MRU Open: Baillargeon Wins On Home Soil

The MRU Open came to its conclusion on Sunday afternoon in Calgary with home favourite David Baillargeon lifting the Challenger 10 level title.

Baillargeon came into this competition as the top seed, and with the backing of the home support at Mount Royal University. He started his week with a confident performance to overcome compatriot Cory McCartney in straight games to get the tournament underway.

The Canadian then also got the better of England’s Ben Smith in straight games as well, to move through to the semi-finals. In the last four, Baillargeon then took on the in-form Abhay Singh, who has won five times on Tour already this season. There would be no sixth win though, with the Canadian coming from behind to win in four games.

The final saw Baillargeon take on Simon Herbert, after the Englishman had defeated No.2 seed Curtis Malik in the semis in a surprise victory. There would not be another surprise for Herbert, though. The tournament’s top seed won in straight games to claim a second title in his last three events, and his sixth victory overall.

Results: MRU Open
Final
[1] David Baillargeon (CAN) bt [6] Simon Herbert (ENG) 3-0: 11-9, 11-7, 11-6 (40m)

Semi-Finals
[1] David Baillargeon (CAN) bt [4] Abhay Singh (IND) 3-1: 8-11, 11-7, 11-5, 11-5 (40m)
[6] Simon Herbert (ENG) bt [2] Curtis Malik (ENG) 3-0: 11-9, 11-9, 12-10 (33m)

Quarter Finals
[1] David Baillargeon (CAN) bt [8] Ben Smith (ENG) 3-0: 11-8, 11-4, 11-6 (39m)
[4] Abhay Singh (IND) bt Joseph White (AUS) 3-0: 11-9, 11-3, 11-9 (38m)
[6] Simon Herbert (ENG) bt Finnlay Withington (ENG) 3-2: 7-11, 11-7, 11-8, 1-11, 11-8 (50m)
[2] Curtis Malik (ENG) bt Edwin Clain (FRA) 3-0: 13-11, 12-10, 11-6 (38m)

First Round
[1] David Baillargeon (CAN) bt Cory McCartney (CAN) 3-0: 11-5, 11-3, 11-3 (29m)
[8] Ben Smith (ENG) bt Emyr Evans (WAL) 3-1: 7-11, 11-5, 11-3, 11-3 (50m)
Joseph White (AUS) bt [5] Christopher Gordon (USA) 3-1: 12-10, 11-4, 7-11, 11-6 (47m)
[4] Abhay Singh (IND) bt Jamie Ruggiero (USA) 3-0: 11-3, 11-7, 11-6 (24m)
Finnlay Withington (ENG) bt [3] Alfredo Avila (MEX) 3-1: 11-8, 9-11, 11-6, 11-9 (41m)
[6] Simon Herbert (ENG) bt Connor Turk (CAN) 3-0: 11-6, 11-4, 11-2 (22m)
Edwin Clain (FRA) bt [7] Spencer Lovejoy (USA) 3-1: 11-8, 11-6, 8-11, 11-7 (65m)
[2] Curtis Malik (ENG) bt [WC] Brett Schille (CAN) 3-0: 11-7, 11-1, 11-3 (25m)