Top-ranked Brazilian Rafael Alarcon claimed a place in his sixth successive PSA World Tour final after upsetting favourite Martin Knight in the semi-finals of the Brasilia Classic International, a new PSA Challenger 10 event at the MDO Squash Club in the Brazil capital Brasilia.
Alarcon, the No3 seed from Sao Paulo, fought for 100 minutes to quash his higher-ranked New Zealand opponent (both pictured above) 11-9, 4-11, 12-10, 11-9 to bring his career haul of appearances in Tour finals to 33.
The 35-year-old world No71 will face Englishman Eddie Charlton in a repeat of last week’s Maringa Park Open final, also in Brazil.
Charlton pulled off a notable shock in the other semi where he dismissed second-seeded Hungarian Mark Krajcsak 13-11, 11-9, 11-8.
The 24-year-old fourth seed from Nottingham, ranked 16 places lower than Alarcon, is celebrating his eighth Tour final – and will be looking for a repeat of his first ever win over the experienced Brazilian.
Semi-finals:
[3] Rafael Alarcon (BRA) bt [1] Martin Knight (NZL) 11-9, 4-11, 12-10, 11-9 (100m)
[4] Eddie Charlton (ENG) bt [2] Mark Krajcsak (HUN) 13-11, 11-9, 11-8
Quarter-finals:
[1] Martin Knight (NZL) bt Dane Sharp (CAN) 11-8, 9-11, 11-0, 11-3 (62m)
[3] Rafael Alarcon (BRA) bt Arthur Gaskin (IRL) 11-8, 11-3, 7-11, 11-8
[4] Eddie Charlton (ENG) bt Hernan D’Arcangelo (ARG) 11-5, 8-11, 11-5, 11-6
[2] Mark Krajcsak (HUN) bt [Q] Adam Murrills (ENG) 11-1, 11-7, 5-11, 8-11, 11-7
1st round:
[1] Martin Knight (NZL) bt Alex Ingham (ENG) 11-2, 11-1, 11-2
Dane Sharp (CAN) bt [Q] Vinicius Rodrigues (BRA) 15-13, 3-11, 11-8, 11-2
Arthur Gaskin (IRL) bt Josimar Silva (BRA) 12-10, 11-8, 11-7
[3] Rafael Alarcon (BRA) bt Alejandro Garbi Caro (ESP) 11-9, 11-5, 11-7
[4] Eddie Charlton (ENG) bt Joan Lezaud (FRA) 11-4, 11-1, 11-3
Hernan D’Arcangelo (ARG) bt [Q] Juan Pablo Roude (ARG) 11-5, 11-3, 7-11, 11-7
[Q] Adam Murrills (ENG) bt Geoffrey Demont (FRA) 11-5, 11-9, 11-8
[2] Mark Krajcsak (HUN) bt [Q] Hugo Varela (ESP) 11-6, 11-2, 11-4
Qualifying finals:
Vinicius Rodrigues (BRA) bt Robertino Pezzota (ARG) 11-5, 7-11, 11-7, 11-7
Juan Pablo Roude (ARG) bt Pablo Rawden (ENG) 2-11, 11-9, 11-8, 12-10
Hugo Varela (ESP) bt Reuben Phillips (ENG) 11-3, 10-12, 12-10, 6-11, 11-3
Adam Murrills (ENG) bt Rodrigo Pezzota (ARG) 11-4, 11-4, 11-3
1st qualifying round:
Vinicius Rodrigues (BRA) bye
Robertino Pezzota (ARG) bt Jonathan Geekie (SCO) 11-9, 11-3, 11-4
Pablo Rawden (ENG) bt Marcelo Isaias (BRA) 11-2, 11-2, 11-6
Juan Pablo Roude (ARG) bt Gabriel Bueno de Oliveira (BRA) 11-8, 11-3, 11-2
Reuben Phillips (ENG) bye
Hugo Varela (ESP) bt Phillip John Bull (ENG) 10-12, 11-3, 5-11, 11-9, 11-7
Rodrigo Pezzota (ARG) bt Joe Chapman (IVB) 11-8, 0-11, 11-3, 11-3
Adam Murrills (ENG) bye
