EvenSquash

23 October, 2017

RESULTS - OCT 21 Sat Squash SMASH Tourney

We all know Maverick beat
Iceman in TOPGUN...

... but in SQUASH TOPGUN...

Icewoman won!

Congratulations Leslie B. (2.5)

She's a first time SMASH player and a first time winner. How'd she do it? Some might say beginners' luck others say she kept a cool head against some very intimidating players, calmly looked for opportunities to take, and patiently waited for them to make mistakes. Leslie went against some solid players like Nicholas G. (3.5), who I believe is 13 years old but owns a squash court like an seasoned athlete, but he was new to the SMASH format and the new kind of pressure that Leslie had in store for him. They played out three tight games before Leslie put him down into the losers' bracket. She then took on Fong Y. (4.5), who has played in many SMASH tourneys and is ranked #12 on the all time winners' charts, but even though he was able to pressure Leslie with hard serves, it cost him with the occasional mistake. Leslie beat Fong by waiting for opportunities and surprising Fong with unexpected winners. She then would face Rameez A. (4.0), who knows what he's doing on the court and is a solid player, but he didn't keep the ball far enough away from her and she was able to execute it. The Rameez vs Leslie scenario played out twice because she beat him the first match pushing him down into the losers' bracket only to beat him again with the same plays in the finals. Congratulations to Leslie B. (2.5) by taking the first place prize of $108 of everyone's cold hard money!

1. Leslie B. (2.5) - $108
2. Rameez A. (4.0) - $52
3. Alejandro C. - $20
Rameez A. (4.0) - $25 Marlow's Tavern Gift Card
Assam J. (5.5) - Blue Moon Free Pizza

Final Tourney Bracket - Click to enlarge

TOPGUN SMASH lived up to the hype with 9 great players and an aircraft carrier load of fun. There were some great matches like when Assam J. (5.5) went against Fong Y. (4.5) where Fong had to use all the skills he had to hold back Assam's onslaught. Jeff D. (3.0), a regular to the SMASH tourneys, came in hot and with a purpose, was able to get three solid matches in before being pushed out by Alejandro C. (3.5). Speaking of Alejo, who was #14 on the all time winner's list, just pushed up the list to #9 by taking 3rd place with some very exhausting matches like the ones against Fong and Rameez. Fong Y. (4.5) also had a good run and got to play the full spectrum of players, Leslie B. (2.5), Alejandro C. (3.5), and Assam J. (5.5.).

Paul D. (3.5), who's always a fun player and was here looking for even more fun. Paul didn't know that his first match was going to be against a tiger and he got all the fun he could handle by matching up Assam J. (5.5)'s full power and competitiveness. It was close and even came down to the last point for each player to decide the match. Assam advanced and Paul was pushed down into the loser's bracket to play even match against Alejandro.

Then there's Nicholas G. (3.5), who I thought was going to snap this tourney off because he is such a force in traditional squash tournaments, but he got pushed out early on but did stick around to watch the action and play a few pickups. I'm betting he'll be back and my money will be on him. Johannes D. (2.5) who hasn't played in a while got a refresher on why he loves to play squash. Even though it was a tough Saturday morning, he picked up some great experience.

All in all - it was a great Saturday morning with lots of squash! Thanks again to Marlow's Tavern, Blue Moon Pizza, and Sushi Nami for sponsoring the tourney and special thanks to all the players! Hope everyone had fun!

Check below for all the pics and vids and even more terrible commentary.

The next SMASH Tourney will be held 11am Saturday Nov 4 at Lifetime Fitness - Sugarloaf. Registration is open! Online Squash SMASH Tourney Registration Form. You can see all upcoming SMASH events on the SMASH Tourney Schedule.

Check the side bar for the latest Squash SMASH Tourney's Winner's Circle and other info about the EvenSquash handicap system and tournaments.

Until the next event, you can always follow along with live updates and latest info on Twitter @EvenSquash, Facebook @EvenSquash, Instagram @EvenSquash. And you can always add your email address (see the left side bar) to get emails about the latest posts.

Up and down the wall!
- Bob -

Leslie B. (2.5) vs Rameez A. (4.0)

Finals: Leslie shows Rameez the 'Now you go home' shot

Alejandro C. (3.5) vs. Fong Y. (4.5) (Green shirt)

Alejo and Fong play each other frequently... but this time, no one is playing

Nicholas G. (3.5) vs. Leslie B. (2.5)

Nicholas with some quick points... but.... Leslie is waiting...

Rameez A. (4.0) (blue shirt) vs. Assam J. (5.5)

If you watch closely, you can see why Rameez thinks there are two Assam's on the court

Leslie B. (2.5) vs. Fong Y. (4.5)

Leslie's lesson: You better not get comfortable

Alejandro C. (3.5) (white shirt) vs. Paul D. (3.5)

Alejo had the advantage. Why? Paul just got done playing a tiger.

Alejandro C. (3.5) vs. Rameez A. (4.0)

This battle is for 3rd place and they eventually have to give everything to get the last point.

12 June, 2017

Oct 21 - Saturday - 11am ~ 1:30 - Squash SMASH Tourney

Squash

Top Gun

True story: Goose survived the crash, gave up flying, and went on to play pro-squash!

Think you have what it takes to play in Squash Top Gun, to be the best of the best?

Are your rallies writing checks your body can't cash?

Then let your inner squash Maverick come out for a fast and fun squash SMASH tourney this Saturday morning.

Squash SMASH Tourney!

Saturday October 21
11am ~ 1:30

Lifetime Fitness Sandy Springs location.

Cash prizes for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd. If we have enough players, payouts to 4th place too. We only have room for 16 players, sign up soon to reserve your spot.
Check Squash SMASH Tourney for more details of the tourney, how it works, rules, and whatnot.

Sign up here -> Saturday 11am Oct 21 - Squash SMASH Online Registration Form

This is a high stakes tourney with a $20 entry fee (cash only). First place could go home with $160+! We will also randomly draw a $50 Sushi Nami gift card and maybe some other items....

For the full results of the June 3 tournament where Paul M. (5.5) took $160 from everyone, check RESULTS: Saturday June 3 - Squash SMASH Tourney

Use your afterburners to get there!

My shots always drop in the danger zone...
- Bob -

05 June, 2017

RESULTS: Saturday June 3 - Squash SMASH Tourney

The Oracle said he was not the one

...but he won!

Paul M. (5.5) aka, Squash Neo

Wow! - I mean 16 players - WOW! We had a great turnout with a full tournament. AND of the 16 players, Paul M. (5.5) was the tourney's heavy... and just because he won, didn't mean it was easy or without pressure! Of Paul's 12 games, had to give weight to all his opponents and many of the matches went to the last point. Paul came out of the gate with a tough first match against the seasoned Chris M. (3.5) (some would say 4.0 or better). The match spread meant that Paul had to get 17 points before Chris made 4. It was close with Chris taking the first game 4-9, then Paul with 17-2, and finally Paul 17-3. And that was just warm up for Pauls' next big match against Justin D. (5.0), a highly skilled player, but Justin was just not able to keep up with Paul. Paul continued through the winner's bracket against other solid players like Paul D. (3.5) and Carl N. (3.0). Here's the kicker: Paul had to play Carl twice! Once in the winners bracket and then after beating Carl down in to the losers bracket, Carl fought back through the losers' bracket to play Paul in the finals!. All in all, it was exciting and a lot of great squash was played. Congratulations to Paul M. (5.5) for winning his first Squash SMASH Tourney and taking home 1st Place's prize of $160!

1. Paul M. (5.5) - $160

2. Carl N. (3.0) - $100

3. Chris M. (3.5) - $40

4. Sam F. (3.5) - $20

The final brackets

It wasn't all about Paul M. though... There were lots of great players with some spectacular matches. Here's one: Paul D. (3.5) up against the junior Joaquin F. (2.5) in the first round and Joaquin scared Paul with a closer match that he wanted by winning the first game. Paul D. came back but the final game went down to the last point. Sam F. (3.5), in from Woodstock and has played in a couple of the EvenSquash SMASH tourneys and finishing 3rd once went up against Luis P. (3.0) who has played in a lot of these tourneys (actually ranked #27 on the SMASH Winners' Circle). Luis P. pushed Sam down into the loser's bracket in the first round. Sam would play 11 more games to finally bow out to Chris M. (3.5) and take home 4th place.

The nice thing about the EvenSquash SMASH format is that anyone can play anyone and you just don't know who you'll match up with. In some cases, someone new, in some matches, you play someone you regularly play. And face-offs with familiar faces is exactly what happened to Jeff D. (3.0) vs. Alejo C. (3.5), Jim C. (3.5) vs. Jeff D. (3.0), Luis P. (3.0) vs. Chris M. (3.5), Cat G. (2.5) vs. Alejo C. (3.5), and Wayne J. (4.5) vs Chris M. (3.0). Does playing a familiar face make the match easier or harder? No telling, but one thing for sure - at the last point someone will advance closer to first place. Other players like Courtney W. (3.0), Cat G. (2.5), and Roland D. (3.0) got a good mix of new and old faces.

Speaking of new faces... this was a first time showing for Allan D. (3.0), Carl N. (3.0), Paul D. (3.0), Paul M. (5.5), Justin D. (5.0). Thanks for for coming out everyone and hope you'll be back!

All in all it was a blast! Special thanks to Andre 'Legend' Maur (∞.5) for allowing us access to the tourney beer and for reserving all the courts for us!

Below are some great pics n vids and more free commentary... free as in not worth one cent.

Check the side bar for the latest Squash SMASH Tourney's Winner's Circle and other info about the EvenSquash handicap system and tournaments.

Stay tuned - We'll probably run another squash SMASH tourney on Saturday, June 17th....

Wait... so squash is not just like racquet ball?
- Bob -