the Berkshire Open. photo © 2006 Debra Tessier

The Third Men’s Berkshire Squash Open, a tournament featuring professional squash players from around the world, will be held at Williams College Tuesday, October 3rd through Sunday, October 8th, 2006.  Organized by Williams College squash coach Zafi Levy, endorsed by the Professional Squash Association (PSA), and presented by True North Financial, Williamstown Savings Bank and Sabre Yachts, the event will provide Williams students, local and visiting squash fans, and those curious about the sport with an opportunity to watch some of the best players in the world.

The Berkshire Squash Open is happy to announce the addition of $11,400 professional women tournament to this year’s event. “We decided to add a women’s draw to our event as a direct response to the growing body of females squash players in our community and our desire to support professional female athletes” says Zafi Levy, tournament director.

With an increase in prize money of $ 31,000, this year’s Berkshire Squash Open has become one of the top-ten squash tournaments in the U.S., attracting few of the top-20 players in the international professional ranking system. As in past years the draw is likely to feature players from many countries such as: Australia, England, France, Ireland, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, South Africa, and Wales as well as the U.S.

Highlighted players in the men's draw include top 30-players Graham Ryding of Canada and Laurens Jan Anjema of Holland and former top tenner Mark Chaloner of England. The Williams event has also attracted offensive-minded Hisham Ashour of Egypt. On the women's side, the top contestants are Sharon Wee and Tricia Chuah from Malaysia, with Runa Reta (Canada) and Samantha Teran (Mexico) arriving, fresh off of the PanAm squash competition.

“We are very happy to help make this event possible,” says Rob Abel, manager of True North Financial’s Williamstown office.  “There is an abundance of cultural and natural offerings in the Berkshires, and a tournament of this level only adds to that already lengthy list.”  Begun in 2004, the Berkshire Squash Open is one of the few professional sporting events in the Berkshires. 

Since the construction of the Simon Squash Center in 1998, Williams’ excellent facilities have been a magnet for a growing body of squash players, consisting of more than 60 Williams faculty and staff, 150 local residents, hundreds of Williams students and a growing number of junior players from the Williamstown-North Adams community.  “The goal of the tournament is to provide the rapidly growing number of squash enthusiasts in the area with an opportunity to watch world-class squash at an affordable price,” says Coach Levy.  Williams College Athletic Director Harry Sheehy adds, “Once again, we are pleased to be hosting an event that will bring some of the top squash players in the world to the College and to the community.”  

The week-long competition will kick off on Monday, October 2nd with the qualifying rounds concluding on Tuesday, October 3rd.  From the qualifying rounds, four players will emerge to round out the 16-player draw.  Twelve players will enter the main draw without qualifying, including one wild-card entry: Chris Gordon, the highest-ranking U.S. player, currently ranked 80th in the world.  The official opening round, or round of 16, will then begin on Wednesday, October 4th, with the quarterfinals to be held on Thursday, October 5thth and the semifinals on Friday, October 6th. The two finalists will then square off on Saturday, October 7th, when a third Berkshire Open champion will be crowned. Each day’s rounds will begin at 5 P.M.