Anjema Halts Walker In Edmonton Open

Dutchman Laurens Jan Anjema upset the seedings on day one of the 2015 ReidBuilt Homes Edmonton Open to down number five seed Alister Walker in straight-games to set up a quarter-final encounter with top seed and in form Egyptian Karim Abdel Gawad.

Anjema came through qualification but failed to progress past the first round of last week’s 2015 World Championship but he showed signs of continue improvement from a series of recent injuries as he answered everything Walker threw at him in the first game, breaking the Botswana’s spirit in the process as he surged to a 3-0 win.

Anjema will now face Gawad, who took maverick Egyptian Ramy Ashour close at the World Champs, after he easily dispatched Mexican qualifier Arturo Salazar while number two seed Chris Simpson enjoyed a similarly straight-forward win over Karim Ali Fathi.

Number three seed Nicolas Mueller was forced to use all of his experience and guile to come through a gruelling battle with Campbell Grayson, taking the first two game on tie-break before eventually prevailing 3-1, and will now face the daunting challenge of World Junior Champion Diego Elias, after the Peruvian saw off Andrew Schnell 3-0.

Results – First Round: ReidBuilt Homes Edmonton Open 2015
[1] Karim Abdel Gawad (EGY) bt [Q] Arturo Salazar (MEX) 3-0: 11-8, 11-8, 11-3
Laurens Jan Anjema (NED) bt [5] Alister Walker (BOT) 3-0: 12-10, 11-4, 11-6
[8] Alfredo Avila (MEX) bt [Q] Jaymie Haycocks (ENG) 3-1: 11-6, 9-11, 11-7, 14-12
[4] Cesar Salazar (MEX) bt [WC] Shahier Razik (CAN) 3-1: 11-13, 11-4, 11-6, 11-5
[3] Nicolas Mueller (SUI) bt Campbell Grayson (NZL) 3-1: 14-12, 12-10, 7-11, 11-7
[7] Diego Elias (PER) bt [Q] Andrew Schnell (CAN) 3-0: 11-6, 11-6, 11-9
[6] Mohamed Abouelghar (EGY) bt [Q] Christopher Gordon (USA) 3-2: 6-11, 11-3, 11-7, 8-11, 11-3
[2] Chris Simpson (ENG) bt Karim Ali Fathi (EGY) 3-0: 11-8, 12-10. 11-4

Draw – Quarter-finals: ReidBuilt Homes Edmonton Open 2015
[1] Karim Abdel Gawad (EGY) v Laurens Jan Anjema (NED)
[8] Alfredo Avila (MEX) v [4] Cesar Salazar (MEX)
[3] Nicolas Mueller (SUI) v [7] Diego Elias (PER)
[6] Mohamed Abouelghar (EGY) v [2] Chris Simpson (ENG)