Virgin Islander Joe Chapman bowed out in the semi-finals of the [British] Virgin Islands Open Squash Championship, PSA M5 tournament. Photo: Provided

Teenager and World No.145, Jesus Camacho (in photo) came up with a gladiatorial display to dispatch England’s Adam Murrills in the final of the [British] Virgin Islands Open Squash Championship, PSA M5 tournament, on June 26, 2016, lifting his first PSA World Tour title in the process. Photo: Provided

The 18-year-old Mexican, who hails from Mexico City, reached the third PSA World Tour final of his career courtesy of wins over wildcard Jules Snagg, compatriot Leonel Cardenas and second seed Cameron Stafford, while Murrills scored a notable scalp over pre-tournament favourite and home hope Joe Chapman on his way to the title-decider in the Tortola Sports Club.

The early exchanges were dominated by a flurry of intense, attacking squash as both players found themselves neck and neck for much of a high-octane opening game. Camacho saved a game ball at 10-9 down, and then took the next two points to go a game to the good.

An aggressive response from Murrills saw the 26-year-old surge 8-0 ahead in the second game, and he wrapped it up for the loss of just a single point. The momentum shifted again though in the third, with Camacho injecting pace into proceedings to put Murrills under immense pressure, eventually regaining his lead to put himself on the cusp of claiming a maiden PSA World Tour crown.

Murrills regrouped in a closely-contested fourth game and built up some rhythm with a number of spectacular winners, before unforced errors enabled Camacho to build up a succession of points. With the score delicately poised at 9-8 in Camacho’s favour, the teenager held his nerve to take the next two points without reply, closing out a 12-10, 1-11, 11-3, 11-8 triumph to open up his title account.

“This is my first PSA win,” said a delighted Camacho. “I must tell my family, I am so happy, thank you.”

Murrills added: “I gave it my best shot today, but Jesus keeps it so fast and tight and doesn’t make many mistakes. It was a tough loss today, but congratulations to the youngster.”

Result – Final: [4] Jesus Camacho (MEX) bt [3] Adam Murrills (ENG) 12-10, 1-11, 11-3, 11-8 (63m)

Chapman exits in Semi-finals

Top seed Joe Chapman had battled through to the semi-final after coming through a hard-fought fixture with Guatemala’s Italo Bonatti in the last eight.

Chapman, a semi-finalist in last year’s tournament, surged into a two-game lead, but was pegged back in the third after a resurgent Bonatti began to find his rhythm and hit his lengths with consistency.

The World No.107 was soon back on top though after rattling off a succession of winners and he closed out an 11-9, 11-5, 7-11, 11-5 victory to remain on course to take the crown on home soil.

Up next for Chapman was an encounter with Murrills, who had secured his place in a sixth successive PSA World Tour semi-final after dispatching Mauricio Sedano 3-0 in just 32 minutes.

However, Murrills proved too strong and Chapman suffered a 1-3 defeat , 5-11, 11-3, 9-11, 3-11.