Creed Cruises To Gibraltar Open Success
by Howard Harding
2 July 2012 - Welshman Peter Creed cruised to victory in the Gibraltar Open, winning the inaugural PSA World Tour Challenger 5 squash event at The Squash Centre in Gibraltar without dropping a game.
The final was an all-British battle between the reigning Welsh champion and the first-time Irish national champion Arthur Gaskin.
Top seed Creed barely had time to get into his stride in the semi-finals when unseeded Frenchman Johan Bouquet was forced to retire with a shoulder injury after just 11 minutes.
Second seed Gaskin also faced a surprise unseeded semi-final opponent in Daniel West. The 24-year-old from Bristol had caused the biggest upset on the opening day when he ousted fourth-seeded fellow countryman Ben Ford in a five-game 80-minute marathon.
Another 3/2 win in the quarter-finals, however, had perhaps sapped West's strength for the semis as Gaskin progressed in straight games.
But the Irishman was unable continue his run in the final as 25-year-old Creed, from Caerphilly, maintained his clean sheet in the event by despatching Gaskin 13-11, 11-7, 11-5 in 57 minutes.
"Very happy to come home with my 2nd title," tweeted Creed later. "Tough match, but fought hard. Win meant a lot with Papa in the crowd!"
The title triumph takes Creed to a career-high world No80 ranking.
Tournament organiser Barry Brindle was also delighted with the event's success: "This was an excellent tournament, thoroughly enjoyed by all the local, Army, Andalucian and PSA players and supporters and played in an excellent spirit with a perfect balance between fun and professionalism," said the President of the Gibraltar Squash Association. "All players should be congratulated.
"This is the first time Gibraltar has held a PSA event; it won't be the last."
RESULTS: PSA Challenger 5 Gibraltar Open, Gibraltar
1st round:
[1] Peter Creed (WAL) bt Ondrej Ertl (CZE) 11-1, 11-5, 11-2 (27m)
Andre Haschker (GER) bt [Q] Hugo Varela (ESP) 11-7, 11-4, 11-6 (31m)
Johan Bouquet (FRA) bt Michael Harris (ENG) 13-11, 6-11, 11-8, 11-8 (46m)
[3] Geoffrey Demont (FRA) bt Anthony Brindle (GIB) 11-8, 11-2, 11-4 (25m)
Daniel West (ENG) bt [4] Ben Ford (ENG) 9-11, 10-12, 11-5, 13-11, 12-10 (80m)
Reuben Phillips (ENG) bt [Q] James Simpson (ENG) 12-10, 8-11, 11-4, 11-6 (46m)
David Haley (WAL) bt [Q] Joe Chapman (IVB) 11-5, 13-11, 11-9 (45m)
[2] Arthur Gaskin (IRL) bt [Q] Tom de Mulder (BEL) 11-6, 11-5, 11-7 (45m)
Quarter-finals:
[1] Peter Creed (WAL) bt Andre Haschker (GER) 11-8, 11-5, 11-6 (42m)
Johan Bouquet (FRA) bt [3] Geoffrey Demont (FRA) 11-9, 11-7, 11-5 (37m)
Daniel West (ENG) bt Reuben Phillips (ENG) 11-4, 11-13, 6-11, 11-7, 11-6 (74m)
[2] Arthur Gaskin (IRL) bt David Haley (WAL) 11-5, 11-7, 11-4 (25m)
Semi-finals:
[1] Peter Creed (WAL) bt Johan Bouquet (FRA) 11-2 ret. (11m)
[2] Arthur Gaskin (IRL) bt Daniel West (ENG) 11-5, 11-1, 12-10 (33m)
Final:
[1] Peter Creed (WAL) bt [2] Arthur Gaskin (IRL) 13-11, 11-7, 11-5 (57m)
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