Final:
[1] Daryl Selby (ENG) bt [5] Julien Balbo (FRA) 11-9, 8-11, 11-10 (3-1), 11-6 (57m)
Top-seeded Englishman Daryl Selby delighted his fans at his home club
in Bishop's Stortford when he beat France's fifth seed Julien Balbo in
the final of the BAA Bishop's Stortford Squash Festival to claim the
fifth PSA Tour title of his career - but his first on home soil.
Most of the audience at the Bishop's Stortford Squash Club thought that
Selby was a certainty to win following his easier passage through to
the final - compared to that of his opponent, particularly following
Balbo's 90-minute epic the previous evening against his compatriot
Mathieu Castagnet.
"It was far from easy, though," said tournament official John Milton.
The first game was a close affair, with neither player enjoying any more than a two-point lead at any time. Selby just managed to take it 11-9 but then Balbo came back strongly in the second, pushing hard to lead 6-2 and 10-5. The 28-year-old Frenchman managed to close the game out to level the scores.
More was to follow from Balbo, who - looking far stronger than anyone had anticipated - raced to a 9-4 lead, just two points short of a 2/1 lead. The 24-year-old home hero had different ideas, however, reeling off five points in a row to get back to ten-all, before clinching the tie break 13-11.
There was no way back for Balbo after that. It was close for the first four or five rallies in the fourth game, but Selby then pushed hard to open up a clear lead and eventually took the game and the title 11-9, 8-11, 11-10 (3-1), 11-6 after 57 minutes.
"It was the end to a highly successful festival week where every level of squash had been covered ranging from young schoolchildren who had never picked up a racket before, to juniors at every age level from under 11 upwards, to club players enjoying social squash activities, to some of the world's best professional players gathering together for the PSA tournament. A true festival of squash," said Milton.
Selby acknowledged afterwards that it was not his best squash: "But I did just enough, so I'm pleased to win. It feels good to win a title in my first tournament of the season."
Balbo felt that the turning point was in the third game: "The first game, I felt really good but in the second I felt okay but thought I would struggle to finish each game. I pushed hard in the second, had a few lucky shots and he made a few mistakes. But at 9-4 up in the third, I was so sad I couldn't win it," explained the Frenchman.
"Finally, I just want to say what a good tournament this has been; so well organised, anything we asked for, someone made an effort to give, plus everybody has been so friendly here. I really hope they manage to find the money to organise another one next year. I know I will be back and so will many other players be eager to come as everybody will hear what a good tournament it is. Thank you Bishops Stortford!"