Tortola Classic RD2: Marrison and Hapers Cause Upsets

The second round of the Carey Olsen Tortola Classic saw the seeded players get their campaigns underway at the Tortola Sports Club in the British Virgin Islands, but two of those, including the tournament’s top seed, were dumped out as Belgium’s Joeri Hapers and Canadian Liam Marrison advanced.

Marrison came into the Challenger 10 level competition unseeded, and he took on top seed Christopher Gordon in the last 16, having lost out to the American at the PanAmerican Championships in Guatemala two months earlier.

He managed to exact revenge over the former top 50 player, though, starting their contest by taking a tight first game 11-9. Gordon won the second by a reversal of the first game score line, but from there, Marrison was able to play his game, winning the next two to take a 3-1 victory, and move through to the quarter finals of the event.

He will now face another unseeded player in the last eight, as Belgium’s Joeri Hapers also caused an upset on the second day of the tournament. The Belgian took on Canadian Connor Turk, and despite the 11 places gap between them in the World Rankings, it was Hapers that took the win, coming out on top after you games to make the quarters.

Elsewhere, it was plain sailing for the seeded players, with the other six men making it through in straight games. There will be an all-American clash in the last eight, with No.3 seed Spencer Lovejoy and No.6 seed Andrew Douglas set to meet, while Jamaica’s Christopher Binnie, Hungarian No.1 Balazs Farkas, England’s Simon Herbert and Canada’s David Baillargeon are also through.

The quarter finals of the Challenger 10 level Carey Olsen Tortola Classic will take place on Thursday, June 23 in the British Virgin Islands, with the last eight doing battle for places in tomorrow’s semi-finals.

Second Round Results: Carey Olsen Tortola Classic
Liam Marrison (CAN) bt [1] Christopher Gordon (USA) 3-1: 11-9, 9-11, 11-6, 11-7 (55m)
Joeri Hapers (BEL) bt [8] Connor Turk (CAN) 3-1: 11-4, 8-11, 11-2, 11-5 (45m)
[7] Christopher Binnie (JAM) bt Adam Murrills (ENG) 3-0: 13-11, 12-10, 11-6 (43m)
[4] Balazs Farkas (HUN) bt Santiago Orozco (COL) 3-0: 11-5, 11-6, 11-6 (34m)
[3] Spencer Lovejoy (USA) bt [WC] Luca Reich (IVB) 3-0: 11-2, 11-3, 11-4 (29m)
[6] Andrew Douglas (USA) bt Mahmoud Abouelleil (EGY) 3-0: 11-1, 11-0, 11-2 (26m)
[5] Simon Herbert (ENG) bt Jonah Bryant (ENG) 3-0: 11-6, 12-10, 11-4 (42m)
[2] David Baillargeon (CAN) bt Petr Nohel (CZE) 3-0: 11-4, 11-4, 11-4 (35m)

Quarter Final Draw: To be Played Thursday, June 23
Liam Marrison (CAN) v Joeri Hapers (BEL)
[7] Christopher Binnie (JAM) v [4] Balazs Farkas (HUN)
[3] Spencer Lovejoy (USA) v [6] Andrew Douglas (USA)
[5] Simon Herbert (ENG) v [2] David Baillargeon (CAN)