Veteran Australian David Palmer notched up the 27th Tour title of his illustrious squash career when he upset favourite Laurens Jan Anjema in the final of the Calgary Winter Club Rocky Mountain Open in Canada.
The 34-year-old from Lithgow in New South Wales reached the final of the PSA World Tour International 35 event at Calgary Winter Club in Calgary after holding off the challenge of rising Swiss star Nicolas Mueller in four games.
Dutchman Anjema, ranked 12 in the world, had to overcome Omar Mosaad in the other semi, beating the world No16 from Egypt also in four games.
But the final was the standout match of the championship in its second year – in which Palmer, a four-time British Open champion and twice World Open champion, recovered from 2/1 down to topple Anjema 11-7, 5-11, 4-11, 11-7, 11-6.
“It was a phenomenal final and the highlight of our event,” exclaimed event spokesman Ian Park. “The two players had a fiercely competitive match, but above anything else it was the classiest match that I have ever seen.
“These two players, along with player referees, were amazing representatives of the game and promoted squash in the best possible light.”
It was a sensational conclusion to his Calgary campaign for the now US-based Palmer, who had already extended his record as the current player with the most appearances in PSA Tour finals by reaching his 54th.
Final:
[2] David Palmer (AUS) bt [1] Laurens Jan Anjema (NED) 11-7, 5-11, 4-11, 11-7, 11-6
Semi-finals:
[1] Laurens Jan Anjema (NED) bt [3] Omar Mosaad (EGY) 11-7, 11-9, 6-11, 13-11
[2] David Palmer (AUS) bt Nicolas Mueller (SUI) 9-11, 12-10, 12-10, 11-4
Quarter-finals:
[1] Laurens Jan Anjema (NED) bt Ryan Cuskelly (AUS) 11-5, 11-7, 11-4 (48m)
[3] Omar Mosaad (EGY) bt Tarek Momen (EGY) 11-6, 6-11, 11-7, 11-13, 11-9 (68m)
Nicolas Mueller (SUI) bt [Q] Zac Alexander (AUS) 11-7, 11-8, 11-8 (38m)
[2] David Palmer (AUS) bt Shahier Razik (CAN) 11-4, 11-8, 11-5 (35m)
1st round:
[1] Laurens Jan Anjema (NED) bt Stephane Galifi (ITA) 11-7, 11-5, 11-3 (33m)
Ryan Cuskelly (AUS) bt Andrew McDougall (CAN) 11-8, 11-8, 11-6 (45m)
Tarek Momen (EGY) bt Alister Walker (ENG) 9-11, 7-11, 11-7, 11-4, 14-12 (76m)
[3] Omar Mosaad (EGY) bt [Q] Jan Koukal (CZE) 11-2, 11-9, 11-3 (23m)
[Q] Zac Alexander (AUS) bt [4] Hisham Mohd Ashour (EGY) 11-9, 6-11, 5-11, 11-7, 11-8 (42m)
Nicolas Mueller (SUI) bt Adrian Grant (ENG) 11-13, 11-4, 11-4, 11-5
Shahier Razik (CAN) bt [Q] Robbie Temple (ENG) 11-8, 11-4 ret. (41m)
[2] David Palmer (AUS) bt [Q] Alan Clyne (SCO) 11-9, 11-7, 11-7 (37m)
Qualifying finals:
Zac Alexander (AUS) bt Gilly Lane (USA) 11-9, 11-7, 11-4 (36m)
Robbie Temple (ENG) bt Rafael F Alarcon (BRA) 11-9, 11-8, 11-9 (47m)
Jan Koukal (CZE) bt Graeme Schnell (CAN) 11-6, 11-2, 11-4 (29m)
Alan Clyne (SCO) bt Andrew Schnell (CAN) 6-11, 11-8, 11-6, 11-8 (47m)
1st qualifying round:
Zac Alexander (AUS) bt Arturo Salazar (MEX) 4-11, 11-6, 11-7, 11-5 (31m)
Gilly Lane (USA) bt Bradley Hindle (MLT) 6-11, 11-8, 11-8, 9-11, 11-8 (40m)
Robbie Temple (ENG) bt Scott Arnold (AUS) 12-10, 11-4, 11-6 (73m)
Rafael F Alarcon (BRA) bt Martin Knight (NZL) 11-6, 11-6, 3-11, 5-11, 11-4 (53m)
Jan Koukal (CZE) bt Robin Clarke (CAN) 8-11, 11-2, 11-13, 11-9, 11-5 (52m)
Graeme Schnell (CAN) bt Gavin Lee Perrett (ENG) 11-6, 11-2, 11-9 (25m)
Andrew Schnell (CAN) bt Colin Whitney (IRL) 11-7, 11-1, 11-7 (18m)
Alan Clyne (SCO) bt Henrik Mustonen (FIN) 11-2, 11-6, 11-8 (27m)
