QPCC Premiere RD2: Herrera Survives 97-Minute Thriller

Top seed Andres Herrera had to go the distance to win his second round clash against Mexico’s Leo Vargas at the QPCC Premiere PSA Squash Tournament.

The Challenger 5 event, which is the first to take place in Trinidad and Tobago, saw all of the eight seeded players make it through to the quarter finals, but Herrera had to fight from 2-1 down to take the win in his opening contest of the week.

The Colombian took on Mexico’s Leo Vargas on Wednesday evening, and won the first game comfortably 11-5. He then lost the next two games, both by 11-9 scorelines, before having to fight back to win the fourth and extend the match. Herrera went on to win the fifth and final game 11-9, sealing the deal after a whopping 97 minutes of action, and to move through to the quarter finals in Port of Spain.

Dutchman Rowan Damming, the current World Junior Champion, also had to come through a five-gamer, despite going two games up. However, German Jan Wipperfurth fought back to win the next two games and send the match to a decider. 

Elsewhere, the Kiwi duo of Anthony Lepper and Elijah Thomas will be in the last eight, along with England’s Noah Meredith, Canada’s Cory McCartney, Frenchman Maceo Levy and Mexico’s Carlos Vargas.

The quarter finals of the Challenger 5 tournament will take place on Thursday, November 3, and you can follow live scores from the event on our website here.

Second Round Results: QPCC Premiere PSA Squash Tournament
[2] Cory McCartney (CAN) bt Jason Ray Khalil (GUY) 3-1: 11-8, 9-11, 11-8, 11-5 (46m)
[8] Maceo Levy (FRA) bt Santiago Orozco (COL) 3-1: 5-11, 11-3, 11-8, 11-4 (52m)
[6] Anthony Lepper (NZL) bt Felipe Tovar (COL) 3-1: 6-11, 11-6, 13-11, 11-6 (51m)
[3] Rowan Damming (NED) bt Jan Wipperfurth (GER) 3-2: 11-6, 11-9, 7-11, 8-11, 11-7 (58m)
[4] Elijah Thomas (NZL) bt Nick Sutcliffe (ENG) 3-0: 11-4, 11-5, 11-3 (24m)
[5] Noah Meredith (ENG) bt Taylor Carrick (BER) 3-0: 11-6, 11-9, 11-3 (24m)
[7] Carlos Vargas (MEX) bt Shawn Simpson (BAR) 3-0: 11-7, 11-4, 12-10 (23m)
[1] Andres Herrera (COL) bt Leo Vargas (MAX) 3-2: 11-5, 9-11, 9-11, 11-8, 11-9 (97m)

Quarter Final Draw: To Be Played Thursday, November 3 
[2] Cory McCartney (CAN) v [8] Maceo Levy (FRA)
[6] Anthony Lepper (NZL) v [3] Rowan Damming (NED)
[4] Elijah Thomas (NZL) v [5] Noah Meredith (ENG)
[7] Carlos Vargas (MEX) v [1] Andres Herrera (COL)