Weekend Roundup: Schnell and Mekbib Take Honours in Canada

Canada played host to two PSA Challenger Tour events this weekend as local man Graeme Schnell and Daniel Mekbib of the Czech Republic took the honours at the Mount Royal University Open and Chronicle Wealth Guilfoyle PSA Squash Classic, respectively.

Schnell, a former World No.138, captured his second PSA title courtesy of an 11-4, 11-7, 11-3 victory over top seed David Baillargeon in Calgary.

31-year-old Schnell beat No.2 seed Rory Stewart, No.4 seed Connor Turk and No.5 seed Miled Zarazúa en route to the final, where he put in a composed performance against his fellow Canadian Baillargeon.

Schnell played a solid length game throughout and timed his attacks well to capture his first PSA title since winning this event in 2015.

Over in Toronto, World No.83 Daniel Mekbib played to his seeding as he defeat Italy’s Yuri Farneti to capture the fifth PSA title of his career.

Mekbib’s biggest test on the way to the final came against No.5 seed Tom Walsh in the quarter-finals, winning in five after 74 minutes of intense action.

Once he got that win over the line, the Czech man never looked back as he disposed of No.3 seed Cameron Seth in straight games, before repeating that feat against Farneti with an 11-4, 11-5, 11-9 triumph.

Results: 2020 Mount Royal University Open

Final
Graeme Schnell (CAN) bt [1] David Baillargeon (CAN) 3-0: 11-4, 11-7, 11-3 (39m)

Semi-Finals
[1] David Baillargeon (CAN) bt [3] Tristan Eysele (RSA) 3-0: 11-8, 11-5, 11-4 (41m)
Graeme Schnell (CAN) bt [4] Connor Turk (CAN) 3-0: 11-4, 11-5, 11-6 (34m)

Quarter-Finals
[1] David Baillargeon (CAN) bt [9/16] Santiago Orozco (COL) 3-0: 11-4, 11-7, 11-6 (27m)
[3] Tristan Eysele (RSA) bt [6] Edwin Clain (FRA) 3-0: 11-9, 11-9, 13-11 (28m)
[4] Connor Turk (CAN) bt [8] Naveed Rehman (PAK) 3-1: 11-6, 11-2, 5-11, 11-3 (33m)
Graeme Schnell (CAN) bt [2] Rory Stewart (SCO) 3-2: 11-9, 9-11, 8-11, 11-7, 11-7 (75m)

Second Round
[1] David Baillargeon (CAN) bt [9/16] Rafi Khan (PAK) 3-0: 11-4, 11-3, 11-5 (25m)
[9/16] Santiago Orozco (COL) bt [7] Thomas King (CAN) 3-0: 12-10, 11-8, 11-4 (39m)
[6] Edwin Clain (FRA) bt [9/16] Aaron Allpress (ENG) 3-1: 11-2, 9-11, 11-6, 11-5 (40m)
[3] Tristan Eysele (RSA) bt [WC] Ryan Picken (CAN) 3-2: 11-6, 9-11, 10-12, 11-3, 11-8 (65m)
[4] Connor Turk (CAN) bt Jake Hooker (CAN) 3-0: 11-9, 11-4, 11-8 (28m)
[8] Naveed Rehman (PAK) bt Peter Trafford (CAN) 3-0: 11-7, 11-7, 11-7 (34m)
Graeme Schnell (CAN) bt [5] Miled Zarazua (MEX) 3-0: 11-9, 11-4, 11-1 (32m)
[2] Rory Stewart (SCO) bt [9/16] Fernando Magdaleno (MEX) 3-0: 11-2, 11-5, 11-2 (27m)

First Round
[9/16] Rafi Khan (PAK) bt Antonio Mendes (CAN) 3-2: 11-13, 11-7, 11-8, 7-11, 11-2 (48m)
[9/16] Santiago Orozco (COL) bt Brett Schille (CAN) 3-0: 12-10, 11-9, 11-8 (42m)
[WC] Ryan Picken (CAN) bt [9/16] Armando Olguin (MEX) 3-0: 11-2, 11-6, 11-2 (22m)
Jake Hooker (CAN) bt Mohamed Kamal (CAN) 3-0: 11-7, 11-4, 11-7 (28m)
Peter Trafford (CAN) bt [9/16] Noman Khan (PAK) 3-2: 7-11, 14-12, 11-6, 5-11, 11-9 (41m)
Graeme Schnell (CAN) bt [9/16] Simon Herbert (ENG) 3-0: 13-11, 11-7, 11-2 (40m)
[9/16] Fernando Magdaleno (MEX) bt Graham Kerford (CAN) 3-0: 11-6, 11-0, 11-7 (21m)

Results: 2020 Chronicle Wealth Guilfoyle PSA Squash Classic

Final
[1] Daniel Mekbib (CZE) bt [4] Yuri Farneti (ITA) 3-0: 11-4, 11-5, 11-9 (34m)

Semi-Finals
[1] Daniel Mekbib (CZE) bt [3] Cameron Seth (CAN) 3-0: 11-3, 11-6, 11-5 (30m)
[4] Yuri Farneti (ITA) bt [2] Nick Sachvie (CAN) 3-1: 11-9, 4-11, 11-4, 12-10 (66m)

Quarter-Finals
[1] Daniel Mekbib (CZE) bt [5] Tom Walsh (ENG) 3-2: 12-10, 2-11, 6-11, 12-10, 11-3 (74m)
[3] Cameron Seth (CAN) bt [9/16] Guilherme Melo (BRA) 3-2: 15-13, 6-11, 11-9, 12-14, 12-10 (94m)
[4] Yuri Farneti (ITA) bt [8] Robin Gadola (SUI) 3-1: 11-9, 10-12, 11-8, 11-8 (65m)
[2] Nick Sachvie (CAN) bt [6] Leandro Romiglio (ARG) 3-2: 10-12, 11-7, 10-12, 11-6, 11-2 (57m)

Second Round
[1] Daniel Mekbib (CZE) bt [WC] Nikhil Ismail (CAN) 3-1: 10-12, 11-3, 11-5, 11-4 (31m)
[5] Tom Walsh (ENG) bt [9/16] Alejandro Reyes (MEX) 3-2: 6-11, 11-4, 2-11, 11-8, 11-5
[9/16] Guilherme Melo (BRA) bt [7] Naoki Hayashi (JPN) 3-0: 11-9, 11-6, 12-10 (40m)
[3] Cameron Seth (CAN) bt [9/16] Vini Rodrigues (BRA) 3-0: 12-10, 11-4, 11-5
[4] Yuri Farneti (ITA) bt Allan Nuñez Zuno (MEX) 3-0: 11-8, 11-6, 11-7
[8] Robin Gadola (SUI) bt [9/16] Darosham Khan (CAN) 3-0: 11-9, 11-5, 11-9
[6] Leandro Romiglio (ARG) bt [9/16] Atticus Kelly (USA) 3-0: 11-9, 11-5, 11-9
[2] Nick Sachvie (CAN) bt [9/16] Harry Falconer (ENG) 3-0: 11-7, 12-10, 11-1

First Round
[WC] Nikhil Ismail (CAN) bt [9/16] Cory McCartney (CAN) 3-0: 11-5, 11-8, 13-11
[9/16] Alejandro Reyes (MEX) bt Jayden Shortt (CAN) 3-0: 11-5, 11-1, 11-6
[9/16] Guilherme Melo (BRA) bt Charles de la Riva (CAN) 3-0: 11-4, 11-2, 11-5
[9/16] Vini Rodrigues (BRA) bt Gavin Maxwell (CAN) 3-0: 11-3, 11-3, 11-5
Allan Nuñez Zuno (MEX) bt [9/16] Jamie Ruggiero (USA) 3-1: 11-7, 8-11, 11-2, 11-2
[9/16] Darosham Khan (CAN) bt Faisal Riaz (USA) 3-0: 11-5, 11-5, 11-4
[9/16] Atticus Kelly (USA) bt Robin Clarke (CAN) 3-2: 6-11, 12-10, 6-11, 11-3, 11-5
[9/16] Harry Falconer (ENG) bt Stu Hadden (IRL) 3-1: 11-8, 7-11, 11-7, 11-3