Author: Marcel Kramer

EXCLUSIVE: New Floors at Mont-Saint-Martin!!!
That’s right…the hosts of the ‘Open de Squash de Mont-Saint-Martin’ (Black Knight Series #6) have just replaced the ‘parquet’ and ‘tin’ on both of their courts. The new flooring should make a significant impact to the style of play there and the home players may well need to adapt their game before the MSM Open begins!

And more good news…there will now be a prize awarded to the highest placed lady in the Black Knight Series. With just two events remaining, there are 7 female competitors who have played three Series events thus far and have a chance of winning this new category….subject to playing both remaining tournaments, naturally. The FSL and Black Knight hold the utmost respect for the strong characters and determination of all Luxembourg female players who participate in the FSL Championship, Cup and tournaments which are all mixed events. WELL DONE LADIES.
It’s not just the ladies that have something ‘extra’ to play for either. Filip‘s lead at the top of the Standings has dropped from 50 to 32 due to a solid draw win for Jordi Ruiz of Angels. Additionally, there are 4 players currently in the top 10 who have played 4 out of the 5 Series events to date. As the final Black Knight Series Placings will be based on a players best 5 performances they effectively have a tournament in hand! By the same rationale there are a further 7 players in the top 25 who have 2 tournaments in hand; Christopher Votion, already registered for Series #6 and presently seeded No. 1, is certainly a threat to all those above him.
There is still time to subscribe to the ‘Open de Squash Mont-Saint-Martin’ that starts at 1300 on Labour Day, Friday 1st May 15. Great atmosphere, healthy competition, a friendly bar and BBQ….and now with new flooring!
The current Series Standings can be viewed via the link below as well as the “Black Knight Series Rules”. If you would like to find out more about Black Knight please have a chat with Chris at BK Series #6 or contact him by email, mvp-sports@outlook.com.

Black Knight Series Standing

Black Knight Series Rules

Quelle belle publicité pour le Squash nous avons pu vivre mercredi dernier lors de la dernière journée du championnat par équipes. Le titre par équipes le plus prestigieux de la fédération se jouait lors de la dernière rencontre de la saison et alors que les deux équipes encore en lice pour la victoire finale s’affrontaient à Top Squash: Sandweiler et Pétange. Malgré les 2 points d’avance de Pétange au classement, c’est l’équipe qui allait remporter la rencontre qui allait soulever le trophée. Dans ce cadre déjà palpitant quatre matchs encore plus excitants se sont joués.

Tout d’abord, Éric Pécheur allait affronter Guillaume Plancke. Éric n’avait jamais encore réussi à battre Guillaume lors d’une rencontre officielle, mais il comptait bien changer cela ce soir. Après avoir été mené au premier jeu il arrive à renverser la tendance pour le remporter 13-11. Ensuite, Guillaume réagit et gagne 11-4, 11-0 les deux jeux suivants. La partie semble jouée mais Éric ne lâche rien et fait trembler Guillaume qui n’arrive plus à s’imposer. Finalement, Éric gagne 11-4, 11-5 les deux derniers jeux. Quel exploit et une victoire inattendue qui fait mener Sandweiler au score.

La deuxième partie oppose Gérald Simon à Stéphane Lagrange. La pression est sur les épaules de Stéphane qui doit recoller au score et si possible sans perdre de jeu. Il réussit, mais de justesse 12-10, 11-7 et 11-4.

La troisième partie voit le favori Daniel Kaiser s’imposer 3-0 face à Daniel Verhoeven et Sandweiler reprend la tête.

Tout se joue dans le match des numéros 1: Filip Madaric et Alexandre Benassi. En tant que spectateur on ne pouvait rêver mieux. Et tous étaient au rendez-vous, les deux joueurs et le public. Quelle fête, c’était tout simplement splendide. Filip et Alex ont tout de suite tout donné et tout lâché. Filip s’en sort mieux au premier jeu 11-9. Alex se reprend et gagne le second 11-5. Puis il mène 4-0 au troisième, mais Filip s’accroche, rallonge les échanges et recolle au score en fin de jeu pour s’imposer 12-10. Or, cette remontée lui coûte le quatrième jeu qu’Alex domine largement 11-2. Le suspense et la température montent. Un cinquième jeu décisif pour cette partie, la rencontre et le titre ! De nouveau Alex prend le meilleur départ et en milieu de jeu Filip doit même concéder 3 strokes de suite. Mais il ne se laisse pas décourager et trouve le bon équilibre entre sécurité et attaque. A 8-8, personne ne peut dire qui va s’imposer. Mais Filip réussit 3 points de suite et offre le titre à Sandweiler sous les applaudissements de ses coéquipiers mais aussi des supporters de Pétange très fair play.

Le Squash était à la fête et on ne peut que souhaiter une aussi belle finale l’année prochaine pour le championnat.
Ce mercredi Pétange pourra se consoler en finale de la Coupe où ils joueront contre … Sandweiler.

(de gauche à droite, Gérald Simon, Daniel Kaiser, Filip Madaric et Eric Pécheur)

Bravo à Sandweiler et félicitations à tous ceux qui ont participé activement comme joueur ou comme spectateur à cette soirée mémorable.

Fine Form for Filip

Filip Madaric decisively sealed victory over Christopher Votion in straight sets in Ettelbruck last month and now takes the lead in the Black Knight Series. He has certainly found his form and is also seeded at the top of the A Draw in the next Black Knight Series event, the Top Squash Open 2015.

We would like to congratulate all those who participated in the “Ettelbruck Squash Open 2015”in particular to the individual draw winners; Filip Madaric of Squash Club Sandweiler and both Fred Peugeot and Sam Lippert of Squash Club Pétange. Sam, having gained maximum points, has now leapt from 12th to 2nd place in the Series Standings.

Ettelbruck Open 2015 Winners!

To be a serious contender for the Series prizegiving a minimum of 5 Series appearances will be required as it is the total of a competitors best 5 performances that will count toward their final Black Knight Series Standing. Therefore, if you have only played a single tournament so far, you still have the opportunity to complete another four provided you have entered the Top Squash Open 2015 this weekend and play all three remaining Series Events that are still to come.
If you would like to find out more about Black Knight please have a chat with Chris at BK Series #4 at Top Squash or contact him by email, mvp-sports@outlook.com.

New Leader for the Black Knight Series

Following on from the “Club’s Open” held at Top Squash last month it is the resident Head Coach, Nathan Sneyd, who has taken the top position in the Black Knight Series Standings. He racked up his second A Draw win with an impressive display in the final that proved too clinical for runner-up, Mathieu Huin, and now enjoys a 25 point lead above Jérémy Kocan who has risen to 2nd place. Other noteworthy climbers and recent draw winners are Renaud Parentelli of Arelsquash and Germain Gregorious of Squash Club Pétange, who now sit at 5th and 6th positions, having jumped 26 and 29 places respectively!  

Black Knight Series #3, the “Ettelbruck Squash Open 2015”is now almost upon us and will commence this Friday evening. Your last chance to subscribe will be Wednesday 4th February 2015, so if you want to participate and increase your Series Totals contact the tournament organiser, Marcel Kramer, without delay

If you would like to test the Cannon PS or find out more about Black Knight please have a chat with Chris at BK Series #3 in Ettelbruck or contact him by email, mvpsports@outlook.com.

Black Knight Series Standing

Black Knight Series Rules