Chris Binnie celebrating his biggest pro win at the Lifetime Atlanta Open in February 2020.
Caribbean squash champion Chris Binnie says he is “happy” to be back playing competitively again after a 15-month layoff.
Binnie advanced all the way to the semifinals of the Life Time Atlanta Open this past weekend in Sandy Springs where he was defending champion and the Jamaican was satisfied with the outing despite not repeating as champion.
“I got a couple of wins, made the semi-finals, so I am just happy I was able to play again, to compete in another event,” he told SportsMax.TV
“I am healthy and I am just trying now to slowly work my way back into match shape,” he added after completing his first tournament since March of last year when he was a semi-finalist at the Manitoba Open in Winnipeg.
Seeded No.2 as reigning champion at the US$6,000 Atlanta event, Binnie cruised past Pakistan’s Syed Hamzah Bukhari 3-0 (11-3, 11-9, 11-5) in just 39 minutes in his opening game and then stopped the sixth seed Mark Broekman in the quarterfinals. Binnie, 32, dropped the second game against the Briton before completing an 11-5, 8-11, 11-9, 11-4 triumph in 55 minutes.
The nine-time Caribbean champion was beaten in his semifinal match 11-9, 11-4, 11-4 by the American Faraz Khan, who emerged champion after toppling the No.1 seed Chris Gordon 3-0 in Sunday’s final.
Sidelined by Covid-19 lockdown protocols and an inability to train properly, Binnie missed most of the 2020 Professional Squash Association (PSA) World Tour and was battling rivals in Atlanta who had already returned to competition for several months.
“Of course it was tough, I wasn’t fully match ready and some of the guys there in Atlanta were able to play in some parts of the world because there were some areas that were open for some time. The guy (Faraz) who beat me, this is like his sixth tournament already for the season. He’s been playing (competitively) since like January this year,” Binnie said.
Connecticut-based Binnie had defeated Canadian David Baillargeon in the 2020 Atlanta Open final last year February, coming from 9-3 down in the first game to clinch the title 3-0. That Atlanta Open triumph marked Binnie’s fourth career PSA title and first since the 2017 Meadow Mill Open.
Binnie, now in his 10th year on the PSA Tour, has an all-time high world ranking of 65th but has slid to 83rd in recent months because of inactivity.
The 6’ 3” former Campion College (Kingston) and Trinity College (Hartford, Connecticut) student is targeting the Squash on Fire Open in Washington DC starting June 27 as his next outing.
Blown and Fantastic Warriors set for thrilling KPMG Squash League final this evening
Blown and Fantastic Warriors have secured their spots in the eagerly anticipated final of the 24th KPMG Squash League after impressive victories over Saints and Racketeers in the semi-finals. Squash enthusiasts are gearing up for an exciting showdown between these two formidable teams, scheduled for this Friday at the Liguanea Club in New Kingston, with the action kicking off at 6:00 pm on the main court.
The path to the final saw both teams display exceptional skill and determination, thrilling spectators with intense matches that highlighted the competitive spirit of the league.
In the first semi-final clash between Blown and Saints, Jerry Bell of Saints delivered a commanding performance to secure victory over Fraser McConnell in straight sets (21-17, 21-19, 21-13). However, Blown fought back fiercely, with Jake Mahfood and Andrew Bicknell securing crucial wins to propel their team to the final.
Meanwhile, the battle between Fantastic Warriors and Racketeers kept fans on the edge of their seats with extended rallies and impressive displays of athleticism. Racketeers' Adam Lee and Fantastic Warriors' Nabeel Jawad and Stewart Maxwell showcased exceptional talent, ultimately leading to a thrilling conclusion in favor of the Fantastic Warriors.
This year's league has witnessed captivating matches and standout performances, with a new champion set to be crowned following the absence of defending champions AGI (Advantage General Insurance). The competition, which began with 16 teams in early March, featured 64 players representing a diverse range of skill levels, from beginners to national champions.
A unique aspect of the league was the implementation of handicaps based on players' skill levels, ensuring a level playing field and offering every participant an opportunity to excel. Matches were extended to twenty-one points, adding an extra layer of challenge and excitement to the games.
As the KPMG Squash League reaches its pinnacle with the highly anticipated final, squash enthusiasts and supporters eagerly await what promises to be an exhilarating showdown between Blown and Fantastic Warriors. Don't miss out on the action as these two top-tier teams vie for supremacy in this prestigious tournament.
Elite Jamaica squash player Julian Morrison fights back against doping allegations after positive test for Boldenone
In a bid to clear his name and restore his reputation, Jamaica's national squash champion, Julian Morrison, is challenging the provisional suspension imposed by the Jamaica Anti-Doping Commission (JADCO) after testing positive for trace amounts of Boldenone, a banned anabolic agent.
The suspension came following an out-of-competition test conducted on January 18th, 2024, where Morrison's results showed the presence of Boldenone in his system. However, Morrison and his representatives strongly assert that the substance entered his body inadvertently, likely through contamination.
Dr. Emir Crowne and Mr. Matthew Gayle, legal representatives for Morrison, are steadfast in their support of his innocence. They emphasize that Boldenone's presence was unintentional and stress Morrison's commitment to upholding the integrity of the sport.
Speaking on behalf of Morrison, Dr. Crowne stated, "As best as can be determined at this time, the banned substance unknowingly entered Mr. Morrison's system through contamination." Morrison remains determined to expedite the process of vindication and is actively engaging with authorities to clear his name.
Boldenone, often associated with bodybuilding due to its anabolic properties, is prohibited in competitive sports. However, Morrison's case highlights the complexities of anti-doping regulations and the challenges faced by athletes when dealing with inadvertent exposure to banned substances.
Despite the setback, Morrison remains resolute and hopeful for a positive resolution. His representatives have expressed confidence in the ongoing efforts to overturn the suspension and restore Morrison's eligibility to compete.
Teams gear up for quarter finals of KPMG Squash League
After three grueling rounds of matches in the 24th KPMG Squash League, the teams now look forward to the quarter finals which are slated to start on Tuesday, April 9 at the Jamaica Squash Association's headquarters at the Liguanea Club in New Kingston.
The first set of matches which are scheduled for Tuesday will see Racketeers vs Team Big Shots (LC Court 4, 6pm) - Main Draw, Blown vs Premium Reserve (LC Court 5, 6pm) - Main Draw, while The Juniors vs Squashbucklers (LC Court 6, 6pm) - Plate and JDF vs Youth & Experience (LC Court 3, 6pm)- Plate. (Plate is a description for the losing teams who are playing for placement in the sixteen-team league).
The second set of quarter final matches is scheduled for Thursday, April 11 at the same venue. The scheduled matches will see Fantastic Warriors vs Court Crushers (LC Court 5, 6pm) - Main Draw, Saints vs Rampant Rollers (LC Court 4, 6pm) - Main Draw, AGI vs Bulldozers (LC Court 3, 6 pm) - Plate, and Samosas vs Campion Champions (LC Court 6, 6 pm) - Plate.
Defending champion AGI began their defense positively back in early March when they won all three matches played in the first round 3-0 over Squashbucklers but has since lost round two by a 2-1 score line to Racketeers and in the third round was decimated by Court Crushers 3-0.
Based on the results at the end of the group stage and based on defending champion AGI's results, a new champion will definitely be crowned this year.
The teams currently in the running for a place in the final include Racketeers, Team Big Shot, Blown, Premium Reserve, Fantastic Warriors, Court Crushers, Saints and Rampant Rollers.
The first two quarter final matches will be played concurrently on Tuesday with Racketeers taking on Team Big Shots on Court 4 and Blown facing off with Premium Reserve on Court 5. Both matches will begin at 6:00 pm.
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