Liverpool CC Open RD1: Creed and Evans Among Seeding Upsets

The first round of the Liverpool Cricket Club Open concluded in Aigburth this afternoon, with the Welsh duo of Peter Creed and Emyr Evans among four men who caused upsets on the opening day.

Welshman Peter Creed opened up the day’s play with a seeding upset as he defeated England’s Robert Downer in a hard-fought 3-1 battle. He set up a quarter final match up with the tournament’s top seed, USA’s Spencer Lovejoy. The American defeated Czech Republic’s Victor Byrtus in straight games to progress.

In the bottom half of the draw, there was more Welsh delight as Emyr Evans claimed a surprise victory over No.3 seed Ben Coleman. Evans sealed a tight first game 12-10 before stepping up the court further and closing the following two games out both 11-4. The Welshman will play England’s Ben Smith in the quarter finals after he also caused an upset to beat New Zealand’s No.7 seed Lwamba Chileshe in 46 minutes to advance.

Younger brother Temwa secured his place in the last eight of the competition, with the second Chileshe sibling downing England’s Richie Fallows, the No.6 seed seed, in a four-game battle. He will face Scotland’s Rory Stewart, the No.2 seed, in the quarters, after he defeated dangerous Egyptian Ibrahim Elkabbani in a close four games. A mix of excellent length hitting and devastating attacks flowed throughout the match but it was the Scotsman who booked his quarter final place in 55 minutes.

There will be a single all-English battle in the quarter finals, with No.4 seed Sam Todd taking on No.8 seed Joe Lee. Todd defeated a spirited Connor Sheen, the tournament’s wildcard, in four games, while Lee downed compatriot Curtis Malik in a 42-minute straight games battle.

The quarter finals of the Liverpool Cricket Club Open take place this evening, with the final four making into Friday’s semi-finals at the Challenger 5 level tournament.

First Round Results: Liverpool Cricket Club Open
[1] Spencer Lovejoy (USA) bt Viktor Byrtus (CZE) 3-0: 11-6, 12-10, 11-8 (39m)
Peter Creed (WAL) bt [5] Robert Downer (ENG) 3-1: 11-4, 11-9, 2-11, 11-8 (59m)
[8] Joe Lee (ENG) bt Curtis Malik (ENG) 3-0: 11-8, 11-4, 11-5 (42m)
[4] Sam Todd (ENG) bt [WC] Connor Sheen (ENG) 3-1: 7-11, 11-4, 11-4, 11-5 (28m)
Emyr Evans (WAL) bt [3] Ben Coleman (ENG) 3-0: 12-10, 11-4, 11-4 (47m)
Ben Smith (ENG) bt [7] Lwamba Chileshe (NZL) 3-1: 10-12, 11-5, 11-5, 11-6 (46m)
Temwa Chileshe (NZL) bt [6] Richie Fallows (ENG) 3-1: 12-10, 6-11, 15-13, 11-1 (51m)
[2] Rory Stewart (SCO) bt Ibrahim Elkabbani (EGY) 3-1: 12-10, 11-3, 4-11, 12-10 (55m)

Quarter Final Draw: To Be Played Thursday, March 24
[1] Spencer Lovejoy (USA) v Peter Creed (WAL)
[8] Joe Lee (ENG) v [4] Sam Todd (ENG)
Emyr Evans (WAL) v Ben Smith (ENG)
Temwa Chileshe (NZL) v [2] Rory Stewart (SCO)