Friday, September 17, 2010

2010 World Professional Racquetball Championship - IRT QFs

Chris Crowther has reached the semi-finals for only the second time in his career at an International Racquetball Tour (IRT) main event and the first time at an IRT Grand Slam event, with a quarter final win over 3rd seed Jack Huczek at the World Professional Racquetball Championship in Cali, Columbia, 11-4, 11-9, 11-6.

The defeat may prompt some to ask the question "what's wrong with Jack Huczek?" as it's the second tournament in a row that he's gone out to a higher seeded competitor; Crowther's the 6th seed. Moreover, Huczek defeated Alejandro Landa in the Round of 16, but didn't look like he was playing his best, needing 4 games to defeat Landa.

Crowther will meet another upset winner Mitch Williams in the semis in Cali on Saturday as Wiliiams defeated 2nd seed Rocky Carson, 10-12, 12-10, 11-9, 5-11, 11-4.

On the other side of the draw, #1 Kane Waselenchuk will play #4 seed Ben Croft. Waselenchuk defeated Andy Hawthorne in three straight games in the quarters, 11-3, 11-2, 11-3, but Croft needed a full five before getting the best of Shane Vanderson, 6-11, 11-5, 7-11, 11-7, and 11-8.

Vanderson came back from 9-3 down in the fifth game to make it 9-8, but couldn't get past that. On the last point, Vanderson skipped a ball that was a big set up off the back wall.

The semi-finals go Saturday and final on Sunday. They can be viewed via the web at IRT Network.

2010 World Professional Racquetball Championship, Cali, Columbia

Quarter finals

Kane Waselenchuk d. Andy Hawthorne, 11-3, 11-2, 11-3
Ben Croft d. Shane Vanderson, 6-11, 11-5, 11-7, 7-11, 11-8

Chris Crowther d. Jack Huczek, 11-4, 11-9, 11-6
Mitch Wiliiams d. Rocky Carson, 10-12, 12-10, 11-9, 5-11, 11-4

Semi finals
Kane Waselenchuk v. Ben Croft
Chris Crowther v. Mitch Williams

Follow the bouncing ball....

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