Got TIPS or BREAKING NEWS? Please call 1-284-442-8000 direct/can also WhatsApp same number or Email ALL news to:newsvino@outlook.com;                               ads call 1-284-440-6666

VI's Joe Chapman exits early from Nash Cup

September 26th, 2014 | Tags: Joe Chapman squash Nash Cup London Squash Rackets Club
The Caribbean’s number 1 ranked squash player, Joe Chapman of the Virgin Islands (right), lost to Canadian Nick Sachie (left) in the 2nd round of Qualification for the Nash Cup at the London Squash Rackets Club in England on Wednesday September 23, 2014. Photo: Provided
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI – The Caribbean’s number 1 ranked squash player, Joe Chapman of the Virgin Islands, lost to Canadian Nick Sachie in the 2nd round of Qualification for the Nash Cup at the London Squash Rackets Club in England on Wednesday September 23, 2014.

The game described as a physical tussle saw Chapman recover from losing the first game 11-5, to recover in the second 7-11. Chapman lost the third 11-9 before snatching the fourth 12-14. Unfortunately he went down in the decider 11-4, with the match lasting 77 minutes.

“It was ‘a physical tussle’. The match between Joe and Nick was intense, high paced and at times a chippy battle,” noted the commentator. “ Both players fought hard for position on the court throughout this battle with long, punishing rallies which combined control of the tee with hard driving shots and superb touch that moved both players to the limits of their physical abilities.”

Chapman controlled the pace and tee in the first game. Sachie rebounded with power, finesse and speed to win the second. That is when the match became intense, with every point seeming vital for momentum. Chapman had the third in hand at 10-6 when Sachie ground out three points to 10-9. At that point, a close stroke call ended the third game, creating discussion among the spectators.

Sachie had to survive a match point in the fourth at 9-10 with grit and a hard fought point and rebounded to win that game 14-12. This is the fifth match point that he has survived in two matches over two days. The major trench battle in this match was in the 1st through 4th games. Ultimately, the fourth game was an epic battle that see-sawed over 23 minutes with Sachie emerging the victor. The final game was a crisp game played by Sachie but the fate of the match was determined in the fourth.

Chapman felt he had the game in his grasp “ I had the match in my grasp with that match ball in the 4th and I am disappointed I didn’t take it. I’ll be returning to my base in Florida to prepare for my next tournament.”

In his first match of qualification for the main draw Chapman beat Strachan Jarvis also from Canada, 11-5, 11-5, 6-11, 7-11, in just 37 minutes.

Chapman started the first game quite well and found his length within the first few rallies. Strachan, initially starting slower, did well to draw level with Joe during the first game at 4-4. However, a combination of accurate hitting from Joe and some errors from Strachan resulted in Joe running out the first game 11-4. More confident in his hitting, Joe forged an early lead which he steadily built upon bringing him to 9-3 at one point in the second game.

Strachan managed to bring this back to 9-5 before Joe snatched the last two points to win the second 11-5. 2-0 to Joe yet it was clear Strachan was not being out played. Rallies were well contested and constructed by both players. Joe’s consistency and accurate hitting, perhaps, edging it for him so far. The third game was a different affair altogether, with Strachan starting at blistering pace and bringing the ball in short and straight off Joe’s loose cross courts on a number of occasions.

Strachan showed great strength and poise when doing this and simply kept at it. Good deep hitting was rewarded with clean put aways after he had forced some loose shots from Joe. 5-0 to Strachan became 9-1 and although Joe did well to claw back some points Strachan did enough to win the third game 11-6.

With Strachan now firmly in the ascendancy Joe’s markedly better hitting at the end of the third, despite losing the game, paid him dividends in the fourth as he carried this improved form into the next game. Both players started equally, trading points like boxers trading blows. 1-2 combinations being thrown by both players. 2 points to Joe followed by 2 points to Strachan.

The next point to Joe followed by the next point to Strachan. 2-2, 3-3 and a flurry of points from Joe taking it to 7-4. Both players now striking the ball low and hard with great accuracy and adding variations of pace and spin. Most impressive was some of Strachan’s use of height from the back court to alleviate the pressure Joe was exhorting on him from his sublime hitting. Jab, jab, duck and jab. Strachan returning the favour with 3 points of his own. 7-7 and the crowd roaring their approval.

This was now a real contest and they wanted more. Screeching from shoes as players dove and slid to retrieve short angled boasts and deft drops mixed with thunderous wallops as the players drove the ball into the back of the court forcing it past each other with great pace. Gone were the earlier variations of pace and spin; this was primitive, survival stuff, raw and engrossing to watch. Who would succumb first? Who would falter if a jab hit home and take that backward step allowing a follow up flurry of punches? It could have been either and alas for local supporters it was Strachan. Losing concentration, the wrong choice of shot, a tired half step can happen to anyone. But to players just about to break into the world’s top 100 less so and this is where Strachan came undone. Joe maintained his intensity while Strachan lost his and the last 4 points of the match losing the 4th 11-7.

The NASH Cup began in as an amateur event in 2000 under the name "The NASHionals" drawing 50-70 players in its early years. In 2008 the decision was made to add a professional draw to the event with a $5,000 purse. At that time The London Squash Racquets Club (LSRC) had a long history of hosting "exhibition" matches, but had never attempted a sanctioned event. For 2014, the NASH Cup will be once again returning to the PSA World Tour with a purse of $15,000 set to attract an impressive field.

6 Responses to “VI's Joe Chapman exits early from Nash Cup”

  • cvv (26/09/2014, 12:19) Like (1) Dislike (1) Reply
    Good job joe
  • vex (26/09/2014, 14:15) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Go where
  • concern (26/09/2014, 14:26) Like (6) Dislike (1) Reply
    Joe is not the Caribbean number one squash player check you records
  • brian hodge (27/09/2014, 10:58) Like (0) Dislike (4) Reply
    hmmm! according to his website he is ranked number one in Caribbean, number one in OECS and number one in BVI as well as 106 in the world- so u chk ur records
  • What why When (29/09/2014, 07:31) Like (1) Dislike (1) Reply
    We really don't care!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  • Caribbean Squash Analyst (01/10/2014, 22:36) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Joe has not competed at the OECS level since 2012 and the Caribbean level, hence by the regulations that govern OECS and Caribbean Squash he isn't number one player. This is totally dishonest by Joe as Christopher Binnie. Joe is the highest rank squash player from the Caribbean on the PSA but that doesn't mean he is number in Caribbean.
    Important point Joe has never beaten Christopher Binnie.

    Kindly deal with this as it has upset the Caribbean squash society and gives British Virgin Islands Squash a bad name along with OECS Squash.



Create a comment


Create a comment

Disclaimer: Virgin Islands News Online (VINO) welcomes your thoughts, feedback, views, bloggs and opinions. However, by posting a blogg you are agreeing to post comments or bloggs that are relevant to the topic, and that are not defamatory, liable, obscene, racist, abusive, sexist, anti-Semitic, threatening, hateful or an invasion of privacy. Violators may be excluded permanently from making contributions. Please view our declaimer above this article. We thank you in advance for complying with VINO's policy.

Follow Us On

Disclaimer: All comments posted on Virgin Islands News Online (VINO) are the sole views and opinions of the commentators and or bloggers and do not in anyway represent the views and opinions of the Board of Directors, Management and Staff of Virgin Islands News Online and its parent company.